No other holiday serves up the perfect excuse to binge-watch movies all month long like Halloween. Some poor screenagers may partake in the 25 Days of Xmas (a marathon of Christmas-themed made-for-TV trash), and lonely hearts will always use February as an excuse to watch their favorite rom-coms but for everyone else who doesn’t fall into either of those categories and is too old for trick ‘r treating, the Halloween season is built for binge-watching movies, horror specifically. Many channels will be playing the classics all month long, but unlike Xmas and lovey-dovey rom-coms, there are only so many Halloween-themed horror movies, which means their lineup is probably stale.
Luckily, the SAW crew has made a list of new classics you should watch this month. Some are psychological thrillers, others are splatter flicks, and there’s even a kid-friendly movie or two thrown in. The only criteria was that it had to be horror or Halloween adjacent, so much like the trick ‘r treating of days past, every day will be a new surprise. If you’re looking for an alternative to the same old Halloween classics or want ideas for your own marathon, check out the recommendations below.
Day 1—The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
If you’re in the mood for something spooky but not nightmare-inducing, The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a fantastic choice. It’s got all the right ingredients for Halloween: a creaky old mansion, mysterious magic, ticking clocks hidden in the walls, and just enough creepy visuals to make you shiver without sending you running for the light switch.The film follows Lewis, a shy boy who goes to live with his eccentric uncle Jonathan (played by Jack Black, perfectly over the top as always) in a house that’s practically alive with secrets. Cate Blanchett steals every scene as Florence, the witty, no-nonsense neighbor who also happens to be a powerful witch. Together, they unravel a sinister mystery involving dark magic, doomsday clocks, and a whole lot of pumpkins.
What makes this such a great Halloween movie is that it’s spooky enough to give kids their first taste of gothic chills, but it’s playful and adventurous, so adults won’t feel like they’re just babysitting during movie night. The sets are gorgeous, the humor hits just right, and it scratches that “haunted house adventure” itch that October always calls for. It’s cozy, creepy, and a little kooky – exactly what a Halloween movie should be. Think of it as a “gateway” Halloween movie: the perfect stepping stone between lighter fare like Hocus Pocus and full-on horror when the kids are ready for it.
–Ricky Rat
Day 2—Absentia (2011)
Absentia was probably the first Mike Flanagan movie I ever saw, and also the first Kickstartered film I ever saw. It remains a minor entry in the director’s body of work, as he’s gone on to much bigger and better things (I have high hopes for that Dark Tower series). It’s a low-budget genre film that manages to punch above its weight class, though, delivering enough atmosphere and scares (and a creepy scene with Doug Jones) to keep most horror fans satisfied. As with many micro-budget films, not everything works, but it’s got a great mood, an awesome jump scare, and is well worth a look.
–Bob Cram
Day 3—The Monkey (2025)
The Monkey feels tailor-made for a Halloween watchlist. Osgood Perkins delivers a fun blend of gore, laughs, and chills that’s perfect for spooky season. The cartoonish yet gruesome kills, combined with its dark humor, make it a movie that’s even more fun to watch with a group.
The film’s 1990s flashbacks and retro aesthetic evoke a simpler time in horror. It leans into the silliness of a sinister wind-up toy that triggers outrageous and inventive deaths. The practical effects shine as each kill escalates in creativity and shock value, giving the film an indie edge that we aren’t used to anymore. Most surprising is the emotional core of the film that weaves themes of family trauma and an inescapable past into chaos that never feels heavy-handed.
–Vincent Kane
Day 4—Late Night With the Devil (2023)
Set on Halloween night in 1977, Late Night with the Devil follows Jack Delroy, a talk-show host desperate to revive his failing ratings, who gambles on a live occult-themed special of Night Owls. What starts as a gimmick quickly spirals into a slow-burning descent into madness, with guests ranging from a parapsychologist to a troubled girl believed to be possessed. As Jack Delroy, David Dastmalchian gives the film its emotional anchor. His performance is so compelling, and I love how he shifts so effortlessly between the charm of a slick TV host and the unraveling of a man whose polished facade is cracking under pressure. I was honestly not sure where the movie was headed half the time, but to say the ending is bonkers is probably a slight understatement, making the journey well worth it.
