October is shaping up to be a month to remember for horror fans as NYX UK reveals twelve primetime premieres to electrify the spooky season. Known for its eclectic curation of genre films, NYX UK is pulling out all the stops this Halloween, bringing a mix of cult classics, splatter comedies, psychological thrillers, and newly released indie gems. Horror aficionados can expect both chilling premieres and a tribute to an iconic figure in horror history, Bela Lugosi, alongside a special Halloween screening of John Carpenter's seminal slasher, Halloween.
Highlights of October’s Horror Line-Up
Alejandro Jodorowsky’s SANTA SANGRE (1989) kicks off the season as one of the standout premieres. This surrealist horror classic, widely regarded as a masterpiece of its genre, will screen on Thursday, 22 October at 9pm. Combining elements of the macabre with deeply symbolic imagery, Santa Sangre is not for the faint of heart but promises an unforgettable experience for fans of avant-garde horror.
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| Santa Sangre |
Another notable addition to the lineup is Stewart Sparke’s BOOK OF MONSTERS (2018), an indie hit that premiered at FrightFest, mixing horror with tongue-in-cheek humor. Featuring monsters, gore, and plenty of thrills, this splatter comedy will air on Thursday, 10 October at 9pm.
NYX UK is also bringing fresh horrors to the screen with Hank Braxton's GLOWZIES (2023), premiering on Thursday, 31 October at 5pm. This wild zom-com, which has been generating buzz on the festival circuit, promises to inject some humor into Halloween night with its quirky take on a zombie apocalypse.
Additionally, fans of gritty horror will be excited for the Channel premiere of BEYOND THE CHAMBER OF TERROR (2021), airing on Friday, 25 October at 9pm. This feature film debut by writer-director Michael Pereira introduces Nash Caruthers, a character you won’t soon forget. Played by Timothy Paul McCarthy, Nash, or "Mr. Nash Fucking Caruthers" to his adversaries, is a terrifying anti-hero set to make his mark on the genre.
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| Book of Monsters |
Premieres of International and Indie Horror
NYX UK continues to champion international and indie horror, adding an eclectic mix of films from around the world to the October slate. Israeli horror fans will get a taste of their homegrown cinema with Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado’s RABIES (2010), the first-ever Israeli horror film, streaming on Friday, 11 October at 9pm.
Lovers of psychological horror are in for a treat with Eduardo Sánchez’s LOVELY MOLLY (2011), airing Tuesday, 29 October at 9pm. As the co-director of The Blair Witch Project, Sánchez delivers a spine-chilling psychological narrative that deals with trauma and possession.
The October schedule also features Tate Steinsiek’s CASTLE FREAK (2020), a remake of the 1995 cult favorite, airing Thursday, 3 October at 9pm. Based on H.P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider, this reboot offers a modern twist on the original story while maintaining its gothic horror roots.
Celebrating Bela Lugosi’s Legacy
On Sunday, 20 October, NYX UK will celebrate the birthday of horror legend Bela Lugosi, whose portrayal of Count Dracula cemented him as one of the genre’s icons. The tribute begins at 5pm with White Zombie (1932), the first feature-length zombie film, followed by Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) at 7pm, where Lugosi stars as the mad scientist Dr. Mirakle.
This Lugosi marathon offers a rare chance to experience these early horror gems, highlighting the pivotal role Lugosi played in shaping modern horror cinema.
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| Halloween |
Halloween Night: A Screening of Halloween (1978)
NYX UK is saving one of its biggest treats for the night of Halloween itself. On Thursday, 31 October at 9pm, John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) will screen as the ultimate Halloween celebration. This film, which introduced the world to Michael Myers, is regarded as one of the most influential horror films ever made. Its blend of tension, minimalism, and haunting score by Carpenter himself has made it an enduring classic.
This screening will provide the perfect conclusion to a month full of frights, celebrating the film's lasting impact on horror cinema and its ability to captivate audiences with its terrifyingly simple premise.
Other must-see premieres include:
BODY AT BRIGHTON ROCK (2019), a tense survival thriller directed by Roxanne Benjamin (Saturday, 5 October at 9pm).
HELL HOUSE LLC III: LAKE OF FIRE (2019), the final installment in the found-footage horror trilogy, directed by Stephen Cognetti (Friday, 18 October at 9pm).
ANTRUM: THE DEADLIEST FILM EVER MADE (2018), a unique blend of horror and mockumentary, directed by David Amito and Michael Laicini (Friday, 4 October at 9pm).
RESTITUTION (2024), a gripping new horror thriller by Danny Draven (Tuesday, 15 October at 9pm).
THE NINTH CONFIGURATION (1980), a psychological thriller directed by William Peter Blatty, best known for writing The Exorcist (Thursday, 17 October at 9pm).
How to Watch
For those eager to tune in, NYX UK is available on Freeview Channel 271, the Channelbox app, TCL TVs, and Distro TV.
October 2024 on NYX UK is shaping up to be a horror lover’s paradise, with everything from cult classics to modern-day masterpieces. Whether you’re a fan of psychological terror, slasher flicks, or surreal horror, NYX UK’s October lineup ensures there’s something for every fright fan this Halloween season.