We’re deep into October, and you know what that means, beyond pumpkin spice-flavored everything—horror movies wherever you turn. Right now, we’ll turn your attention to a trio of the more buzzed-about fear cinema finds coming our way, which didn’t skimp on the nightmare fuel for film festival goers this year and will deliver you the shivers as well.
Cuckoo (2024): Moody teen Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) was less than thrilled about having to pack up indefinitely for a Bavarian Alpine resort as her architect dad (Martin Csokas) and stepmom (Jessica Henwick) worked on a project for the chalet’s eccentric owner Herr Konig (Dan Stevens). She’ll soon discover that there were justifiable–and unholy–reasons to find her new environs and host off-putting, as the seemingly inescapable hotel is stalked by shrieking, semi-human creatures. Chiller from Tilman Singer (“Luz”) co-stars Mila Lieu, Greta Fernández, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey.
In a Violent Nature (2024): Out exploring the woods while on their cabin getaway, three kids couldn’t help but abscond with the antique locket they found dangling from a marker. That’s unfortunate, because it was the only thing keeping Johnny (Ry Barrett)–a mentally challenged youth murdered decades before by bullying loggers–in the ground, and it won’t be a polite ask for its return as he slaughters all in his way. Slow-burn stunner from Canada also stars Sam Roulston, Liam Leone, Cameron Love, Andrea Pavlovic.
Oddity (2024): When Dani Timmis (Carolyn Bracken) was murdered in her home, her psychiatrist husband Ted (Gwilym Lee), and the authorities, were quick to blame an escaped mental patient. One year later, Dani’s blind, psychic twin sister Darcy (Bracken, again) showed up at Ted’s door with a creepy family heirloom mannequin…and a promise to reveal who was truly responsible. Effective shocker from Ireland and writer-director Damian McCarthy (“Caveat”) also stars Tadhg Murphy, Caroline Menton, Steve Wall, Johnny French.