The 1970s aesthetics are wonderfully retro, immersing the audience in the era while adding to the creeping dread as the staged spectacle begins to disintegrate into something very real and horrifying. The film blends psychological horror with old-school fright, and if you are looking for something atmospheric and unforgettable, I highly recommend Late Night with the Devil for this spooky season!
–Romona Comet
Day 5—Chillerama (2011)
So I can’t really vouch for the entirety of this schlocky horror anthology—the image you see above is of the first film in the collection “Wadzilla” which apparently features a giant sperm terrorizing New York City. But this recommendation is primarily for the entry “The Diary of Anne Frankenstein,” which I stumbled across and found quite funny and, so far, everyone I have shown it to has agreed. It’s a campy mash-up of Frankenstein with Anne Frank, obviously, with the monster ultimately reigning terror down on goofy Nazis including a ridiculous portrayal of Hitler that is simply a good time. The other entries will likely be gross, silly, and possibly unfunny. If you find that to be the case, simply skip ahead to Anne Frankenstein and enjoy. It’s free on Tubi so you have nothing to lose.
–Jacob Holmes
Day 6—Oculus (2013)
I’m not a movie rewatcher for the most part, but Oculus is one I keep coming back to. Directed by horror legend Mike Flanagan, Oculus follows two siblings and the haunted mirror that destroys their family. On paper, the premise sounds pretty boilerplate, but the execution here is just incredible. So many of the most horrific scenes are just playing with the idea of not knowing or not being in control of your surroundings.
One of my favorite parts about this movie is that you can watch it both ways: the kids are crazy and making everything up, or the mirror is really haunted. The movie still works, no matter which side you fall on. I’ve seen it many times now, and each time I still find myself noticing something new or different. It’s a very dense movie that never feels overly pretentious and is perfectly accessible to horror newbies.
–Valerie Morreale
Day 7—Sinners (2025)
It took me too long to jump on the Sinners hype train, which meant I wasn’t able to enjoy it in the cinema. But when I did get round to watching it at home I realised the hype was entirely justified. It’s more than just another vampire horror film. It’s a slow-burn psychological thriller that really leans into its atmosphere, and doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares. Something about it feels disturbingly real, Irish vampires and all. The cinematography is sharp, with some really memorable scenes that stayed with me long after viewing. The pacing is extremely restrained, to the point you might not even realise it’s a horror film at first. But this all helps to build a sense of dread, with the strong performances (special shout-out to Miles Caton) keeping the story grounded in a distorted reality.
Sinners is an intelligent, unsettling, and thought-provoking movie, and one that I’ll be revisiting regularly every spooky season.
–Lee McCutcheon
Day 8—Halloween Is Grinch Night (1977)
Everyone on planet Earth with eyes and a television set has seen the 1966 TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but few know that the Grinch had two other specials. There was The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (take a wild guess what it’s about) and Halloween Is Grinch Night. There’s a reason no one talks about the former (it’s mid), but the reason the latter has faded into obscurity is a mystery. My guess is because it’s weird as shit. In some ways, it’s the purest distillation of Dr. Seuss’s chaotic nightmare logic ever put on television. At points, it goes full-on “bad acid trip while watching a children’s cartoon” weird.
Halloween Is Grinch Night is Seuss at his most unfiltered, his most sinister, and his most what the fuck did I just watch? It’s technically a prequel to How the Grinch Stole Christmas, except instead of sneaking into houses to steal roast beast, this Grinch just comes down from his mountain to wreak unspecified havoc every time the sour-sweet wind blows. That’s it. That’s the plot. A wind farted, and suddenly it’s apocalypse hour in Whoville. The Whos scatter, the skies turn ugly, and the Grinch rides down on his living carriage of doom like a Seussian Cenobite. The animation is cheap, the pacing is off, and the songs don’t have the staying power of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”—but none of that matters. Halloween Is Grinch Night exists in this strange, fever-dream pocket of television history where children’s programming was still allowed to be unsettling. And unsettling it is.
