The weekend is here. But one of the problems with the VOD era, especially if you subscribe to all the best streaming services, is that the sheer volume of choices can make it truly numbing.

With that in mind, we've picked five interesting films to start this weekend. A mix of old and new, this week I chose two horror films in honor of the beginning of October and the approach of Halloween.

Two of them ("Reptile" and "Flora and Son") are the best new films to hit the streaming platforms this week: 1978's "Halloween" and last year's very creepy "Smile." To lighten the mood, here's Pixar's latest, "Elemental," as well.

Here are a few more of our weekend recommendations.

One of the most promising recent additions to the streaming platform is the Apple original "Flora and Son," which has been well received by both critics and viewers (94% from critics and 85% from viewers, according to Rotten Tomatoes). [The film is an upbeat comedy about a single mother, Flora (Eve Hewson), who takes guitar lessons from an LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and learns that music is the way to connect with her distant and defiant teenage son, Max (Oren Kinlan). It is an uplifting comedy.

With Halloween fast approaching in October, it's time to move on to horror films to celebrate. The best recent horror film (although "Talk to Me" is not yet available for streaming) is last year's very creepy "Smile" (rated 80% on Rotten Tomatoes).

Not everyone was enamored with its jump scares, but for me it captures the disturbing atmosphere of the best horror "Twilight Zone" episode, in which one person experiences something that no one else can see or believe. When Dr. Rose Cotter (Sothy Bacon) witnesses the tragic suicide of a patient, those around her begin to exhibit a deeply disturbing rictus green.

If modern horror films aren't enough for you, you can stream the iconic "Halloween" on Prime Video if you subscribe to AMC Plus/Shudder. The film needs no introduction as it set the standard for the modern slasher film and spawned a horror icon. It has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience rating of 89%.

The plot concerns Michael Myers (not the man), who was imprisoned for the murder of his sister when he was only six years old; 15 years later, while being transported for trial, Myers escapes, steals a car, and searches for his victims in his old hometown...

If all you want is a little mild danger with a PG rating, "Elemental" is another typical creative work from Pixar's animation genius, currently streaming on Disney Plus. Despite its poor box office performance, it seemed to be getting back on track a bit in person, and its Rotten Tomatoes score is a respectable 74% (the audience score is even higher, at 93%).

For the purposes of the film, Pixar has created a city where the four elemental races of air, earth, fire, and water live in awkward disharmony. The storyline depicts an unlikely romance between Ember (a tough young fire woman) and Wade (a frequently tearful and emotional water man).

When critics and audiences disagree, all you can really do is see for yourself and make up your own mind. Even "Reptile," which has received a lukewarm 42% rating from critics, has received a favorable 81% rating from audiences.

The plot follows Detective Tom Nichols (Benicio Del Toro), who is forced to move to Maine with his wife (Alicia Silverstone) to start a new life by investigating the murder of a local real estate agent. With three prime suspects played by Justin Timberlake, Carl Glassman, and Michael Pitt, Nichols gradually learns that the case may not be quite what it seems.