There's really nothing better than kicking back with your friends in a comfy cinema to watch screaming people being chased and thoroughly disembowelled. This Halloween is as good a time as ever to revisit golden moldies and fiendish faves. So here's our pick of cinematic psychopathy for you to enjoy.
SHORT SHOCKS: Head down into the belly of the Phoenix Artist Club in Soho and hope you will be reborn later after a night of brand new short horror films from around the world with the Duke Mitchell Film Club. Free, call 020 78361077 for availability, 26 October
FRIGHT NIGHTS: The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich hosts two consecutive nights of film and food. Eat a two-course dinner in the Painted Hall, before being led through a secret tunnel to enjoy a classic Halloween film in the Queen Mary Undercroft. Choose between screenings of Dracula or The Birds. £37.50, prebook, 30/31 October
CHILLS IN THE CHAPEL: Head to the Union Chapel for atmospheric John Carpenter screenings and fancy dress party. On Friday it's Escape from New York followed by a Halloween medley on Saturday. Original composer Alan Haworth will also be there to oversee live musical performances. Money raised goes towards restoration of the chapel. Tickets between £12 and £20 (earlybird and two-night discounts available), prebook, 30/31 October
NOMAD GO MAD: With their secluded LookOut venue in Hyde Park doubling up as an actual cabin in the woods, there'll be plenty of atmosphere at Nomad's two nighter. There's limbo-dancing in Beetle Juice, a haunted hotel in The Shining, meta-horror with The Cabin In The Woods and classic chills thanks to Hitchcock's Psycho. There'll be outdoor fire pits for toasting marshmallows, while a glass of fizz and hot food is included in the ticket price. £27.50, prebook, 30/31 October
REEL SQUEALS: If you don't fancy the mean streets of London on Halloween, stay safely tucked up inside at Regent Street Cinema. The All Hallow's Eve All Nighter is an all celluloid programme (no digital at all) of scary films. Singing along is encouraged and there are fancy dress prizes. £25, prebook, 31 October-1 November
CREEPY KIDS: Also at Regent Street Cinema will be a special event for children run by the Kids Kino Club. There'll be a fancy dress competition, arts and craft workshop and 10.30am screening of Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride. From £1.75 (for under 16s) to £11, prebook, 31 October
AVENGERS DISMEMBERED: Superhero films get the grisly remix treatment from the ever-reliable guys at Soundtracks in Chalk Farm. This is a music club night rather a straightforward screening but fun for fancy dress film buffs all the same. £3 before 10.30pm then £4 after, you can book an area in advance. 31 October
SERIOUS SCARES: The BFI has a damaging double header on Southbank with auteur horror at its finest: Kubrick vs Friedkin. You decide who's better at scaring the bejesus out of the audience. £8.35-£11.75, 31 October
HORROR HEROINES: The Bechdel Test Festival has chosen a selection of alternative horror flicks all starring women as part of the London Fields Free Film Festival. The Craft and Scream will be shown at The Proud Archivist and there'll be a discussion about A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night in the attic of the Hackney Picture House. Free, prebook, 31 October-1 November
TWINS MACABRE: Cult cabaret combines with 80s teen thrills as the Twins Macabre perform and introduce vampire classic The Lost Boys. The 10-year-old psychic siblings will also exchange tips for finger painting and murder and host a Thriller Dance Off. Fancy dress essential. £10, prebook, 31 October
SPOOKY SILENTS: Framed Film Club takes over the Barbican cinema for a morning of silent era horror-comedy with live music by Neil Brand. The films include Buster Keaton slapstick and Lotte Reiniger’s fairytales. There's a free workshop at 10am with films from 11am. £5, prebook, 31 October
HOCUS POCUS: LGBT film club Out At Clapham will be screening Disney's Hocus Pocus starring Bette Midler and some flying vacuum cleaners. There'll be a party in the bar before with prizes for best costumes. £10.60/£11.60, prebook, 31 October
ALL NIGHTER: The Prince Charles Cinema will be holding it's usual nocturnal marathon. Starting at one minute to midnight, the line up includes The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and other genre-defining work. £20/22, prebook, 31 October
For more Halloween ideas try our pick of all the other non-filmy things to do. Or, if you really hate all that dressing up and not-very-English-at-all trick or treating, check our alternative list for Halloween-haters (yes, we've got everything covered).
See also:
