‘Other Mommy,’ ‘Clayface’ and 4 More Horror Movies in Theaters Before Halloween

“A terrifying trip into the darkening world of a young girl, Bela, who forms a relationship with a sinister entity in her home who looks uncannily like her own mother.” Jessica Chastain plays the girl’s mother and the spectral “other mommy.” The film is based on the 2024 horror novel Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman (“Other Mommy” is decidedly a major title upgrade). The studio is holding back both first reactions and reviews to the last minute on this one, which usually isn’t a positive sign, but the trailers certainly look strong. Directed by Rob Savage.

The 20th anniversary re-release of Guillermo del Toro’s beloved, Oscar-winning dark fantasy. “In 1944 Spain, as fascist forces tighten their grip following the Spanish Civil War, young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is uprooted to a remote military outpost commanded by her cruel stepfather (Sergi López). Amid the brutality of war, Ofelia discovers a hidden labyrinth and encounters a mysterious faun who claims she is a lost princess. To reclaim her throne, she must complete three dangerous tasks that test her courage and spirit.”

“Following the death of his father (Josh Brolin), Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) goes diving off the coast of California in search of his remains. He soon finds himself in a desperate fight for survival when he’s swallowed whole by a massive whale. Trapped inside its belly, he must figure out a way to escape as his oxygen supply starts to run out.” The film is based on the bestselling novel by Daniel Kraus and is more of a survival thriller than outright horror. The first reactions say the movie is intense and claustrophobic with another strong performance by Abrams, who similarly delivered a one-man show in Resident Evil, though some ding the film for becoming overly sentimental in its final act. Directed by Brian Duffield.

You think Blumhouse goes hard? Check this out. In theaters for one week only, this is a re-release of Ken Russell’s controversial and long censored 1971 cult classic with a 4K restoration. This version uses the definitive cut reconstructed in 2004 under Russell’s supervision. “In 17th-century France, a charismatic, politically defiant priest (Oliver Reed) becomes the target of a sexually repressed nun’s (Vanessa Redgrave) false witchcraft accusations, which are weaponized by a power-hungry Cardinal and church officials to crush local autonomy.” The re-release has 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes across 10 reviews. The film is rated NC-17 (remember when that was a thing?).

DC Studios’ next turn at bat following the disappointment of Supergirl is another big swing, this time into body horror: “Actor Matt Hagen’s (Tom Rhys Harries) meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss’s actions leave him horribly disfigured. Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self… but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiraling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge.” No official reactions yet, but the trailers actually look rather good. Interestingly, DC Studios co-chief James Gunn recently fired back at a fan who snarked, “Who asked for a Clayface movie?” with a rather deft reply. Directed by James Watkins.

A limited release that’s billed as a horror comedy, the film opens the night before Halloween. “After moving to a quiet suburban neighborhood, the Seversons meet the Kringles, a family that celebrates Christmas year-round. When Mark, the father, discovers the Kringles’ sinister yuletide intentions, he teams up with a badass Santa in a high-stakes, action-packed fight to save his family.” Ron Livingston and Rachel Bilson star with Kevin Lewis directing.