It’s officially fall, meaning for us Halloween and horror fans, it’s spooky season. As the high temperatures from summer start to cool down and we feel a brisk chill in the air, we can’t help but crave some horror content to go along with the changing seasons. For me, it’s horror season all year round — though fall is when I can truly thrive as everyone celebrates Halloween. Hulu has so many great horror movies and shows to watch year-round, but if you’re starting to browse their horror lineup now ahead of the holiday, we have recommendations for you!
From a brand-new FX on Hulu show calledGrotesquerieto some older favorites likeAlien, these are the 10 best horror movies and shows available to watch right now on Hulu.
Grotesquerie
As mentioned,Grotesquerieis a new show that premiered on FX on Sept. 25. New episodes air on Thursdays and stream the next day on Hulu. Created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken, it might be easy to mistake the series for another season of American Horror Story, but this is a standalone title. Amid a series of crimes committed in a small town, a nun and detective work together to try to uncover the truth inGrotesquerie.
The series’ vibe is reminiscent of David Fincher'sZodiacand even the more recent filmLonglegsby Oz Perkins. Niecy Nash, Lesley Manville, Courtney B. Vance, Micaela Diamond, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Raven Goodwin, and Travis Kelce star.
Jennifer’s Body
One of my favorites on this list isJennifer’s Body, the 2009 horror-comedy written by Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama. The feminist film follows two best friends in high school who, after surviving a deadly fire, have their world turned upside down. Jennifer (Megan Fox) becomes possessed that night, and the movie follows her dynamic with best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) as she preys on boys at school.
Jennifer’s Bodywas ahead of its time when it was released 15 years ago and has since become a cult classic.
American Horror Story
It wouldn’t be a spooky season withoutAmerican Horror Story, now would it? Although we won’t be getting a new season of the Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk-created anthology series in 2024, we still have 12 seasons we can watch and rewatch anytime on Hulu. The show premiered in 2011, and though seasons have varied in quality since then, it’s revolutionized horror television and brought the genre into the mainstream.
Some of the strongest seasons include the very firstMurder House, along withAsylum,Coven, andApocalypse. Incorporating elements of the supernatural, religion, haunted houses, serial killers, and more,AHSnever fails to surprise you with how far it's willing to go. Though I haven’t been as impressed with the recent seasons, I still always look at this show with fondness for how great it can be.
Some frequent cast members inAmerican Horror Storyinclude Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, Lily Rabe, Denis O'Hare, Kathy Bates, Leslie Grossman, Emma Roberts, and more familiar faces.
Castle Rock
If you’re a fan of Stephen King’s works, you’ve got to check outCastle Rock, Hulu’s horror anthology series that I wish went on longer. The two-season show incorporates many of King’s stories, weaving together different characters and plot points to create a really engaging narrative set in the town of Castle Rock, Maine. The first season follows an attorney who returns to his hometown after receiving an anonymous phone call, while the second is about Annie Wilkes’ impact on the town pre-Misery.
Castle Rockwas created by Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomason and premiered on Hulu in 2018. Some of the cast members include André Holland, Melanie Lynskey, Bill Skarsgård, Sissy Spacek, Jane Levy, Lizzy Caplan, Elsie Fisher, Tim Robbins, and Barkhad Abdi.
Infinity Pool
My favorite horror movie on Hulu right now has got to beInfinity Pool, Brandon Cronenberg’s twisty 2023 film that stars Mia Goth, Alexander Skarsgård, and Cleopatra Coleman. As a fan of David Cronenberg’s son, I was very excited to see this movie when it hit theaters, and it definitely met my expectations.Infinity Poolfollows a married couple vacationing at an exotic resort, who, after hitting it off with another couple, accidentally kills a man while driving intoxicated.
The couple then sees first-hand how dark and dangerous their surroundings are, which terrifies the wife but seduces the husband. I absolutely love howInfinity Poolis shot and the experimental aspect of the storytelling. It’s a fantastic option if you’re looking for something different.
The First Omen
The newest movie on the list isThe First Omen, Arkasha Stevenson's 2024 prequel toThe Omen(1976). I was very hesitant about this movie when it was first announced, as returning to one of the great horror classics could’ve been a major miss, butThe First Omenwas totally a pleasant surprise for me when I saw it in theaters.
