The ballroom of Dancing With the Stars transformed into a spine-chilling arena as Season 35 embraced the Halloween spirit with its highly anticipated Horror Movie Night. Airing live on ABC, Disney+, and streaming the following day on Hulu, episode eight delivered a thrilling evening of choreography inspired by classic cinematic terrors and modern psychological thrillers alike. With iconic horror scores dictating the rhythm, the remaining celebrity and professional pairings pushed their technical limits, aiming to impress both the regular judging panel and guest judge Shirley Ballas, who stepped into the ballroom to lend her expertise for the evening.
However, the festive frights of the night were accompanied by high-stakes pressure. Because last week’s Dedication Night concluded without a single elimination, producers confirmed that Tuesday night’s episode would feature a ruthless double elimination. The shift in pacing placed unprecedented strain on the remaining couples, who knew that a misstep on the dance floor combined with lower viewer engagement could instantly terminate their journey toward the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.
A Season Defined by High Stakes and High Drama
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars has continually kept audiences on edge through inventive thematic weeks, fierce competition, and occasional off-screen controversies. Horror Movie Night was no exception, drawing inspiration from contemporary and legendary fright films such as Sinners, Black Swan, and Joker. The diverse slate of remaining competitors—featuring notable names such as Tatyana Ali, Tyler Cameron, Jenna Dewan, Ezra Frech, Amber Glenn, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson, Harry Shum Jr., Julia Stiles, and Connor Wood—had to rapidly adapt their artistic interpretations to match the dark, atmospheric themes of the night.
The structure of the competition remains grueling. Each couple’s survival relies on a calculated aggregate of judges’ scores and live public votes. Fans are afforded up to 10 votes per couple through multiple channels, specifically via ABC’s official website and text messaging. This voting window operates under strict guidelines: live voting strictly takes place during the East Coast broadcast, closing shortly after the final performance of the evening. Consequently, West Coast audiences face a narrow, immutable window between 5 p.m. PT and roughly 6:45 p.m. PT to register their preferences, a logistical reality that has occasionally influenced the ultimate leaderboard standings.
Val Chmerkovskiy Returns Following Suspension
Beyond the cinematic choreography, a major storyline heading into Horror Movie Night was the official return of professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy rejoined the ballroom after serving a strict one-week suspension handed down by network and production executives.
The disciplinary action stemmed from an incident during an earlier episode, where Chmerkovskiy made a pointed allusion to Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap while publicly critiquing judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s scoring of his wife and fellow pro, Jenna Johnson. The suspension sparked widespread industry discourse regarding professional boundaries, on-air decorum, and the delicate relationship between the show’s talent and its judging panel. Chmerkovskiy’s reentry into the rehearsal studios and subsequent performance on Horror Movie Night were heavily scrutinized by viewers and critics alike, marking a significant moment of tension resolution for the production as the season barrels toward its final rounds.
Performance Highlights and Leaderboard Standing
The pressure of a double elimination compelled the celebrity competitors to elevate their routines, drawing praise and critical feedback from judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and guest judge Shirley Ballas. Julia Stiles and partner Ezra Sosa kicked off the competitive tone, securing a 26 out of 40 for their cinematic routine.
While full scorecards for every pair fluctuate as the night progresses toward the final tally, the collective lineup featured intense performances across the board:
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa: 26/40
- Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas
- Jackson Olson and Emma Slater
- Amber Glenn and Pasha Pashkov
- Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy
- Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson
- Connor Wood and Rylee Arnold
- Tyler Cameron and Sharna Burgess
The diversity of backgrounds among this season’s cast—ranging from Olympic athletes and Broadway performers to seasoned actors and internet personalities—has translated into a uniquely unpredictable competition. Judges noted that technical proficiency alone would not guarantee safety; theatrical execution and audience connection during thematic nights like Horror Movie Night are critical factors that heavily sway public voting patterns.
Implications and the Road to the Finale
As Season 35 crosses the threshold past its midpoint, the mathematics of the competition become increasingly unforgiving. The execution of a double elimination acts as a critical culling mechanism, winnowing the roster down to the elite contenders who possess both the technical versatility to handle multiple dance styles and the persistent fan base required to survive public vote margins.
For the production, Horror Movie Night served as both a successful seasonal spectacle and a return to operational normalcy following the off-camera disruptions involving Chmerkovskiy’s suspension. By leaning into popular culture and cinematic milestones, the franchise continues to maintain robust cross-platform engagement, bridging traditional linear television audiences on ABC with the digital streaming demographic on Disney+ and Hulu.
With two couples officially exiting the competition by the end of the night, the remaining stars must immediately pivot toward the next weekly theme. The margin for error has evaporated, and as the competition intensifies, every routine, score, and viewer vote will directly dictate who remains in contention for the ultimate title. Fans can catch new episodes of Dancing With the Stars every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, available simultaneously on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming accessible via Hulu.
