Halloween brings restored 1970s horror titles and free streaming

As Halloween approaches, film distributors, archival specialists and streaming platforms are rolling out a mix of restored 1970s horror titles and free seasonal offerings while social media has been punctuated by a viral Halloween clip of a police officer dressed as a horror movie clown. The releases and online moments underscore renewed attention to classic and cult horror as viewers look for scares at home this week.

Several boutique labels have issued newly remastered Blu-ray and Ultra HD editions of 1970s films, many drawn from late-night television and European genre cinema. One multi-film set collects four television shockers produced in 1973 by Dan Curtis, including The Possession of Carol Enders and Come Die with Me, each presented with new commentaries. Another package restores three Italian films from the early 1970s, offering 2K scans and supplemental interviews. A separate disc revisits the work of prolific Spanish director Jesús Franco with a dual commentary, and a freshly remastered Ultra HD release has been issued for the 1971 psychological chiller Let’s Scare Jessica to Death, accompanied by new extras. An expanded Blu-ray also includes a rare 3D restoration of...