–Sailor Monsoon
Day 9—Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is pure Halloween chaos wrapped up in Tim Burton’s gothic bow. It’s the kind of movie that makes you want to carve a pumpkin, eat too much candy, and watch it again immediately. Loud, weird, a little gross, and more fun than ever, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is everything I hoped it would be and then some. Michael Keaton slips right back into his striped suit like no time has passed, and watching him torment Lydia and her daughter Astrid feels like Halloween comfort food for anyone who loved the original.
The movie leans into Tim Burton’s signature blend of creepy and kooky: stop motion sandworms, bonkers afterlife bureaucracy, and practical effects that look like they were made in somebody’s haunted attic (in the best way possible). You’ll be grinning at the callbacks, humming along to the Day-O moment, and cackling at the always eccentric Delia Deetz. It has just the right mix of spooky atmosphere and over-the-top comedy to make it a perfect October watch.
–Ricky Rat
Day 10—The Keep (1983)
The Keep is an odd, half-baked film. Dismissed by its director, betrayed by its studio, left without a video release for so long that it became a joking way of saying forever. “That’ll happen when The Keep gets released on Blu-ray.” Well, hell has frozen over, because it finally got a Blu-ray (and 4k!) release in 2024.
Michael Mann’s second feature film is never going to top anyone’s list of great horror movies, but it’s a lot better than I remembered it. The first half is actually very good, with crazy visuals, some good performances and a Tangerine Dream soundtrack that makes it feel like an 80’s Argento horror flick. The atmosphere is fantastic throughout. Unfortunately, studio interference and the loss of the guy in charge of the special effects mean we don’t get to see the film as originally intended, and it falls apart a bit as it goes. The new release doesn’t give us the lost footage/closure I’d hoped for, but it is a way to finally see an odd, still very entertaining, horror film by a visionary director.
–Bob Cram
Day 11—Session 9 (2001)
Session 9 is one of my favorite types of horror movies and one that true fans of the genre love. It’s a haunting psychological horror film that lingers with you long after the credits roll. Director Brad Anderson creates a heavy atmosphere filled with tension and dread by utilizing a former real-life mental hospital. The decaying Danvers State Hospital isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character much like The Overlook from The Shining. With its peeling paint, shadowed corridors, and abandoned artifacts, it creates a suffocating atmosphere that you just can’t get on a Hollywood lot or some generic CGI’d location.
The film follows an asbestos removal crew unraveling under the weight of their own psychological burdens, amplified by the eerie setting. It’s a masterclass in understated horror, relying on mood, character, and subtext rather than cheap jump scares. One of the crew members discovers some old tape recordings of sessions from a former patient. The content and sound editing of the recordings will chill you to the bone. Oh yeah, and David Caruso delivers one of the greatest overacted one-liners of all time.
–Vincent Kane
Day 12—Your Monster (2024)
Your Monster was one of my favorite surprises of 2024. Starring Melissa Barrera and Tommy Dewey, the movie follows Laura, an actress recovering from both cancer and heartbreak, who moves back into her childhood home only to find a monster living in her closet. The discovery leads to an unlikely bond that explores tenderness, fear, and rage. Barrera and Dewey also share some great chemistry, which is why this otherwise ridiculous premise works so well. He’s a monster! She’s a human! How will they make this work?
Your Monster has the rom, the com, and a good dose of what the fuck horror. The ending was both captivating and unexpected, but I must admit that I absolutely loved the direction it took. If you’re in the mood for a horror-based romance with some dark humor, Your Monster is worth a watch! As a bonus, I found quite a few parallels to Lisa Frankenstein, and if you’re into an entertaining horror rom-com double feature, watch that movie, followed by Your Monster. I can’t think of a better way to spend Halloween for the spooky rom-com lovers.
–Romona Comet
Day 13—Strange Darling (2023)
Broken into six chapters, which are told in nonlinear order, Strange Darling is a cat-and-mouse-style psychological thriller between a man and a woman, played by “scream king” Kyle Gallner and Reacher breakout (at least in my mind) Willa Fitzgerald. The nonlinear order allows for writer-director JT Mollner to keep major details about both characters secret until later in the movie, leaving the audience with no clue about which character to trust and which to fear. It won’t be as bloody or spooky as other movies on this list, but I guarantee it’ll be one of the few you’ll log on Letterboxd with four or more stars.
