Much like a bowl of Halloween candy, Disney+ has all sorts of offerings this month in South Africa. Before we jump into the mouth-watering new additions that have caught our eye, a reminder that She-Hulk: Attorney at Law concludes on 13 October, and Star Wars series Andor is under way, with a new episode every Wednesday. And, if you’re looking for family-friendly Halloween fare, Hocus Pocus 2 is out already, having premiered on 30 September.
P.S. Don’t forget that as of 29 September, owners of Xbox One X|S and Xbox Series X|S consoles can now download the Disney+ app. This console-specific app provides a much-improved browsing experience (trust us, we’ve tried) over the TV version necessary for viewing locally.
Hellraiser (Film)
Out 7 October, and no doubt trying to replicate the success of straight-to-streaming Prey, is Hulu Original Hellraiser. This supernatural horror tale serves as a kind of reboot of the Hellraiser film series, and is based on the 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker. In Hellraiser, a young woman (Odessa A’zion) struggling with addiction comes into possession of an ancient puzzle box, unaware that its purpose is to summon the Cenobites, a group of sadistic supernatural beings from another dimension. They are headed by androgynous high priest Pinhead (Jamie Clayton).
7 October update: Sorry, guys, it turns out that, at least for now, Hellraiser is only screening in the US. Unlike Prey, which released globally on the same day through Hulu/Disney+, Hellraiser is a region locked exclusive.
Werewolf by Night (TV Special)
Also premiering on 7 October is Marvel Studios’ Special Presentation: Werewolf By Night, a 53-minute special set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Inspired by classic creature features, Werewolf by Night unveils a monstrous new side to the MCU, placing the emphasis on over-the-top gory fun. It sees a secret group of monster hunters gather at Bloodstone Manor following the death of their leader. There they must engage in a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic, which will bring them face to face with a dangerous monster. Gael García Bernal stars as Jack Russell/Werewolf by Night, while Laura Donnelly is Elsa Bloodstone.
Rosaline (Film)
In a break from scares and spookiness, there’s comedy Rosaline, which retells Shakespeare’s classic love story Romeo & Juliet from the perspective of Juliet’s cousin Rosaline (Kaitlyn Dever) – who happens to be Romeo’s recent love interest. Heartbroken when Romeo (Kyle Allen) meets Juliet (Isabela Merced) and begins to pursue her, Rosaline schemes to foil the famous romance and win back her guy. Minnie Driver plays the deadpan Nurse. Watch Rosaline from 14 October.
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (Series)
Using the same animation style as Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi is a set of short 15-minute stories featuring Jedi from the Star Wars prequel era. The series consists of six episodes split into two “paths”, one following Jedi Ahsoka Tano and the other Count Dooku on his path to the Dark Side. Out of interest, Liam Neeson provides the voice of older Qui-Gon Jinn in Tales, while his son Micheál Richardson is the younger version of the character. Tales of the Jedi is set to premiere with all six episodes on 26 October.