Spooky season is upon us! There are plenty of thrills to be had this month—plus a couple more light-hearted offerings for those who hate being scared. Here are the new shows to streaming this October that Jenna Guillaume is most excited about…
The Midnight Club: Season 1
A modern horror icon takes on a classic horror icon: Mike Flanagan, the brains behind The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass, is the co-creator (alongside Leah Fong) for this new horror series based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Christopher Pike. It’s about a group of terminally ill teens in a hospice who meet every night at midnight to tell spooky stories and make a pact that the first one of them to die has to contact the rest from beyond the grave. This one definitely isn’t for the faint of heart, but it is the perfect kick-off for Halloween viewing!
Everything Calls For Salvation: Season 1
Set over a week in a psychiatric ward, with each episode focusing on a different day, Everything Calls For Salvation is an Italian series with humour and heart. It tells the story of a young man, Daniele, who is involuntarily committed and wants to escape, but is surprised by the community he finds in his fellow patients. Intense and moving, expect a few tears with this watch.
Shantaram: Season 1
Shantaram by Australian author Gregory David Roberts is a huge book on several levels (namely: pages and sales). Now it’s getting the streaming treatment. It’s about an Australian bank robber who goes on the run in India. The series on the whole looks tense and compelling, although for some reason English actor Charlie Hunnam is playing the lead (because Hollywood has such a shortage of Australian actors). He looks the part, even if he doesn’t quite sound it—and actual Aussies Richard Roxburgh and David Field also star.
From Scratch: Limited Series
Romance series are few and far between, and good ones are even rarer—let’s hope this is one of them! It sure has all the ingredients for it: starring Zoe Saldana, produced by Reese Witherspoon, and based on co-creator Tembi Locke’s own memoir, the show is set in Italy and is about an American artist who meets and falls for an Italian chef. Food! Art! Europe! It’s the kind of series that’s like a holiday without leaving your couch. Watch it with a side of pasta and wine.
The Peripheral: Season 1
Produced by Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy and created by A Simple Plan writer Scott Smith, The Peripheral is based on a 2014 novel of the same name by cyberpunk pioneer William Gibson. It’s set in the not-too-distant future, in which a young girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) frustrated by life helps her brother out in his weird virtual job—only to discover it’s not actually a virtual world they’re immersed in, but the real one, 70 years in the future. Throw in a murder and a connection with a man from that future, and you’ve got one hell of a ride.
The Devil’s Hour: Season 1
This British thriller stars Jessica Raine (most famous for Call the Midwife) as a woman named Lucy who wakes up at 3:33AM every night as a result of terrifying visions. When her name is connected to a string of murders and she crosses paths with the reclusive and murderous Gideon (played with intensity by Peter Capaldi), she begins to get surprising answers to the questions that haunt her. Steven Moffat of Doctor Who fame serves as an executive producer, and the story unfolds over six episodes—perfect Halloween night binge viewing.
High School: Season 1
If spooky season is not your vibe, then this down to earth coming-of-age show will be the perfect antidote. Based on the memoir of the same name by Canadian indie duo (and twins) Tegan and Sara, High School stars TikTok creators Railey and Seazynn Gilliland as the famous duo before they were famous, during their tumultuous teen years in the 90s. Cobie Smulders and Kyle Bornheimer star as the twins’ parents, while Clea DuVall is producing. Expect lots of good music, angst, and nostalgia.
