Halloween in 4K: The Best Horror Movies to Test Your UHD TV and Soundbar
Horror is the perfect genre for 4K HDR, with its deep blacks, detailed shadows and vivid film grain. We've put together a selection that we hope you'll love, ranging from the spooky Halloween and Suspiria films to the heartwarming family favourite, The Great Pumpkin. We've also included the technical details for the most recent releases, just so you can be sure you're getting the best possible experience.
1. Suspiria (1977, Dario Argento)
It's a demo disc for home theatre systems, and I think it's absolutely amazing! The restoration was lovingly carried out under the expert supervision of cinematographer Luciano Tovoli. The neon lights, rich reds and blues, and the Goblin soundtrack in Dolby Atmos sound immersive and intense.
Info Video
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: HDR10
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
2. Halloween (1978, John Carpenter)
It's in stunning 2.35:1 aspect ratio, with a super clear 4K quality. And the best part? It's got HDR10 and Dolby Vision for a truly immersive viewing experience. The HDR is there, but it's not overwhelming. It just makes the blacks deeper and the highlights a bit brighter, without spoiling the scene. You'll really notice the difference when you're looking at night scenes, where you can see all the little details in the shadows, but the grain still feels natural. The Atmos here is delightfully subdued, with the sound staying nice and centred, and the mono track fitting in perfectly.
Info Video
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
3. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper)
It's in Native 4K, with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and it's got both Dolby Vision and HDR10. The shadows are so dark, and the grain is there but you can't even see it! Reviewers are calling this the best picture quality the film has ever had on any format, which is really exciting!
Info Video
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
4. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966, Bill Melendez)
It's a nostalgic treasure for the Halloween season, and seeing this hand-drawn classic in Native 4K is such a treat! The 4K transfer is so good that it brings out the delicate linework of Charles Schulz's animation and the rich, warm autumn palette – from the golden pumpkin patches to deep purple night skies. The HDR10 implementation is so gentle and respectful, it adds a lovely warmth to the moonlit scenes without losing that cozy, vintage storybook charm. Vince Guaraldi's iconic jazz score in DTS-HD Master Audio is absolutely wonderful! It sounds so warm, crisp, and beautifully centered.
Info Video
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1, 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
5. Hack-O-Lantern (1988, Richard Robertson)
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
6. Hocus Pocus (1993, Kenny Ortega)
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
7. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993, Henry Selick)
This stop-motion masterpiece in Native 4K is a true gem! The 4K scan reveals an incredible level of tactile detail—you can see the delicate fingerprints on the clay figures, the woven fabric of Jack Skellington's pinstripe suit, and the hand-painted woodgrain sets. The HDR offers stunning contrast, delivering inky, bottomless blacks for Halloween Town while letting the eerie neon greens, glowing jack-o'-lantern smiles, and bright Christmas Town lights dazzle with intense, specular brilliance.
Info Video
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
8. Habit (1995, Larry Fessenden)
It's a raw, moody indie vampire gem that captures the gritty bohemian atmosphere of 90s Downtown Manhattan like nothing else. The Native 4K restoration is truly outstanding. It lovingly honors the heavy, organic film grain without turning into digital noise. The HDR brings out the best in the street lamps, neon dive-bar signs, and lively Halloween party scene in the Village. The uncompressed audio keeps the dialogue sharp and the ambient city hum rich and claustrophobic.
Info Video
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
9. House of 1000 Corpses (2003, Rob Zombie)
Rob Zombie's wild and wacky grindhouse fever dream was practically born for high-contrast HDR! The transfer is bursting with a vivid, over-the-top psychedelic aesthetic, with bright neon yellows, deep, rich greens, and a rich, deep blood red that practically jumps off the screen. You'll love how the dark basements and shadowy backwoods maintain solid shadow delineation without crushing. And the aggressive surround mix will test your subwoofer with crunchy industrial metal riffs and shrieking effects panning all around the room.
Info Video
Resolution: 4K UHD (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
This picture in its time was a real hit and a pioneer of the slasher genre and other films about maniacs obsessed with the lust for killing random (and sometimes not so random) victims. That's why "Halloween," all its sequels and remakes, is a timeless holiday classic.
The protagonist, Max, arrives in Salem on Halloween eve, where he accidentally brings three witches back to life through a secret ritual. They, of course, are shocked by how the world has changed, but that does not stop them from hatching a cunning plan to eat all the children in the city in order to gain eternal life.
