October usually conjures up a number of horror flicks to scare viewers at the multiplex, and this year is no exception. Let Me In, Case 39, Buried, Hatchet II, My Soul To Take, Paranormal Activity 2 and Saw 3D will be showing during this Halloween month. Based on the previews I’ve seen, below are my reactions to these upcoming releases. Please remember all dates are subject to change.

LET ME IN (Oct. 1). I’m hoping this Hollywood remake of a terrific Swedish vampire movie (Let the Right One In) lives up to the original’s high quality.  

CASE 39 (Oct. 1).  Scary children often make excellent characters in horror movies, so this one looks promising. It’s about a social worker (Renee Zellweger) trying to save a 10-year-old girl who might be more dangerous than her abusive parents.

HATCHET II   (Oct. 1 - limited). Marybeth tries to exact revenge against the swamp-dwelling killer Victor Crowley in this sequel starring Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder and Tony Todd.

BURIED (Oct. 8). Ryan Reynolds finds himself buried alive with only a cell phone to help him guide rescuers. Yikes!  Still, if a movie stars Reynolds, I have to see it. 

MY SOUL TO TAKE (Oct. 8). Horror master Wes Craven wrote and directed this scarefest about a serial killer on the loose. With Craven’s proven record, we can count on more than a few frights here.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 (Oct. 22). This sequel to last year’s ghost encounter captured on videotape will probably contain lots of shaky camera work. If you can stand that, it might be worth seeing.

SAW 3D (Oct. 29). More torture porn in the seemingly never-ending Saw franchise, but this time it’s in 3D. Arrrrgh! 

Don’t worry, squeamish viewers!  SECRETARIAT gallops into theaters on October 8. Diane Lane and John Malkovich star in a cinematic tribute to the amazing Triple Crown winner with a big heart. No ghosts, vampires or zombies share the screen with this true champion of the racing world.

Meanwhile, new October horror offerings on DVD are listed below.

October 5:   

NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 

SPLICE

October 12:

JONAH HEX

October 19:

PREDATORS

Get ready for Halloween by listening to Mad Movie Man A. J. Hakari discuss his favorite horror flicks on the October 5th "Movie Addict Headquarters" show airing live on BlogTalkRadio at 4 p.m. Eastern Time (1 p.m. Pacific Time). Young actor Nicolai Dorian from Let Me In also plans to drop by this show. Click here for more details.

(Poster for Let Me In: © 2010 Overture Films. All Rights Reserved.)