Halloween tricks and treats on TV

Gracenote

It’s not exactly a surprise to find another “Halloween” movie thriller during trick-or-treat season.

What’s surprising is the background of the latest Jamie Lee Curtis-starring edition, which essentially erases most of the franchise’s history, positioning itself as a direct sequel to the original 1978 film …which remains one of the most financially successful independent productions in screen history.

That even includes “Halloween II,” which returned Curtis to the role of Laurie Strode, the babysitter who came face-to-mask with homicidal Michael Myers. She also reprised the part in 1998’s “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later,” but Curtis reportedly took a particular shine to the way comedy veterans David Gordon Green (also the director) and Danny McBride co-wrote the latest “Halloween,” which gives her present-day Laurie a daughter and granddaughter (Judy Greer, Andi Matichak) who also are imperiled by murderous Myers. Moreover, the actor who originally embodied Myers in 1978 – Nick Castle – is back in the role, though he shares it with stunt veteran James Jude Courtney for some of the more physical scenes. And though original “Dr. Sam Loomis” Donald Pleasence died in 1995, a performer who sounds like him is used in a newly created voiceover.

Undoubtedly and understandably, loyalists will seek out the first “Halloween” as they do each October … but this time, they also have another option that stays very true to the saga’s roots.

See the new “Halloween” movie currently in theaters and catch the original on AMC on Oct. 29 at 9 a.m.; Oct. 30 at 3 and 9:30 p.m.; and Oct. 31, 11 a.m. and 11:10 p.m.

Also streaming on Shudder, Amazon Prime and iTunes.

‘scare-a-versaries’

45 years - “The Exorcist” (1973): This is sure to make your head spin. Watch on AMC, Thursday, 8 p.m.

30 years - “Beetlejuice” (1988): We know, he looks really terrible for his age! Watch on Paramount, Thursday, 8 p.m. and CMT, Oct. 28, noon and 9 p.m.

“Child’s Play” (1988): Kids from that era are still paying for therapy. Watch on Paramount, Tuesday, 11 p.m. and CMT, Thursday, 11 p.m.

25 years - “Hocus Pocus” (1993): The witches are back to cast their spell. Watch on Freeform, multiple airings.

“Jurassic Park” (1993): What could possibly go wrong with a theme park full of cloned predators? Run, run now! Freeform, Thursday, 4 p.m. and Friday, 12:30 p.m.

“Leprechaun” (1993): Never trust anyone wearing green. Watch on Paramount, Friday, 8 p.m.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993): Halloweentown collides with Christmastown. Watch on Freeform multiple airings

Paranormal Premieres

“The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XXIX,” Sunday on Fox at 8 p.m. In this 29th edition (in case anyone is struggling with Roman numerals), stories include an oyster-eating competition between Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) and Cthulhu, one of H.P. Lovecraft’s dark divinities.

“Woman in White,” Sunday on PBS, 10 p.m. Widely considered to be among the first mystery novels, Wilkie Collins’ 1859 psychological thriller gets a compelling new BBC adaptation in this five-part miniseries, airing weekly through Nov. 18 . Ben Hardy and Jessie Buckley star.

The Strange Life of Dr. Frankenstein, Monday on Turner Classic Movies at 8 p.m. As this new one-hour documentary reveals, however, Shelley’s literary masterpiece, which was steeped in scientific research of her time, was a sophisticated exploration of man’s quest for the secret of life.

Legacies, Thursday on The CW at 9 p.m. “The Vampire Diaries“ and “The Originals“ are over, but their – OK, we’ll say it – legacies live on in this new chapter of the saga, set principally at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted.

NEW TRICKS & OLD TREATS

Sunday

“Bob’s Burgers,” Fox, 8:30 p.m.

“Charmed,” The CW, 9 p.m.

“Rel,” Fox, 9:30 p.m.

“The Woman in White,” PBS, 10 p.m.

TUESDAY

“Chris Jericho: Hunting Monsters,” Travel Channel, 10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

“Fright Night,” AMC, 10:35 p.m.

THURSDAY

“Supernatural,” The CW, 8 p.m.

“Superstore,” NBC, 8 p.m.

FRIDAY

“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” ABC, 8 p.m.

“Z Nation,” Syfy, 9 p.m.

“Channel Zero,” Syfy, 11 p.m.

SATURDAY

“Zombie at 17,” Lifetime, 8 p.m.

“Dead in the Water,” Syfy, 9 p.m.

OCT. 29

“Monster Encounters,” Travel Channel, 10 p.m.

OCT. 31

“Supernatural,” TNT, marathon beginning at 8 a.m.

SCARE-A-THON

SUNDAY

“Deathwish 2,” Amazon

“American Psycho,” Hulu

“Cabin Fever,” Netflix

“The Mummy (1959),” TCM, 8 p.m.

MONDAY

“Boogeyman,” Sony Crackle

“Stephen King’s Children of the Corn,” (Netflix)

“Son of Frankenstein (1939),” TCM, 9 p.m.

TUESDAY

“Truth or Dare,” Netflix

“Night of the Living Dead,” Sony Crackle

“Texas Chainsaw 3D,” Syfy, 7 p.m.

“Child’s Play,” Paramount, 11 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

“Return of the Living Dead,” Amazon

“The Birds,” Shudder

“White Zombie,” TCM, 8 p.m.

“American Horror Story: Apocalypse ,” FX, 10 p.m.

THURSDAY

“Jurassic Park,” Freeform, 4 p.m.

“The Exorcist,” AMC, 8 p.m.

“The Amityville Horror,” EPIX, 8 p.m.

“Annabelle,” AMC, 10:50 p.m.

FRIDAY

“Poltergeist III,” Amazon

“Summer of 84,” Shudder

“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” ABC, 8 p.m.

“Leprechaun,” Paramount, 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

“Jeepers Creepers 2,” Amazon)

“The Sixth Sense,” Netflix

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” (1941): TCM, 2:15 p.m.

“It,” (2017): HBO, 10 p.m.

Oct. 28

“Oculus,” Netflix

“Beetlejuice,” CMT, 12 p.m. & 9 p.m.

“The Mummy’s Shroud,” TCM, 8 p.m.

“The Walking Dead,” AMC, 9 p.m.

Oct. 29

“The Conjuring,” Netflix

“Halloweentown,” Disney Channel, 4:55 p.m.

“Ghostbusters,” (2016), FX, 8 p.m.

“Psycho,” (1960), BBC America, 11 p.m.

Oct. 30

“King Kong,” (1933), TCM, 4:15 p.m.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Freeform, 6:45 p.m.

“Carrie,” SundanceTV, 8:30 p.m.

“Misery,” SundanceTV, 10:45 p.m.

Oct. 31

“Hocus Pocus,” Freeform, (marathon)

“Paranormal Activity,” EPIX, 9:35 p.m.

“A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Paramount, 10 p.m.

“Halloween,” (1978), AMC, 11:10 p.m.

CORD-CUTTER

Beware of these resurrected spirits sending signals through the digital airwaves.

Friday

“The Hound of Baskervilles,” (1959), This TV, 6 p.m.: Sherlock Holmes (Peter Cushing) and Doctor Watson (Andre Morell) meet with a certain Dr. Mortimer (Francis De Wolff), who tells them of the legend of the “hound,“ born out of a murder committed by Sir Hugo Baskerville centuries ago.

Oct. 28

“The Munsters,” COZI TV, beginning at 1 p.m. (marathon): America’s favorite creepy comedic family gets a special airing just in time for their favorite holiday. Tune in to catch all of their hilarious struggles of trying to live in a normal world in this season one marathon.

Oct. 29

“The Mummy,” (1932), Retro TV, 8 p.m.: A team of British archaeologists led by Sir Joseph Whemple ,” David Manners) discover the mummified remains of the ancient Egyptian prince Imhotep (Boris Karloff), along with the legendary scroll of Thoth. When one of the archaeologists recites the scroll aloud, Imhotep returns to life, but escapes.

Oct. 31

“The Pit and the Pendulum,” (1961), This TV, 6 p.m. Elizabeth Barnard Medina (Barbara Steele) has died in the prime of life, and her brother, Francis (John Kerr), wants to know why. Elizabeth’s husband, Nicholas (Vincent Price), and her doctor offer differing explanations, but when Francis learns that Nicholas’ mother may have been buried alive, he begins to wonder if his sister met the same fate.

OVER-THE-AIR TV THRILLERS

Friday

“The Twilight Zone,” MeTV, 12 a.m.

“Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” MeTV, 1 a.m.

“Bewitched,” Antenna TV, 2 p.m.

“The Masque of the Red Death,” 1964 – This TV, 4 p.m.

Oct. 28

“The Addams Family,” This TV, 11:30 a.m.

“Mystery Hunters,” MeTV, 7:30 a.m.

“The Brady Bunch,” Halloween episode

Oct. 29

“The Ghost Whisperer,” (mini-marathon, getTV, 12 a.m.

“Race With the Devil,” (1975), Retro TV, 5:32 a.m.

“Incredible Hulk,” Heroes & Icons, 7 a.m.

“The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini,” 1966, This TV, 4 p.m.

“Haunted Honeymoon,” (1986), This TV, 6 p.m.

“Mimic,” (1997), This TV, 8 p.m.

“Wes Craven Presents: They” (2002), This TV, 10 p.m.

Oct. 30

“Dracula III: Legacy,” (2005), This TV, 12 a.m.

“Dementia,” (1963), This TV, 2 a.m.

“ALF,” Halloween episode, MeTV, 6 a.m.

“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” marathon, Antenna TV, 5 p.m.

“The Vagrant,” (1992), This TV, 6 p.m.

“Amityville II: The Possession,”(1982), This TV, 8 p.m.

“Poltergeist III,” (1988), This TV, 10 p.m.

