The New York Times Crossword for October 28, 2026, features a Halloween-themed puzzle crafted by Daniel Grinberg. The puzzle centers on iconic quotes from classic horror films, challenging players to identify both the lines and the punctuation that underscores their terrifying context.
Today’s Theme
The crossword includes five italicized clues linked to famous horror movie characters. These clues lead to memorable lines spoken by the characters. For example, at 18-Across, Jack Torrance from “The Shining” famously says, “HERE’S JOHNNY,” while breaking through a door. At 24-Across, Dr. Frankenstein exclaims, “IT’S ALIVE! IT’S ALIVE!” when his creature stirs, a phrase he repeats several times. Other clues represent lines from Veronica Quaife in “The Fly” and Jigsaw in “Saw,” with 40-Across reading “BE AFRAID BE / VERY AFRAID” and 54-Across featuring the iconic “I WANT TO PLAY A GAME.”
The entries are linked by the concept of “scare quotes,” which are used to signal irony or skepticism regarding a phrase. For instance, the term “clever” in reference to the puzzle could imply a judgment rather than a straightforward compliment.
Tricky Clues
Several clues in this puzzle present unique challenges. At 15-Across, “A medical term for the colored part of an eye” refers to an “AREOLA,” which can also signify a feature on the chest. This dual meaning may catch some players off guard.
Additionally, 22-Across plays with misdirection, where the clue “Top choices?” is a pun on the word “top,” directing solvers to consider it as a potential reference to “BRAS.” At 72-Across, a connection is made back to boxing with the clue “Boxing match result, maybe,” leading to the answer “BRUISE.” This echoes a previous puzzle formula where boxing leads to references like jabs or TKOs.
Players can find the full puzzle and additional details through The New York Times’ crossword platform.
