5 star-studded horror flicks to watch this Halloween

Omari Hardwick, Lovie Simone, Kelly Rowland, and more are spicing up scary movies this Halloween

Oct 8, 2020

With so much horror happening in the real world each day, this year’s Halloween festivities are sure to hit a little different. Fortunately, there are tons of Black stars taking on the genre that’s usually light on melanin, providing plenty of projects to choose from if you’re in the mood for some scary surprises.

Here are 5 horror flicks worth watching this Halloween:

Spell

Omari Hardwick will take on the horror genre in the upcoming film, Spell. In it, he stars alongside Loretta Devine, who is sure to deliver a terrifying performance when it hits select theaters and VOD on October 30.

Here’s the official synopsis:

While flying to his father’s funeral in rural Appalachia, an intense storm causes Marquis (Omari Hardwick) to lose control of the plane carrying him and his family. He awakens wounded, alone and trapped in Ms. Eloise’s (Loretta Devine) attic, who claims she can nurse him back to health with the Boogity, a Hoodoo figure she has made from his blood and skin. Unable to call for help, Marquis desperately tries to outwit and break free from her dark magic and save his family from a sinister ritual before the rise of the blood moon.

Check out the trailer:

Bad Hair

Written and directed by Dear White People creator, Justin Simien, this comedy-horror film features an all-star cast of Black talent showing off their hair-raising skills in ways we have never seen before. Stars like Elle Lorraine, Vanessa Williams, Lena Waithe, Laverne Cox, Jay Pharoah, Kelly Rowland, Blair Underwood, Ashley Blaine Featherson, and Usher Raymond are among the famous faces who have roles in this campy thrill ride that hits Hulu on October 23.

Here’s the official synopsis:

In this horror satire set in 1989, Bad Hair follows an ambitious young woman (Elle Lorraine) who gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career comes at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own.

Check out the trailer:

The Craft: Legacy

Blumhouse’s continuation of the 1996 cult classic is sure to introduce a whole new generation to The Craft and will give fans of Lovie Simone even more reasons to root for her. In The Craft: Legacy, director Zoe Lister-Jones pays homage to the original flick while offering an updated version today’s teens will relate to. The Greenleaf alum plays Tabby, a fire-wielding witch who is sure to play a more pivotal role than the originals film’s sole black cast member, Rachel True. The Craft: Legacy is due out on VOD October 28.

Check out the trailer:

Vampires vs. The Bronx

If you’re looking for something a little sillier to dive into this Halloween, Netflix has you covered with its latest offering, Vampires vs. The Bronx. In the Netflix film directed by Osmany Rodriguez, a group of young friends fight to save their neighborhood from gentrification…and vampires. This fun, freaky flick stars Method Mad, Coco Jones, The Kid Mero, and Chris Redd, among others and is streaming now on Netflix.

Check out the trailer:

His House

Written and directed by Remi Weekes, this flick, led by Lovecraft Country star Wunmi Mosaku looks like a pretty wild ride. It also stars Matt Smith and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and is based on a story by Felicity Evans and Toby Venables.

“His House is a haunted house story about two immigrants trying to make a home in a foreign country. Unlike traditional haunted house stories where the protagonist might be able to escape, our protagonists — two displaced asylum seekers — do not have the privilege to simply leave. Rather, they are stuck having to survive within their house,” Weekes said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “This is often the case in the U.K., where asylum seekers have to follow draconian rules when given accommodation. This is also often the case with trauma — you’re stuck having to find ways to survive your grief, and finding ways to heal within it.” His House hits Netflix on October 30.

Check out the trailer: