It’s October at a/perture which means two things – the awards season is kicking off and it’s time for some horror favorites on the big screen! Following our a/15 celebration in September, which included screenings of the a/perture favorite Uncut Gems, Benny Safdie makes his solo debut featuring another surprising star turn. This time instead of Adam Sandler, Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson is earning raves for The Smashing Machine (Oct. 3), and is likely to figure into the Oscar race for best actor.
Speaking of incredible performances, Daniel Day-Lewis makes his return to the screen after an 8-year hiatus with Anemone (Oct. 3). You may remember Day-Lewis from any number of landmark roles, My Beautiful Laundrette, The Last Mohican, Gangs of New York, There Will Be Blood, Lincoln, the list goes on. Anemone is a family affair in more ways than one, serving as the directorial debut of Ronan Day-Lewis, the son of Daniel. The two shared scriptwriting duties on this story of forgiveness and the ties that bind families together.
Another case of an actor stepping behind the camera is Urchin (Oct. 17). Harris Dickinson, who you may remember from Triangle of Sadness, Babygirl, or The Iron Claw makes his directorial debut with this character study featuring a breakout performance from Frank Dillane, who in a just world would be in the conversation for a leading actor nomination come March. The inspiration of the Safdie’s Good Time is clear, but Dickinson brings a mix of Mike Leigh’s realism and David Lynch’s surrealism to solidify him as a filmmaking voice to watch.
Later in the month, a trio of incredible films premiere on October 24th. First, Berlin Award-Winner and Sundance favorite If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, with a knockout performance from Rose Byrne, a long underrated actor who has stolen scenes for decades. At it’s most basic, the film could be described as Uncut Gems but about motherhood instead of gambling. Mary Bronstein directs, the partner of long-time Safdie collaborator Ronald Bronstein.
The dynamic duo of Emma Stone and Yorogs Lanthimos reunite following The Favourite, Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness, bringing along Jesse Plemmons from the latter for Bugonia (Oct. 24). A remake of the South Korean cult-hit Save the Green Planet! from 2003, the film tackles class and misinformation in Lanthimos’ most restrained work since Dogtooth (until the final act, that is).
Finally, my personal favorite film of the year so far is Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind (Oct. 24), starring maybe the best young actor working today, Josh O’Connor. Almost an American spiritual sequel to last year’s La Chimera, O’Connor stars as a restless father in the 70’s who robs the local art museum. Most of the film tracks the fallout of this heist through Reichardt’s compassionate lens, this time incorporating some unexpected humor, and an all-timer ending.
That brings us to Halloween, which we’re excited to celebrate all month long. We’re bringing back our February favorite ‘Through the Decades’ framing for the genre that gets the most out of playing in a theater as opposed to at home. Starting in the 70’s, Nobuhiko Obayashi’s art-house masteripiece House screens on October 8th and 18th. Obayashi’s debut following a successful career as an advertiser in Japan is a visual marvel, combining Japanese folklore with (still) mind-boggling effects work. You’ve never seen anything like it.
For the 80’s we’re revisiting the classic A Nightmare on Elm Street, our introduction to Freddy Krueger, the horror icon that haunts our nightmares to this day. Director Wes Craven was already deconstructing and reinventing the horror genre with this, decades before the original Scream took it even further. His fingerprints are all over modern horror, this screens on October 11th and 23rd.
We’re very excited to present the remaster of 1998’s Perfect Blue, from acclaimed anime master Satoshi Kon, screening October 25th and 26th. This film is a true thriller, one that doesn’t leave you quickly if you’re more a fan of atmosphere than jump-scares. Another film who’s ripple effects you can track all throughout the next two decades of horror filmmaking. Finally, we return to the 1970’s for The Exorcist, still for my money the scariest film ever made. We are showing the ‘Version You’ve Never Seen’ which adds about 10 minutes of previously deleted scenes that make up William Freidkin’s original vision for the film. Screening October 29th and 30th, right before the big day in case you’re still hoping to get in the Halloween spirit.
Our 15th anniversary celebrations continue with Jordan Peele’s seminal Get Out, and we are thrilled to welcome back WFDD’s All Things Considered host Neal Charnoff for our 2nd WFDD Movie Club! On October 25th, Neal will share a favorite horror film of his, 1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Tickets are a discounted $5, and Neal will introduce the film and stay afterwards for a discussion with UNCSA’s Dean of Filmmaking, Deborah LeVine.
Last but not least, we have received some questions about this year’s Queer Fear festival. Programmed by Tiffany Albright, we are excited to host her incredible program this upcoming February. In her own words – “Queer Fear Film Festival will bring their 5th annual event to a/perture cinema on February 21, 2026. While October will always hold a special place in the hearts of horror lovers, Queer Fear is excited to embrace a new tradition that lets us spread the spooky throughout the year. February offers a fresh and thrilling backdrop for queer horror, and the new date gives our volunteer staff the space to breathe, plan, and conjure up an unforgettable celebration of chills, thrills, and queer creativity. We hope to see you there!”
We’re excited to see you at a/perture all throughout October for some acclaimed films, and horror favorites!