Just as has been the case for the majority of 2020, Halloween is probably going to be a little different than we’re used to this year.
With 2020’s scariest visitor undoubtedly being the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this means that the usual frightful festivities of Halloween parties, trick or treating and more will be out of the question, which is leaving people to turn to other forms of fun to mark the occasion.
Netflix has undoubtedly been one of the real MVP’s for many over the past few months of lockdown by constantly churning out new content to consume, and October and Halloween is certainly no different.
A bunch of new and fan-favourite horror films and shows have already landed or are coming to the streaming platform here in the UK all through this month.
Here’s our picks for some of the best.
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The Conjuring
1st October
The Conjuring / Flickr
The Conjuring really isn’t one for the faint-hearted.
The film stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren – paranormal investigators and authors associated with prominent cases of haunting – who come to the assistance of the Perron family after they begin to experience increasingly disturbing events in their farmhouse in Rhode Island in 1971.
The first instalment to the franchise has already arrived to watch on Netflix now.
If you fancy immersing yourself in the full Conjuring Universe though, then get yourself down to the Scare City drive-in cinema at Event City for an experience like no other.
Corpse Bride
1st October
The Corpse Bride
Tim Burton’s cult-classic Corpse Bride is one for the whole family this Halloween.
The stop-motion animated gothic romance has spawned a thousand Halloween costumes since its release in 2005, and if you love The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, and Beetlejuice, but haven’t seen this gem yet, then you need to get it on your list.
It’s already available to stream on Netflix now.
Friday 13th
1st October
Friday 13th
The Friday 13th franchise is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the horror film world.
The American slasher movie follows a group of teenagers on their holiday at Crystal Lake as they encounter the infamous character of Jason Voorhees and the franchise was given new life in 2009 with a reboot of the original.
Jason was redesigned to be leaner and quicker for the new film, and with his own backstory.
Another one that’s ready to stream on Netflix now.
Paranormal Activity 4
1st October
Paranormal Activity 4
Paranormal Activity is a record-breaking franchise.
The first film broke records on its nationwide release in 2009 thanks to its incredible cheap production costs and unexpected popularity, and it’s now a six-part film series – including a seventh in the works – with the fourth instalment ready to stream on Netflix now.
Paranormal Activity 4 focuses on Alex Nelson and her family as they experience hauntings, capturing the paranormal happenings on webcams and mobile phones.
Vampires vs The Bronx
2nd October
Vampires vs The Bronx / Netflix
The first of Netflix’s original offerings is the comedy-horror Vampires vs The Bronx.
The film follows a group of teenagers who are forced to protect their neighbourhood in the Bronx when a gathering of vampires invades and is a perfect Halloween watch for people who love the spooky season, but like to keep their wits about them.
Ready to stream on Netflix now, it’s also scored already scored an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatos.
The Binding
2nd October
The Binding / Netflix
The Binding is another Netflix-orginal, but this one’s an Italian paranormal film.
It’s set in the stunning backdrop of rural Southern Italy, but all is not as it seems as the main character tries to fight a mysterious curse that’s trying to claim her daughter.
You can catch this on on the streaming platform now.
The Haunting of Bly Manor
9th October
The Haunting of Bly Manor / Netflix
The Haunting of Bly Manor is the much-talked-about Netflix original series which has just landed on the streaming platform on Friday.
The second entry to Netflix’s The Haunting anthology, this chilling nine-part series comes from the same creator as the hit The Haunting of Hill House series Mike Flanagan, and will once again star Victoria Pedretti, but this time as tutor Dani Clayton.
Perhaps not one for those who aren’t keen on basements filled with creepy dolls.
Overlord
11th October
Overlord / Paramount Pictures
Overlord is the 2018 offering by acclaimed director by J.J. Abrams (Lost, Star Wars, Cloverfield).
It follows a team of American paratroopers as they drop into a Nazi-occupied village, but it doesn’t take long before they realise that there’s a more sinister experiment taking place here than they could possibly have predicted.
Landing on Netflix today, this is one that horror fans should definitely add to their must-watch lists.
Disappearance at Clifton Hill
20th October
Disappearance at Clifton Hill
Disappearance at Clifton Hill is a critically-acclaimed 2019 Canadian thriller starting Tuppence Middleton.
It’s set in Niagara Falls – where a troubled young woman has inherited a motel in her hometown – and the memory of a childhood kidnapping quickly ensnares her.
You can catch this one landing on Netflix this month.
The Possession of Hannah Grace
25th October
The Possession of Hannah Grace
It’s safe to say The Possession of Hannah Grace is a classic jump-scare film.
Pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell is at the helm of this film playing an ex-cop working the night shift at a morgue, where the body of a young girl who died as the result of an exorcism gone wrong is under her care.
