October’s movie lineup in NYC: repertory horror, restored classics, and local favorites

# Overview October's film programming in New York City leans into spooky season but offers more than jump scares. Independent cinemas have scheduled a mix of horror and cult favorites, a newly restored controversial classic, a local-documentary premiere, and a handful of offbeat fiction films. Most screenings are concentrated at Metrograph, IFC Center, Film at Lincoln Center, the Angelika Film Center, and Gansevoort Plaza.

# Notable screenings and openings

Three — Metrograph (Oct. 3 and 9)

A 1974 crime thriller set on the New York subway, this film pairs a tightly plotted hijacking with the city's atmosphere. Metrograph includes it in its Trains: Local Routes series, making it a relevant pick for viewers interested in procedural thrillers and urban-set classics.

Jennifer's Body — Gansevoort Plaza (Oct. 13)

Karyn Kusama's 2009 horror-comedy starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried returns for reassessment. The film frames demonic possession through high-school dynamics and explores themes including assault and trauma, casting its central figure as both predator and product of circumstance.

Ken Russell's 1971 historical horror-drama has been restored in 4K and will play in its director's cut. The film depicts events in 1634 France where accusations of demonic possession and sexual hysteria are leveraged for political ends. It is noted in this programming for its controversial content and history of censorship.

Once Upon a Time in Harlem — Film at Lincoln Center (opens Oct. 16)

Wicker — Angelika Film Center (opens Oct. 22)

York — Angelika Film Center (opens Oct. 23)

A contemporary story about a traditional pickpocket confronting a digital economy where wealth is often intangible. The listing positions the film as a timely character piece about survival in a changing city.

# How these programs fit the month The selections mix horror entries (both contemporary and cult) with restorations and locally relevant documentaries. Restored prints and repertory series enable viewers to see historically significant or hard-to-find films in theatrical settings, while newer and offbeat releases give audiences options beyond mainstream multiplex fare.

# Practical takeaways

• If you want a New York-set classic with procedural thrills and transit detail, see Pelham at Metrograph.
• For a reevaluation of a late-2000s cult horror, head to Gansevoort Plaza for Jennifer's Body.
• The Devils offers a theatrical opportunity to view a restored, controversial director's cut that's rarely screened in full.
• Film at Lincoln Center and the Angelika are the places to catch documentary and new narrative premieres through the month.

# Quick planning notes