Halloween has gone from children trick or treating around the neighborhood to an all-out, all-month blitz of merchandising, movies and TV shows that befits a national celebration that now is second only to Christmas in popularity.
Thanks to a streaming service like Shudder, nearly every day leading to Oct. 31 offers some new cinematic surprise, meant to thrill, scare or horrify.
Leading the ghoulish way Oct. 4 in theaters is the long-awaited sequel “Joker: Folie à Deux” with Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Oscar-winning roles of Arthur Fleck and Joker.
This continuation of Arthur’s saga finds him in prison and on trial for the violent multiple murders that made him a celebrity – and the object of lust for Lady Gaga’s demented Harley Quinn. Unexpectedly a musical, this “Joker” definitely breaks the sequel mode in not giving “more of the same” but “something unusual and decidedly different.”
October’s other high-profile entry arrives Oct. 25 with Tom Hardy reprising his signature roles of Eddie Brock and Venom for the third time in “Venom: The Last Dance.”
Today MAX unveils the original film “Salem’s Lot,” an adaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 bestselling novel that reunites the producing teams behind the hit horror franchises “The Conjuring” and the “It” films. Once again author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) returns to his childhood home, Jerusalem’s Lot, and discover his beloved hamlet is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire.
“V/H/S/BEYOND,” the seventh installment of the “V/H/S” franchise, arrives Oct. 4 via streaming and boasts six new, hopefully bloodcurdling tapes with horror at the forefront of what is dubbed “A sci-fi-inspired hellscape.” Among the filmmakers: Justin Long.
Also hitting select theaters Oct. 4 is the truly ghoulish “Little Bites” where a protective mother allows a flesh-eating monster to ever so slowly eat her alive, nibble by nibble, to protect her 10-year-old daughter whom she has hidden away at grandma’s house. It’s not playing in Boston, but will hit streaming platforms soon. Written and directed by Haverhill’s own Spider One.
Today also sees a new Blumhouse entry on Prime Video, “House of Spoils” starring Oscar winner Ariana DeBose as a chef on a remote estate badgered by “a haunting presence.” With Blumhouse, is there any other kind?
“Teacup” is a scary survival series with Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) and Scott Speedman (“Grey’s Anatomy”) fighting for their lives in rural Georgia. Two episodes premiere on Peacock Oct. 10, followed by two episodes weekly through Halloween.
Winner of the Audience Award at the Gasparilla International Film Festival, “Children of the Pines” asks if college student Riley really can go home again. Or is she the victim of a very nasty plot? Streams on internet, cable and satellite platforms Oct. 18.
Not to be Forgotten: Tonight is the premiere of MAX’s original adult animated special, “Velma: This Halloween Needs to Be More Special!” starring Mindy Kaling.
