Home » Flicks’ Picks: 13 Movies To Watch This October

October is finally upon us, which is exciting as it means one thing: Brand new horror films will be hitting the cinema and scaring us witless. Hooray!

But if scary films aren’t for you then don’t worry – among the host of horrors, there are plenty of other movies that are sure to appeal and keep you occupied throughout the cold, autumnal nights.

Unlucky for some (but not for you!), here are 13 films to check out this month, arranged in release date order for your convenience. Enjoy, and be brave!

Gone Girl (18)

Release Date: 2 October

Why Should You Watch It? Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike star in the big-screen adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s bestselling novel. Telling the story of a woman (Pike) who goes missing from her house under mysterious circumstances, Affleck plays her long-suffering husband who has to co-operate with the police in the search for his wife, but finds that suspicion soon begins to fall on him…

Full of twists and turns until the very end, Gone Girl is two and a half hours but is sure to keep you on your toes throughout. The entire cast is strong, with Affleck giving a particularly impressive performance alongside comedy actor Neil Patrick Harris in one of his few serious roles, which he excels in.

Palo Alto (15)

Release Date: 3 October

Why Should You Watch It? Palo Alto is without a doubt one of the strongest films of the year with Sofia Coppola’s niece, Gia Coppola, making her directorial debut with an impressive cast, including James Franco and Emma Roberts.

Although undeniably sharing some directorial characteristics of her famous auntie, Gia Coppola’s trademark seems to be more similar to that of Larry Clark, with Palo Alto almost being like a contemporary version of films such as Kids and Bully.

The film follows a group of teenagers living in the Californian city, all looking for love, trouble, or both. As with Clark’s films, Coppola embeds horrifying and disturbing subplots so neatly into the film’s core that they almost appear normal or acceptable. Despite touching on some horrifying subject matters, there is a refreshing lack of drama with it all just seeming like a way of life.

Emma Roberts, James Franco, and Jack Kilmer all give stand-out performances in their roles, but it is Nat Wolff who steals the show as delinquent Freddie. In a performance unlike any he has given before, Wolff dominates every scene he is in with ease as he finds his niche as an actor.

If you are looking for incredible performances, great direction, and an eerily mesmerizing ambiance and tone then this is definitely one for you.

The Rewrite (12A)

Release Date: 8 October

Why Should You Watch It? It feels like ages since we’ve been treated to a new film from the king of rom-coms, Hugh Grant, and this one looks to be a good’un.

Grant stars as an Oscar-winning actor who is in a slump, so leaves Hollywood to teach screenwriting at college, where he falls for a single mother taking his class.

A rare, light-hearted film slotted into a month of terror and suspense, The Rewrite definitely has something different to offer during October.

Annabelle (15)

Release Date: 10 October

Why Should You Watch It? If you say that you watched James Wan’s The Conjuring without the hairs on the back of your neck standing up and goosepimples all over your body, then you are lying. Arguably one of the eeriest films that the horror genre has seen in recent years, The Conjuring paved the way for a whole new level of fear, and now Wan is back with its prequel.

Some of you may remember the creepy doll, Annabelle, that appeared in the first film and this year’s installment tells the story of how she came to be, and why she is just so terrifying.

Wan has stepped back from this film with John R. Leonetti taking to the director’s chair instead, but he is still involved as the producer and is sure to further his reputation of being able to instill fear into the most hard-to-scare people.

Be sure to check under your bed after watching this one!

The Maze Runner (12A)

Release Date: 10 October

Why Should You Watch It? Another long-awaited book adaptation hits screens this month in the shape of James Dashner’s The Maze Runner.

Starring this year’s BAFTA Rising Star winner Will Poulter, Game Of Thrones’ Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Skins’ Kaya Scodelario, the film tells the story of Thomas – a young boy who wakes up in a new world of 60 teen boys who have learned to survive in a completely enclosed and self-sufficient environment. Having given up hope on escaping through the maze that surrounds their living space, their world begins to change when a comatose girl mysteriously arrives.

This dystopian tale is full of action and suspense, which will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.

’71 (15)

Release Date: 10 October

Why Should You Watch It? Ever since starring as Cook in the second generation of Skins all those years ago, Jack O’Connell has proven himself to be one to watch time and again.

