The F ZINE Team’s Top 8 Horror And Thriller Movies For Halloween 2026
From classic 80’s flicks to a twisted Korean drama and brand new releases for 2026, these are our team’s picks of best horror, thriller and gothic movies, perfect for spooky season.
There’s no shortage of Halloween events and spooky-themed raves and parties to get down to over the weekend of October 31st. But if you’d rather snuggle up under covers watching a scary flick at home instead of roaming town in costume, we’ve got you covered too. Here’s a list of best horror, thriller and gothic movies to binge-watch this Halloween season, ranging from a chilling Korean drama to an 80’s classic and a couple of newly released films in 2026. All of these are personally recommended by team F ZINE, complete with bite-sized reviews.
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BEST HORROR, THRILLER AND GOTHIC MOVIES OF ALL TIME, ACCORDING TO THE F ZINE TEAM
1. Sweeney Todd (2007)
“The dramatic gothic tale of Sweeney Todd left such a lasting impression on me, and this is coming from someone who doesn’t typically watch ‘scary’ shows. The songs (it’s a musical-movie), the little doses of dark humour, and the iconic trio of director Tim Burton with actors Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter – such a winning formula. Consider this the perfect Halloween movie for those who’d rather not venture into the territory of poltergeists, ouija boards and jumpscares, but still want to get hooked on an intricate, chilling storyline with dark themes. But, fair warning: you won’t be looking at meat pies in the same way for a while.” – Rachel Yohannan, Digital Editor
See also: Why Is Everyone Suddenly Interested In All Things Gothic?
2. Obsession (2026)
“I’m not a horror fan, so this was already terrifying enough for me - I lowkey felt like I was being trapped in the theatre with Nikki. What I loved most, though, was how Obsession goes beyond horror to explore the underlying themes of limerence vs romance and the objectification of the main character Nikki. Left the theatre with Forever by The Little Dippers playing on loop in my head...I can still hear it.” – Germaine Khoo, Social Content Producer
Read more: We Watched The Viral Indie Horror Film Obsession And Here Are Our Thoughts
3. The Thing (1982)
“I’ve got a thing for snowy, dread-filled settings (thanks, The Shining!), and The Thing nails that vibe. I loved both John Carpenter’s original and the 2011 prequel and rewatched them multiple times. And while the CGI in the latter wasn’t the best, I thought the reveal that the alien could absorb people (and animals) and replicate them so perfectly made for the ultimate you-don’t-know-who-you-can-trust atmosphere. Of course, there’s also Ennio Morricone’s infamous thudding soundtrack, which sounds almost like a mechanical heartbeat; perfection!” – Carlos Keng, Senior Features Editor
4. Resident Evil (2026)
“This got four stars on my Letterboxd. It’s scary, funny and features a main character with the worst survival skills ever. If you’re a fan of the director Zach Cregger’s other movies, like Weapons (2025) and Barbarian (2022), you need to add this to your watchlist.” – Tsoi Fong Wing, Contributing Social Content Producer
5. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
“I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m an absolute baby when it comes to horror and jump scares. I want to feel like I’m in a spooky gothic fever dream, not fight for my life on the sofa. Which is exactly why Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow is my ultimate Halloween movie. The gloomy atmosphere, stunning period costumes, haunting soundtrack and ridiculously beautiful practical sets make it a visual feast from start to finish. I paused at practically every frame on my first watch just to screenshot it. One of Burton’s best, and criminally underrated if you ask me.” – Gabrielle Anderson, Contributing Writer
6. Cello (2005)
“This very twisted Korean horror movie plays with the idea of someone living with guilt and eventually having it consume her whole. Disclaimer: The scary effects and jump scares might be a little outdated for today (yes I just went back to rewatch it), but I still think it worth a watch despite it all, because of the plot twist which just left me going WTF.” – Pang Jia Wei, Content Producer
See also: 10 Thriller And Horror K-Dramas Similar To If Wishes Could Kill
7. Beetlejuice (1988)
“A Halloween classic that’s always a must-watch for me is Beetlejuice, which always puts me in a spooky mood. As a musical lover, I also really enjoy the musical inspired by this very film. If you want to step further into the Beetlejuice universe, do also check out Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to this classic film that was released two years ago. While nothing beats the original, watching the extended story of these familiar characters is such a treat.” – Paige Boon, Contributing Content Producer
8. Haunted Office (2002)
“Every office has its share of ghost stories. My old office was situated in a secluded area, right near a forest, while the toilet is a far walk outside. I’ve heard so many stories from my ex-colleagues about it. There is one scene in the movie where the female lead character goes to the toilet at night and hears noises coming from the last unlocked cubicle – it sure brings back a lot of memories of those days where I had to work late.” – Jonathan Chia, Senior Art Director