From Cursed Friends to Werewolf by Night, Here’s Some Spooky Movies You Don’t Want To Miss
Watcher beware, you’re in for a scare! From a 2000s game gone wrong to Halloween decorations come to life, here’s some new spooky movies to check out at your own risk.
Cursed Friends
Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House… your 2000s future is coming for you.
Harvey Guillén, Nicole Byer, Jessica Lowe, and Andrew Lewis Caldwell star in Comedy Central’s new original movie Cursed Friends. It follows four childhood friends who reunite for a drunken Halloween night to find that the MASH game they played in 2002 is coming true in disturbing ways. They must work together to save each other from their wild new fates — from having 100 kids with the hometown loser to marrying N*SYNC’s Joey Fatone.
Cursed Friends is a surprisingly spooky delight, chock full of early 2000s nostalgia and over-the-top humor that will take you back to your own MASH days of youth. I loved every minute of it!
Fatone, James Austin Johnson, Nikki Glaser, Kathy Griffin, Nicole Richie, Ken Marino, Rob Riggle, and Will Arnell also round out the cast.
Cursed Friends is streaming on Hulu.
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone
Based on the Stephen King novella, Jaeden Martell and Donald Sutherland star in Mr. Harrigan’s Phone about a boy named Craig who befriends an older, reclusive billionaire in his small town. The two form an unlikely bond over books, but when Mr. Harrigan passes it seems the duo are still able to communicate from beyond the grave with the help of an iPhone.
The slow-burn supernatural coming-of-age story features a cast that delivers layered performances, but the film falters the landing in its overall themes and ending. It introduces an intriguing idea that Mr. Harrigan is able to hurt the people that hurt Craig from beyond, but then immediately drops the premise before it can really find itself.
Mr. Harrgan’s Phone is streaming on Netflix.
Monster High
Monster High: The Movie is a live-action movie musical based on the iconic Monster High franchise about the children of famous monsters and creatures. The story follow Clawdeen Wolf (Miia Harris) who is new to Monster High and makes fast friends with Frankie Stein (Ceci Balagot) and Draculaura (Nayah Damasen). Clawdeen finally feels like she’s found a place where she belongs… until her big secret gets in the way. Can she embrace her true monster heart despite her half human identity?
The Monster High franchise has always been about fostering a more accepting world where everyone can be proud to be their most authentic self and they definitely embrace that in this film, which feels like mix of Disney’s Zombies franchise meets Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. While the story is a bit forced and cheesy at times, the catchy musical numbers are genuinely good and where the film really shines.
Monster High: The Movie is streaming on Paramount+.
Rosaline
While Rosaline might not be a spooky movie per say, it does feature a pretty epic masquerade party!
The premise of Hulu’s Rosaline is brilliant as it gives the briefly mentioned cousin of Juliet a chance to tell her story when it comes to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It turns out she was actually the first Capulet to capture Romeo’s eye before he met Juliet at the masquerade ball and fell head over heels in love with her. The comedic retelling features modern language and ideals and a wonderful cast in Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Kyle Allen, and Sean Teale, but ultimately falls flat.
It’s hard to root for Rosaline for a number of reasons, from her lack of communication with Juliet to chasing after a guy who doesn’t want her. She would rather be selfless and trick her cousin than just be open and honest about her former relationship with Romeo. On top of that, she’s chasing a guy who cheated on her, ghosted her, and is clearly just not that into her. What really makes Romeo all that desirable then?
In the end, she still never has a real conversation with Romeo about what happened between them, which was very unsatisfying. Rosaline feels like a backwards take on the star-crossed love story, glorifying relationships that have no real chemistry or passion.
Rosaline is streaming on Hulu.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow
Priah Ferguson takes on her first leading film role in Netflix’s The Curse of Bridge Hollow opposite comedy legend Marlon Wayans. The duo play a skeptical father and an openminded daughter who get caught up in a curse in their new small town that brings the town’s Halloween decorations to life.
While The Curse of Bridge Hollow offers up fun special effects and science lessons, its premise has been done before and done better. The acting feels wooden and forced and it never finds its spooky charm. What should’ve been a big win for Stranger Things stand out Ferguson, just falls flat. There are plenty of other Halloween films for the whole family worthy of a watch, but you might consider skipping this one.
The Curse of Bridge Hollow is streaming on Netflix.
The Loneliest Boy In The World
The Loneliest Boy In The World follows an awkward young man who is tasked with making new friends after the sudden death of his mother. He ends up (literally) digging up a new family from the cemetery that end up coming to life overnight to keep him company. The film is led by Max Harwood, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Susan Wokoma, Evan Ross, Jacob Sartorius, and Ashley Benson.
Under the right circumstances, The Loneliest Boy In The World could’ve been a campy and quirky horror comedy filled with heart and zombies. Instead it delivers a cringe worthy story that doesn’t seem to know where it’s going, how to get there, or how to use its talented cast. I will give it some extra kudos for some truly disgusting make up effects though.
The Loneliest Boy In The World debuts in select theaters on October 14 and on Digital on October 18.
Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night explores a new corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it tells the story of a secret group of monster hunters who gather following the death of their leader for a deadly competition to find the next keeper of their most powerful relic. Gael García Bernal stars, alongside Laura Donnelly and Harriet Sansom Harris.
The chilling special is inspired by horror films of the ‘30s and ‘40s, while delivering a mix of charming pulpy horror and campy monster fun. With practical effects, a thrilling black-and-white-style, and a unique take on who’s really a monster, Michael Giacchino proves himself to be a force in directing.
Werewolf by Night is streaming on Disney+.
