A bunch of new horror movies and series are landing on Netflix just in time for Halloween
With the new films coming to Netflix during the next few weeks, a night spent watching a horror flick whilst curled up under the safety of the duvet covers might actually be the best way to celebrate Halloween this year.
It was there for us in March when we all hunkered down for the first time, and it’ll be there if we need it on October 31.
Indeed, with so much scary media popping up on Netflix during the next few weeks, a night spent watching horror movies whilst curled up under the safety of the duvet covers might actually be the best way to celebrate Halloween this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Here’s what’s set to drop on the streaming platform in time for the spookiest date on the calendar.
Ratched
Netflix
What better way to embrace the chilling spirit of Halloween than by watching an origin story about one cinema’s most iconic villains of all time?
ADVERTISEMENT
Nurse Ratched – the widely-despised antagonist from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest – is being given her very own series on Netflix, with Sarah Paulson replacing Louise Fletcher in the title role.
It drops tomorrow (18 September).
#Alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev_GF4TvU64
What better way to escape from the surroundings of a real-life pandemic than watching a movie where a disease turns people into flesh-eating monsters?
ADVERTISEMENT
#Alive, a South Korean zombie flick, has generated some good buzz among critics and is currently certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes – putting a scary new spin on a genre that has its fair share of competition.
Directed by Cho Il-hyung, this horror movie documents a video game streamer’s struggle for survival as he’s boxed inside his Seoul apartment whilst the undead roam outdoors.
It’s available to watch right now.
The Haunting Of Bly Manor
A follow-up series to The Haunting of Hill House, Bly Manor has been conceived by horror master Mike Flanagan – the man behind Absentia, Oculus, Hush, Ouija, Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep.
A reimagining of literary classic The Turn of the Screw, the film is set in England in the 1800s – examining the strange happenings that occur to a woman whilst nannying a pair of children at the eponymous location.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to Entertainment Weekly: “The story tells of a young governess hired by a man to look after his niece and nephew at the family country house after they fall into his care. Arriving at the Bly estate, she begins to see apparitions that proceed to haunt the premises.”
It’s set to be released on Netflix on October 9.
House of 1,000 Corpses
One of the most gruesome horror films of the early noughties, Rob Zombie’s House of 1,000 Corpses is an unapologetically violent ode to seventies slashers.
It simultaneously managed to impress and repulse audiences upon its initial release, and it’s coming to Netflix next month – giving younger audiences the chance to watch the debut of a horror filmmaker who has gone on to develop a notorious reputation.
Watch it from October 1.
ADVERTISEMENT
Unsolved Mysteries – Series 2
The first series of the rebooted Unsolved Mysteries series was an enormous success – and now a second instalment is set to follow.
A fresh set of true crime investigations will land on Netflix on October 19.
According to What’s On Netflix, a bunch of classic horror movies are also set to appear across the platform in the coming days.
These include:
Halloween (2018) – September 25
Addams Family Values (1993) – October 1
Corpse Bride (2005) – October 1
Into The Storm (2014) – October 1
Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) – October 1
The Conjuring (2013) – October 1
Yep. There’s definitely plenty of opportunity to scare yourself senseless whilst remaining indoors this year.
What's On
Stretford’s free neighourhood festival returns this weekend
Danny Jones
Stretford’s still fledgling and completely free all-day festival is BACK for 2026 and is happening this coming weekend.
So, if you didn’t have plans this Saturday, you do now.
Simply named StretFest, this is the third edition of the now annual celebration in one of Manchester’s fastest growing neighbourhoods – and an increasingly up-and-coming one at that.
Kicking off in the morning and running right into the wee small hours thanks to a healthy dose of varied daytime activities, evening events and de facto afterparties, there’s plenty on the cards.
🎉 It's the big one on Saturday! Stretfest is back & we're thrilled to have a fab selection of LIVE Music on from 3pm – 8pm for it!
We can't wait to greet loads of faces, old and new. #Stretford will be buzzing with activity so come on down & make a day of it ! 🍻 pic.twitter.com/16Rnn5w1qj
StretFest only started back in July 2024, but it has quickly grown into a cult favourite not only among locals living in and around the Trafford town, but also among plenty of people from all over Greater Manchester, with last year seeing more visitors than ever.
Based not just over at Stretford Mall but the surrounding parks, Public Hall, across the bridge and an area they dub ‘The Beach’, there are several distinct but equally vibrant hubs, all offering something different.
For instance, venues like Longford Tap, Head Bar and Stretford Canteen are all involved, as are the likes of the Library and Martin Luther Church, but also recently opened cafes like Swig and Cuppello’s, as well as many, many more.
To be honest, we’ll probably be popping over for all the food and drink alone.
And, of course, there’s going to be plenty of live music, DJ sets, other bits of entertainment, and all-around fun to be enjoyed; there’s even going to be everything from arts, crafts and workshops, to pirates and boat rides.
Getting underway from as early 9am – thanks to the likes of the regular Stretford parkrun crew teaming up with the festival, and Mr & Mrs hosting a coffee morning for their first birthday – there really is going to be something for everyone from start to finish.
You can see the full StretFest schedule or build your own personal day-into-night programme HERE.
As for what else is on the cards for the final few days of March (give or take a couple), you can find out what else is on in and around the ten boroughs down below.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures/Adrian Michael (supplied)/The Manc Group
What's On
Embrace announce intimate live show in beloved Bury music venue
Danny Jones
British alternative veterans Embrace have announced another intimate show here in Greater Manchester, only this time it’s over in Bury at a stunning small-cap arts venue.
It’s not often you get to see such a long-standing band play outside of the city centre so far into their career, especially in gorgeous grassroots spaces like this one.
A fellow Northern outfit, they’ve often been lumped in with that ‘post-Britpop’ era of music, and plenty throw around the so-called ‘dad rock’ label, but honestly, we couldn’t care either way: they remain among the UK’s perennially underappreciated underdogs that never get old, as far as we’re concerned.
Revealing a handful of new live dates for their album launch this summer, they’ll be making just two appearances in the North West on the run.
Writing in the post, the group said: “We’ve lined up a run of exclusive UK dates in venues that are some of the smallest we’ve played in years. It’s going to be special, but capacity is extremely limited.”
As you can see, besides the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool, the only other place in this region where they’re set to play for this mini tour is The Met over in Bury.
One of the most beautiful gig spots, not just in the town but in all the 10 boroughs, for our money, the room only holds around 400 standing and roughly 250 seats.
For seasoned artists like this lot, who are more used to playing big festival stages and big domestic headline tours – which they’re also doing later this year – it’s sure to be a special night.
Toasting the release of their ninth studio LP, Avalanche, this spin-off on the tried and tested in-store format wouldn’t be possible without the help of local record store, Wax and Beans, who are promoting and hosting the show.
But we can’t lie, there’s something about the idea of seeing them decades on from when they first tightly-packed out crowds of this size.
If you want to be part of the Embrace album launch tour, you can get ready to grab your tickets at 10am this Friday, 27 March, right HERE. And speaking of great record shops…
The Manc -
17th September 2020 