Following his critically acclaimed performance in gritty prison drama Starred Up, O’Connell has taken the lead in ’71, and looks set to take the critics by storm yet again.

’71 follows a young soldier, Gary Hook, who is deployed to Belfast during the civil unrest in Ireland during the 1970s. Following a riot on the streets, from which he barely escapes with his life, Gary finds himself lost and disoriented after being accidentally abandoned by his unit.

The journey back to his barracks is not a safe one and there is a lot of conflict that he must avoid in order to stay alive.

The Judge (15)

Release Date: 17 October

Why Should You Watch It? Robert Downey Jr. stars as big-city lawyer Hank Palmer, who plays devils advocate by getting his guilty clients off the hook and back on the streets.

Following the death of his mother, Hank returns to his family home and faces his estranged father, the town’s judge, who soon after is accused of murder.

Begrudgingly for both men, Hank sets out to find the truth surrounding the case, reconnecting with his family along the way.

Fury (12)

Release Date: 22 October

Why Should You Watch It? Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf star in this wartime drama of epic proportions.

Set in 1945, towards the end of World War II, Fury stars Pitt who plays Wardaddy, an army sergeant who has been hardened by battle. The American allies are set to make a last ditch attempt to defeat the Germans and Wardaddy commands a Sherman tank with a five-man crew to go on a deadly mission beyond enemy lines.

Massively outnumbered, Wardaddy and his men have everything against them as they make a heroic attempt to strike at the heart of Nazi Germany.

With the tagline ‘War Never Ends Quietly’, Fury is sure to be a gripping and action-packed watch.

The Babadook (15)

Release Date: 24 October

Why Should You Watch It? After finding much success on the film festival circuit, this horror flick looks set to become one of the most terrifying films of all time!

The Badadook tells the story of single mother Amelia, who is plagued by the violent death of her husband. After reading her son an innocent bedtime story about a monster, he becomes scared that there is a monster lurking in their house. Amelia soon finds that her son’s fears aren’t so imaginary, the house isn’t so safe, and the book is definitely not so innocent as they both have to battle the sinister presence with chilling consequences.

You might be sleeping with the light on after this one!

Serena (15)

Release Date: 24 October

Why Should You Watch It? After impressing together in Silver Linings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper reunite on the big screen in this period drama.

Based on Ron Rash’s novel of the same name, Serena sees Lawrence takes on the role of the title character, who marries George Pemberton (Cooper), the heir to a timber business in North Carolina during the midst of the Great Depression.

George struggles to maintain his timber business empire and things take a complicated turn when they discover his wife cannot bear children.

Horns (15)

Release Date: 29 October

Why Should You Watch It? Based on Joe Hill’s bestselling novel, Daniel Radcliffe stars as Ig Perrish, a young man who is accused of murdering his girlfriend (Juno Temple) following her mysterious death.

In a bizarre turn of events, Ig wakes up to find horns sprouting from his head, furthering the town’s belief that he killed his innocent girlfriend and the devil is now claiming him, which drives Ig  to try to find out who the real murderer is.

Billed as one of Radcliffe’s best performances so far, Horns is definitely a film with a difference, and its interesting and fantastical take on the horror genre guarantees a weird and wonderful watch this month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U7kcwiFsVM

Nightcrawler (15)

Release Date: 31 October

Why Should You Watch It? Another film tapping into the Halloween market in a different kind of way, Nightcrawler stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a young man who accidentally stumbles into the dark, underground world of L.A. crime journalism.

A dark and gritty thriller that will take you on the ride of your life, Nightcrawler sees Gyllenhaal give yet another powerful and intense performance.

If horror isn’t your style on All Hallow’s Eve, then this film is the one for you.

Ouija (15)

Release Date: 31 October

Why Should You Watch It? If good old-fashioned horror is your style, then Ouija is most definitely for you.

After giving a stand-out, and incredibly creepy, performance in The Quiet Ones earlier this year, Bates Motel star Olivia Cooke is back as Elai.

Taking to a Ouija board to communicate with the dead, a group of friends awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit with truly terrifying consequences. Happy Halloween!

Stephanie Soteriou

A film and showbiz journalist.

Find me on Twitter @StephanieRiou !

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