On the night of October 31 to November 1, when, according to ancient belief, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead grows thinnest, watching a horror movie has become a full-fledged Halloween tradition for many viewers. Classic horror films have long since been memorized, so audiences are looking for something new and genuinely terrifying—either heading to theaters to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere. It is precisely for such an audience that the lifestyle project WAVE (RBC-Ukraine) has prepared a selection of fresh horror flicks that have yet to feel overdone. The full original selection is available at wave.rbc.ua.
Return to Iconic Franchises
Right two positions in the selection rely on recognizable universes. One of them is the sixth film in a franchise centered on Jamie Hall, a young mother with an unusual gift: she can enter the afterlife and bring creatures back into reality. Initially, these 'journeys' seem like dreams to her, but gradually the woman starts finding items from the afterlife in her own apartment, while the creatures, in turn, try to use Jamie as a bridge to reach the living. The second iconic novelty is a new installment in the legendary 'Evil Dead' series: after her husband's death, the widow Alice goes to his family's country house, where a family gathering quickly turns into a nightmare when a supernatural force intervenes, forcing the heroine to fight off demons in an isolated space.
Road Traps and Psychological Pressure
Two other films operate on a more intimate, psychological level of fear. An American horror turns an ordinary van trip into a gruesome ordeal: a young couple witnesses a terrible accident, stops to help—and afterward realizes that a demonic entity has taken up residence in their van, turning the familiar space into a trap they must escape before it is too late. A Canadian horror builds tension differently: here, the boundary between reality and madness gradually blurs. A young woman named Evie, caring for her sick mother, starts a paranormal podcast with her friend Justin. Evie doesn't believe in the afterlife, but one day the hosts receive a chilling audio file with strange noises and mutilated voices that drives the heroine insane step by step.
Hollywood Releases in Theaters
For those who prefer the big screen, the selection features two fresh premieres currently running in theaters. One of the main roles stars Oscar winner Jessica Chastain, with one of modern horror's most influential creators, James Wan, serving as producer; the plot follows a young girl named Bella who establishes a connection with a supernatural entity strikingly similar to her own mother. The second novelty exploits the beloved trope of an old house with secrets in a provincial town: a young family moves for a new life, but finds an ancient mirror linked to ancient evil in a hidden barn, and now they must solve the mystery of the former residents before it is too late.
Superhero Horror from DC
Concluding the selection is an unusual entry—a horror-thriller from DC Studios, the studio's first film in this genre. At the center of the story is Matt Hagen, a young actor whose face was disfigured by a gangster; in despair, he turns to a female scientist who transforms his body into living clay. Thus, Gotham's familiar comic book villain is re-envisioned through the lens of pure horror rather than action. Together, these seven films—ranging from franchise horrors to psychological thrillers and a superhero horror—give viewers a wide spectrum of options to celebrate Halloween in the right mood, whether watching alone or in a noisy group of friends.
