The spooky season has just arrived, and with it, the time to dress up and have fun summoning spirits and underworld monsters. Obviously, this is also the perfect occasion to watch horror movies. But if you’re tired of nun movies, exorcisms, and monsters, you can also find all sorts of nods to this genre in superhero movies.
From DC Comics to Marvel, through independent publishers, it’s clear that the relationship between superheroes and horror is close. But what about in cinema? To what extent have these two genres mixed? Below, we present the best offerings that have danced between these two waters to enjoy on Halloween.
10. Venom: there will be carnage (Andy Serkis, 2021)
Being originally a villain, it’s clear that Venom has the perfect personality and appearance to make a horror movie. However, the first part wasn’t too scary, and we had to wait until “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” the second Venom film released in 2021, to see a much darker and more sinister feature.
Available on Netflix.
09. The New Mutants (Josh Boone, 2020)
It was a highly criticized film at the time, and it actually suffered the effects of COVID during its release. However, “The New Mutants” is a movie with a very high horror tone that has become one of the most intriguing portrayals of mutants in recent years.
Available on Disney Plus.
08. Spawn (Mark A.Z. Dippé, 1997)
It’s one of the darkest comics of the 1990s, and, of course, it had to have a movie to match. Although it’s a rather terrible feature film, Spawn certainly captured the madness of Todd McFarlane’s comic. Now there’s a reboot in the works, so it might be a good time to revisit it.
Available for rent and purchase on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
07. Ghost Rider (Mark Steven Johnson, 2007)
This movie is not very good either, but no one said this was a list of great films. “Ghost Rider” dates back to 2007 and features the antihero Ghost Rider, portrayed in his own unique way by none other than Nic Cage. From motorcycle stuntman to demon bounty hunter, the film has a level of badassery that even the Suicide Squad would envy.
Available on Disney Plus.
06. Constantine (Francis Lawrence, 2005)
Constantine, as we saw in the subsequent CW series, is quite different from the character we saw in Keanu Reeves’ movie. However, there’s no doubt that it’s a great demon and adventure film that went unnoticed without deserving it. It gets better with each passing year, and there has even been talk of a future sequel with Reeves returning.
Available on HBO Max.
05. Werewolf By Night (Michael Giacchino, 2022)
In October of last year, Disney Plus released a Halloween special: “Werewolf By Night.” Based on a Marvel comic, it’s a classic tale of cults and werewolves. A very special short film that is definitely worth checking out.
Available on Disney Plus.
04. Hellboy (Guillermo del Toro, 2004)
The adaptation of Hellboy comics found its greatest ally in Guillermo del Toro. With quality even surpassing the original material, the Mexican director made two films about the heroic demon summoned by the Nazis. Two dark gems that never go out of style.
Available for rent and purchase on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
03. Blade (Stephen Norrington, 1998)
From a world very similar to that of Hellboy, we also got Blade, a movie that had two sequels and was starring the memorable Wesley Snipes. Undoubtedly, this character’s battle against vampires marked a turning point in the superhero film genre, and we are still waiting to see how Marvel Studios will adapt it once again with Mahershala Ali.
Available on HBO Max.
02. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (Sam Raimi, 2022)
Clearly, having Sam Raimi for one of Marvel Studios’ most mystical and dark films turned out to be a great idea. The producer’s latest big success, beyond “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” was a film in which the director didn’t hold back when it came to showing zombies, musical battles, and witches gone wild.
Available on Disney Plus.
01. Brightburn (David Yarovesky, 2019)
We saved a relatively unknown horror gem for last, which at the time became a great phenomenon. “Brightburn” was marketed as what would happen if Superman were, instead of a hero, a bloodthirsty monster. And well, the truth is that the premise is as interesting as the film itself, exceptionally well directed by David Yarovesky.
Available for rent and purchase on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
