5 Horror Movies to Save Up For in October

It's that creepy time of the year when Hollywood tries to frighten you. Several horror movies will be making their theatrical debuts in the coming weeks, hoping to cash in on the Halloween frenzy that tends to dominate October.

Let's go over some of the more promising slated releases and then wrap things up with a few tips to save money as you test your jump-scare mettle at the local multiplex.

'The Final Girls' -- Oct. 9

The first of October's horror flicks is more campy than creepy. "The Final Girls" stars Taissa Farmiga from "American Horror Story" fame as a girl who gets transported back to a 1980s camp-based slasher flick that starred her now-deceased mother. There's humor. There's blood. There's family bonding. Think of it as "The Purple Rose of Cairo" meets "Scream" and you will be in the ballpark of what to expect.

The film gets its title from the slasher flick trend where the last female character left standing -- the final girl -- is often the one that does in the baddie at the end of the movie.

'Crimson Peak' -- Oct. 16

%VIRTUAL-WSSCourseInline-884%If you're hungry for highbrow horror, the art-house pick this season will be Guillermo del Toro's latest release. "Crimson Peak" details an aspiring author torn between two lovers as she takes up residency in a haunted house with a bloody past.

Golden Globe winner Jessica Chastain stars. When del Toro takes on horror -- as he did in "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" -- it's usually in a cerebral way. Did I mention that "Crimson Peak" is a period piece?

'Goosebumps' -- Oct. 16

What could very well be the top box office draw in October is the highly anticipated return of R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" series that entertained readers and viewers through the 1990s. Nostalgia will play a big part in packing movie houses, and the plot -- where classic "Goosebumps" characters are freed into a Maryland town -- should pique the interest of adults who grew up enjoying Stine's work.

"Goosebumps" stars Jack Black, and director Rob Letterman's earlier works include kid-friendly fare "Monsters vs. Aliens" and "Shark Tale." The PG rating suggests that the movie is the one entry this season targeting families.

'Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension' -- Oct. 23

There's apparently still some life left in the found-footage genre that was initially popularized by "The Blair Witch Project" in 1999. The genre features stories that are told from the perspective of recorded footage, lending an element of realism.

The original "Paranormal Activity" was made on a shoestring budget, and now we're up to the sixth installment in the franchise. As long as folks keep watching them, the studio will probably keep making them.

'Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse' -- Oct. 30

We'll get to see three scouts and a cocktail waitress take on zombie strippers, partygoers, and even a cat on the eve of Halloween. It's a lighthearted zombie romp, along the lines of "Zombieland" and "Shaun of the Dead," where the joke counts often get as high as the body counts.

The film stars Patrick Schwarzenegger as the head scout, notable because he's the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver.

Treats for Tricks

If you're looking to save some money at the movies this October, your first thought may be of stuffing your pockets with Halloween candy to save on concessions -- something that's frowned upon by most multiplex operators. You naturally know that you can save money by attending matinees earlier in the day as well as other ways to make a theater outing cheaper, but one option you might not know about is monthly movie passes.

MoviePass offers a way to get into roughly 90 percent of the theaters out there for as little as $30 a month. You are limited to one movie a day, and you can't see the same movie twice. It also won't work on 3D or IMAX (IMAX) screenings. However, if you plan on seeing all or even most of the horror films coming out in October, you may never find a situation where the pass presents a better value.

The MoviePass takes about a week to arrive after ordering it, and you will want to cancel after your first month unless you are looking forward to the slate of not-so-scary fare in November. The horror flicks are coming. Don't be caught by surprise.

Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns and recommends IMAX. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. Check out our free report on one great stock to buy for 2015 and beyond.