Welcome to TechRadar’s Halloween Week 2024

Michael Myers holding a knife in Halloween
TechRadar's countdown to Halloween 2024 has officially begun! (Image credit: Compass International Pictures )

Halloween is right around the corner and if you're looking to find the best horror movies or horror games to satisfy your thirst for the macabre, then we've got you covered. The team from across TechRadar has banded together to create a series of spooky features for you to enjoy this year.

Whether you are looking for the best horror movies and shows to watch on the best streaming services, seasonal recipes to make the most of those pumpkins that aren't being used for carving or how you can use the latest AI advancements to help elevate your Halloween party, we've covered a lot of bases. We've even compiled recommendations for less scary horror movies and shows, if comedies and animation are more your thing.

Over the next week, starting today (Thursday October 24 to next Thursday October 31), we'll be updating this guide with all the latest features, articles, opinion pieces and recommendations from across our Entertainment, Homes and AI teams to help you have the best Halloween yet. Don't worry if the list looks pretty bare for now, we'll be adding to this guide as we get closer to Halloween.

Streaming

If you are celebrating Halloween this year, you'll need plenty of things to watch. Thankfully, the best streaming services are packed with options to suit all tastes, and we've put together our favorite spooky movies and TV shows to sink your teeth into.

Beyond that, we've got first-time watches and recommendations for those new to the genre, so there's some variety going on here. Check back to see what other recommendations we have later in the week!

Terrifying slasher movies you won't want to miss

Samara Weaving in Ready or Not

(Image credit: Prime Vido)

Slasher is a staple when it comes to horror, and there's plenty out there for you to dive into. Rowan Davies took a plunge into the sub-genre and found seven slasher horror movies you absolutely should not miss this Halloween season. They're all streaming across some of the biggest services, so they're easy to find! Let's hope the unsuspecting victims aren't...

Psychological horror movies for a different fright

Haley Osment as a child in bed looking scared

(Image credit: Mubi)

Horror is exceptionally good at messing with peoples' minds. If that's the kind of thing that sends shivers down your spine, these seven psychological horror movies are for you. Mostly devoid of those big jumpy moments, these horrors rely on dread, tension, and mystery for the most part. Rowan Davies has collated a great list here, and it's bound to get you talking.

Sci-fi horror movies that'll surprise you

A face hugger wrapped around an astronaut's helmet

(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

Sci-fi and horror is a match made in heaven. While the genres are versatile and seem to mash with just about anything, there's something about the "unknown" that freaks people out. Aliens, distant futures, tech that's sometimes beyond our comprehension, it's all designed to scare you and these seven sci-fi horror movies definitely will. Rowan Davies has even thrown in some body horror here for good measure.

Animated movies for a less scary option

The two lead characters in the Corpse Bride standing at the altar

(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

If you love Halloween but hate scary movies, you're not alone! But there are plenty of lighter watches if you'd still like to celebrate, and Josie Watson has put together a list of 7 animated movie picks for spooky season. They're all Rotten Tomatoes approved too with over 80% on the coveted Tomatometer, so the critics agree they're great.

Netflix’s secret horror codes

Five people stand in front of a house with blood dripping down

(Image credit: Netflix)

Thanks to the best Netflix horror codes, you can easily find titles in seconds. Whether you want a general horror overview or you want to see specific subgenres, this is a great way for you to beat the endless scrolling and head straight into the stuff you actually want!

Gaming

If horror movies aren't immersive enough, horror gaming is the perfect option for a scarier experience. Personally, I find games scarier than going to see a movie because when you play a game, you're physically involved.

Horror is a huge genre for gaming and it comes in all shapes and sizes whether that's stealth-based games, co-ops like Dead by Daylight, or titles riddled with jumpscares. We have some great features from the gaming team, including a review of Blumhouse's debut horror game, Fear the Spotlight. Check back for the latest horror game pieces.

Why I won't play the Alien Isolation sequel

The Xenomorph patrolling the spaceship

(Image credit: Creative Assembly)

We found out that Alien: Isolation is getting a sequel recently, and that prompted Rob Dwiar to think about why he's not sure if he'll play it. Here, Rob reflects on his experience playing the utterly terrifying game and explains why his Ripley spent a lot of time hidden away in a cupboard (honestly, fair!). He also dives into the mechanics of the game and how they really perfected this interactive horror experience.

You might also like

Lucy Buglass
Senior Entertainment Writer

Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd.