To Tubi, or Not to Tubi: Your best friend this Halloween

For many of us, spooky season is a year-round event. For everyone else, October marks the time of year where your TV is regularly haunted by poltergeists, terrorized by otherworldly tormentors, and dancing with the devil.

But streaming's expensive, and a lot of platforms don't even give you a great selection. Except one: Tubi.

For free, Tubi gives you access to a great selection of new, indie, cult, and horror classics. They also have a ton of Tubi originals, some of which are downright great, others are so bizarre you have to see them to believe them.

Note: This isn't a paid promo (I wish). I just love this quirky little service.

No matter your taste in horror, Tubi's got you covered. The following are a handful of my personal favorites, each one a little different than the next. Variety's the spice of life, eh?

Lowlifes is a Tubi original from 2024, and follows a family on their annual roadtrip. Things quickly take a turn when they encounter two men on the side of the road, both claiming no ill-intent. But, something about them just doesn't sit right with this apple pie, all-American family.

This movie is a freaking blast, with some great acting, really tight pacing, a short runtime of only 91 minutes, and some nice unexpected moments throughout. I highly advise not watching the trailer, as it will certainly spoil a ton that's best left experienced firsthand.

If you're squeamish, this one isn't too gory. And for those who scare easily, it sits more on the thriller end of horror, making it highly accessible for those who just want a fun, somewhat spooky good time.

In 1981, Sam Raimi made his mark with the original Evil Dead. It was raw, creepy, and had tiny elements of humor. (The second one is when humor became a staple for the series for many years.)

In 2013, Fede Álvarez offered up the Evil Dead remake, which swapped humor for absolute terror. With a classic setup, wherein several people stay at a cabin in the woods and bring about demonic terror, Evil Dead is perfect for October.

But, with a massive caveat: It's gory, incredibly mean-spirited, and horrifying. It's my favorite in the entire series, but it's truly not for the faint of heart. If you scare easily, don't like gore, or like to see more light-hearted horror, this one isn't for you.

In 1974, Tobe Hooper changed horror forever with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Known for its grisly, raw presentation, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a brilliant horror film made on a shoestring budget. With intense camera angles, in your face editing, and an atmosphere of dread permeating every facet of the film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre truly feels like something you shouldn't be watching.

If it isn't clear from the description, this movie isn't for those wanting a lighthearted time, or those with a low threshold for terror. But, if you can handle it, or you're morbidly curious, it's absolutely worth the watch. It's a classic for good reason. It's also surprisingly light on gore.

P.S. While many will argue the second movie is inferior, it's such a uniquely batty experience that I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Ready or Not isn't a traditional horror experience, but more of a bloody, action-packed horror comedy. And it's glorious.

Starring the always-brilliant Samara Weaving, Ready or Not follows a bride that's joining a family of rich elites. Little does she know she's about to engage in the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. (With lots and lots of death.)

If you're one to scary easily, this movie is still a safe bet. However, those averse to gore and violence should steer clear, as this movie has buckets of both. Whether you're ready or not.

The teenage years are rough and rife with change. Ever wonder how much more they'd suck if you were bitten by a werewolf? Meet Ginger Snaps, a Canadian horror from 2000 that oozes personality. (And blood.)

Ginger Snaps follows two sisters who have an unhealthy relationship with death (or healthy, depending on your perspective). When one of the sisters is bitten by a werewolf, their relationship is pushed to the brink. Hey, nothing teenage siblings don't already go through, with all those weird changes. Right?

If you're a fan of 2000s camp, love werewolf movies, and aren't afraid of some gore, this movie is a must.

Ever wonder what it's like to have claustrophobia? Already have claustrophobia and wonder what it'd be like to get stuck in a cave with unknown creatures stalking you? In either event, you're in luck! The Descent is your ticket to a spelunking trip from hell.

The Descent follows a group of six friends reconnecting by way of caving journey. What starts as a way for them to bond and overcome past trauma, quickly turns into a tight, dark, claustrophobic nightmare as they're hunted by that which they can't see.