The movie follows an American nun named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) who relocates to Italy to work in a Catholic orphanage. As she gets to know the girls, she starts to discover sinister plans at play that put them in harm’s way. What makes matters worse is when she realizes how she’s connected to it all.
Free is fantastic in the leading role; she’s a great up-and-coming horror actress I absolutely loved in the Apple TV+ showServant. Ralph Ineson, Charles Dance, and Bill Nighy also have roles.The First Omenfeatures really strong scenes and callbacks to other horror classics, such as 1981’sPossession.
If you’ve been on the fence aboutThe First Omen, I recommend you give it a shot this Halloween season.
Alien
If you've watched this year'sAlien: Romulusand loved it, there's no time like the present to watch the fullAlienmovie franchise, starting withAlien! The 1979 sci-fi horror movie directed by Ridley Scott is one of the best movies in the genre of all time.
Following a crew traveling in space who investigates an abandoned spaceship, it doesn't take long for them to realize they're not actually alone. An alien, known in the movie series as a Xenomorph, hunts them down and tries to pick them off one by one.Alienwas a box office success and won an Academy Award for visual effects, making a sequel (and more after that) a no-brainer.
The cast ofAlienis made up of John Kurt, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Veronica Cartwright, and last but not certainly least, Sigourney Weaver — the latter of whom went on to star in multiple sequels and become a horror icon with her role as Ripley. Though most of theAlienmovies are great watches, you definitely can't go wrong with the first one.
All of theAlienmovies, including the twoAlien vs Predators, are available to watch on Hulu.
Scream Queens
The short-lived horror-comedy seriesScream Queensran on Fox from 2015 to 2016 and definitely made an impression. Though I wish it got more seasons, the first two are great rewatches, especially during the fall time. The hilarious slasher show follows a group of sorority college girls who are targeted by a serial killer dressed as the school mascot. Starring Emma Roberts, Ariana Grande, Billie Lourd, and Abigail Breslin, all playing characters with the name Chanel,Scream Queensis a satirical take on teen horror tropes.
The cast ofScream Queensalso features other familiar faces, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Niecy Nash, Lea Michele, Nick Jonas, Taylor Lautner, and Glen Powell. Though the show can be dark at times, it is meant to be funny, so it'll make you laugh more than you'll be getting nightmares. The whodunnit storyline keeps you on your toes, while the ridiculous plot points and bits of dialogue keep things fresh.
Us
Jordan Peele's 2019 psychological horror filmUsisn't the best in his filmography, but it's still a great watch if you're looking to get creeped out. Taking place during a family beach vacation, the Wilsons are stalked and terrorized by people who look just like them. As they learn more about their doppelgängers, the family discovers that these mysterious people are the "Tethered" versions of themselves, and they're there to "untether" themselves.
Usfeatures great performances, particularly from Lupita Nyong'o, who many horror fans believe was snubbed out of prestigious award recognition from the likes of the Oscars or Golden Globes. Alongside Nyong'o in the cast are Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Elisabeth Moss, and Tim Heidecker. The film has been criticized for some uneven storytelling and potential plot holes, but the intriguing storyline, awesome cinematography, and undeniably strong performances makeUsworth the watch.
American Horror Stories
A spinoff ofAmerican Horror Story, FX on Hulu anthology seriesAmerican Horror Storiespremiered in 2021 and consists of three seasons so far. Though not as strong as its predecessor,American Horror Storiesis a unique take on the genre, using the anthology format for each episode. This means every episode is its own standalone story, which is pretty cool. But because of that, the quality definitely varies from episode to episode. Some are awesome, while others are forgettable. LikeAmerican Horror Story,American Horror Storieswas created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.
American Horror Storiestackles horror topics like urban legends, the supernatural, satanism, serial killers, and more. Some of the episodes are connected toAmerican Horror Story, which is fun for fans of the original series. The spinoff also sees some of the original's cast members portray new roles, with familiar faces like Billie Lourd, Cody Fern, Denis O'Hare, Naomi Grosman, and others showing up.
If you're looking for something you can easily jump into,American Horror Storiesmight be just for you this Halloween season!
What will you be watching on Hulu this fall? Did we miss any of your favorites?
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