Halloween movie hunting is going old school in Philadelphia this October, thanks to artist James Heimer and his unusual print newsletter, The Matinee Idle.
The annual guide highlights horror and science fiction movies airing on free over-the-air television in the Philadelphia area. Instead of relying on streaming apps or cable listings, subscribers receive the guide through the mail.
The Halloween Guide Is Made for Antenna TV
Heimer’s newsletter focuses on movies available through terrestrial broadcast television, meaning viewers can watch them with an antenna without paying for a streaming subscription.
The publication is produced in weekly installments throughout October. Each issue combines television listings with short movie reviews and original artwork inspired by vintage movie ads, punk zines and old-fashioned newsletters.
The concept is especially notable at a time when many viewers discover movies through streaming services rather than flipping through local TV listings.
A Different Way to Find Horror Movies
The Matinee Idle is built around the idea of making movie discovery feel like a little more work.
Heimer has said he enjoys the process of searching for movies on broadcast television and does not subscribe to cable. His guide gives readers a curated way to find older horror and science fiction movies that might otherwise be easy to overlook.
The listings can stretch from early morning into the overnight hours, creating a packed schedule for viewers looking for vintage horror.
Classic Horror Gets the Spotlight
This year’s guide includes familiar Halloween favorites alongside more obscure titles.
Movies featured in the listings include Halloween, Night of the Living Dead and An American Werewolf in London, along with lesser-known films such as The Crawling Eye, Twins of Evil, Fiend Without a Face and The Green Slime.
Heimer also writes short reviews from memory, often giving the films a humorous and personal spin rather than offering conventional movie criticism.
The Newsletter Has a Small but Dedicated Following
The Matinee Idle began five years ago for a small group of subscribers. Heimer told WHYY that about 50 people currently pay an annual $30 subscription, with readers located beyond Philadelphia as well.
The publication is not intended as a major commercial venture. Heimer said the subscription revenue goes toward production costs, while the project remains a personal passion.
The newsletter’s physical format is part of the appeal. Instead of opening another app, subscribers receive something tangible in their mailbox that they can use while planning their October movie nights.
2026 Will Be the Final Year
There is an added twist to this year’s revival. Heimer says the 2026 edition of The Matinee Idle will be the last.
After five years, he plans to end the newsletter following Halloween. One reason is that fewer television channels are carrying unusual horror and science fiction movies during October, making it harder for him to find the kind of programming that inspired the project.
Heimer said the remaining channels are also showing many of the same movies repeatedly.
Keeping Analog Movie Discovery Alive
The newsletter represents a small piece of an older media experience that has largely disappeared.
Instead of searching a streaming catalog, viewers have to check a printed schedule, find a broadcast time and tune in when the movie comes on. For Heimer, that extra effort is part of the fun.
The project also gives classic horror movies a new audience while preserving a physical format that feels increasingly unusual in the streaming era.
Philadelphia Gets One More Halloween Edition
For Philadelphia horror fans, the final edition of The Matinee Idle offers one last chance to follow Heimer’s unusual guide through the city’s free broadcast movie lineup.
The newsletter may be small, but its mix of vintage horror, local TV, original artwork and snail-mail delivery makes it a distinctly old-school way to celebrate Halloween in 2026.