Criterion Channel’s October Scares: A Spellbinding Array Of Horror And Classic Cinema

As the witching hour of October draws near, Criterion Channel is brewing a spine-chilling selection of horror films that promises to haunt and thrill throughout the month. The 2024 lineup unfurls with a ghastly array of themed collections designed to enchant and terrify. The “Horror F/X” collection pays homage to the sorcery of practical effects with haunting classics from Romero, Cronenberg, Lynch, and Tobe Hooper. The “Witches” series casts a spell with occult tales, including an anthology featuring Clint Eastwood in an unexpected role. Delve into the macabre with “Japanese Horror,” showcasing eerie masterpieces by Kaneto Shindo, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, and Takashi Miike. A Stephen King series will juxtapose the chilling works of John Carpenter with the enigmatic Lawnmower Man.

Picture of a werewolf that says Horror F/X — Photo Credit: The Criterion Channel

October’s Criterion Editions will deliver fearsome treats like Rosemary’s Baby, Night of the Hunter, and Häxan. On the made-for-TV front, John Carpenter’s underrated gem Someone’s Watching Me! will creep into the spotlight, alongside the unsettling The Wailing and The Babadook. Prepare for a month of terror as Cronenberg and Stephanie Rothman’s chilling works join the lineup, ensuring your October is filled with frightful delights.

Alongside the chilling horror lineup, Criterion Channel will also showcase special retrospectives on the careers of Winona Ryder and Raúl Juliá. Additionally, the spotlight will shine on the influential works of filmmakers Arthur J. Bressan Jr. and Lionel Rogosin.

Check out the full lineup on Criterion Channel:

Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) – Takashi Shimizu
The Fog (1980) – John Carpenter
The Love Witch (2016) – Anna Biller
Autumn in New York (2000) – Joan Chen
Black Roots (1970) – Lionel Rogosin
Bright Future (2003) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
The Night of the Hunter (1955) – Charles Laughton
Creepy (2016) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Island of Lost Souls (1932) – Erle C. Kenton
Suspiria (1977) – Dario Argento
The Witches (1967) – Mauro Bolognini, Vittorio De Sica, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Franco Rossi, and Luchino Visconti
The Babadook (2014) – Jennifer Kent
Good Times, Wonderful Times (1965) – Lionel Rogosin
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – Roman Polanski
The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) – Terence Fisher
Frankenstein (1931) – James Whale
The Entity (1982) – Sidney J. Furie
Oysters Are in Season (1966) – Lionel Rogosin
The Wailing (2016) – Na Hong-jin
Heathers (1989) – Michael Lehmann
Day of the Dead (1985) – George A. Romero
Spider Baby (1967) – Jack Hill
The Fly (1986) – David Cronenberg
The Student Nurses (1970) – Stephanie Rothman
The Company of Wolves (1984) – Neil Jordan
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996) – Tibor Takács
The Velvet Vampire (1971) – Stephanie Rothman
Ichi the Killer (2001) – Takeshi Miike
Mermaids (1990) – Richard Benjamin
Alison’s Birthday (1981) – Ian Coughlan
Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985) – Héctor Babenco
The Spell (1977) – Lee Philips
Rabid (1977) – David Cronenberg
Reality Bites (1994) – Ben Stiller
The Lawnmower Man (1992) – Brett Leonard
Woodcutters of the Deep South (1973) – Lionel Rogosin
The Girl on the Broomstick (1972) – Václav Vorlíček
Pulse (2001) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
How Do You Like Them Bananas? (1966) – Lionel Rogosin
Bride of Frankenstein (1935) – James Whale
The Age of Innocence (1993) – Martin Scorsese
Creepy (2016) – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Sullivan’s Travels (1941) – Preston Sturges
Secret Window (2004) – David Koepp
Christine (1983) – John Carpenter
Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (2003) – Takashi Shimizu
Black Fantasy (1972) – Lionel Rogosin
Il demonio (1963) – Brunello Rondi
The Witches (1990) – Nicolas Roeg
The Wailing (2016) – Na Hong-jin

This October is set to deliver a thrilling mix of spine-tingling chills and cinematic brilliance, spanning a range of genres and unforgettable films. Explore the complete lineup and discover even more on the Criterion Channel.