This movie isn't too heavy on the gore side of things, but for those who scare easily it's going to be a difficult watch. If you can handle tons of scares and want to experience true tunnel-visioned terror for an hour and a half, take the plunge.

One person's trash is another person's treasure. The same applies to pleasure versus eternal damnation and suffering, apparently. Hellraiser follows a woman who's trying to help her brother-in-law (and lover) restore his body, after he escaped another dimension and wound up looking worse than the bananas you should have thrown out weeks ago.

Hellraiser is hailed as a horror classic, and for good reason: it's unique, unforgettable, and truly twisted. There's a good amount of blood in this movie, so the squeamish need not apply. As far as scares, it's suspenseful at times, but isn't the kind of thing that'll keep you up for nights. If you're curious what all the fuss is about and don't mind a little torture and grisly murder, give this puzzle box a go.

Found footage movies can be pretty divisive, with some finding them nausea-inducing and cheap, and others loving them. Hell House LLC. is an absolute masterclass on how to do the genre well, whether you're a found footage naysayer or not.

Set five years after a tragic accident at a haunted house, Hell House LLC. is presented as a documentary, with the goal of figuring out what really happened to 15 people on one fateful night. It's a slow burn, but does a wonderful job toying with your senses, making you question everything, and ultimately scaring the hell out of you.

This one contains very little gore, so the squeamish will be fine. But, it's absolutely terrifying, so tread carefully if you're not a fan of being scared.

Everyone's had a bad neighbor. But, have you ever been worried yours might be a creature of the night? Fright Night follows a paranoid high schooler that's convinced his new neighbor is a vampire. And worse, he might be right about it.

Fright Night is a cult classic, filled with a killer soundtrack, memorable characters, great practical effects, and more fangs than you can shake a stake at. It's a total blast, and is likely a safe bet even for the slightly squeamish. And, it's not a "scary" scary movie, but more of a fun, popcorn and date night type movie. This should absolutely be in your October rotation.

Sometimes a movie manages to fit within a genre, while breaking virtually every rule. Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is that movie. While it's lumped within the horror genre, this movie is downright hilarious and absolutely brilliant. (Note: I am 100% biased, as this is one of my top-five favorite movies of all-time, genre aside.)

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil follows two buddies, who only want to fix up their vacation home. Unfortunately, they're about to be plagued by a bunch of college kids that can't help but fall into very, very unfortunate situations. What follows is a fantastically bloody display of a grand communication breakdown.

This movie isn't for those with a weak stomach, as it's very, very bloody and gross. On the fear side of things, there's very little real horror, as it's far more of a horror comedy. If you can handle the gore, and even if you can't, it's worth giving a shot. It's truly a classic.

There's gold in them Tubi hills, and I can't just pick ten nuggets. The following are all worth checking out this October as well, and deserve a spot on this list.

• The Burbs: If you haven't seen this Tom Hanks classic, please do. It's a bit spooky, contains almost no gore, and is a really funny, accessible, timeless movie for the season.
• Arachnophobia: SPIDERS! Low on gore and scares, Arachnophobia is a fun, campy classic that's even appropriate for older children (depending on whether you're a "cool" parent).
• Frozen: No, not that Frozen. This movie follows a couple of mountaingoers stuck on a ski lift. Things don't go well. It's a little gory but a great thriller.
• Pumpkinhead: A violent, somewhat gory creature feature, Pumpkinhead is a perfect Halloween movie. Assuming you're cool with all the death.

The list could go on and on and on, as there are so many great Halloweeny movies on Tubi. But, this list should be enough to get you started, and there should be something for almost everyone.

P.S. If you're looking for something spooky to read, my story, The Town Where No One Answers the Door, is available to read for free (for a limited time) here, and available to purchase in the latest Fun in the Dark anthology from Kilter & Rammel publishing.

Happy spooky season!