It’s the first of October which means Halloween season is officially here! That also means it’s time for us all to dim the lights, grab a blanket, and scare ourselves silly with some spooky movies and TV show. But because you already know how we do it around this side of the internet, we’re specifically looking for scary but with a extra, heaping side of Blackness.
Suggested Reading
Thankfully, Hulu has us covered with a variety of Black-led TV shows and movies that are sure to give you all the eerie feels and satisfy your creepy cravings. Whether it’s a series like Niecy Nash’s “Grotesquerie” or the new psychologically haunting film like Corey Hawkins’ “The Man in My Basement,” these titles prove that Black people in horror is more than a trend–it’s a whole damn movement.
Now you just might want to sleep with the lights on after watching a few of these but, these titles are sure to leave with something to think about long after the credits roll. So if you’re picking up what we’re putting down, keep reading to see our list of Hulu picks and have a safe Halloween this spooky season!
“The Man in My Basement”
In the African-American neighborhood of Sag Harbor, New York, Charles Blakey is out of work, out of luck and on the verge of foreclosure on his ancestral home. A knock on the door from a mysterious businessman, Anniston Bennet, brings a bizarre and lucrative proposition; rent his dusty stand-up basement out for the summer and receive enough money to clear his debts for good. Once Charles accepts, he finds himself led down a terrifying path that confronts his family’s ghosts and locks the men in a terrifying puzzle, at the heart of it race, the source of their traumas and the root of all evil.
Starring: Corey Hawkins, Willem Dafoe, Anna Diop
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“40 Acres”
In a post-apocalyptic world with food scarcity, a Black family of Canadian farmers descended from American Civil War migrants defend their homestead against cannibals trying to seize their resources.
Starring: Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Greyeyes, Kataem O’Connor
Streaming on Hulu: October 17
“Stay”
“Stay” follows Kiara, a PhD author of African spirituality, and Miles, a former MMA fighter, facing the end of their once beautiful marriage. As it appears matters can’t get any worse in their lives, they begin to encounter soul-shaking supernatural forces and go from fighting one another to fighting for their lives. The key to survival lies within their ability to conquer their darkest moments with courage and love.
Starring: Megalyn Echikunwoke, Mo McRae
Streaming on Hulu: October 8
“Spiral”
In this new chapter from the Book of Saw, a detective and his partner investigate grisly murders that are eerily reminiscent of the past.
Starring: Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Marisol Nichols
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“Mr. Crocket”
In 1993, a mysterious children’s show host, Mr. Crocket, magically emerges from television sets to kidnap young children, brutally slaying their parents in the process. After Mr. Crocket snatches her son, one determined mother embarks on a perilous quest to track down the demonic entertainer and rescue her boy.
Starring: Jerrika Hinton, Elvis Nolasco, Ayden Gavin
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“Grotesquerie”
In the drama series “Grotesquerie,” a series of heinous crimes have unsettled a small community. Detective Lois Tryon feels these crimes are eerily personal, as if someone–or something–taunting her. At home, Lois grapples with a strained relationship with her daughter, a husband in long-term hospital care and her own inner demons. With no leads and unsure of where to turn, she accepts the help of Sister Megan, a nun and journalist with the “Catholic Guardian.” Sister Megan, with her own difficult past, has seen the worst of humanity, yet she still believes in its capacity for good. Lois, on the other hand, fears the world is succumbing to evil. As Lois and Sister Megan string together clues, they find themselves ensnared in a sinister web that only seems to raise more questions than answers.
Starring: Niecy Nash, Courtney B. Vance, Travis Kelce
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“Bad Hair”
In 1989 an ambitious young woman gets a weave in order to succeed in the image-obsessed world of music television. However, her flourishing career may come at a great cost when she realizes that her new hair may have a mind of its own.
Starring: Elle Lorraine, Lena Waithe, Jay Pharoah
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“The Mill”
A businessman (Lil Rel Howery) wakes up beside an ancient grist mill situated in the center of an open-air prison cell with no idea how he got there. Forced to work as a beast of burden to stay alive, he must find a way to escape before the birth of his child.
Starring: Lil Rel Howery, Karen Obilom, Pat Healy
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“The Other Black Girl”
Nella, an editorial assistant, is tired of being the only Black girl at her company, so she’s excited when Hazel is hired. But as Hazel’s star begins to rise, Nella spirals out and discovers something sinister is going on at the company.
Starring: Sinclair DanielAshleigh MurrayBrittany Adebumola
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“Abbott Elementary”
Not everything during Halloween season has to give you nightmares, right? We thought we’d throw in our favorite show “Abbott Elementary” and a few of their Halloween episodes to sort of break the tension. While there are def elements of fright, these episodes should bring you some momentary levity. Might we suggest specifically, season four, episode four and season two, episode six.
Starring: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“Kindred”
An adaptation of Octavia Butler’s book of the same name, this series centers on Dana James, a young Black woman and aspiring writer who has uprooted her life of familial obligation and relocated to Los Angeles, ready to claim a future that, for once, feels all her own. But before she can settle into her new home, she finds herself being violently pulled back and forth in time. She emerges at a nineteenth-century plantation, a place remarkably and intimately linked with Dana and her family. An interracial romance threads through Dana’s past and present, and the clock is ticking as she struggles to confront secrets she never knew ran through her blood.
Starring: Mallori Johnson, Micah Stock, Ryan Kwanten
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“Blade Franchise”
We know we threw it back on this one but Wesley Snipes as Blade is always a creepy, good watch! And since it seems like it’s going to be awhile before we see Mahershala Ali’s iteration of it, we all might as well rewatch this one anyhow!
Starring: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, N’Bushe Wright
Streaming on Hulu: Now
“The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster”
Vicaria is a brilliant teenager who believes death is a disease that can be cured. After the brutal murder of her brother, she embarks on a dangerous journey to bring him back to life.
Starring: Laya DeLeon Hayes, Denzel Whitaker, Chad L. Coleman
Streaming on Hulu: Now
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