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Best New Halloween Movies 2021


Things were a little quiet on the horror front in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but 2021 has seen the genre come back to life at the cinema - a little like Michael Myers himself. As such, there are a number of new Halloween movies for you to sink your teeth in this year.

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If you've still not been back to the theater, don't worry - we've compiled the best Halloween movies from throughout the year and we'll tell you where to watch them too. And luckily, there have been some pretty good ones this year too, which you can't always say when it comes to horror.

So here are the best new Halloween movies of 2021.

Malignant

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Director James Wan has certainly proven himself in the horror-sphere with movies like 'Insidious' and 'The Conjuring', which is what gives his latest flick 'Malignant' such broad appeal. With that said, this movie is nothing like those two other franchises, despite a similarly eerie setup. A woman who is experiencing terrifying visions of people being murdered learns that her dreams are becoming true in this supernatural horror thriller.

While reviews were slightly mixed, make no mistake - 'Malignant' is a whole lot of fun, and is the first 'campy' horror we've seen in quite some time. But that doesn't make it any less terrifying - James Wan's latest effort is far more effective than some of the 'Conjuring' and 'Insidious' sequels, and the performance by Annabelle Wallis is terrific. The films also stars McKenna Grace, who will appear in 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' in November.

'Malignant' is available for rental across multiple platforms.

Spiral: From the Book of Saw

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There's something slightly depressing about the fact that the 'Saw' franchise continues to torture cinemagoers. The original 2004 film was a tense and claustrophobic thriller, and to date has spawned eight sequels, most of which were pretty bad, offering nothing but trap after trap, with nothing but bare-bones storytelling. In 2017, the franchise was revived following a seven-year hiatus, but 'Jigsaw' turned out to be as pedestrian as any of the sequels before it.

But now, 'Saw' has yet again been given new life, this time with megastars Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson in the mix, as two detectives working for a corrupt police department, who learn that a new Jigsaw copycat is at large. It sounds pretty run-of-the-mill, but at the same time, this sequel feels less mediocre than its predecessors. Perhaps it's the best executed, or maybe 'Spiral' cares less about insane violence and more about keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

'Spiral: From the Book of Saw' is available to watch on STARZ.

The Forever Purge

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Don't be discouraged by the fact that yet another multi-movie horror franchise has made it onto our list. The Purge series isn't even that old, yet since the first movie came out in 2012, there have been two television shows and now four sequels. While 2018's 'The First Purge' was met with harsh criticism, 'The Forever Purge' finally takes the series out of prequel territory, continuing the overarching story of the Purge and how it has divided the entire country.

'The Forever Purge' is perhaps the most high-stakes sequel yet, as Purgers decide to continue with their Purge after the nationwide event has ended, plunging the entire country into a state of chaos, and this time with no end in sight. Our team of survivors must make it to the Mexican Border, but time isn't on their side - and neither are most of the civilians around them. 'The Forever Purge' appears to mark the end of the series, but it's a pretty thrilling entry nonetheless.

'The Forever Purge' is available on Prime Video.

Don't Breathe 2

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'Don't Breathe 2' is the follow-up to 2016's 'Don't Breathe', and sees the return of Stephen Lang's terrifying Norman Nordstrom, known also as 'The Blind Man'. In the original film, Norman was the main antagonist, brutally hunting a group of teenagers after they break into his home in the middle of the night. The film was a critical and financial success, so there's really no surprise that a sequel was greenlit immediately.

Now, things are a little different, as Norman is, in many ways, the protagonist - but we won't spoil the film for you, as it's just as thrilling a ride as its predecessor, even if things are turned on their head somewhat. Nevertheless, Lang is excellent once again as The Blind Man and has the same amount of staying power as some of the iconic slashers we've grown accustomed to over the decades.

'Don't Breathe 2' can be streamed on Prime Video.

A Quiet Place Part 2

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John Krasinski's 'A Quiet Place' was a huge hit, so it was no surprise that it already has its own sequel. However, as the original movie ended on a major cliffhanger, we've been waiting with bated breath for 'Part 2' - which has been delayed numerous times due to the ongoing pandemic. Now, we can finally catch up with the Abbott family as they try to navigate a post-apocalyptic world where hideous alien creatures that rely on sound to hunt rule the landscape.

Unlike many sequels, 'A Quiet Place: Part 2' doesn't try to be anything it's not, and is far more interested in being nothing more than an honest follow-up to its predecessor, continuing the story of the Abbotts as they desperately try to outwit their alien foes while also coming to the realization that humans have become just as much an obstacle in their fight for survival. Once again, Emily Blunt shines as a helpless mother who fights tooth and claw to keep her family together.

'A Quiet Place: Part 2' is available to watch on Paramount+.

Related: Best Horror Movies to Watch This Halloween on Netflix

Halloween Kills

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'Halloween Kills' is the twelfth entry in the long-running 'Halloween' franchise which started way back in 1978 with John Carpenter's terrifying classic. Since then, there have been sequels, spin-offs, reboots, and retcons, with David Gordon Green's vision falling into the latter category, which started with 'Halloween (2018)', a direct sequel to the first movie, bypassing anything that has ever come since. Now, 'Halloween Kills' picks up directly where the 2018 movie ended.

As Halloween night continues, Laurie Strode, her daughter Karen and granddaughter Allyson find themselves caught between the residents of Haddonfield and the unstoppable Michael Myers, as 1978 survivor Tommy Doyle organizes a violent mob to stop the masked killer. The follow-up to the 2018 hit does suffer from 'middle-movie' syndrome in parts - being the second chapter in a trilogy - but if you're looking for surface-level Michael Myers mayhem, this is quite the treat.

'Halloween Kills' is currently out in theaters.

If you only have time to watch just one of the films on this list, then we highly recommend 'Halloween Kills'. It's not without its flaws, but seeing as it's set on the night of October 31, it couldn't be more perfect. But if you're planning on watching everything we've talked about, you're in for quite a few tricks and treats. Just be sure to leave the lights on when you go to bed...

For more articles like this, take a look at our Movies, Where to Watch, Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Netflix pages.