Top 5 Horror Picks for UK Cinemas in October 2025
| Film |
What & Who |
What Makes It Spooky / Stand-Out |
Release Date UK / Why It’s Hot |
| The Exorcist: Believer |
A sequel in The Exorcist franchise, from Blumhouse / David Gordon Green. (Cineworld) |
The roots are classic possession horror. Expect jump scares, demonic/supernatural tensions, the weight of religious dread, plus the legacy of The Exorcist looming. If you like tense, atmosphere + some visceral moments, this delivers. |
Released in UK/UK cinemas early October (from ~6th-10th) via major chains like Cineworld etc. (Cineworld) |
| It Lives Inside |
A horror rooted in South Asian mythology (Pishacha) mixed with modern teen / supernatural elements. (Cineworld) |
You get folklore + culture + demon possession / haunting tropes, which tends to give a different flavour than “haunted house/gore only” scares. Also socially resonant: cross-cultural identity, belief, family, etc. |
UK cinemas from ~20 October. A good mid-/late-October horror to get in the mood for Halloween. (Cineworld) |
| Black Phone 2 |
Sequel to The Black Phone (based on Joe Hill’s work), directed by Scott Derrickson. (Bloody Disgusting!) |
The original had creepy phone calls from beyond, scary kidnapper, kids trapped, etc. This sequel amplifies those supernatural vs. psychological elements. It tends to combine dread + visceral horror. If you liked the first, this is one to not miss. |
Also arriving mid-October (17th) in theatres. (Bloody Disgusting!) |
| Bone Lake |
A new horror-thriller. A vacation at a secluded lake estate goes off the rails when a mysterious couple shows up. (Bloody Disgusting!) |
The setting is classic: isolation + beauty, which becomes creepy + unnatural. Add in secrets + escalating psychological pressure, and you have an effective formula for horror. Also, horror fans tend to love secluded, “what’s under the surface” type scare-stories. |
In cinemas from early October (3rd) per previews. (Bloody Disgusting!) |
| Good Boy |
A bit different: supernatural/haunted house horror, but seen largely from a dog’s perspective. (The Independent Horror Society) |
The novelty is strong: pets are very attuned to supernatural cues, but rarely is the story told from the pet. Emotional stakes are there (owner in danger etc.), which raises tension. Also, each time the supernatural threatens something innocent, it tends to hit harder. Good Boy has gotten strong early reviews for mixing emotional weight + scares. (The Guardian) |
UK release ~ 10th October. (The Independent Horror Society) |
Case Study 1: Good Boy (UK release: 10 October 2025)
Director: Ben Leonberg (International Business Times UK)
Premise / Hook: The film is told from the perspective of a dog named Indy. His owner, Todd, relocates to an isolated family home; Indy begins sensing supernatural presences, visions of a prior resident’s death, and other eerie phenomena. As Todd is taken over by something dark, Indy must protect him. (International Business Times UK)
What it does well
| Strength |
Description |
| Unique POV / Perspective |
The idea of telling a haunted-house story from a dog’s perspective isn’t just gimmick. Indy’s sensory experience (sights, sounds, reactions) becomes the lens through which the audience experiences horror. This helps build tension and empathy. (The Skinny) |
| Emotion + Bond |
The loyalty & bond between dog and owner makes the stakes feel higher. As the supernatural threat grows, you care about what happens not just because of jump scares, but because you want Todd and Indy to be safe. (Roger Ebert) |
| Economy / Runtime |
It’s compact (about 72-73 minutes), which helps it maintain tension without too much filler. Every scene tends to matter. (International Business Times UK) |
| Critical reception |
Very positive. High scores on Rotten Tomatoes; strong praise for Indy’s performance and the emotional resonance. (Rotten Tomatoes) |
Where it falls short / Risks
| Weakness / Risk |
Explanation |
| Pacing / Repetition |
Some critics say the film runs out of steam in its middle portion; horror beats start to feel predictable or repetitive. The tension ebbs until late in the film. (FILMHOUNDS Magazine) |
| Human performances / dialogue |
Because Indy is the emotional centre, the human characters sometimes suffer by comparison. Dialogue or exposition can feel clumsy. (FILMHOUNDS Magazine) |
| Interpretation vs clarity |
Since Indy doesn’t understand what’s happening, there’s ambiguity. That’s a strength — but also means some viewers may feel unsatisfied by lack of clear answers. (Roger Ebert) |
Bottom line: Should You See It?
- If you want something fresh, emotionally driven, haunted-housey, and with real tension rather than just gore, Good Boy looks like a strong pick.
