October brings plenty of chances to scream at the screen. In addition to new hits such as Resident Evil, Other Mommy and Clayface, there are nightly opportunities to see some of the best horror movies ever made on the big screen. Here are the 10 best terrifying flicks you can see at Pittsburgh-area movie theaters this October — unranked, because we just can’t pick favorites.
Horror Movies Screening at Pittsburgh Movie Theaters This October
Let the Right One In
October 10-15, Row House Lawrenceville
Part coming-of-age tale, part tender romance and part reminder to always try to befriend a vampire, this Swedish film remains one of the best horror movies of the 21st century. Packing an unexpected emotional wallop alongside some genuine dread, Let the Right One In now counts as something of an underappreciated gem; don’t miss an opportunity to see it with a crowd.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
October 11 at Harris Theater, October 18 at Oaks Theater, and October 18 at Row House Lawrenceville
Let’s go way back — more than 100 years, in fact — for another prototype, as the German Expressionist masterpiece Nosferatu set the blueprint for every big-screen vampire to follow. (It was, in fact, an unlicensed adaptation of the novel Dracula, predating the film of that name by nearly a decade.) On Oct. 11, Nosferatu will be accompanied by a live score from composer Tom Roberts at the Harris Theater.
Nosferatu the Vampyre
Octobr 15, Row House Lawrenceville
Two versions of Nosferatu easily make this list — and, if anyone had been showing Robert Eggers’ film from a few years ago, I would’ve been forced to include three. This adaptation, a 1979 take on the story from auteur writer/director Werner Herzog, is suffused with a desperate madness — and beautiful imagery. Klaus Kinski’s unhinged performance in the title role must be seen.
Hereditary
October 16-22, Row House Lawrenceville
The debut feature from director Ari Aster features one of the finest horror performances ever, as Toni Colette gives a raw and furious performance that should’ve been nominated. (Horror wasn’t quite as revered in the 2010s as it is in the 2020s.) If you’ve never seen Hereditary, prepare for plenty of shocking images you won’t be able to get out of your head.
The Shining
October 16-31, Row House Hollywood
In terms of King adaptations, the horror novelist famously isn’t a fan of this one — perhaps because it radically changes his book. Stanley Kubrick turned King’s (also very good) novel about isolation and alcoholism into the greatest haunted-house movie ever made, as Jack Torrence and his family are tormented by the evil forces inside a remote hotel. If you’ve only ever seen The Shining at home, you need to experience its chilling imagery — and oppressive score — on the big screen.
Halloween
October 16-31 at Row House Lawrenceville and October 22 at The Oaks Theater
While its dozen sequels and reboots have their fans, no movie but the original can touch the simple dread and unforgettable atmosphere of John Carpenter’s original Halloween. By the time you reach the frantic, nail-biting climax, you’ll see why Michael Myers has become an icon — and why Jamie Lee Curtis became a star.
Train to Busan
October 16-31, Row House Hollywood
Director Yeon Sang-ho breathed new life — or, perhaps, fresh death — into the zombie genre with his 2016 action-horror Train to Busan. A speeding train travels from Seoul to Busan, departing without any of the passengers knowing that a zombie outbreak is underway … or that there are infected on board. A desperate bid for survival follows; you’ll mourn every bite.
Pet Semetary
October 23 and 27, AMC Waterfront 22
The metal band Ice Nine Kills has teamed up with AMC Theatres for Welcome to Horrorwood, a series of revivals leading up to Halloween. The best movie on the lineup is Pet Semetary, a Stephen King adaptation that escapes its ’80s trappings to become truly haunting — and features both a deliciously scene-chewing performance from Fred “Herman Munster” Gwynne and one of the best evil cats in cinema history.
Horror of Dracula
October 28-31, Harris Theater
The first film from Britain’s House of Hammer, Horror of Dracula served to bring the classic silver-screen monsters into shocking primary colors — and pushed the genre forward into new realms of violence (positively tame now, but revolutionary at the time). A new 4K restoration of the film also adds scenes long missing from theatrical and home releases.
Night of the Living Dead
October 27, The Oaks Theater and October 31, Row House Lawrenceville and Hollywood
Some films establish styles; others establish whole genres. Our modern conception of the zombie is solely a product of George A. Romero’s locally shot, microbudgeted thriller; everything from ’70s Italian gross-out flicks to The Walking Dead descends from this movie. It’s also a nearly perfect film with constant tension, unforgettable black-and-white photography and an excellent lead performance by Duane Jones. WQED also presents a special (free!) screening of Night of the Living Dead on Nov. 27 at the Oaks Theater; it’s part of their seasonal Dead Air programming lineup.
Curious about new horror movies hitting the big screen? Check out Sean Collier’s weekly movie reviews for updates on what’s worth watching. Or, check out our guide to the arts, culutre, and entertainment for shows and performances coming to the city in the future.
About the Author
Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.
Featured Photo From Halloween
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