Moving Pictures

Everyday Monsters

THE OCTOBER 2022 SCARY MOVIE GUIDE

BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC

I’m writing this month’s column on the first day of fall and the sudden change to 75 degree weather is putting me in mind of layered fashions, fiery foliage and the scariest movie season of the year. I’m not a huge horror movie fan, but it’s the only genre I’m interested in every October, and this year’s Halloween terror cinema calendar is looking bloody good in theaters and at home.

Rob Zombie’s anxiously-awaited The Munsters movie sputtered to life on Netflix on Sept. 27. The re-boot is a prequel to the 1960s television series, detailing how Herman and Lily Munster met and fell in love. The film was shot in Budapest and it stars a cast of Rob Zombie movie regulars including Jeff Daniel Phillips as Herman Munster and Sheri Moon Zombie as Lily. I’m a big fan of Zombie’s Halloween films, but The Munsters is more satirical nostalgia than gory psychopathic violence.

In Mr. Harrigan’s Phone Craig (Jaeden Martell) works as an assistant to the retired Mr. Harrigan (Donald Sutherland). After the elderly man passes away, Craig leaves a voice message on his phone and it seems to lead to deadly consequences. The film is based on the Stephen King novella of the same name, and Sutherland fans will also want to seek out Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) and Don’t Look Now (1973) this scary movie season. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone comes to Netflix on Oct. 5.

Hulu’s new Hellraiser reboot is the 11th film in the Hellraiser universe. The original Hellraiser (1987) introduced viewers to a dark dimension created by author Clive Barker in his novella called The Hellbound Heart. The franchise centers on a bizarre puzzle box that can open a gateway to the hellish realm of the Cenobites, the Lament Configuration. Still with me? The Cenobites are former humans who’ve become demon-like monsters with appetites for torturing souls. Hulu’s new movie paves its road to hell with themes of addiction and finds actress Jamie Clayton starring as the bald baddie Pinhead who became a pop culture icon thanks to original actor Doug Bradley’s chilling performances in decades of Hellraiser flicks. Go back to Hellraiser on Hulu on Oct. 7.

Halloween Ends is supposed to be the final battle between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, but I feel like I’ve heard that one before? The original Halloween (1978) is a coldblooded classic, and many of the sequels and remakes are worth watching. Director David Gordon Green’s recent reboot trilogy — including Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills (2021) — has been fun, and I’m looking forward to this last installment of the story even if it might not really be the last last Halloween film we’ll ever see. Halloween Ends will be simultaneously released in theaters and on Peacock on Oct. 14.

Nurse Amy (Jessica Chastain) investigates a number of mysterious patient deaths after a new nurse (Eddie Redmayne) is hired at their hospital. Director Tobias Lindholm drew a searing performance out of Mads Mikkelsen in their film The Hunt (2012), and a highlight of The Good Nurse will likely be these two actors catand-mousing their way through this serial killer drama. The Good Nurse will have a limited theatrical release on Oct. 19 before it begins streaming on Netflix on Oct. 26.

When a young nun enters the Catholic Church’s exorcism training program, her supernatural gifts lead her straight to hell. Director Daniel Stramm also helmed The Last Exorcism so he’s on familiar ground with Prey for the Devil. Like the best horror stories, Prey for the Devil wraps its fantastic torments around everyday monsters like mental illness and generational trauma, and the trailer looks super gorgeous and freaky. Prey for the Devil hits theaters just in time for Halloween on Oct. 28.

Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville. Find out more about his projects at www.joenolan.com.