All the Excellent Horror Movies and Shows You Can Watch This Week at Home or in Theaters, Including ‘HIM’

This week is stacked with fresh frights across theaters, streaming, and TV, with stories that span haunted hotels, cult conspiracies, and a supernatural prankster who turns illusions into lethal traps. Below, you’ll find concise rundowns for every notable release hitting between Monday, September 15 and Sunday, September 21, 2025, so you can plan your watchlist without digging for details.

Each entry includes core plot points, lead cast, and key creatives like directors and writers. Dates and where to watch are included in the paragraphs (not the headings), exactly as requested, and we’ve kept things strictly informational—no opinions, just the essentials.

‘HIM’ (2025)

Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions teams with director Justin Tipping on ‘HIM’, a supernatural psychological sports horror centered on rising football phenom Isaiah White, whose path to greatness curdles into something terrifying. Marlon Wayans stars as Isaiah White, with Tyriq Withers as Cameron Cade and Julia Fox as Elsie White; additional cast includes Tim Heidecker and Jim Jefferies. The film is written by Zack Akers, Skip Bronkie, and Justin Tipping, with cinematography by Kira Kelly and an original score by Bobby Krlic; it opens in theaters on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Behind the camera, producers Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Ian Cooper, and Jamal M. Watson anchor the project under the Monkeypaw banner. The story evolved from a 2022 Black List screenplay originally titled ‘Goat’ before being retitled ‘HIM’, keeping its focus on the pressures of elite athletics and an encroaching supernatural force.

‘Compulsion’ (2025)

‘Compulsion’ is a Malta-set erotic thriller from director Neil Marshall that follows the dangerously intertwined fates of Diana and Evie as they become ensnared in a string of murders tied to cons and blackmail. Charlotte Kirk plays Diana and Anna‑Maria Sieklucka plays Evie, with Zach McGowan as Reese; supporting roles include Cinzia Monreale (Madam Karmelina), Giulia Elettra Gorietti (Detective Claudia Cavara), Emily Corcoran (Melania), and Matthew Camilleri (Francis). Written by Neil Marshall and Charlotte Kirk, the film arrives in theaters on Friday, September 19, 2025, and is also available the same day on Fandango at Home.

The production emphasizes sun‑drenched Mediterranean noir: Marshall directs from his script, with Kristyna Sellnerova producing and Saban Films handling U.S. distribution. The character dynamic—Diana as a flamboyant, ruthless thief and Evie as a seemingly innocent woman with a dark past—drives the plot’s double‑crosses and escalating violence.

‘Dirty Boy’ (2025)

In ‘Dirty Boy’, a reclusive schizophrenic named Isaac—raised inside an oppressive cult—realizes he’s being framed by its leaders for a series of ritualistic murders, forcing him to save the next intended victim to clear his name. Doug Rao writes and directs, with Stan Steinbichler, Susie Porter, Graham McTavish, and Honor Gillies among the principal cast. The film opens in theaters on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Produced by Giles Alderson, Sarah‑Anne Grill, and Marek Lichtenberg, ‘Dirty Boy’ was showcased on the festival circuit earlier in the year and focuses on cult manipulation, false prophecy, and the difficulty of discerning reality under coercive control. Rao’s script keeps the investigation close to Isaac’s perspective as he unpicks the sect’s hierarchy and rituals.

‘The Jester 2’ (2025)

‘The Jester 2’ pits teen magician Max against the titular supernatural trickster whose illusions turn deadly over one Halloween night. The sequel is written and directed by Colin Krawchuk and features Kaitlyn Trentham as Max and Michael Sheffield as the Jester, with additional cast including Jessica Ambuehl and Hassen Kacem. The film opened in theaters on Monday, September 15, 2025.

Backed by Epic Pictures’ horror label and Traverse Terror, the follow‑up expands the series’ mythology from the viral short‑film origins, leaning into stage magic set‑pieces, sleight‑of‑hand puzzles, and a cat‑and‑mouse narrative that forces Max to outthink a killer who literally weaponizes showmanship.

‘Night of the Reaper’ (2025)

Brandon Christensen’s ‘Night of the Reaper’ follows college student Deena, who returns home after a local babysitter’s murder and gets pulled into a cursed night that dovetails with a sheriff’s scavenger‑hunt chase through VHS clues left by the killer. Jessica Clement stars as Deena, with Ryan Robbins as Sheriff Rod, plus Summer H. Howell and Matty Finochio in key roles. The film streams on Shudder beginning Friday, September 19, 2025.

