HALLOWEEN 2017: Looking for great movies & film events in London? We’ve done all the hunting so you don’t need to. Here’s our comprehensive SCREAM GUIDE!

Halloween 2017 is spawning scream events across the capital. We love a good celluloid scare and have put together a comprehensive guide to the best movie nights and film events.

With so many indie promoters, pubs and popups, everything is listed by VENUE // PROMOTER to help navigate your way around London’s Hedge Maze. We’ll keep updating as new screamings come to light…

> Let us know what you’ll be watching in the comments below.

ADVISORY: Many events are selling out – click quickly! LAST UPDATE: 26 OCT with new events at Candid Arts, Clapham Picturehouse, ICA, The Institute of Light, Moth Club and Picturehouse Central. PREVIOUS UPDATE: 18 OCT with events at 93 Feet East (Shorts On Tap), The Alibi, BFI Southbank, The David Lean Cinema, Everyman Cinemas, Genesis Cinema, The Horse Hospital and Stow Film Lounge.

93 FEET EAST // SHORTS ON TAP

London’s regular appreciation of short film turns the screw with an evening of films with a horror theme TO HELL AND BACK (31 OCT 19:00). There’ll be Q&As with the filmmakers, fancy dress, free prosthetic makeovers and live performance aplenty. A bargain at £3.

THE ALIBI

If you’re feeling thirsty for Guillermo del Toro’s latest, why not head to Dalston for The Alibi Film Club’s FREE screening of PAN’S LABYRINTH (23 OCT 19:00)? Follow that with a FREE screening of THE EXORCIST on the big night itself (31 OCT 19:00).

ARTHOUSE CROUCH END

North London’s former Salvation Army Hall welcomes you to the witching hour with THE CRAFT (29 OCT 20:45). Could you be the fourth corner?

BFI

HALLOWEEN 2017: THE EXORCIST screens at BFI (31 OCT). — THE EXORCIST screens at BFI (31 OCT).

BFI’s CULT strand revives THE HOUSE THAT SCREAMED (17 & 20 OCT), a Spanish precursor to Dario Argento’s SUSPIRIA (which gets its own chance to shine at Regent Street Cinema – below). There’s also a pedigree lineup for Halloween itself with THE EXORCIST and HELLRAISER in double bill (31 OCT). Join producer Christopher Figg to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Clive Barker’s blood-soaked S&M orgy.

Other horrific delights include 78/52 + Q&A with director Alexandre O Philippe (27 OCT 18:10) – an in-depth documentary about that shower scene – and an AFRICAN ODYSSEYS screening of GET OUT + DISCUSSION (28 OCT 14:00).

THE BLACK HORSE

Find out where IT all began (and how IT will all end…) with a screening of the original mini series (28 OCT 19:00) at the West London pub. If Pennywise doesn’t manage to put you off your food, your £30 ticket includes popcorn & a soft drink followed by a 3 course meal.

BLACK SWAN STUDIOS // BLOCK PARTY CINEMA

HALLOWEEN 2017: GET OUT screens at Black Swan Studios (31 OCT). — GET OUT screens at Black Swan Studios (31 OCT).

Block Party Cinema screens modern horror sensation GET OUT (31 OCT 19:00) at the Black Swan Studios in Bermondsey.

THE BOOK CLUB

We’re not huge fans of ‘so bad it’s hilarious’ screenings, but catch RATS: NIGHT OF TERROR (04 OCT 19:00) in the next ‘Crap Film Club’. For All Hallows’ Eve, prepare to be seduced by excellent vaginal horror TEETH + Q&A (31 OCT 19:00). Alternatively, sharpen your pencils for life drawing classes with Art Macabre’s blood-soaked sessions inspired by STEPHEN KING (07 OCT 14:00) and HOCUS POCUS (28 OCT 16:30). The latter includes a life drawing session, screening of the film and after party until the following dawn….

CANDID ARTS // KINO LONDON

Kino London – the folk behind the long-running Open-MIC Short Film night – are huddling together in the basement of Candid Arts for KINO #92 (31 OCT 19:00), a horror and fear-themed night of “short films, scary treats and supernatural surprises…”. Register your short film in advance and follow the rules.

CLAPHAM PICTUREHOUSE // OUT AT CLAPHAM

HALLOWEEN 2017: CLUE screens at Clapham Picturehouse (31 OCT). — CLUE screens at Clapham Picturehouse (31 OCT).

Trick-or-treat yourself to camp classic murder mystery CLUE (31 OCT 20:45) with the monthly LGBT film club. Dressing up as the iconic Cluedo characters is strongly encouraged (naturally).

IT’S NOT JUST A GAME ANYMORE.

