This Halloween, TV is offering thrills and chills galore: Hulu serves up a Solar Opposites Halloween Special, and Bite Size Halloween is back for a third season with 20 short films blending terror, comedy, and science fiction.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe expands its reach with the premiere of Disney+'s Werewolf by Night, a black-and-white feature that introduces Jack Russell (Gael García Bernal), who is the descendant of a family of werewolves. Elsewhere, Shudder's docuseries Queer For Fear: The History of Queer Horror takes viewers on a journey tracking the history of queerness within the horror genre, dating back to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
There's a bonanza of horror programming on streaming alone, but we've compiled a list of this year's best Halloween TV, from standalone specials to binge watches.
Solar Opposites Halloween Special
Streaming on Hulu
Werewolf by Night
Premieres October 7 on Disney+
Hocus Pocus 2
Now streaming on Disney+
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are back as the comedic trio of witches from the original 1993 film. Almost 30 years after the Sanderson sisters were resurrected, two Salem teenagers, Becca and Izzy, bring the witches to the present day when Becca receives the Black Flame candle as a birthday gift. Now it is up to a group of high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow's Eve. Read our review.
Interview with the Vampire
New episodes Sundays on AMC and AMC+
Adapting Anne Rice's best-selling novel, creator Rolin Jones (Boardwalk Empire, Weeds, Friday Night Lights) has reimagined one of literature's most haunted and immortal love stories. Set in 1910, this Interview with the Vampire follows Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson), now a Creole Black man who runs a chain of brothels in Storyville, a red-light district in New Orleans. Louis crosses paths with mysterious Frenchman Lestat de Lioncourt, who soon puts Louis under his seductive spell. Eric Bogosian plays an older version of journalist Daniel Molloy. Read our review.
Jack Osbourne's Haunted Homecoming
Streaming on Discovery+, new episodes Sundays through October 16
Halloween Wars
New episodes Sundays at 10:00 PM ET on Food Network
Five teams of cake decorators, candy makers, and amazing pumpkin carvers will compete to prove they're the best, walk home with a big cash prize, and scare our pants off with some of the most-amazing horror tales — all made from sweets and gourds. Grab onto someone you love and bring your appetite. Challenges include "Monsters of London," "Escape from Alcatraz," and "A Coven of Confections."
Queer For Fear: The History of Queer Horror
Streaming on Shudder; new episodes on Fridays through October 21
This four-part documentary series tracks the evolution of horror through a queer lens, starting with the genre's literary origins in the works of queer authors Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde. It then winds its way through Universal Classic Monsters and Hitchcock, the "lavender scare" alien invasion films of the mid-20th century, and the dangerous queer women inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu's Carmilla. The series comes from executive producers and horror veterans Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies) and Steak House (By Hook or by Crook). Read our previous coverage.
Bite Size Halloween
Complete third season streaming on Hulu
The Paloni Show! Halloween Special!
Premieres October 17 on Hulu
Justin Roiland scored two big animation hits in the last decade with Rick and Morty and Solar Opposites. But in 2009, he pitched an animated series to Fox, titled The Paloni Family Comedy Show, that failed to pass muster. That series finds new life on Hulu with the Halloween Special! Leroy, Reggie, and Cheruce Paloni have been given the opportunity of a lifetime — to be the hosts of an unforgettable Halloween special full of spooky shorts from a group of up-and-coming animators. Voice talent includes Roiland, Zach Hadel, Pamela Adlon, Vatche Panos, and Kari Wahlgren.
The Devil's Hour
Complete first season available October 28 on Prime Video
Rebecca Theodore-Vachon is a tv and film critic whose work has been featured in Harpers Bazaar, Shondaland Magazine and Indiewire. Follow her on Twitter at FilmFatale_NYC.
TOPICS: Halloween, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, Bite Size Halloween, Halloween Wars, Interview with the Vampire, Queer for Fear, Solar Opposites, Werewolf by Night, Hocus Pocus 2, Streaming TV