There is no end to the choices available through these streaming platforms, including several that are just in time for Halloween. Watch on!
Apple TV+:
The Last of the Sea Women
Korean-born director Sue Kim presents a heartwarming story of the feisty grandmothers and haenyeo who live on Jeju Island in South Korea, harvesting seafood without oxygen tanks on the ocean floor. Many are now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, yet these fierce, funny, and hardworking women, supported by social media and a younger generation, refuse to give up. The moving documentary examines their tight-knit friendships and savvy independence. Premieres Oct 7
Where’s Wanda?
Apple’s first German-language series, based on a story by Zoltan Spirandelli, is about Dedo and Carlotta Klatt’s search for their missing 17-year-old daughter Wanda who disappeared months ago. By acquiring surveillance devices with their tech-savvy son, Ole, the family takes matters into their own hands when the police cannot find her. Posing as electrical company employees, they bug their neighbourhood and discover that none of their neighbours are who they claim to be. The show stars Axel Stein, Lea Drinda, Leo Simon, Nikeata Thompson, and Heike Makatsch in the lead roles. Premieres Oct 2
Disney+:
Hold Your Breath
In this horror thriller, a mother believes her family is under threat by a sinister presence. When the older daughter tells the legend of the “Grey Man” to the younger one, the story slips under the skin of the whole family. She faces deadly windstorms and the repercussions from her harrowing past as she tries to protect her daughters in 1930s Oklahoma. Starring Sarah Paulson, Amiah Miller, Annaleigh Ashford, Alona Robbins, Arron Shiver, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Premieres Oct 3
Mr Crocket
A horror film directed and co-written by Brandon Espyby, this supernatural story has desperate single mum (Jerrika Hinton) struggling to recover her abducted son, the victim of Mr Crocket (Elvis Nolasco), in a small American town in 1993. The demonic host of a children’s TV show appears off-screen and kidnaps children and murder their parents. Venturing into psychological as well as fantastical territory, she must confront the forces of evil embodied by Mr Crocket himself. Premieres Oct 11.
HBO GO:
Salem’s Lot
This highly anticipated readaptation of Stephen King’s 1975 novel is worth watching if you haven’t read the iconic book or seen the original 1979 movie (although we recommend you do). It is directed by Gary Dauberman and produced by horror legend James Wan (Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring). Salem’s Lot follows author Ben Mears (Lewis Pullman) as he returns to his hometown of Jerusalem’s Lot seeking inspiration for his next book. However, he soon discovers the town is under siege by a terrifying creature, leading to a deadly battle for survival. Premieres Oct 3
Trolls Band Together
Return to the colourful musical world of Trolls starring the voices of some of Hollywood’s best. In this latest version, Poppy (Anna Kendrick) discovers that Branch (Justin Timberlake) was once part of the boy band BroZone with his brothers, Floyd (Troye Sivan), John Dory (Eric André), Spruce (Daveed Diggs) and Clay (Kid Cudi). When Floyd is kidnapped, Branch and Poppy embark on a journey to reunite his two other brothers and rescue Floyd. Premieres Oct 12
Netflix:
The Boy and The Heron
Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed this 2023 animated fantasy, describing it as a “big, fantastical film” (see our review here). It follows a boy named Mahito Maki, who moves to the countryside after his mother dies. After discovering an abandoned tower near his new home, he is swept into a fantastical world of the living and the dead, and meets a talking grey heron. Premieres Oct 7
The Platform 2
This is a movie that leaves plenty of food for thought. An allegory of the haves and have-nots, The Platform 2 follows the success of the first nightmarish film with the arrival of new cellmates, Perempuan (Milena Smit) and Zamiatin (Hovik Keuchkerian). They challenge the dubious food distribution method and oppressive laws imposed by a mysterious leader within the brutal system of vertical cells. Premieres Oct 4
Sing: Thriller
The gang from Sing is back in this all-new animated short inspired by Michael Jackson’s Thriller. After staging a spectacular version of Thriller at the New Moon Theatre, Buster Moon and his crew leave to celebrate at Clay Calloway’s Halloween party. But when they arrive at the party they discover a mysterious, multicoloured ooze has transformed Clay and his guests into dancing freaks. Premieres Oct 16
The Diplomat, Season 2
The Diplomat’s first season literally ended on an explosive note. Starring Keri Russell as Kate Wyle as the US ambassador to the UK, the new season (no spoilers here) continues to be filled with more intrigue and politicking. The arrival of the United States Vice President Grace Penn, played by Allison Janney, complicates her high-profile job even further amid an international crisis. Premieres Oct 31
Prime Video:
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino’s 2024 American romantic sports drama stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist), her strategy for her husband’s redemption is thrown a curve ball when he faces off against his former best friend and ex, Patrick (Josh O’Connor). Tashi must decide how much it will cost to win the ATP Challenger Tour as their pasts and present collide. Premieres Oct 1
Like a Dragon: Yakuza
With its 2005 release, Sega’s Yakuza series was positioned as an entertaining game for adults, finding massive fanfare with its target audience. It depicted the lives of gangsters and people living in Tokyo’s Kamurochō, a fictional entertainment district modelled after Shinjuku’s Kabukicho. Like a Dragon: Yakuza explores modern Japan and the dramatic stories of these intense characters, such as the legendary Kazuma Kiryu, that games in the past have not been able to explore. The film stars Kazuki Kitamura, Goro Kishitani, Show Aikawa, Yoshiyoshi Arakawa, Kenichi Endō and Tomorowo Taguchi. Premieres Oct 24
This article was first published on Oct 2.
