Netflix is releasing a handful of notable new movies and TV shows in October to celebrate the Halloween season. To continue the “Netflix and Chills” event for another year, the streaming giant is getting into the spookiest month of the year by giving subscribers more horror content for viewers of all ages. With newer competition like Disney+ and Paramount+ on the rise, Netflix will need viewing events like “Netflix and Chills” to set themselves apart from rivals.
Even well before viewers had Halloween on their minds, Netflix increased the genre’s presence with a few key releases. Though not a traditional zombie horror movie, Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead scratched an itch for those who enjoy the undead subgenre. In the summer of 2021, Netflix then unleashed Leigh Janiak’s Fear Street trilogy, making waves for the progressive themes, nostalgic storytelling, and unique release method.
Even though October serves as the month that houses Halloween, many consider September the official start of the spooky season. Well, Netflix may agree, considering the titles the streamer unveiled throughout the month to kick off the “Netflix and Chills” event. Aside from new installments of Into the Night and Lucifer, Netflix released notable horror movies like Prey, Nightbooks, Intrusion, and No One Gets Out Alive. There were also releases of brand new series such as the Korean dram Squid Game, Midnight Mass, and The Chestnut Man. So what’s next for Netflix’s horror offerings in October?
Scaredy Cats – October 1, 2021
The first title on the “Netflix and Chills” October calendar is a brand-new series appropriate for all ages. The show, titled Scaredy Cats, follows 12-year-old Willa Ward (Sophia Reid-Gantzert), who comes in possession of an enchanted necklace that her mother, a witch, previously owned. The piece of jewelry catches the attention of two dangerous witches, resulting in Willa and her best friends to transform into cats to throw off the search before they are forced to save the town. Anna McRoberts, who is behind Scaredy Cats, previously worked on animal-centric movies like the Air Bud franchise, Santa Buddies, and related spinoffs.
Escape The Undertaker – October 5, 2021
As part of the Halloween programming event, Netflix is unveiling Escape the Undertaker, the streamer’s latest interactive title. In partnership with the WWE, Netflix has created a horror-inspired tale that allows viewers to control The New Day tag team as the trio wanders a haunted house. That said, it won’t be an ordinary house but instead a mansion owned by The Undertaker, the legendary professional wrestler who has a knack for horror and the supernatural. The New Day–Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods–will attempt to escape the mansion, but it’s up to the viewer to decide their fate.
There’s Someone Inside Your House – October 6, 2021
Arriving the first week of October is the long-awaited slasher titled There’s Someone Inside Your House. Based on the book by Stephanie Perkins of the same name, the movie stars Sydney Park as Makani Young, a teenager who moves from Hawaii to Nebraska. Though relocating to a new high school is difficult enough, Makani and her new friends’ lives are turned upside down when a serial killer wreaks havoc on the small town. Even more complicated is the fact that the killer wears masks of the soon-to-be victims’ faces. The movie, which premiered at Fantastic Fest ahead of the October Netflix premiere, is directed by Creep‘s Patrick Brice.
A Tale Dark & Grimm – October 8, 2021
To bolster the family-friendly offerings in time for Halloween, Netflix is releasing the animated series A Tale Dark & Grimm in early October. Based on the kids book by author Adam Gidwitz, the animated series will be a new twist on Grimm Brothers fairy tales. In this version, Hansel and Gretel are young royals who escape their lives as a prince and princess to find new parents. During their search, the siblings encounter numerous threats and supernatural beings. The voice cast includes notable names like Ron Funches, Adam Lambert, Tom Hollander, Missi Pyle, and Nicole Byer.
You Season 3 – October 15, 2021
After nearly two years since the release of the second installment, You season 3 will arrive just in time for Halloween. The psychological thriller based on the books by Caroline Kepnes was first released on Lifetime before moving to Netflix for season 2, where it emerged as a major hit. Still following the obsessively dangerous serial killer, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), season 3 will head into new territory after Joe’s girlfriend, Love (Victoria Pedretti), flipped the script. Now married and raising a son, the pair will have a new conflict at hand after Joe becomes infatuated with a neighbor named Natalie (Michaela McManus). You season 3 will also feature Shalita Grant, Travis Van Winkle, Saffron Burrows, Tati Gabrielle, and Scott Speedman in key roles.
