From 'Jaws' to 'Child's Play,' here are the horror movies to see in Austin theaters now

From 'Jaws' to 'Child's Play,' here are the horror movies to see in Austin theaters nowImage: Child's Play/TMDb
Hoodline
Published on July 01, 2019

In the mood for some entertainment? Check out this week's lineup of horror movies showing on the big screen in and around Austin.

Read on for the best horror films to catch in theaters, based on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer Score, which reflects the opinions of hundreds of film and television critics.

(Movie descriptions courtesy The Movie Database; showtimes via Fandango. Movie ratings and showtimes are subject to change.)

Jaws

An insatiable great white shark terrorizes the townspeople of Amity Island. The police chief, an oceanographer and a grizzled shark hunter, seek to destroy the bloodthirsty beast.

With a Tomatometer Score of 97 percent and an Audience Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, this 1975 release is a critical darling. Newsweek's Arthur Cooper said, "'Jaws' is a grisly film, often ugly as sin, which achieves precisely what it set out to accomplish — scare the hell out of you." 

Get a piece of the action at Alamo Drafthouse Ritz (320 E. Sixth St.) through Thursday, July 4. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

Hereditary

When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.

With a Tomatometer Score of 89 percent and an Audience Score of 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Hereditary" has racked up generally positive reviews since its release in June 2018.

" 'Hereditary' feels like an endless drawing out of that queasy, shocking, falling dream sensation, as the ground beneath the Graham family, and the viewer, crumbles," according to Andrew Whalen of Newsweek, while the Chicago Reader's Andrea Gronvall said, "Toni Collette is flawless."

Catch it on the big screen at Alamo Drafthouse Ritz (320 E. Sixth St.) through Sunday, July 7. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

Annabelle Comes Home

Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists, Ed and Lorraine Warren, bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her “safely” behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest’s holy blessing. But an unholy night of horror awaits as Annabelle awakens the evil spirits in the room, who all set their sights on a new target — the Warrens' 10-year-old daughter, Judy and her friends.

With a Tomatometer Score of 70 percent and an Audience Score of 72 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Annabelle Comes Home" is well worth a watch.

"The reason the movie works, I think, is simple. The actresses are all strong," noted Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune, while the Globe and Mail's Brad Wheeler said, "What follows is excellent, uncomplicated and well-wrought house-of-horrors fun, complete with a message about self-blame and the real things that haunt us."

It's playing at AMC Barton Creek Square 14 (2901 Capital Of Texas Highway) and AMC Lakeline 9 (11200 Lakeline Mall Blvd.) through Sunday, July 7; Regal Gateway & IMAX (9700 Stonelake Blvd.) through Thursday, July 4. Click here for showtimes and tickets.

Child's Play

Karen, a single mother, gifts her son, Andy a Buddi doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature. This story is a contemporary re-imagining of the 1988 horror classic.

With a Tomatometer Score of 60 percent and an Audience Score of 60 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, "Child's Play" is well worth a watch. Tribune News Service's Katie Walsh said, "Who would have guessed that a 'Child's Play' film would leave us with less popcorn-rattling jump scares and more existential questions about the role of Alexa in our lives?" and Espinof's Kiko Vega noted, "A well-made modern retelling of this classic horror film that accurately portrays the times we live in."

In the mood for popcorn? It's playing at Regal Gateway & IMAX (9700 Stonelake Blvd.) through Thursday, July 4. Click here for showtimes and tickets.


This story was created automatically using local movie data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.