CLOSE-UP FILM CENTRE

HALLOWEEN 2017: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD screens at Close-Up (31 OCT). — NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD screens at Close-Up (31 OCT).

George A. Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD screams louder than ever at Close-Up (31 OCT 19:30), reminding us how influential micro-budget movies can be.

THE DAVID LEAN CINEMA

HALLOWEEN 2017: IT COMES AT NIGHT screens at David Lean Cinema (31 OCT) — IT COMES AT NIGHT screens at David Lean Cinema (31 OCT)

The Croydon Clocktower venue screens a very contemporary double bill of GHOST STORY + IT COMES AT NIGHT (31 OCT 19:00 & 21:00). There’ll be discounts for doing the double.

DEPTFORD CINEMA

The South London community cinema has gone all out with an extensive Halloween season including animated gem OVER THE GARDEN WALL (23 OCT 20:00), epic cannibalist dance party SILENCE OF THE JUNGLE – HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (27 OCT 19:00), and a trio of hardcore classics: VIDEODROME (28 OCT 20:00); THE WHICKER MAN – DIRECTOR’S CUT (29 OCT 16:00); and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (31 OCT 19:45). There’s a HORROR OF THE 80s theme party (28 OCT 21:30 until late) after VIDEODROME – FREE entry for folk in fancy dress.

EMPIRE HAYMARKET // HORROR CHANNEL FRIGHTFEST

HALLOWEEN 2017: IT CAME FROM THE DESERT screens at Empire Haymarket (28 OCT). — IT CAME FROM THE DESERT screens at Empire Haymarket (28 OCT).

If the thought of staying up all night gives you the creeps, why not try an all-day affair with the fiendish folk at FRIGHTFEST (28 OCT 10:15)? Films include a bunch of UK and European premieres: HOSTILE, IT CAME FROM THE DESERT, HOUSEWIFE, BEYOND SKYLINE, and TERRIFIER.

EVERYMAN CINEMAS // EDIBLE CINEMA

HALLOWEEN 2017: BEETLEJUICE screens at Everyman Cinemas (31 OCT & 01 NOV). — BEETLEJUICE screens at Everyman Cinemas (31 OCT & 01 NOV).

Everyman is teaming up with Edible Cinema for special Halloween screaming of BEETLEJUICE with a Bombay Sapphire soaked gin twist (Baker Street & Screen On The Green 31 OCT, Hampstead 01 NOV).

GENESIS CINEMA

HALLOWEEN 2017: THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI with live soundtrack by Gork screens at Genesis (29 OCT). — THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI with live soundtrack by Gork screens at Genesis Cinema (29 OCT).

Genesis Cinema has pulled out all the screams this Halloween. Highlights include a chance to see Robert Wiene’s expressionist masterpiece THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI with a live performance by Gork for FREE (29 OCT 19:00). Then, for the big one, they unleash a special screening of HALLOWEEN + FILMED INTRO from the maestro John Carpenter himself (31 OCT 19:00).

GHOSTWATCH 25TH ANNIVERSARY + Q&A (31 OCT 20:30) is organised by
Pilot Light TV Festival and includes a screening of the legendary TV hoax. Appearances include creator Stephen Volk, director Lesley Manning, actress Gillian Bevan and the writer/director of documentary GHOSTWATCH: BEHIND THE CURTAINS, Rich Lawden.

Other highlights include a 30th Anniversary screening of HELLRAISER in 35mm (26 OCT 18:45) – presented with Nick Walker from Rochester Kino – and Wes Craven’s A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (28 OCT 22:00).

If you can’t afford a ticket, or just like to prop up the bar, there’s a FREE SCOOBY DOO RULES! HALLOWEEN PARTY (27 OCT 19:00) complete with episode screenings and costumed shenanigans (no mention of Scrappy…) and a classic HORROR TRIPLE BILL (31 OCT 18:00).

HAMPTON COURT PALACE // THE LUNA CINEMA

HALLOWEEN 2017: BEETLEJUICE screens at Hampton Court Palace (30 OCT). — BEETLEJUICE screens at Hampton Court Palace (30 OCT).

The outdoor legends have taken up residence at Hampton Court Palace for the spooky season. Their HALLOWEEN SPECIAL includes BEETLEJUICE (30 OCT 18:00/19:30), THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (31 OCT 18:00/19:30), and HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (01 NOV 18:00/19:30).

HOLY INNOCENTS // STANLEY’S FILM CLUB

HALLOWEEN 2017: UNDER THE SHADOW screens at Stanley's Film Club (01 NOV). — UNDER THE SHADOW screens at Stanley’s Film Club (01 NOV).