But as the trailer says, death is only the beginning.
Get ready to stream this one on Netflix from 25th October.
Trending
Royel Otis add second Manchester date due to massive demand
Danny Jones
Australian indie pop group Royel Otis have announced a second Manchester date ahead of their upcoming UK tour due to a huge demand for tickets.
The Aussie duo, who have blown up in the past couple of years with tracks like ‘Oysters In My Pocket’ and two viral covers of Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Cranberries, are due to play a massive Manchester gig later this year.
Set to make their O2 Victoria Warehouse debut this winter, the ‘Sofa King’ singers saw their ticket allocation sell out quicker than you can say ‘Going Kokomo’.
As a result, there was only one thing for it:
Due to demand, @RoyelOtis have just added an extra date at Manchester @O2VicWarehouse in November! 🔥
For anyone still unaware of the rising alt-pop outfit led by frontman Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell (hence the name), they began breaking onto the scene around 2022 after having released a couple of tracks the year prior.
Although they quickly gained support back in their home country, their presence over here and indeed around the world was helped no end after their tripleJ take on ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ and stripped-back version of ‘Linger’ for SiriusXM hit the internet.
They even managed to land a feature on EA FC 24 – formerly known as FIFA – and we all know how getting on that soundtrack can transform careers.
Since then, their following has grown exponentially, and the rising double act has booked major festival slots such over the past 12 months or so, playing the likes of Kendal Calling, Glastonbury, as well as Reading and Leeds, just to name a few.
Regardless, fervent fans haven’t seen their clamour disappear, and now the band have announced an extra date at Victoria Warehouse.
Now set to play the venue on Friday AND Saturday, 28-29 November 2025, they will be supported by an opening act with a cool UK connection: Still Blank.
The transatlantic outfit is made up of Jordy is from Hawaii, and Ben, from right here in Manchester; the two come together to make what Stereogum has described as “sullen folk-grunge” – yet more reason for locals to be interested in the gig.
Once again, while the first gig has sold out, you can grab your tickets for Royel Otis’ second Manchester show HERE.
New ‘postboxes of the future’ are being rolled out across the UK
Danny Jones
The Royal Mail is starting to roll out its line of so-called “postboxes of the future” across the UK this year, including right here in Greater Manchester.
It has been dubbed the most important and noticeable transformation to the classic British postbox in its entire 175-year history.
The national postal service teased the modern-day upgrade earlier this year, but the revolutionary new upgrade was officially announced this week, with Royal Mail ushering in a new era of digitally-driven units that should make many lives a lot easier – at least in theory.
Although they might look pretty identical to the iconic red boxes since before the turn of the 19th century have used up and down the country, there are marked differences between the new and the old ones.
Credit: Royal Mail
The biggest change made to the Royal Mail’s soon-to-be standard design is a digitally activated drop-down drawer, which will be able to fit parcels as big as a shoebox, hopefully saving us Brits on a fair few trips to the post office.
You will be able to scan a barcode via the updated Royal Mail app to activate the drawer for larger items; meanwhile, there will be a separate slot for letters and smaller packages.
Additionally, the new range of high-tech postboxes will also be solar-powered, helping the public limited company chase its ‘green’ targets.
Now owned by parent firm International Distribution Services (IDS) – who also oversee Parcelforce Worldwide – following the UK government’s approval of its historic sale to Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský at the end of 2024, the group as a whole is undergoing a significant overhaul.
Britain’s new solar postboxes were first trialled back in April in four towns located throughout the Hertfordshire region: Letchworth Garden City, Ware and Hertford. A fifth was later installed in Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, too.
Despite being quickly considered a success on the whole, the initial design featured an entirely black top, with polls of civilians and Royal Mail themselves agreeing that keeping them red all over was more in keeping with the brand.
It’s like the old school phone box, isn’t it? We can’t picture it any other way.
📮Attention Postbox Lovers 📮
Royal Mail is upgrading postboxes to accept parcels. They'll gaining a new slot and a solar panel on top
Speaking in a statement, the Royal Mail‘s managing director of ‘out-of-home and commercial excellence’, Jack Clarkson, said: “We are all sending and returning more parcels than ever before.
“This trend will only continue as online shopping shows no signs of slowing, particularly with the boom of second-hand marketplaces. There are 115,000 postboxes in the UK located within half a mile of 98% of addresses, making them by far the most convenient network of parcel drop-off points in the UK.
“Our message is clear – if you have a Royal Mail label on your parcel, and it fits, put it in a postbox and we’ll do the rest.”
The new generation postboxes are now being made permanent in the same locations, with Edinburgh, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester next.
Keep your eyes peeled on the streets as they’ll soon be making a debut in your area.
Emily Sergeant -
9th October 2020 