–Marmaduke Karlston
Day 14—Ghostbusters (1984)
My husband was legitimately offended when I told him these lists started in 2019, and no one has mentioned Ghostbusters yet. And how could he not be? It’s a Halloween classic! It’s equal parts hilarious, spooky, and downright iconic. Watching Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson suit up as ghost-capturing entrepreneurs is pure joy. They’re scientists and misfits who basically stumble into saving New York City from being overrun by restless spirits and a giant marshmallow monster. The proton packs, the ghost traps, and of course, the Ecto-1 siren all give us that thrill of old school, practical effects magic. Add in a mix of witty one-liners and over-the-top ghosts, and you have the perfect recipe for an endlessly entertaining movie.
However, what I love most is that Ghostbusters balances laughs and scares like no other. One minute I’m cracking up at Venkman’s sarcasm, and the next I’m genuinely weirded out by a possessed Sigourney Weaver levitating over her bed. You get ghosts popping out of walls, slime-filled chaos, and a few genuinely creepy moments, but it’s all wrapped in comedy that keeps it light. Also, the ghosts might be colorful, but they’re not harmless. And the Terror Dogs still give me goosebumps.
For many of us, Ghostbusters isn’t just a comedy. It’s a Halloween tradition that started during our childhood. It’s spooky without being too dark, funny without losing its bite, and full of imagination. Plus, the theme song alone is enough to put you in a Halloween mood. I dare anyone to put this movie on and then try not to sing “Who ya gonna call?” while decorating pumpkins. And to tell you the truth – if someone handed me a proton pack, I’d probably blast a hole through the wall before I even got near a ghost. Better to leave it to the professionals.
–Ricky Rat
Day 15—Hidden (2015)
Before they made Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers directed this *ahem* hidden gem about a family living in a fallout shelter hiding from a mysterious threat from above. Alexander Skarsgard and Andrea Riseborough star as the parents in this thriller that evokes similar vibes to 10 Cloverfield Lane and A Quiet Place. The story is patient and really depends on making the viewer feel as trapped as the family, and keeps the above catastrophe close to the vest for an interesting turn at the end.
–Jacob Holmes
Day 16—Speak No Evil (2022)
There are very few movies that have truly messed me up. Speak No Evil is one of them. Everything about this movie is hard to watch, from the awkward conversations to the gruesome violence in the film’s closing act. This film truly weaponizes the mundane in a way that is hard to compare to anything else, and commits to its depressing and bleak tone from start to finish.
I’m aware this was remade for American audiences, but I don’t think it could ever top the original. Watching this movie is a gut-wrenching experience. You will spend the entire movie curled into a ball on your couch just wishing for it to stop, but not being able to look away.
–Valerie Morreale
Day 17—Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Rosemary’s Baby is a movie that blends psychological tension with supernatural horror perfectly. There are literally zero jump scares in the entire runtime. Instead, Rosemary’s Baby decides to slowly and patiently unsettle you. This helps to draw you into Rosemary’s paranoid mindset, as she begins to suspect her neighbours, husband, and doctor of sinister intentions.
It’s a movie that you can’t take your eyes off, but the shocking finale makes it timelessly terrifying, and cements it as a horror classic. Witchcraft, curses, and satanic cults are undoubtedly creepy subject matter, but Mia Farrow’s ever-changing physical appearance is maybe even more disturbing. As her world begins to unravel, she captures the transformation from hopeful young wife to terrified, gaslit woman astonishingly well. All that combined means that Rosemary’s Baby will linger in your mind long after the credits roll.
–Lee McCutcheon
Day 18—The Black Phone (2021)
The Black Phone is creepy, intense, and hauntingly memorable. It’s a modern horror that gets under your skin in the best possible way. On the surface, it’s a terrifying story about a masked child snatcher known as “The Grabber,” whose mask alone deserves its own horror franchise. Honestly, I made my husband put on a Grabber mask at Walmart yesterday, and it really did something for me…
Ahem, anyway, underneath the scares, The Black Phone is also a tense survival story with a surprising amount of heart. The movie follows Finney, a shy teenager trapped in the Grabber’s creepy ass basement with only a mattress and a disconnected rotary phone on the wall. The phone starts to ring, and what he hears on the other end isn’t just static; it’s the voices of the Grabber’s past victims, offering cryptic advice to help him survive. That mix of supernatural eeriness and real-world terror is what makes The Black Phone so effective.
