The air is crisp, the treat bowl is full, and the only thing missing is that complicit shiver down our collective spine. Halloween is more than costumes and copious amounts of candy: It’s a welcome tradition centered on the primal joy of well-regulated fear. This year, as the veil between worlds thins, Sound & Vision challenges you to lock the doors and embrace the darkness, sampling a fresh collection of horror, with a little fantasy and science fiction thrown in there too, available on the supreme quality of 4K and Blu-ray. From archetypal evil to strange new realms, these physical media recommendations will immerse your home theater in the spirit of All Hallows’ Eve and beyond.

Edward Scissorhands 4K (Fox/Disney/Sony) / Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride 4K (Warner)

A certain woodworker notwithstanding, is there another director more closely associated with Halloween than Tim Burton? Sure, The Nightmare Before Christmas cemented his reputation, but the signs were there all along: 1990’s Edward Scissorhands is a frightening, fun introduction of an offbeat, misunderstood outsider. The film is as heartfelt as it is wonderfully stylized, a Frankenstein-esque fable with comedic touches that also marked the beginning of Mr. Burton’s fruitful collaboration with Johnny Depp. Restored in 4K for its 35th anniversary and refreshed with Dolby Atmos audio, the SteelBook release carries legacy commentaries from Burton and composer Danny Elfman, plus a featurette.

That three-way partnership took an interesting turn with Corpse Bride, with Depp lending his voice to a foppish groom suddenly caught between two very different worlds. Both are brought to life in stop-motion animation (much of the credit here belongs to co-director Mike Johnson) that looks smashing in restored 4K, set to an eclectic Elfman score, now part of a remixed Atmos track. Warner dug up ten DVD-era behind-the-scenes vignettes as well.

Weapons 4K (Warner)

Certain movies hit differently once you become a parent, but you don’t need kids of your own to feel the chill of Weapons from writer/director Zach Cregger (Barbarian). Beyond its disturbing premise of the kids from an entire class disappearing at the same moment in the middle of the night…. all except one… the movie masterfully juggles different points in time and different character perspectives, keeping us guessing all the way to one of the cleverest, most surprising endings in a long while. Beyond the terrific Dolby Vision/Atmos presentation on 4K disc (plus digital copy), Warner hits us with featurettes focusing on the inspiration, the cast and the design of Weapons.

Krull 4K (Sony)

Well into the summer of 1983, one of my best buds was working at the local multiplex, we needed a break from Return of the Jedi, we’d crossed Superman III and Jaws 3 off the list, and so we gave Krull a shot. A curious reaction to the perceived popularity of fantasy films at the time, it’s a big-budget feast for the eyes about a brave prince on a quest to rescue his lady love, armed with one of the coolest weapons ever, even if he barely gets to use it. It never quite gels as an epic, otherworldly adventure, but it’s fun when viewed through the right lens. Speaking of which, Krull was restored from the original camera negative for this disc and approved by cinematographer Peter Suschitzky (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Empire Strikes Back). And while the new Dolby Atmos mix is highly recommended, you might want to sample the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and vintage 2.0 surround options, each different in its own way, to choose your favorite. The bundled HD Blu-ray utilizes the new 4K video master yet brings legacy bonus content too, including a commentary with director Peter Yates (his is a filmography too long and varied to summarize here), stars Ken Marshall and Lysette Anthony and film editor Ray Lovejoy. There’s also an unusual recitation of a lengthy behind-the-scenes magazine article on another track, and a 22-minute (that’s a half-hour when you add commercials) made-for-TV “making of” program from back in ’83, in nostalgic standard definition.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 7-Movie Collection 4K (Warner)

Consider last year’s 4K release of the inaugural Fred-fest a warmup, now fleshed out with the rest of his seminal ten-year box office reign. Taking the dream tour through all seven movies, we get to see the different directions, the well-made misstep of 2, the increasing popularity which led to more screen time (and more unfortunate wisecracks) for the murderous man in the ratty striped sweater:

• A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – in theatrical and uncut versions
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988)
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989) – theatrical and uncut
• Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) – including a pair of red/cyan specs for the anaglyph 3D portion
• Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

So evil and so vengeful is Freddy, he returns from the dead—and from the undead—to attack a new slew of children where their parents can’t protect them: in their dreams. A figure from his past manages to kill him good in Final, which gives rise to a well-intentioned deconstructionist meta-sequel (thanks for that thesaurus, boss!) that takes place outside the movie continuity and in the “real world.” All benefit from their updated Dolby Atmos mixes, and all look exceptional in 4K resolution and HDR10. Kudos to Warner for giving us a couple of short new featurettes, fun for fans of the franchise and of the late Mr. Craven, to round out the legacy special features, along with Movies Anywhere digital copies for the lot.

FREDitor’s Note: Although wonderfully slim, to spare us from the nightmare of overcrowded shelves, the actual case isn’t red as shown, just your basic black.

