The Best Scary Films Coming to UK Cinemas for Halloween 2025

Film Feature by Chris Olson

The nights are drawing in, the leaves are turning that beautiful autumnal orange, and the air is getting a little chillier. All of which means one thing: Halloween is just around the corner. But this year, the scares aren't just confined to a fancy dress party; the UK cinema circuit is gearing up for a frightfully good season. Forget last year's lukewarm offerings; the line-up for autumn 2025 is stacked with spine-chilling sequels, cerebral terrors, and a few exciting originals that promise to leave you sleeping with the lights on. Let's get into the dark heart of what's coming our way.

First up, and landing with a chilling thud on September 12th, is The Long Walk. If the name rings a bell, that's because it's an adaptation of one of Stephen King's most unnerving novels. Director Francis Lawrence, a veteran of the Hunger Games franchise, is at the helm, which bodes well for a tight, tense, and expertly paced experience. The premise is simple but terrifying: a dystopian story where young men compete in a walking contest, with the grim rule that only one survives. There's no supernatural entity, just the chilling horror of human endurance and the sheer, bleak finality of the contest. We’re expecting a film that ratchets up the psychological pressure with every single step, making it a must-see for fans of high-stakes, low-gore horror.

Next, get ready to meet your masked tormentors again on September 26th with The Strangers: Chapter 2. Following on from last year's trilogy opener, this film promises to continue the ordeal of Madelaine Petsch's character. The first chapter was a masterclass in unnerving tension, and with director Renny Harlin returning, we can only assume he has more twisted games planned. We’re bracing ourselves for an atmospheric, slow-burn sequel that focuses on the unsettling, random nature of the attacks. It's the kind of horror that makes you double-check your own front door lock when you get home.

October kicks off with a triple dose of terror on the 3rd, and each film brings a unique flavour of fear. First, there's Him, the latest offering from Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions. This one is a sports-horror hybrid, which is a genre we don't see nearly enough of. It stars Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers, and hints at a story where a young football player is taken under the wing of a star quarterback, only to discover there's something sinister at play. Given Peele's track record with films like Get Out and Us, we're anticipating a film that blends social commentary with genuine, skin-crawling horror.

Also on October 3rd, we have Shelby Oaks and Keeper. Shelby Oaks has been described as a found-footage film, which is always a good bet for a jump scare or twenty. Details are scarce, but the premise of a missing paranormal investigator who vanished during a case is ripe for some serious chills. Keeper, meanwhile, is the new film from Osgood Perkins (director of the critically-acclaimed Longlegs). Starring Tatiana Maslani, it follows a couple on a retreat where one is left alone to face a sinister presence. Perkins is a master of building suspense and unease, and we're ready for another deeply unsettling film that gets under your skin and stays there.

A week later, on October 10th, we welcome Good Boy to our screens. With a title that sounds anything but scary, this film promises to subvert expectations. The plot revolves around a dog that moves to a new home and discovers a supernatural force lurking in the shadows. We're intrigued by a horror film that's told from the perspective of a loyal pup, and it has all the ingredients for a unique and surprisingly emotional horror experience.

Leading us into the final two weeks of the month is The Black Phone 2, dropping on October 17th. Scott Derrickson and Ethan Hawke return for this sequel to the 2023 hit. The first film was a chilling tale of a child kidnapped by a sadistic killer, so we're curious to see where the story goes now that the villain is supposedly dead. The trailers hint at a return of the titular spooky telephone, and we can only expect more of the claustrophobic dread and menacing performances that made the original so compelling.

Finally, just in time for the big day itself on October 31st, two films will be fighting for your attention. Bugonia is an intriguing project from the director of The Lobster, Yorgos Lanthimos. While not a conventional horror, his films are known for their dark, unsettling, and often absurdly disturbing content, so it’s likely to be a different kind of frightening experience. We're also getting The Descent, a film that has no cast or director details available yet but, given the title, we can expect a claustrophobic and terrifying journey into a dark and foreboding space, a perfect way to cap off the Halloween season.

So there you have it, folks. From psychological thrillers to slasher sequels, this Halloween promises to be a fantastic one for UK cinema. The diverse line-up offers something for every type of horror fan, and we can’t wait to be thoroughly scared by each and every one of them. Happy haunting!