Fear on Film: 4 Mubi Horror Movies For Your Halloween Watchlists
The best way to find interesting movies has always been through relatable tastemakers. Be it through direct recommendations from friends and family or maybe a nerdy clerk at the local video store, human curation will always be superior to specialized algorithms that only ever encourage you to consume more of the same.
That’s why I appreciate how the folks over at Mubi insist on having real people decide what goes into their streaming service, with the company’s highly curated catalog encouraging viewers to explore an incredibly diverse collection of films that often transcend genre boundaries. In honor of the service adding a spooky selection of horror and horror-adjacent movies to their collection this month – including classics by masters like Dario Argento and Abel Ferrara – we’re making a case for why four new additions to Mubi’s horror library deserves a spot on your Halloween watchlists!
Of course, discussing movies should never be a one-way street, so don’t forget to recommend your own favorite horror flicks that you think would be a good fit for Mubi and the Halloween season.
With that out of the way, let’s talk film!
4. The Driller Killer – Abel Ferrara (1979)
Abel Ferrara is probably best known for his gritty crime thrillers that blend arthouse sensibilities with neo-noir and sometimes even trashy aesthetics, but the filmmaker’s first (non-pornographic) feature is actually a complete departure from his usual output. Released in June of 1979, the aptly named The Driller Killer follows the bloody exploits of a disturbed artist (played by Ferrara himself) who snaps and begins to brutally murder social rejects with a power drill.
A gruesome dark comedy satirizing both the New York art world and horror flicks in general, The Driller Killer’s unique combination of extreme violence, witty screenwriting, and gritty visuals makes it just as impactful today as it was four and a half decades ago.
The flick’s European release also happened to be a major factor in the UK’s decision to implement the Video Recordings Act of 1984, making this one the very first certified “video nasties” – yet another reason why this gory classic warrants revisiting during the Halloween season.
3. Deep Red – Dario Argento (1975)
Suspiria is often cited as Argento’s masterpiece, but I’d argue that the Italian filmmaker’s greatest and most influential feature was actually the film that preceded his witchy Ballet epic, 1975’s Deep Red (also known as The Hatchet Murders). After all, from Friday the 13th to Maxxxine, there’s no escaping the deluge of references to this landmark horror flick, even if you’ve never seen it before.
However, despite Deep Red’s dreamlike aesthetics and even some of its story beats having been endlessly regurgitated in other media over the years, the film remains a surprisingly effective horror experience due to Argento’s masterful use of POV tension and overall theatricality. You may have seen imagery like this before, but this Giallo gem is truly much more than the sum of its colorful parts.
And thankfully for non-Italian viewers, Argento’s insistence on a multinational cast/crew means that there’s no “definitive” audio track for the film – meaning that you don’t need to feel guilty about watching the English dub! So whether you’re a fan of the film’s iconic gloved antagonist or its stylish photography, this proto-slasher remains a must-watch for the Halloween season half a century later.
2. Jethica – Pete Ohs (2022)
As a rising star in the indie scene since the release of festival favorite Everything Beautiful is Far Away, Pete Ohs has developed a reputation as an unpredictable filmmaker with zero regard for formulaic genre traditions. That’s why I hesitate to call his 2022 gem Jethica a true “horror comedy”, but I can almost guarantee that this slow-burn experiment will appeal to fans of genre mashups.
Telling the story of a young woman and her estranged high school friend who decide to summon an undead spirit in order to deal with an obsessed stalker (an idea that obviously has unforeseen consequences), Jethica will have you laughing, crying, and recoiling in existential terror before the credits roll – provided that you can accept the film’s deliberate pacing.
Like all of the best cinematic endeavors, Jethica certainly isn’t for everyone, but the film’s breezy 70-minute runtime means that even less patient viewers have little excuse to avoid watching one of the strangest and most memorable ghost movies in recent memory.
1. Luz – Tilman Singer (2018)
German filmmaker Tilman Singer may have solidified his position as one of genre cinema’s most unique voices with the release of last year’s Cuckoo, but I’d argue that his debut feature, Luz, remains the superior scary movie despite its lack of star power and Hollywood-level production value.
Following a cabdriver who finds herself being pursued by a demonic entity, this oddball combination of possession flick and non-linear mystery thriller asks a lot from viewers due to its accelerated pace and overall lack of expository dialogue, but that doesn’t make the story any less captivating.
Of course, it’s really Luz’s grimy Euro-trash flavor that makes it such a memorable movie, with this supernatural thriller benefiting greatly from its indie limitations and grounded visuals.
MUBI’s Fear on Film collection dives deep into horror’s most haunting visions. From LUZ, DEEP RED, and THE SUBSTANCE to even darker discoveries beyond. Watch free for 30 days if you dare at https://mubi.com/bloodydisgusting.
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