As a Halloween pick, it’s perfect because it balances classic horror elements, like masked villains and ghostly whispers, with strong characters you actually root for. It’s scary without being just gore for gore’s sake. Instead, it plays with atmosphere, dread, and the kind of tension that keeps you clutching your blanket. Not to mention, as someone with kids of my own, the thought of someone abducting them is beyond terrifying and makes this movie that much more unsettling for me. Despite this, I am definitely looking forward to the upcoming sequel.
–Ricky Rat
Day 19—Vampyr (1932)
Vampyr is one of my favorite films. It’s the ultimate vibe horror movie, leaning more into its visuals and atmosphere than the fairly simple plot. It’s nominally about a student of the occult who finds himself in a town being terrorized by a vampire. The narrative isn’t the reason I love Vampyr, though; rather, it’s the surreal, eerie way the movie is shot and edited. It feels like Halloween to me, all spooky mood and weird images. Vampyr is like a dream or a nightmare, and I’m happy to dream along.
–Bob Cram
Day 20—Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)
Haters be damned, because A New Beginning is one of the best Friday the 13th sequels. Instead of giving us another rehashed slasher with Jason, A New Beginning tries to do something interesting with the franchise by having fan-favorite character Tommy Jarvis not only being haunted by hallucinations of Voorhees, but also becoming his successor! Sure, if this franchise had stayed with that shocking twist, we wouldn’t have Jason Lives, but we also wouldn’t have such duds as The New Blood and Jason Goes to Hell. If you want to watch a radically different Friday the 13th movie that wasn’t afraid to go in a new creative direction, throw on A New Beginning and then join me in pondering what could have been.
–Marmaduke Karlston
Day 21—Bring Her Back (2025)
While Weapons is the breakout horror movie of the year, I’d argue that Bring Her Back is just as good. The Phillipou Brothers followed up their hit Talk to Me with this effort about a woman (Sally Hawkins) who adopts two children with mysterious, unsettling purposes. Hawkins gives one of the best performances of the year, and Jonah Wren Phillips gives the most disturbing child actor performance of the year as Oliver, a strange boy already living at the home when the two other adopted children arrive. This is one of the most disturbing movies I’ve ever seen, and now you can see it too, because it hits HBO Max on October 3.
–Jacob Holmes
Day 22—The Dead Zone (1983)
This may be my favorite Stephen King movie of all time. Based on the book of the same name, The Dead Zone stars Christopher Walken as the psychic Johnny Smith. His foil, an evil presidential candidate, is played by none other than Martin Sheen. Gone here are the peaceful days of the Bartlett administration, as Sheen is a freaking demon in this movie. Both performances here are just so good, and every moment one of them is on screen is a joy to watch.
It’s also such a weird movie. Tame compared to Cronenberg’s other works, The Dead Zone is certainly not void of freaky scenes. The scissors scene in particular comes to mind as one of the more wild kills. If you’re looking to dip your toe into Cronenberg but aren’t ready to check out The Fly or Videodrome, you should definitely watch this one. Much more of a thriller than a true horror, but everything works so well that it’s a joy to watch every time.
–Valerie Morreale
Day 23—Smile 2 (2024)
I was a massive fan of the original Smile, and eagerly awaited the release of the sequel. I wasn’t disappointed, mainly because Smile 2 doesn’t just replay the gimmicks of its predecessor. It escalates them in every way. While the original was an intimate and subtle affair, the sequel ramps everything up.
One of the highlights is lead Naomi Scott. She is stunning in her portrayal of Skye Riley, a pop star already suffering trauma, addiction, and public expectation. Her descent into insanity feels earned, and her emotional turmoil is the centre point of the entire film. The end sequence is open to interpretation, and whilst it’s certainly divisive, if you like horror that explores the fear of losing control, Smile 2 delivers. It’s a memorably haunting and disturbing ride.
