This October, the Criterion Channel dives into horror with notable films and spotlight programs focusing on Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Dario Argento.
The Criterion Channel is set to thrill viewers this October with a diverse lineup that showcases horror classics alongside works from renowned filmmakers. This year’s programming prominently features the intriguing subgenre of Highway Horror, which includes iconic titles like The Hitcher, Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive, and Spielberg's masterful Duel. Additionally, viewers can expect Lindsay C. Vickers’ unsettling short film The Appointment, which adds a surreal touch to the lineup.
For those who appreciate horror in more confined settings, the Unwelcome Guests section presents a collection of chilling films. Expect classics such as Night of the Hunter and Rosemary's Baby, paired with intense entries like You’re Next and When a Stranger Calls Back. The darker side of genre films makes an appearance in the Possessions segment, featuring unsettling titles including Possession, The Entity, and the haunting The Wailing.
Auteurs Take Center Stage
The month isn't just for horror aficionados; cinephiles will appreciate the spotlight on Kiyoshi Kurosawa. His films are well-represented with fan favorites like Cure and Pulse, alongside lesser-known gems such as Door III, Charisma, and Eyes of the Spider. Notably, the restoration of Serpent's Path makes its streaming debut, along with an accompanying remake that reimagines the original's narrative.
Dario Argento enthusiasts are in for a treat with a dedicated program featuring works that cemented his place in horror. Among the highlights is Two Evil Eyes, a collaboration with George A. Romero that features Harvey Keitel in a standout role. The inclusion of made-for-TV horror, such as Spielberg's Someone’s Watching Me! and Tobe Hooper’s Salem’s Lot, enriches the month’s selections further, with the latter serving as an excellent complement to the iconic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Classic Reissues and New Additions
The Criterion Edition reissues include essential horror films like Don’t Look Now, Dead Ringers, and The Others, ensuring that classic cinema is as accessible as ever. The inclusion of Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed Barry Lyndon coincides nicely with the release of their complete collection of Kubrick’s works in 4K.
Among the notable premieres, Francesco Sossai’s underappreciated The Last One for the Road will also be available to stream, exploring the complex dynamics of adult friendships in a subtly sinister manner. Additionally, the newly restored Batch '81 adds further intrigue to the program with Mike De Leon's exploration of friendship and loyalty taking a darker turn.
Arguably the most exciting development for anime fans is the complete series release of Shinichiro Watanabe’s Terror in Resonance, enhancing Criterion's commitment to expanding their anime catalog. In terms of rediscovery, the restoration of Michael Mann's The Keep is a noteworthy reclamation for genre enthusiasts.
Viewers can look forward to an impressive roster of films this October on the Criterion Channel. Here’s the complete list of titles that will be available:
Alone, John Hyams, 2020*
Altered States, Ken Russell, 1980
And Soon the Darkness, Robert Fuest, 1970
The Appointment, Lindsay C. Vickers, 1982
Barry Lyndon, Stanley Kubrick, 1975
Batch ’81, Mike De Leon, 1982
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Dario Argento, 1970
Bright Future, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2003*
By Hook or by Crook, Harry Dodge and Silas Howard, 2001
The Cat o’ Nine Tails, Dario Argento, 1971
Charisma, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1999
Cohen and Tate, Eric Red, 1989
Creepy, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2016
Dark Night of the Scarecrow, Frank De Felitta, 1981
Dead Ringers, David Cronenberg, 1988
Demon Seed, Donald Cammell, 1977
Don’t Look Now, Nicolas Roeg, 1973*
Door III, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1996
Duel, Steven Spielberg, 1971*
Dust Devil, Richard Stanley, 1992*
The Entity, Sidney J. Furie, 1982
Eyes of the Spider, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1998
Eyes Wide Shut, Stanley Kubrick, 1999
The Faculty, Robert Rodriguez, 1998*
Gerontophilia, Bruce LaBruce, 2013
The Gift, Joel Edgerton, 2015*
Hideous, Yann Gonzalez, 2022
Highway to Hell, Ate de Jong, 1991
The Hitcher, Robert Harmon, 1986*
Homebodies, Larry Yust, 1974
Hustler White, Bruce LaBruce, 1996
Inferno, Dario Argento, 1980
Itim, Mike De Leon, 1976
Jennifer’s Body, Karyn Kusama, 2009
Joy Ride, John Dahl, 2001
The Keep, Michael Mann, 1983*
Kisapmata, Mike De Leon, 1981
The Last Jiangshi, Yu Chih-Chieh, 2025
The Last One for the Road, Francesco Sossai, 2025
Lifeforce, Tobe Hooper, 1985
Lolita, Stanley Kubrick, 1962
Magazine, Lane Stewart, 2026
Maximum Overdrive, Stephen King, 1986
The Omen, Richard Donner, 1976
The Others, Alejandro Amenábar, 2001
Otto; or, Up with Dead People, Bruce LaBruce, 2008
Party Girl, Daisy von Scherler Mayer, 1995
Play Misty for Me, Clint Eastwood, 1971*
Pulse, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2001
Race with the Devil, Jack Starrett, 1975
Ring 2, Hideo Nakata, 1999
Road Games, Richard Franklin, 1981
Rosemary’s Baby, Roman Polanski, 1968*
Salem’s Lot, Tobe Hooper, 1979
Serpent’s Path, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 1998
Serpent’s Path, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2004
The Social Network, David Fincher, 2010
Someone’s Watching Me!, John Carpenter, 1978
Tenebrae, Dario Argento, 1982
Terror in Resonance, Shinichiro Watanabe, 2014
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Tobe Hooper, 1974
Three, Kim Jee-woon, Nonzee Nimibutr, and Peter Ho-sun Chan, 2002
To the Ends of the Earth, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2019
Two Evil Eyes, George A. Romero and Dario Argento, 1990
The Wailing, Na Hong-jin, 2016
When a Stranger Calls Back, Fred Walton, 1993*
Will Your Heart Beat Faster?, Mike De Leon, 1980
The Wraith, Mike Marvin, 1986
You’re Next, Adam Wingard, 2011
*Available in the U.S. only
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