Written by Brandon Christensen and Ryan Christensen, the feature blends classic slasher tropes with analog‑horror textures; runtime is about 93 minutes. Produced by a team including David Hiatt, Matt Manjourides, Justin A. Martell, and Michael Peterson, the production layers found‑footage elements into its otherwise traditional narrative to escalate dread.

‘Bad Things’ (2024)

‘Bad Things’ strands a group of teenagers while an AI‑driven killer—and a spreading infection—pushes the survivors to unravel who is human and who isn’t. The indie feature is written and directed by Anthony Thornton‑Hopwood and features a young ensemble including Mila Lieu, Lillian Hart, Sam Barriscale, Oliver Asante, Amey De Souza, Harry Ball, and Joe Warriner. It becomes available to stream on Friday, September 19, 2025, via AMC+, with rental and purchase options the same day on Fandango at Home.

The film runs approximately 97 minutes and plays as a hybrid of tech‑thriller and survival horror, focusing on paranoia within an isolated group; the screenplay’s central mystery hinges on identity tests and escalating mistrust as systems fail and the AI antagonist adapts.

‘The Exile’ (2024)

Set in 1960s Bengal, ‘The Exile’ (‘Nirbasan’) centers on Gouranga, a grieving young man who enters a foreboding forest where memory, guilt, and a supernatural presence collide. Written and directed by Samman Roy, the film stars Adrita De, Soumya Majumdar, Arpita De, and Arghya Roy. The feature debuts for home viewing on Friday, September 19, 2025, with availability on Amazon Prime in multiple regions.

Produced by Awadhesh Kumar and distributed by Buffalo 8, ‘The Exile’ blends folk horror with period drama. Roy’s script emphasizes cultural and spiritual textures of the era, while the production design and location work create a liminal space where grief manifests as a shape‑shifting threat.

‘Haunted Hotel’ (2025– )

‘Haunted Hotel’ is an adult animated horror‑comedy from creator Matt Roller about a single mom running a very haunted hotel—with unexpected help from her estranged brother, who is now a ghost. The voice cast features Will Forte, Eliza Coupe, Skyler Gisondo, Natalie Palamides, and Jimmi Simpson, with executive producers including Dan Harmon and Chris McKenna. The series premieres on Netflix on Friday, September 19, 2025.

Produced by Netflix Animation with Titmouse, Inc., the show leans into workplace‑sitcom rhythms wrapped in spectral chaos, with episode plots built around guest‑of‑the‑week hauntings, sibling dynamics, and a staff of eccentric spirits complicating the hotel’s day‑to‑day.

‘Halloween Wars’ (2011– )

‘Halloween Wars’ returns with host Jonathan Bennett guiding seven teams of cake, sugar, and pumpkin artists through elaborate, horror‑inspired builds and timed challenges. Judges Shinmin Li and Aarti Sequeira preside over the creations and eliminations. The new season premieres on Food Network on Sunday, September 21, 2025.

The competition’s format blends sculptural pumpkin carving, pulled‑sugar effects, and high‑concept cake engineering. Weekly themes tap familiar genre touchstones while testing teamwork under the clock, culminating in a finale where one team claims the title and a cash prize.

‘Halloween Baking Championship’ (2015– )

‘Halloween Baking Championship’ is back with host John Henson and returning judges Carla Hall, Zac Young, and Stephanie Boswell evaluating spooky desserts inside a haunted‑manor set. Season 11 premieres on Food Network on Monday, September 15, 2025.

Across seven episodes, 10 bakers face escalating tasks that combine technical precision with frighteningly creative presentation; a new twist this season has bottom‑tier contestants “bake for their lives” to avoid elimination, with the winner taking home $25,000.

‘Scariest House in America’ (2024– )

Hosted by Retta, ‘Scariest House in America’ tours notorious homes with haunted histories, unpacking the legends, eyewitness reports, and investigative findings that made each property infamous. Season 2 premieres on HGTV on Friday, September 19, 2025.

The series spun out of ‘Ugliest House in America’ and balances historical context with on‑site walkthroughs and expert commentary. New episodes group regional highlights—from colonial‑era estates to eerie jails—framing how architecture, location, and lore converge into long‑lived hauntings.

Share your own must‑watch picks for this spooky week in the comments—what are you queuing up first?