You’d be hard-pressed to be a movie fan if you didn’t find a big Hollywood release to be excited about this fall. Maybe it’s the return of the Avatar, Predator, or Tron franchises. Maybe it’s a new film from an iconic filmmaker like Edgar Wright, Guillermo del Toro, or Yorgos Lanthimos. Or, maybe you can’t wait to be scared by new films in the Conjuring, Black Phone, or Five Nights at Freddy’s franchises. Whatever the case, as usual, Hollywood tries to have something for everyone. But there’s always more.
Below, we’ve got 10 genre films that aren’t from major studios and often don’t have big-name stars, but we’re still excited to see them. There’s some horror, there’s some romance, there’s some animation, and more. But all could potentially be flying under your radar.
Rabbit Trap (September 12)
Dev Patel stars in this Sundance film about a couple who move to the woods only to discover a mysterious, otherworldly sound.
Night of the Reaper (September 19 on Shudder)
We love a good period slasher film, and Night of the Reaper, about a babysitter haunted by the titular slasher, sounds like it’s going to deliver exactly that.
Xeno (September 19)
Kevin Hart produced, but doesn’t star in, this story of a young girl and a mysterious creature who go off on an adventure.
Good Boy (October 3)
An adorable dog witnesses his owner encounter an escalating series of paranormal activities. No, not the movies.
V/H/S/Halloween (October 3 on Shudder)
In what’s basically become an annual tradition, the VHS franchise is back with another series of spooky anthologies, all themed around everyone’s favorite holiday.
Shelby Oaks (October 3)
A woman believes a new discovery may be the key to finding her long-lost sister and the demon potentially behind it all.
Deathstalker (October 10)
The latest film from director Steven Kostanski (The Void, PG: Psycho Goreman) is an epic fantasy horror adventure. Just the way we like them.
Queens of the Dead (October 24)
Katy O’Brian stars in this neon-infused horror comedy about what happens when a group of people in a club realizes a zombie apocalypse is happening outside.
Eternity (November 26)
The Scarlet Witch, aka Elizabeth Olsen, returns. Only this time, she’s dead. And in the afterlife, she has to choose between her two husbands.
Scarlet (December)
A new anime from director Mamoru Hosoda, Scarlet follows a sword-fighting princess on an adventure through the afterlife. Originally set for wide release this year, it was recently pushed into next year, but it will get a small, awards-qualifying run sometime in December.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