Tipping into November, the South Norwood social cinema screens BAFTA-winning Farsi horror UNDER THE SHADOW + SHORT: HIM INDOORS (01 NOV 19:45).

THE HORSE HOSPITAL // THE FINAL GIRLS

HALLOWEEN 2017: WE ARE THE WEIRDOS screens at The Horse Hospital (31 OCT). — WE ARE THE WEIRDOS screens at The Horse Hospital (31 OCT).

Head to Bloomsbury for an evening of short horror films directed by women, WE ARE THE WEIRDOS (31 OCT 19:00) in partnership with Broadly.

ICA

HALLOWEEN 2017: THUNDERCRACK screens at ICA (31 OCT). — THUNDERCRACK! screens at ICA (31 OCT).

We love anything with a content warning… THUNDERCRACK! (31 OCT 20:45) is “a 1975 American pornographic black comedy horror film written, edited, shot, and directed by Curt McDowell” (wikipedia). ICA have got their grubby mitts on a restored version from the original print which gives you 160min of smut with a brief interval “reinserted as the director intended”.

THE INSTITUTE OF LIGHT // FILM SCHOOL & PITCHBLACK PLAYBACK

HALLOWEEN 2017: EVIL DEAD 2 screens at The Institute of Light (30 OCT). — EVIL DEAD 2 screens at The Institute of Light (30 OCT).

This could well be some people’s idea of a double nightmare… get ready to go back to (film) school for a special screening of EVIL DEAD 2 (30 OCT 19:00), Sam Raimi’s almost literal reboot of his groundbreaking debut. Go for the movie, enjoy the discussion, but be sure to take a hand to hold – Possessed Henrietta still gives us the creeps…

Settle into darkness for a JOHN CARPENTER HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (31 OCT) with a free (booking recommended) PITCHBLACK PLAYBACK ‘listening’ to his ANTHOLOGY: MOVIE THEMES 1974 to 1998 (31 OCT 19:30) before a screening of THE THING (21:00).

MOTH CLUB // CINÉ-REAL & DEEPER INTO MOVIES

HALLOWEEN 2017: THE HILLS HAVE EYES screens at Moth Club (15 OCT). — THE HILLS HAVE EYES screens at Moth Club (15 OCT).

Start your horrors early with wet and raw Wes Craven shocker THE HILLS HAVE EYES (15 OCT 19:30). Projected in original 16mm by the legendary Umit.

Spend a scary Sunday with Deeper Into Movies and two horror classics: ROSEMARY’S BABY (29 OCT 15:00) and the 1990 TV movie version of IT (29 OCT 19:00).

NOTTING HILL ARTS CLUB // THE LONDON HALLOWEEN GUIDE

HALLOWEEN 2017: HOCUS POCUS screens at Notting Hill Arts Club (31 OCT). — HOCUS POCUS screens at Notting Hill Arts Club (31 OCT).

Another spooky screening of HOCUS POCUS (31 OCT 19:00) featuring the Divine Miss M and directed by the co-creator of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, Kenny Ortega – as if Halloween wasn’t scary enough…

PHOENIX CINEMA

Head to East Finchley for a special silent screaming of HÄXAN + LIVE ACCOMPANIMENT (31 OCT 19:00). Reece Shearsmith reads a live translation whilst Stephen Horne provides the music.

PICTUREHOUSE CENTRAL

Stanley Kubrick’s hotel from hell THE SHINING (27 OCT 18:30) checks out with WORK AND PLAY: A SHORT FILM ABOUT THE SHINING and a post-screening Q&A with producer Jan Harlan and critic Kim Newman.

PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA // inc. FILMAGEDDON & THE FINAL GIRLS

COMING SOON: THE BABADOOK screens at the Prince Charles Cinema (21 OCT). — THE BABADOOK screens at the Prince Charles Cinema (21 OCT).

Going to hell for leather, Prince Charles has recast the month as HorrOctober (which we can’t quite get our nimble mouths around…). Multi-film nights include CLASSIC (21 & 28 OCT), MODERN (21 OCT) and TEEN HORROR PYJAMA PARTY (28 OCT) all-nighters. There’s also an excellent selection of short films made by women put together by The Final Girls, WE ARE THE WEIRDOS (30 OCT 18:45).

Of the single-o film exhibits, you probably shouldn’t miss: INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (08 OCT 21:00 – 1978 version); DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS (10 OCT 21:00); and THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES (16 OCT 18:30).

“IF YOU THINK THESE LADIES ARE SOMETHING, WAIT UNTIL YOU MEET MOTHER… SHE’S SOMETHING ELSE.” DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS.