The Curse of Frankenstein 4K (Warner Archive Collection)

While 1957’s The Curse of Frankenstein was not Hammer’s first horror effort, it’s widely lauded as the one that put them on the map, their first full-blown gothic-style production, and its international success set the tone for what people would come to know as the Hammer brand. The endeavor also brought together Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, the thespian duo who would become synonymous with the studio, here as creature and creator but more widely recognized as a certain vampire and his nemesis. The 4K/16-bit scan, painstaking new restoration and Dolby Vision high dynamic range are a boon to the movie in all three of its supplied aspect ratios: the U.S. theatrical version at 1.85:1 and the U.K. version in both 1.66:1 and a 1.37:1 open-matte, as was typically shown on TV in the ‘60s and ‘70s. And while the audio defaults to the original mono, a new Atmos track is supplied as well. As we’d expect for a three-disc set (two BD-100s and a BD-50), we’re given hours of previously unavailable as well as ample legacy bonus content ported from the 2020 Blu-ray, among them a pair of archival commentaries in addition to two brand-new ones. In short, the Warner Archive has topped themselves yet gain.

X Trilogy 4K Collector’s Edition (A24)

Writer/director Ti West had a grand vision and knew how to get it on the screen. One key element was the casting of the transformative Mia Goth, who in 2022’s X plays both protagonist Maxine Minx and elderly antagonist Pearl in this ‘70s-set slasher about young filmmakers who pick the wrong place to shoot their porno. Pearl, co-written by Goth, is a prequel filmed immediately after X, flashing back some 60 years to find the title character in her early twenties and driven to madness by her unrealized dreams of fame. A direct sequel to X, MaXXXine follows Ms. Minx to ‘80s Hollywood to become a star, hampered by her past and a pesky serial killer. Indie label A24 has collected the trilogy on 4K for the first time in the U.S., all Dolby Vision and Atmos and each with a crew commentary and multiple featurettes. The stylized three-disc digibook lives next to a 64-page book, anchored by a must-read essay by Jon Dieringer, enhanced by photos and artwork galore, inside the rigid slipcase ensconced within a blood-red sleeve.

It Follows 4K (Lionsgate Limited)

Eleven years ago, director David Robert Mitchell’s low-budget indie reinvigorated the genre with his fresh, unsettling premise of a relentless evil that is passed from person to person via sexual congress (!), executed with a measured pace that builds an atmosphere of dread. The pulsating synth score by Disasterpeace is a further tip of the hat to the ‘80s scarers that inspired the retro style, here in Dolby Atmos in the long-awaited U.S. 4K debut. The new master was produced by Second Sight Films, and the Dolby Vision presentation gives us a welcome upgrade in both detail and color. The vast complement of bonus content here is a combination of new, legacy and previously-unavailable-in-the-U.S. features, now with three different commentary tracks, multiple talent interviews and a fascinating video essay. The Lionsgate Limited SteelBook cover bears a portrait by Phantom City Creative of main character Jay (Maika Monroe).

Cosplay Inspo: Superheroes and Cowboys

The Fantastic Four: First Steps 4K (Disney/Sony)

First Steps is now (ironically?) the fourth attempt to adapt Marvel’s first family from panel to screen—if you count the doomed Roger Corman attempt—and might just be the best one yet, as they confront their most terrifying foe: parenthood. (Also: Galactus, finally in his comic-accurate form.) Much love for the overall ‘60s vibe while also leaning heavily into the John Byrne era of the ‘80s and his new suit design for the team, bright blue with white trim, within the greater “retro-futuristic” esthetic of the entire production. The FF would make for a great group costume, although a pre-cosmic-ray Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) might be easier to pull off than his stonier incarnation. The 4K is available in regular or in two different SteelBook packages offering Dolby Vision/Atmos picture/sound, commentary, deleted scenes, bloopers and cast/crew featurettes.

The Quick and the Dead 4K (Sony)

Old West garb never looked more fetching than on The Lady (Sharon Stone), who knows how to rock that duster and cattleman’s crease hat, finding her way into the lawless town of Redemption in time for their winner-take-all quickdraw tournament. In fact, all the contestants (Leo! Russell! Gene!) sport memorable looks, designed by three-time Oscar nominee Judianna Makovsky. For its SteelBook release, the 1995 neo-western is newly upgraded to Dolby Vision and given a BD-100 home, the better to enjoy director Sam Raimi’s uniquely aggressive visual style, paired with Dolby Atmos audio. The extras include seven deleted/extended scenes and a lengthy new-to-the-U.S. featurette about the screenwriter.

Spawn Limited Edition 4K / The Mask Limited Edition 4K (both Arrow)

From the ego-driven world of independent comics came a pair of edgy antiheroes, both resulting in New Line Cinema adaptations in the ‘90s, now revisited in Arrow limited editions. Superstar artist Todd McFarlane gave us Spawn, an assassin spat back out from hell to administer his own twisted justice upon the living. Arrow restored both the theatrical and director’s cuts from the camera negative, on separate platters and each with Dolby Vision HDR to make the most of those shadowy shadows. Disc One, the R-rated director’s cut, gets most of the love, with new and legacy commentaries, extensive new interviews—including star Michael Jai White—alongside plenty of archival bits, while the PG-13 theatrical Disc Two is exclusive to this set.