Sharkdog’s Fintastic Halloween – October 15, 2021
Netflix’s popular animated children’s program Sharkdog is returning in mid-October with a Halloween special. The episode, titled, Sharkdog’s Fintastic Halloween, will welcome the return of protagonist Max and his trusty sidekick and best friend, Sharkdog, as the pair take on a spooky mission after hearing the legend of “Fearsome Fog,” it’s up to Max and Sharkdog to save trick-or-treating from a sea monster. Though Sharkdog season 1 released in September, a second season is already in development.
Night Teeth – October 20, 2021
Another major horror movie title coming to Netflix in October is Night Teeth, a film written by Brent Dillon and directed by Adam Randall. The story centers on a chauffeur named Benny (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), who takes on a job driving two women, Blaire (Debby Ryan) and Zoe (Lucy Fry), around Los Angeles area nightclubs. Despite their appearance, the two women are ancient vampires, causing Benny to get involved in the power struggle among the vampires in LA. The cast also includes notable names like Alfie Allen, Megan Fox, Sydney Sweeney, Raúl Castillo, and Alexander Ludwig. Though the movie went into production in early 2020, the coronavirus pandemic delayed filming, but it makes for a perfect title heading into 2021’s Halloween celebration.
Locke & Key Season 2 – October 23, 2021
After debuting in February 2020, Locke & Key is finally returning to Netflix for a follow-up installment in late October. Based on the comic book by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez, Locke & Key follows the Locke family and the mysteries surrounding their residence known as the Keyhouse. Though the Lockes thought they came out on top in season 1, Locke & Key season 2 will follow the fact that Dodge the demon is still lurking after using Kinsey’s boyfriend Gabe and possibly others as hosts. Eden, a classmate of Kinsey, is also possessed, so the family is clearly not out of harm’s way just yet.
Hypnotic – October 27, 2021
Kate Siegel is no stranger to Netflix after appearing in five total Netflix titles after the most recent release of Midnight Mass. The actress will be making her return for another Halloween-appropriate project in the form of the thriller, Hypnotic. In the past, Siegel’s Netflix credits revolved around work made by Siegel’s husband, Mike Flanagan, but this time around, the movie is directed by Matt Angel and Suzanne Coote. Hypnotic centers on a woman named Jenn (Siegel), who hires Dr. Collin Meade (Jason O’Mara) as her hypnotherapist before experiencing deadly results after the sessions. The movie also stars Dulé Hill, Jaime M. Callica, Lucie Guest, and Tanja Dixon-Warren.
Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight Part 2 – October 27, 2021
The Polish slasher Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight is officially getting the sequel treatment with a follow-up film set to premiere a few days before Halloween. Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight Part 2 features another ruthless killer who has a special connection to the original antagonist. As for returning cast members, the Final Girl from the first movie, Zosia Wolska (Julia Wieniawa-Narkiewicz), is back for a plot that’s being heavily kept under wraps. That said, director Bartosz M. Kowalski is back at the helm of the sequel.
Every Other Major Title Coming To Netflix In October 2021
Though most of Netflix’s new October 2021 content is horror-centric, a few projects will cater to fans of other genres. First up is Antoine Fuqua’s The Guilty, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal in the remake of the 2018 Danish movie. The movie, which releases October 1, centers on a cop forced to handle 911 calls during an intense emergency throughout Los Angeles. Next is the animated series Inside Job, a series from Gravity Falls creator Alex Hirsch, set to debut on October 22. Finally, Netflix will be expanding the Army of the Dead universe by premiering Matthias Schweighöfer’s prequel, Army of Thieves, on October 29.