–Lee McCutcheon
Day 24—Bride of Chucky (1998)
Bride of Chucky belongs on every Halloween watchlist, and quite frankly, I’m astounded it hasn’t been mentioned until now! It’s terrifying, hilarious, and completely unhinged. The movie takes the killer doll formula and cranks it up with a twisted sense of humor, buckets of gore, and the unforgettable addition of Tiffany (played brilliantly by my dream girl, Jennifer Tilly), Chucky’s equally murderous partner in crime. The movie leans into campy horror, giving us everything from creepy voodoo rituals to over-the-top slasher kills, all while poking fun at itself along the way.
Chucky and Tiffany’s love/hate relationship is just as entertaining as it is disturbing. One minute, they’re bickering like a married couple, the next, they’re leaving a trail of bodies behind them. It’s that blend of dark comedy and genuine scares that makes it such a standout in my book. Bride of Chucky is perfect for Halloween because of its outrageous energy. It’s not subtle, and it doesn’t want to be. It’s bold, bloody, and dripping with gothic style. From the lightning-filled resurrection scene to the dolls’ maniacal banter, it’s the kind of film that feels like it was made to be watched at midnight with friends, popcorn, and maybe the lights turned low.
–Ricky Rat
Day 25—”Halloween Hall o’ Fame,” The Wonderful World of Disney (1977)
Deep within the hidden vault of obscure television specials lies “Halloween Hall O’ Fame,” an oddity even Disney forgets exists. The special stars Jonathan Winters as a night watchman who wanders around a dusty soundstage, finds a magic talking pumpkin (also played by Winters), and proceeds to have a one-man sketch show with it. That’s the entire premise. A comedy legend arguing with a jack-o’-lantern about whether Halloween is still worth a damn.
To pad the runtime, Disney splices in cartoon clips like The Old Mill and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. So, in between watching Winters talk to a foam prop, you get classic animation, spooky ambiance, and a reminder that Disney used to be good at creepy vibes. The contrast is jarring—you go from gothic terror to vaudeville schtick to experimental improv, like you’re flipping channels inside one TV special. But the thing is so charming, it doesn’t matter that it’s tonally inconsistent. Is it “good”? Absolutely not. Is it worth watching? Absolutely yes—if only to bask in the strange comfort of a time when Disney was still willing to embrace the surreal, the creepy, and the unapologetically odd. “Halloween Hall O’ Fame” is half filler, half fever dream, and one hundred percent Halloween TV at its weirdest.
–Sailor Monsoon
Day 26—Heretic (2024)
To me, Heretic is the kind of psychological thriller that is tailor-made for this time of year. It balances unsettling suspense, thought-provoking theology, and a claustrophobic atmosphere that lingers. Two Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), knock on the wrong door and find themselves in the home of Mr. Reed, a man who seems charming, curious, and scholarly. What begins as a polite conversation quickly twists into a nightmarish trap where belief and survival collide.
At the heart of the film is Hugh Grant’s chilling performance as Mr. Reed. He blends menace with wit, slipping seamlessly between warmth and cruelty. Grant’s blend of charm and quiet malice is magnetic, turning every line into something laced with danger. It was one of my favorite movies of the year, and Grant definitely delivered a performance that deserved more accolades.
Heretic delivers both psychological horror and legitimate chills, making it a perfect pick if you want something more than just jump scares this Halloween.
–Romona Comet
Day 27—The Woman in Black (2012)
There are haunted house movies…and then there’s The Woman in Black. It’s the kind of story that feels cursed the second I hit play, and it’s easily one of my favorites. Daniel Radcliffe steps into the role of Arthur Kipps, a grief-stricken lawyer sent to the fog-drenched village of Crythin Gifford. Here, he has been assigned to sort through the estate of the recently deceased Mrs. Drablow at Eel Marsh House. Sounds simple enough, right? Not really, since the mansion sits alone on a tidal causeway, cut off from the world by the rising water – like a trap waiting to be sprung.
I’m a sucker for a good haunted house setting, and the Eel Marsh House was no exception. The house is pure nightmare fuel. