It’s Halloween this weekend, when normal folks give themselves permission to watch scary movies. Some of us weirdos have watched an excellent assortment of horror throughout the year, of course. For everyone looking to catch up, here’s a rundown of the best and where you can catch them.
“The Damned”: One of the first theatrical flicks I caught this year tells of a remote village where the survivors of a shipwreck threaten already depleted resources during a harsh winter. Things become desperate and the locals worry about evil forces being conjured by these newcomers. A very European tale capturing the tension between those established in a community with those who have shown up — a clear analogy for the political crisis that swept the continent over the past decade involving migrants and Brexit. Also features a great lead performance by Odessa Young, who can also be seen in the new Springsteen biopic. Available to stream on Roku.
Elliot (Paul Rudd) and Ridley (Jenna Ortega) investigate the situation after they hit a unicorn with their SUV in “Death of a Unicorn.”
“Companion” and “The Death of a Unicorn”: Both films have horror elements and are plenty gory. But they are also darkly funny. Not to mention each is steeped in science fiction, so there’s something for everyone. The less you know about either going in, the better. All I will say is that the stories focus on the human relationship with technology and the dire consequences that go along with the benefits. “Companion” is strengthened by a fantastic central performance from Sophie Thatcher, who you might recognize from “Heretic” or “Yellowjackets.” The overall cast of “The Death of a Unicorn” is incredibly stacked, with standouts from Will Poulter and Téa Leoni. Both are streaming on HBO Max.
“Sinners”: A big hit from the spring, and surely a dark horse in the upcoming Oscar race. There’s not much else for me to add about this Southern vampire epic that hasn’t already been parsed except to say it’s incredible how a horror film that’s essentially about cultural appropriation became such a popular offering. I mean, it’s about the literal and figurative act of White people sucking the life out of a Black community for the survival of their culture. Beautiful and haunting, it’s earned the status of a modern classic. Also streaming on HBO Max but will be playing at the Ragtag Cinema on Thursday night (Oct. 30) this week. (You should see it on a big screen.)
Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) builds a Bone Temple of skulls to memorialize the dead in “28 Years Later.”
“28 Years Later”: Focusing on many of the same isolationist impulses as “The Damned,” Danny Boyle’s return to the story of rage-infected zombies attacking Great Britain also contains a surprisingly touching coming-of-age story about a young boy facing the tragic realities of his parents. If you can stand the violence — and the opening scene was nearly a deal-breaker for me finishing the rest of the film — you will find yourself moved by the proceedings. Not to mention a bonkers ending that nicely sets up a follow-up, “The Bone Temple,” coming to theaters in just a few months. Streaming on Netflix.
“The Long Walk”: Again, I am unsure if this Richard Bachman adaptation qualifies as a traditional horror film even though the subject of young men volunteering to compete in a mortal march taps into a terrifying sense of dread about modern culture. While set in an alternative historical dystopian timeline, it is grounded in reality by two stellar central performances from Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson as young men looking for a glimmer of hope while staring down the barrel of a gun. It’s an incredible retelling of a great book that didn’t exactly scream cinematic bona fides but still works as a timeless tale of adolescence and trying to make sense of a senseless world. Available on VOD platforms for a premium.
Indy the dog stars in “Good Boy,” a horror movie told from a canine perspective as a loyal retriever tries to keep his human owner safe after they move to a house in the country and dark forces reveal themselves.
“Good Boy”: Perhaps the most creative of the batch, “Good Boy” tells a familiar story from the most unlikeliest of perspectives. A young man facing dire health consequences relocates to his grandfather’s isolated farm with his dog in tow. But man’s best friend sees various specters and evil forces that are not readily apparent to his human companion. The camera stays focused on the pooch for most of the film, featuring an incredible animal performance from filmmaker Ben Leonberg’s own pet. It’s not only a great scary movie, but also one that speaks to the strong bond between man and beast. I am unsure if the home version contains the behind-the-scenes featurette where the director talks about how they coaxed their star’s performance, but that in itself is almost worth the price of admission. Streaming on Shudder.
In addition to being great holiday fare, these are also some of the best films of the year. Be sure to check them out on the one weekend you give yourself permission to do so.
James Owen is the Tribune’s film columnist. In real life, he is a lawyer and executive director of energy policy group Renew Missouri. A graduate of Drury University and the University of Kansas, he created Filmsnobs.com, where he co-hosts a podcast. He enjoyed an extended stint as an on-air film critic for KY3, the NBC affiliate in Springfield, and now regularly guests on Columbia radio station KFRU.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Celebrate Halloween with the best horror films of 2025
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