![\"Jessica](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2599_FP_1144452U_00087994R-H-2026.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA rundown of October’s scariest films in theaters, including ‘The Devils’ and ‘Whalefall.’<\/p>\n
\tPublished on October 7, 2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\tJessica Chastain as Other Mommy in ‘Other Mommy.’<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUniversal Pictures<\/p>\n
\n\tIt\u2019s spooky season at the box office, with several horror films <\/a>set to open over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n \n\tOther Mommy kicks off the month, coming into theaters on Friday, but there are a bunch of other horror titles coming \u2014 including a couple of re-releases \u2014 that will attempt to scare audiences even more than that Elizabeth Holmes documentary<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tHere\u2019s what\u2019s coming, each film\u2019s early buzz, release date, and their respective trailers.<\/p>\n \tOct. 9: Other Mommy (Universal\/Blumhouse\/Atomic Monster)<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\t\u201cA terrifying trip into the darkening world of a young girl, Bela, who forms a relationship with a sinister entity in her home who looks uncannily like her own mother.\u201d Jessica Chastain plays the girl\u2019s mother and the spectral \u201cother mommy.\u201d The film is based on the 2024 horror novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman (\u201cOther Mommy\u201d is decidedly a major title upgrade). The studio is holding back both first reactions and reviews to the last minute on this one, which usually isn\u2019t a positive sign, but the trailers certainly look strong. Directed by Rob Savage.<\/p>\n \tOct. 9: Pan\u2019s Labyrinth (Cineverse)<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tThe 20th anniversary re-release of Guillermo del Toro\u2019s beloved, Oscar-winning dark fantasy. \u201cIn 1944 Spain, as fascist forces tighten their grip following the Spanish Civil War, young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is uprooted to a remote military outpost commanded by her cruel stepfather (Sergi L\u00f3pez). Amid the brutality of war, Ofelia discovers a hidden labyrinth and encounters a mysterious faun who claims she is a lost princess. To reclaim her throne, she must complete three dangerous tasks that test her courage and spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n \tOct. 16: Whalefall (20th Century)<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\t\u201cFollowing the death of his father (Josh Brolin), Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) goes diving off the coast of California in search of his remains. He soon finds himself in a desperate fight for survival when he\u2019s swallowed whole by a massive whale. Trapped inside its belly, he must figure out a way to escape as his oxygen supply starts to run out.\u201d The film is based on the bestselling novel by Daniel Kraus and is more of a survival thriller than outright horror. The first reactions say the movie is intense<\/a> and claustrophobic with another strong performance by Abrams, who similarly delivered a one-man show in Resident Evil, though some ding the film for becoming overly sentimental in its final act. Directed by Brian Duffield.<\/p>\n \tOct. 16. The Devils (Warner Bros. Clockwork).<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tYou think Blumhouse goes hard? Check this out. In theaters for one week only, this is a re-release of Ken Russell\u2019s controversial and long censored 1971 cult classic with a 4K restoration. This version uses the definitive cut reconstructed in 2004 under Russell\u2019s supervision. \u201cIn 17th-century France, a charismatic, politically defiant priest (Oliver Reed) becomes the target of a sexually repressed nun\u2019s (Vanessa Redgrave) false witchcraft accusations, which are weaponized by a power-hungry Cardinal and church officials to crush local autonomy.\u201d The re-release has 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes across 10 reviews. The film is rated NC-17 (remember when that was a thing?).<\/p>\n \tOct. 23. Clayface (Warner Bros.\/DC)<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tDC Studios\u2019 next turn at bat following the disappointment of Supergirl<\/a> is another big swing, this time into body horror: \u201cActor Matt Hagen\u2019s (Tom Rhys Harries) meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss\u2019s actions leave him horribly disfigured. Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self\u2026 but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiraling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge.\u201d No official reactions yet, but the trailers actually look rather good. Interestingly, DC Studios co-chief James Gunn recently fired back<\/a> at a fan who snarked, \u201cWho asked for a Clayface movie?\u201d with a rather deft reply. Directed by James Watkins.<\/p>\n \tOct. 30. Christmas at the Kringles (Briarcliff Entertainment)<\/p>\n \t\t\t \n\tA limited release that\u2019s billed as a horror comedy, the film opens the night before Halloween. \u201cAfter moving to a quiet suburban neighborhood, the Seversons meet the Kringles, a family that celebrates Christmas year-round. When Mark, the father, discovers the Kringles\u2019 sinister yuletide intentions, he teams up with a badass Santa in a high-stakes, action-packed fight to save his family.\u201d Ron Livingston and Rachel Bilson star with Kevin Lewis directing.<\/p>\n \t\tTHR Newsletters<\/p>\n Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day<\/p>\n![\"Jessica](\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-hollywoodreporter-2021\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Universal Pictures\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Picturehouse\/Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: 20th Century Studios\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Warner Bros.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh\/Warner Bros. Pictures\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Briarcliff Entertainment \/ Courtesy Everett Collection\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n