- It might not satisfy those who want heavy lore, big shocks, or monster reveals, but as a refined, atmospheric horror it’s a winner.
- Also, the short runtime makes it an “easy” theatre choice.
Case Study 2: The Black Phone 2 (UK release: 17 October 2025)
Director: Scott Derrickson (Rotten Tomatoes)
Premise / Hook: This is a sequel. Four years after the events of The Black Phone, Finn (Mason Thames) is now older and damaged from his trauma. The antagonist The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) returns from beyond the grave. The central narrative shifts to Gwen (Finn’s younger sister), who begins experiencing terrifying visions and nightmares involving a black phone that calls her from dreams. She involves Finn, and they both go to a winter camp where things rapidly get supernatural and horrifying. (Rotten Tomatoes)
What it does well
| Strength |
Explanation |
| Expanding on trauma |
The film leans into the effects of past horrors. Finn is carrying damage, and Gwen’s experiences don’t just serve as new horror — they echo what’s happened before. That gives emotional weight. (Roger Ebert) |
| Visual & dream-logic style |
The film uses dream imagery, nightmarish sequences, grainy “found footage / old video” aesthetics (especially during Gwen’s visions) to unsettle. These create dread beyond simple jump scares. (Roger Ebert) |
| Antagonist return & evolution |
The Grabber coming back adds an element of continuity, dread of the unknown. The sequel seems to try to make him more threatening, more supernatural, more intense. (EW.com) |
Where it falls short / Risks
| Weakness / Risk |
Explanation |
| Sequel comparison |
Because the original Black Phone is well-liked, comparisons are inevitable. Some critics feel the sequel doesn’t always match the emotional or narrative tightness of the first film. (Rotten Tomatoes) |
| Expository sections |
Some moments slow down due to having to “catch up” on lore or explaining the supernatural mechanism. These can reduce momentum. (Roger Ebert) |
| Balancing dream vs reality |
With dream logic and supernatural layering, there’s a risk of disorientation — or of weakening tension if overused. Some critics mention that certain visual style choices (grain, distortion) are effective, but could feel overdone. (Roger Ebert) |
Bottom line: Should You See It?
- If you liked The Black Phone and want more — especially with creepy visuals, haunted dream states and sibling dynamics — this one is worth seeing in cinemas.
- It seems more intense, more lore-rich, and more ambitious in its scares.
- Probably highest appeal for fans who enjoy supernatural horror with psychological elements, rather than pure gore.
Case Study 3: Bone Lake (UK release: ~3 October 2025)
Director: Mercedes Bryce Morgan (stalkandslash.com)
Premise / Hook: Two couples rent a secluded lakeside estate for what should be a romantic getaway. But the place is double-booked: another couple shows up. Secrets, seduction, lies emerge, and things escalate toward a bloody struggle for survival. (Rotten Tomatoes)
What it does well
| Strength |
Explanation |
| Genre blend & tension |
Mix of erotic thriller, survival horror, sex & lies gives it a more grown-up vibe than straight haunted house or monster films. The sexual tension and inter-couple dynamics amplify personal stakes. (People.com) |
| Visual style & setting |
The lakeside estate, isolation, confined space + luxury turned sinister are classic horror ingredients. The cinematography and pacing tend to build unease before the big reveals. (Metacritic) |
| Surprises / payoff |
Reviews indicate the finale(s) deliver — both in gore and in narrative twist / conflict. For viewers who enjoy buildup and then strong climaxes, this delivers. (Metacritic) |
Where it falls short / Risks
| Weakness / Risk |
Explanation |
| Shallow character work / relationship depth |
While the setting and dynamics are strong, some critics feel the interpersonal or emotional dimension isn’t fully explored, meaning motivations sometimes feel surface-level. (Metacritic) |
| Tone balance |
Combines erotic tension, dark thriller, blood; if you don’t like sexual content or want more pure horror, some of these themes may not align with your taste. (It’s A Stampede!) |
| Not totally original |
The “vacation gone wrong / isolated house / strangers show up” is well-worn in horror. Its success depends heavily on execution rather than concept. (stalkandslash.com) |
Bottom line: Should You See It?
- Bone Lake is a good pick if you like horror-thrillers with interpersonal drama, sexuality, tension, and some gore.
- It’s less for someone seeking pure supernatural horror or heavy monster scares; more for the ones who enjoy the strain creeping in between desire, betrayal, jealousy.
- Also expect that it may push boundaries (content, rating) more than some folks are comfortable with.
