As October 31 approaches, the pressure to watch scary movies naturally increases.
This month alone cinemas have released a selection of creepy movies for horror fans to enjoy, from the Terrifier 3 to Smile 2. However, creepy clowns and jump scares aren’t for everyone. So, if you find yourself drawn to romantic comedies or dramas with a strong focus on relationships, there’s no need to miss out on the spooky festivities.
Here, we pull together five top-rated films that strike the balance between horror and romance. You can stream these from the comfort of your home or catch the new releases before they leave cinemas.
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
A blend between romance classics Romeo and Juliet and Bonnie and Clyde, Love Lies Bleeding follows a destructive lesbian relationship.
Twilight alum Kristen Stewart and The Mandalorian’s Katy O’Brian lead the R-rated slasher of a passionate romance between gym manager Lou (Stewart) and bodybuilder Jackie (O’Brian), that quickly turns violent.
While the pair is still in the honeymoon phase, they get wrapped up in a web of murder, crime and addiction, leading to a gory 100-minute ride.
Like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the film can be interpreted as a cautionary tale against obsessive love. It boasts an almost perfect 94% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and marks the second directorial gig for British filmmaker Rose Glass.
Love Lies Bleeding is available to rent on Sky and Apple TV
Strange Darling (2024)
Dysfunctional relationships are a common theme on this list and Strange Darling stays on-trend.
Set in rural Oregon, the tale is told across six chapters in non-chronological order. It sets itself up with an unsettling one-night stand between a female character named the Lady (Willa Fitzgerald) and a man played by Kyle Gallner.
Since the story unfolds in a non-linear timeline that keeps audiences guessing, it is best enjoyed by going into it clueless. But if you need more convincing, the thriller currently sits on a stellar 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating and has received wide critical acclaim.
Filmmaker JJ Abrams (Lost, Star Trek, Star Wars : The Force Awakens) has recently praised it on X, formerly Twitter. He wrote: “Name a better movie this year. It’s terrifying, hilarious, heartbreaking, sexy, and wild. A true cinematic thriller masterpiece. I lost my mind for Strange Darling.”
Strange Darling is available to watch in select cinemas
Only Lovers Left Alive (2014)
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Pandora/GORDON Photography, SMPSP)
Crowned one of the greatest films of the 21st century by the BBC, Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston star as Adam and Eve in this unique vampire romance.
A relatively scare-free thriller, Only Lovers Left Alive is more concerned with what it means to be hundreds of years old in modern world, than it is with bloodsucking. The central couple have been married for centuries and opt out of feeding on humans for fear of the blood being contaminated by modern environments. Instead, they exclusively feed from blood banks.
At its core, the Jim Jarmusch-directed drama wrestles with the state of humanity, love, art and the beauty of the world.
Only Lovers Left Alive is available to stream on Mubi
Bones and All (2022)
Few things are creepier than cannibalism but director Luca Guadagnino almost makes it romantic.
Timothee Chalamet stars alongside Taylor Russell as two outcasts who fall in love with each other on a long road trip across America. It is an unsettling watch that doesn’t shy away from the grit of cannibalism or the struggles of loneliness.
At its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the this R-rated drama took home a Silver Lion Award for Best Direction. The film was also a hit with critics but failed to crack the box office, bringing in a worldwide total of $15.2 million against a $16–20 million budget.
Even so, Bones and All is a must-watch for horror and romance fans.
Bones and All is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video
Warm Bodies (2013)
Similar to Bones and All, Warm Bodies focuses on young people finding their place in the world, only this time the main character is a zombie.
Based on Isaac Marion’s 2011 novel of the same name, the film stars Nicholas Hoult (Skins) as R. He sees a living woman being attacked by another living-dead character and jumps in to rescue her. From there unfolds a love story that starts to blur the lines between humans and zombies.
Although its concept places it firmly in the horror genre, it is tame enough for movie fans who scare easily.
Warm Bodies is available to rent on Apple TV
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