Three Things to Stream: Halloween Horrors
There's no better time than now to check out these scary streaming options.
By Angela Davis
CORRESPONDENT
Happy Halloween Fredericksburg! It’s officially the spookiest time of the year, and there’s nothing quite like a scary movie to get into the mood. Whether it’s revisiting a classic or trying out a new release, there are plenty of frightening picks to make. Pop some popcorn, turn out the lights and get ready for a Halloween you’ll surely never forget with these chilling streams.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Peacock) (Rated PG-13)
This adaptation of Alvin Schwartz’s iconic folklore collection for kids got the big screen treatment just four years after the Goosebumps movie. However, unlike its counterpart, this film takes things in a far darker direction. It follows a group of kids as they discover a mysterious book filled with different scary stories. Soon, new tales of terror appear on the page featuring the friends who found the book, leading to many disappearances.
If you loved this classic collection, you’ll get a kick out of this creepy adaptation. Each featured story woven into the main plot stays mostly faithful to how they appear on the page. However, what makes this film work is the creature design. It’s no secret that Stephen Gammel’s artwork is what made the books such a hit with kids, and this film brings them to frightening life. This underappreciated gem deserves to be seen by more people, and now is the perfect time to give it a watch.
IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max) (Rated TV-MA)
Six years have passed since Warner Bros. officially ended its two-part adaptation of Stephen King’s mammoth novel. Now, this prequel series returns fans to the world of Derry. Pennywise the Clown is once again haunting another group of kids 27 years before the original film, and it’s up to them to find out more about the mysterious entity so they can survive before he goes back into hibernation.
While every episode of this series hasn’t aired yet, it’s already struck a chord with many fans of King’s work. Not only does it have the same amount of heart that made the modern adaptation of the novel so beloved, but it’s incredibly scary to boot. The first episode alone shocked viewers across the country with its surprising twists and turns. The second episode is premiering today as a Halloween treat, so this is a great time to tune in and see what all the hype is about.
Weapons (HBO Max) (Rated R)
Zachary Cregger’s chilling horror story is easily one of the best films of the year—if not THE best. The premise is simple yet perfect. A small town is wracked with trauma as all but one student in a single elementary school class wakes up one night at 2:17 a.m., runs outside, and disappears into the night, never to be seen again. One month later, a group of adults try to find out what happened.
It’s impossible to go into more detail about this film without spoiling its best moments. The mystery surrounding this story as it slowly unravels through a non-linear level is engaging from the word “go.” There’s frightening imagery, shocking twists, and the right pinch of humor to make it an accessible and fun horror blockbuster. Do not miss this film. It’s an incredible piece of cinema that stands out as one of 2025’s best, and on Halloween, there’s no better time to finally check it out.
Local Obituaries
To view local obituaries or to send a note to family and loved ones, please visit the link that follows.
Support Award-winning, Locally Focused Journalism
The FXBG Advance cuts through the talking points to deliver both incisive and informative news about the issues, people, and organizations that daily affect your life. And we do it in a multi-partisan format that has no equal in this region. Over the past year, our reporting was:
First to break the story of Stafford Board of Supervisors dismissing a citizen library board member for “misconduct,” without informing the citizen or explaining what the person allegedly did wrong.
First to explain falling water levels in the Rappahannock Canal.
First to detail controversial traffic numbers submitted by Stafford staff on the Buc-ee’s project
Our media group also offers the most-extensive election coverage in the region and regular columnists like:
And our newsroom is led by the most-experienced and most-awarded journalists in the region — Adele Uphaus (Managing Editor and multiple VPA award-winner) and Martin Davis (Editor-in-Chief, 2022 Opinion Writer of the Year in Virginia and more than 25 years reporting from around the country and the world).
For just $8 a month, you can help support top-flight journalism that puts people over policies.
Your contributions 100% support our journalists.
Help us as we continue to grow!
This article is published under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND. It can be distributed for noncommercial purposes and must include the following: “Published with permission by FXBG Advance.”