Oct. 31

“Carrie,” (2002), This TV, 12 a.m.

“Stephen King’s Sometimes They Come Back,” 1991, This TV, 3 a.m.

“The Stranger,” (1946), Retro TV, 9:18 a.m.

“War Gods of the Deep,” (1965), This TV, 2 p.m.

“The Oblong Box,” (1969), This TV, 4 p.m.

“Cape Fear,” (1962), Retro TV, 4:48 p.m.

“The Invisible Man,” (1933), Retro TV, 6:46 p.m.

“The Invisible Man Returns,” (1940), Retro TV, 8 p.m.

“Mom,” (1991), Charge TV, 8 p.m.

“Master of the World,” (1961), This TV, 8 p.m.

“Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf,” (1985), Charge TV, 10 p.m.

NETFLIX SCARES

Now Available

“Haunted,” This new series is from the executive producers of “The Purge” franchise. (original)

“The Haunting of Hill House,” Five siblings who grew up in the most famous haunted house in America are forced to face ghosts from their past – both internal and external when their youngest sister commits suicide in this original horror series. Paxton Singleton, Samantha Sloyan and May Badr star. (original)

“Castlevania,” This dark medieval animated tale from author Warren Ellis about the last surviving member of a disgraced clan trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of a notorious vampire returns for its sophomore round. (original)

“Apostle,” Set in 1905, this joint U.S./U.K. production from director Gareth Evans (“The Raid: Redemption“) stars Dan Stevens (“Legion”) as a man who goes to a remote island to rescue his sister from a religious cult. Michael Sheen, Lucy Boynton and Kristine Froseth also star. (original)

Hold the Dark, Riley Keough (“The Girlfriend Experience“) stars as a young Alaska mother who seeks the help of a retired naturalist (Jeffrey Wright, “Westworld“) when her young son is killed by a pack of wolves in this original psychological thriller movie. (original)

Friday

“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” Kiernan Shipka (“Mad Men”) stars as the title character, who grapples with her dual nature as half-mortal, half-witch, in this dark tale from creator Roberto Aguirre- Sacasa (“Riverdale,” “Supergirl”) that imagines the origin and adventures of “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.” (original)

STREAMING SCREAMING

Now available

“Lore,” Amazon: This horror anthology series returns for its sophomore round with a talented cast list, including Josh Bowman, Doug Bradley, Thomas Kretschmann, Paula Malcomson, Jurgen Prochnow, Alicia Witt, Maimie McCoy and Emmett Scanlan, to tell tales of everything from 19th century Scottish mass murderers to 20th century American occultists. (original)

“Into the Dark,” Hulu: A 12-episode horror anthology series from producer Jason Blum’s independent TV studio will release a new installment on the first Friday of every month throughout the year, each inspired by a holiday from the month of its release. Dermot Mulroney, Tom Bateman and Rebecca Rittenhouse are among those participating. (original)

“Light as a Feather,” Hulu: Liana Liberato (“If I Stay”), Peyton List (“The Tomorrow People”) and Haley Ramm (“Chasing Life”) star in this supernatural thriller series about a group of girls seemingly targeted by an evil force after playing a board game called “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board.” (original)

THURSDAY

“Summer of 84,” Shudder: Teenage friends get in over their heads when they spy on a police officer neighbor who they suspect is a serial killer in this well-regarded 2018 slasher yarn that stars Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis and Caleb Emery. Rich Sommer (“Mad Men”) and Jason Gray-Stanford (“Monk”) are also in the solid cast. (original)

Oct. 31

“Tell Me a Story,” CBS All Access: The first season of this new series interweaves beloved fairy tales “Little Red Riding Hood, “Hansel and Gretel” and “Three Little Pigs” and reimagines them as a dark and twisted psychological thriller to create a subversive tale of love, loss, greed, revenge and murder, set in modern-day New York City. (original)

FINAL SCARES

FRIDAY

“Midnight Texas,” NBC, 9 p.m.: Soapier, sexier, scarier: That’s how new showrunners Eric Charmelo and Nicole Snyder describe what they have in mind for season two of this supernatural drama adapted from a book series by Charlaine Harris.

“Channel Zero: The Dream Door,” Syfy, 11 p.m.: Season 4 of this anthology series adapted from urban legends, with the new thriller “The Dream Door,” runs through Halloween.

“Ghost Adventures Live,” Oct. 31, Travel Channel, 8 p.m.: Zak Bagans and his crew spend All Hallow’s Eve conducting a four- hour live investigation from a very familiar venue: Bagans’ own property, the Las Vegas Haunted Museum.

“Stan Against Evil,” IFC, Oct. 31, 10 p.m.: John C. McGinley and Janet Varney return as curmudgeonly former sheriff Stan Miller and his successor, Evie Barrett, as this paranormal comedy returns for its third season. The story picks up shortly after the events of the season-two finale, when Stan discovered that traveling back in time to save his beloved late wife had opened a portal to the land of the dead.