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Best Horror of October 2025: ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Good Boy,’ ‘Shelby Oaks’ and More Spooky Season Picks

William Earl, William Earl
October 5, 2025 at 08:13 PM
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Best Horror of October 2025: ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Good Boy,’ ‘Shelby Oaks’ and More Spooky Season Picks

Key Takeaways

  • The article is a curated guide to the best new horror movies and series releasing in October.
  • Major theatrical releases include "Black Phone 2," Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein," and Yorgos Lanthimos's "Bugonia."
  • The list covers a wide range of horror subgenres, including sequels, gothic adaptations, documentaries, mysteries, and horror-comedies.
  • Several anticipated independent and streaming releases are highlighted, such as "Chain Reactions" and Shudder's "V/H/S/Halloween."
  • The column encourages readers to submit suggestions for future monthly recommendations.

The 'Horror Explorer' column, curated by Variety's William Earl, showcases the best horror movies and series available in October across theaters and streaming platforms. Key theatrical releases include "Black Phone 2," where Ethan Hawke's killer returns in dreams, and Guillermo del Toro's star-studded adaptation of "Frankenstein." Other anticipated films are Yorgos Lanthimos's "Bugonia," starring Emma Stone as a kidnapped CEO, and the documentary "Chain Reactions" analyzing "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." The lineup also features genre variety, such as the mystery "Bone Lake," the horror-comedy "Coyotes," and several Shudder debuts like the anthology "V/H/S/Halloween" and the viral indie film "Good Boy."

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