First appearing in 1987 as “Masque” before becoming the big-headed goofball we’ve come to love, The Mask was an ideal role for larger-than-life comedian Jim Carrey as a good-hearted loser transformed by the vizard created by the mischievous Loki. Another 4K restoration by Arrow Films (worth the upgrade: both Mask and Spawn boast VFX by ILM), this one was approved by director Chuck Russell and packs a new Atmos mix. Russell appears on his own archival commentary; takes part in a second, jam track; and returns on-camera for one of the half-dozen new interviews. Mask is a single disc but comes inside a rigid box with six black-and-white-photocards, while both titles proffer those collectible touches that Arrow is well-known for: an illustrated collector’s booklet, reversible sleeve insert and a double-sided fold-out poster.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K (Fox/Disney/Sony)

The 50th anniversary is quite an event, but then again so are the wild midnight screenings of Rocky Horror, making it (debatably) the longest continuously running release in movie history. Director Jim Sharman’s film adaption of the successful London stage production of Richard O’Brien’s risqué The Rocky Horror Show was a lot for 1975 audiences to handle and so the movie’s popularity grew over time, a celebration of otherness that needs to be experienced in a proper theatrical screening at least once. Shining star Tim Curry sings, struts and generally dazzles his way across the screen for a kinky night over at the Frankenstein place, mashing up genres while taking them someplace new and dangerous. Be aware that both discs in this SteelBook-exclusive set carry the U.K. version only, reinstating the song “Superheroes” that was excised for the U.S. release. The fresh Dolby Vision/Atmos looks and sounds fab, with some legacy bonus content appearing on the 4K disc and more on the HD Blu-ray—reaching all the way back to the DVD era—although not all, most notably absent being the “Shadow Cast” picture-in-picture from the previous Blu-ray.

50s Sci-Fi Collection Blu-ray / Hollywood Legends Of Horror Collection Blu-ray (both Warner Archive Collection)

This was the time of year when I’d tune in our local stations and watch whatever genre gems the box served up, providing some of my earliest education in film history. Today, the Warner Archive makes it easy and affordable to add many of these titles to our permanent collections, some of them among their most-requested rarities. From the world of science fiction come three black-and-white cult faves plus the lesser-known World Without End in Technicolor and CinemaScope (take that, crappy little 1950s TVs!):

• Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1958)
• The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
• Them! (1954)
• World Without End (1956)

20,000 Fathoms was significantly the first feature film where stop-motion titan Ray Harryhausen was given full control of the special effects, primarily the animation of the centerpiece Rhedosaurus, and the success would usher in a new age of film fantasy, made possible by his skill and ingenuity.

Running (scared) back to the ‘30s, Warner Archive treats us to Masks, Marks and a certain Doctor X guy who keeps making trouble:

• Doctor X (1932)
• The Return of Doctor X (1939, took him a while to make his comeback)
• Mark of the Vampire (1935)
• The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932)
• Mad Love (1935)
• The Devil-Doll (1936)

A different, dare I say more disquieting vibe is evident, with some of these from an era before the Hayes Code was strictly enforced and only aided by the lack of color in the majority here. All benefit from the Warner Archive’s renowned rescue efforts, although the standout is the oldest of the bunch, Doctor X, the only one in color and an early two-strip Technicolor process at that. (It’s heavy on the reds and greens; Wait, is that why we say “Xmas”?) It arrives alongside the “B” version in black-and-white, created from alternate angles and takes for monochromatic mass consumption, presented here together with twin commentaries and a restoration featurette.

Night of the Living Dead (1990) 4K / I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) (both Sony)

Remakes are a tricky business. What to keep? What to change? And is it even a good idea to tamper with an established IP? Horror has certainly evolved across generations, so I hear the argument to revisit George Romero’s pico-budgeted Night of the Living Dead. Makeup maestro Tom Savini directed from an updated script by Romero, deepening the characters—especially the female lead, who’s now more Ellen Ripley than Barabara Todd—and upping the zombie-related gore exponentially. Sony’s great-looking 4K SteelBook serves up the uncensored version for the first time, complemented by an exceptional collection of new and old extras.

This year’s I Know What You Did… redux was what some call a “legacy sequel,” both a continuation and a soft remake of the 1997 Jennifer Love Hewitt/Freddie Prinze Jr. starrer. Both return, joined by a cast of young unknowns as a bunch of friends who cover up a deadly summer accident, inciting a hook-wielding killer to seek revenge the following year, albeit with a big twist this time around that might leave some viewers cold. Extras include outtakes and bloopers, deleted and extended scenes plus two featurettes.