Read more about every original movie coming to Netflix in October 2023
Read more about every movie coming to Shudder in October 2023
It still feels weird not calling it HBO Max. Calling the streaming serviceMaxmay never feel normal as it doesn’t connotate anything special. Max does have good movies, though make no mistake there. This list definitely has horror movies in mind as we enter into the spookiest of seasons. They range from fun slashers to creepier, more well-crafted films with good themes.
So, with that in mind, shall we take a look at the best movies coming to Max in October 2023?
Friday the 13th (2009) - Oct. 1
In the suite of classic horror movie remakes,Friday the 13thsits… somewhere in themiddle of the good section. That being said, it has all the elements that make one of these movies. There are unholy amounts of nudity (more than any movie in the franchise), dumb characters who exist to die, and many memorable kills. With all that said, it seems odd that fans' reception to this film was mostly lukewarm.
The movie gets some great camping theming with Jason using a bow and arrow along with bear traps. It opens with him hanging a girl in her sleeping bag over a burning fire as her boyfriend is forced to watch with his leg caught in a bear trap. With this one, they were not pulling punches on brutality. Maybe take a second look if you hate this one, or bypass it forJason X.
Anthropoid - Oct.1
No one saw thisAnthropoid. It came and went from the theaters without any fanfare, but perhaps now is the time to be talking about it, withCillian Murphy enjoying so muchof the spotlight right now. This is an authentic historical tale of a successful assassination plot on Reinhard Heydrich, principal architect of the Holocaust as well as chief of the secret police.
For more context on this guy, Hitler himself described him as “The man with the iron heart.” The movie follows the Czech soldiers trying to put him down in what is a rather unbelievable war story. It’s worth a watch just to know what some courageous people went through.
Related:No One Will Save You director says the movie is the “Anti-Jaws”
Beetlejuice - Oct. 1
The man whose name appears in the title is only on screen for approximately 14 1/2 minutes. There’s something magical about this film. It’s where Tim Burton first got his big stardom moment (along with new composer Danny Elfman). You get to watch as Burton invents the style that he would be known for for the rest of his life as newly deceased couple Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis have to adjust to their new life of being ghosts.
Now, if you haven’t seen it, you may wonder, what aboutBeetlejuice? Well, you’ve seen some of those 14 minutes is the truth because there’s a lot more to this film than just his parts as a professional pest to rid a haunted house of humans. But as is typical,Michael Keaton likes to steal the show, so that’s the stuff that gets remembered.
Blade Runner 2049 - Oct. 1
It’s a sequel no one asked for, coming in cold 35 years after the original film was released. And you know what?It was phenomenal by any metricyou want to throw at it. It expands the universe, delivers a payoff on how old characters evolved, and asks some questions greater than the scope of the film itself. It stays true to the nature of the original movie even without feeling like a clone (looking at you,Force Awakens) as Detective K (Ryan Gosling) goes about trying to solve a mystery for the police.
It’s tough to say more without spoiling the film, but you should know it’s a slow burn, filled with vibrant colors and some strange characters. Please watchBlade Runner 2049.It’s not often you can find such an amazing sci-fi drama.
The French Connection - Oct. 1
The French Connectionis based on a true story about some New York detectives trying to bust a drug smuggling ring. In this film, Gene Hackman shows actors what it’s all about as a workaholic cop. It’s a pretty intense thriller with a suitable amount of action and some great chemistry between the two leads.
Related:Halloween: Miramax looking to sell rights for future films and projects
The craziest part ofThe French Connectionis how director William Friedkin filmed the famous car chase scene. It might seem like any other scene to an average viewer, but the director decided to sit in the back of a cardriving through 26 blocks at 90mphwithout traffic control at every intersection. Give that small part a watch, at least, and see how crazy this guy really was to attempt a stunt like that.
Poltergeist - Oct. 1
Lastly, we have to quickly mentionPoltergeist. The horror classic is worth watching for the great effects and creepy visuals. While the plot isn’t anything all that special now, it helped to popularize that basic theme of families living in houses while things get spookier and spookier. Scenes often quickly escalate from normal to someone’s face getting torn off so you may cut the tension with a knife. There are some classic lines here, and it’s worth your time.
If you want to sort through a complete list, you can dothat right here.
