By: Kayla Mitchell

Public Relations Manager

Halloween is the one time of year when we get to celebrate the grotesque, scary stories of the world in a fun, festive way. The holiday experience is never truly complete without gathering a group of friends to watch a frightening Halloween movie together. Whether you are looking for a heartwarming Halloween story or a spine-chilling thriller, many new releases are coming out this year. Here are some of the most anticipated seasonal films and fan favorites from the past few Halloween seasons.

One of the most anticipated films coming out this season is the movie Final Destination: Bloodlines, the sixth installment of the Final Destination franchise. The plot follows new lead character Stefani Reyes, a young woman who discovers her family is cursed after her grandmother once cheated Death by preventing a deadly tower collapse. Decades later, Death begins hunting down the survivors’ descendants, taking the lives stolen years before. As her relatives die one by one, Reyes races to save her family and herself from their fate. If you’re searching for a truly terrifying film this Halloween, Final Destination: Bloodlines is considered to be one of the scariest and most intense films of the entire franchise. 

Multiple streaming services are releasing new films, with HBO Max debuting Bring Her Back, a psychological thriller praised for its haunting performances. When a young sibling duo becomes orphans after their father’s overdose, they live with a foster mother grieving the loss of her own daughter. Their foster mother’s grief quickly becomes an obsession with the young girl Piper, beginning to perform cult rituals in hopes of resurrecting her dead daughter. When Andy discovers his mother’s plan to sacrifice Piper for a ritual, he does everything he can to protect his sister from his mother’s supernatural plans. The film leans heavily into psychological horror and occasionally gruesome deaths, making it a frightening watch for a Halloween night.

The Netflix original, Prevenge, is a British horror movie with aspects of comedy for a more relaxed fall evening. The story follows a pregnant woman who believes her unborn child is urging her to get revenge on the people responsible for her husband’s death. Driven by the manipulative voice in her head, the mother goes on a killing spree, hunting down everyone connected to her husband’s accident. As the film progresses, it becomes increasingly unclear whether the strong influence to kill is due to the child or just the thoughts in her own head. 

While it can be entertaining to watch a scary film, sometimes it is nice to stick with a classic Halloween movie, celebrating the festivities and spirit of the holiday. The Hallmark release Haul Out the Halloween perfectly captures the spooky fun and community spirit that Halloween fosters. Following newlyweds as they celebrate their first Halloween together, viewers watch the couple attempt to win a competitive Halloween decorating contest, capturing all of the joyful parts of this festive holiday. For those who love the heartwarming side of Halloween, filled with seasonal fall vibes and community spirit, Hallmark films like this one are a great choice.

(Sources: The State Times)