Original format anniversary screenings include BLACULA (11 OCT 20:45) and THE MONSTER SQUAD + Q&As with cast members Andre Gower [Sean] and Ryan Lambert [Rudy] (20 & 21 OCT 18:00). Or, you could try tempting fate with FRIDAY THE 13TH on, well, you know… (13 OCT 20:45) and John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN on the big day itself (27 OCT to 02 NOV including 31 OCT).

There’s a splendidly late night Sing-A-Long-A ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (31 OCT 11:45) if you can keep your fishnets up.

Finally, don’t forget the FILMAGEDDON HALLOWEEN HORROR FILM QUIZ (24 OCT 20:45).

REGENT STREET CINEMA // CIGARETTE BURNS

HALLOWEEN 2017: THE KILLING OF SATAN screens at Regent Street Cinema (28 OCT). — THE KILLING OF SATAN screens at Regent Street Cinema (28 OCT).

We can’t imagine a more luxurious screen for a Halloween all-nighter. INITIATION (28 OCT 23:00) beams direct from Cigarette Burns Cinema and promises “a madcap selection of mayhem”. The films are: slice of Filipino lunacy THE KILLING OF SATAN; classic 80s slasher THE BOOGEY MAN; 70s satanic panic shocker THE BROTHERHOOD OF SATAN; and, classic 80s schlock THE RE-ANIMATOR. The final film to be revealed was Dario Argento’s SUSPIRIA. All films will play from 35mm, there’s music from Pentagram Home Video and a costume contest. Get crafting.

RIVOLI BALLROOM // CROFTON PARK PICTURES

HALLOWEEN 2017: THE SHINING screens at Rivoli Ballroom (25 OCT). — THE SHINING screens at Rivoli Ballroom (25 OCT).

Possibly the perfect venue for THE SHINING (25 OCT 20:00 – nearly SOLD OUT!), other delights screened by Crofton Park Pictures include THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (23 OCT 20:00), A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (the scary one… 24 OCT 20:00), POLTERGEIST (please god not the remake*… 26 OCT 20:00), THE EXORCIST (27 OCT 20:00), 28 DAYS LATER (31 OCT 20:00).

ROYAL GREENWICH MUSEUMS @ THE CUTTY SARK

HALLOWEEN 2017: THE THING screens at The Cutty Sark (31 OCT). — THE THING screens at The Cutty Sark (31 OCT).

THE THING (31 OCT 18:00) is a classic horror film about themes of alienation, isolation and survival. Experience the fear surrounded by the Cutty Sark’s historic tea chests in the intimate setting of the Michael Edwards Studio Theatre in the Lower Hold. Part of the Royal Greenwich Museum’s Death in the Ice exhibition.

ST LUKE’S // THE NOMAD CINEMA

COMING SOON: NOSFERATU screens at The Nomad Cinema (26 OCT). — NOSFERATU screens at The Nomad Cinema (26 OCT).

Wandering cineastes Nomad screen classic silent horror show NOSFERATU with a live score from The Cabinet of Living Cinema in the grounds of deconsecrated Old Street Church, St Luke’s (26 OCT 18:30/19:30).

STOW FILM LOUNGE

Stow Film Lounge has added everyone’s favourite race-relations horror GET OUT to their Walthamstow programme (31 OCT 19:30).

UNION CHAPEL

The multi-functional place of worship cum cultural venue’s Organ Reframed season closes with a night of classic silent film THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (15 OCT 18:30) accompanied by a new score from “ambient drone mastermind” Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie.

For Halloween, the venue is giving you Chills In The Chapel with Robin Hardy’s 1973 classic, THE WICKER MAN. The film will be bought to life with a selection of live songs performed by Boe Huntress & Dizraeli. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also an episode of cult TV series TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED – THE FLYPAPER – on offer.

THE VIEW FROM THE SHARD // THE EXTRAORDINARY TRAVELLING FILM SHOW

HALLOWEEN 2017: PSYCHO screens at The View From The Shard (31 OCT). — PSYCHO screens at The View From The Shard (31 OCT).

If you’ve ever seen Douglas Gordon’s 24HR PSYCHO, your next chance to mashup the maestro might be to see Hitchcock’s PSYCHO (31 OCT 20:00) in the UK’s highest pop-up cinema, “800ft above London’s glittering skyline”. Take a sick bag.

WHAT HAVE WE MISSED?

No list would be complete without the ones we’ve missed… Let us know what should be included in the comments below.

If you’re a cinema and want to invite us over to see your screens and sample your artisanal popcorn/hotdogs/beverages (just saying…), contact us here.

#shelterfromthestorm

Featured image: SUSPIRIA (1977).