If you’re wondering what to watch in October, the month brings with it an array of whirlwind romances, suspenseful thrillers and spine-chilling horror—just in time for Halloween. First on our list is Fall of the House of Usher. An Edgar Allan Poe novel come to life, expect to be spooked by a trail of mysterious deaths and a patriarch harbouring an age-old secret. On the other end of the horror spectrum is playful slasher flick Totally Killer. Led by Kiernan Shipka, settle in for a dark comedy punctuated by sardonic humour and witty punchlines.
Bae Suzy and Yang Se-Jong star in K-drama series Doona, portraying the ‘opposites attract’ trope in a refreshingly new light. Retired idol Lee Doo-Na and university student Lee Won-Joon are forced to confront their vastly different identities while slowly falling in love with one another. Taking things up a notch, meanwhile, is the adrenaline-fuelled Korean thriller Ballerina. Determined to avenge her best friend’s death, protagonist Ok-Ju goes to extreme ends to hunt down those responsible for her late friend’s murder. Expect action-packed scenes of expertly choreographed fights, epic shootouts and slick motorcycle stunts.
If you’re in the mood for a documentary, consider an intimate four-part series chronicling the life of football icon David Beckham. Tracing his trajectory from growing up in a humble middle-class home to becoming one of the most recognisable figures in modern pop culture, Beckham is filled with candid interviews with his inner circle.
Below, find Vogue Singapore’s full list of what to watch in October—all available on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Apple TV+.
1 / 7
Doona
Played by Bae Suzy, Lee Doo-Na, the main vocalist of a popular female idol group, shocks the world as she announces her retirement from showbiz. Moving into a university share house, Doo-Na starts to embrace a peaceful homebody lifestyle—until she bumps into the introverted Lee Won-Joon, an ordinary university student with an unassuming life. With their fates intertwined by the sole coincidence of being roommates, an unlikely romance blossoms between the pair.
Watch Doona on Netflix from 20 October 2023.
2 / 7
Ballerina
Fuelled by a fiery vendetta to exact revenge on her late best friend’s killer, ex-bodyguard Ok-Ju—portrayed by Jun Jong-Seo—goes to the extremes to hunt down the murderer and seek answers along the way. A hair-raising thriller that revolves around friendship, Ok-Ju risks her own life for Min-Hee as she strives to avenge her unjustly death and find Pro Choi, the man allegedly responsible for the murder.
Watch Ballerina on Netflix from 6 October 2023.
3 / 7
Fall of the House of Usher
Loosely adapted from multiple works by Edgar Allan Poe, this contemporary horror miniseries is centred around the macabre events that happen to the Usher dynasty. When his children start dying under brutal and mysterious circumstances, Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood), patriarch of the family and the corrupt CEO of Fortunato Pharmaceuticals—is unwillingly forced to confront his haunted past. As deeply enigmatic characters portrayed by the the likes of Mark Hamil and Mary McDonnell navigate a labyrinth of power, corruption and disturbing secrets, the Usher family is determined to stop a stranger from the past from sealing their fates forever.
Watch Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix from 12 October 2023.
4 / 7
Totally Killer
If terrifying plotlines and eerie suspense aren’t your thing, this playful slasher romp might be more up your alley. When Jamie, played by Kiernan Shipka, accidentally time travels to 1987, she teams up with an unlikely ally to stop the ‘Sweet Sixteen Killer’—a resurgent masked murderer who attempts to make her the fourth victim. Determined to put an end to the serial killer’s decades-long campaign of terror and return back to her timeline, this is a light-hearted comedy-horror film that blends witty humour with classic horror tropes.
Watch Totally Killer on Amazon Prime from 6 October 2023.
5 / 7
Killers of the Flower Moon
Based on a true story and David Grann’s eponymous bestselling novel, this Western crime saga features a star-studded cast with the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Set in 1920s Oklahoma during the oil rush, white interlopers are quick to extort and murder the Native Americans who reside on the tribal land of the Osage Nation—brutally pillaging their abundant wealth and resources. Amidst increasing racial tensions, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) falls in love with Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a Native American woman from the Osage tribe. As an unlikely romance sparks between the protagonists, their relationship becomes increasingly tumultuous amidst financial greed, familial tensions and unexpected betrayal.
Watch Killers of the Flower Moon on Apple TV+, coming soon.
6 / 7
Beckham
From his humble origins growing up in a working-class household to his meteoric rise to fame, this four-part documentary series reveals an intimate side to football icon David Beckham. Filled with personal interviews with loved ones and never-before-seen footage, Beckham takes a moment to reflect on his trailblazing football career, his family life and his inspiring role as a public figure.
Watch Beckham on Netflix from 4 October 2023.
7 / 7
Loki Season 2
Season 1’s cliffhanger finale saw Loki being stranded in another dimension, leaving Slyvie (Loki’s alternate self) to unintentionally set off another multiverse war. In the highly-anticipated second season, Loki finds himself in another predicament—this time at the Time Variance Authority (TVA). As he joins forces with a diverse crew of recurring and new characters—including Ke Huy Quan as a TVA technician—their attempts to successfully navigate the ever-expanding multiverse results in a light-hearted watch that is easy to binge in one sitting.
Watch Loki Season 2 on Disney+ on 5 October 2023.
