It’s always fun when there are new films on Max to kick off a month. Like other streamers, Max has added a number of horror movies to its lineup in October. But rather than overloading on scares, we’re only including a single horror flickon our list of the three underrated movies on Max that you need to watch in October.
Our other two picks include a historical drama with political overtones, as well as an action thriller that features a lead performer who was once one of Hollywood’s top stars. It’s hard not to see some of that reflected in his character from the film.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Stephen King has said several times that he’s not a fan of Stanley Kubrick‘s adaptation of The Shining. Regardless, director Mike Flanagan manages to walk a fine line between making a sequel to both King’s book and the film in Doctor Sleep. Decades after his deadly stay in the Overlook Hotel, Dan Torrance (Ewan McGregor) is an alcoholic who drinks to dull the power of his psychic gifts. And that still isn’t enough to keep the Overlook’s ghosts from literally haunting him.
As Dan sobers up and discovers a new purpose in life while working in hospice care, he meets Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran), a young girl whose powers may dwarf his own. Abra’s abilities also make her a target of Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), the leader of a vampire-like cult that feeds on children who have powers. Danny is determined to make sure that Abra isn’t Rose’s next victim, even if that means revisiting his old ghosts.
Watch Doctor Sleep on Max.
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Ron Howard’s Frost/Nixon takes some liberties with its two main subjects, but it is based on a true story, as well as the play of the same name by Peter Morgan. Veteran actor Frank Langella and Michael Sheen reprised their respective roles from the stage as Richard Nixon and David Frost. The film starts at the end of Nixon’s presidency as he resigns in disgrace over the Watergate scandal.
Journalist David Frost sees an opportunity to make a name for himself if he can get Nixon to commit to a series of interviews. Nixon doesn’t agree to participate for free, and that puts enormous pressure on Frost to get something from the former President that may be impossible: a confession for the crimes he committed while in office.
Watch Frost/Nixon on Max.
Edge of Darkness (2010)
Mel Gibson is cast as Detective Thomas Craven, a homicide investigator near the end of his career, in this thriller. Craven’s daughter, Emma (Bojana Novakovic), behaves strangely shortly before she’s murdered in front of him. And Craven soon learns that Emma was the target of the hit, not him.
As Craven starts to unravel the conspiracy behind Emma’s death, he encounters Darius Jedburgh (Ray Winstone), a man who has been hired to cover up her murder and tie up loose ends. Darius shows compassion toward Craven by letting him live, but the truth about Emma’s murder may ultimately threaten both of their lives.
Watch Edge of Darkness on Max.
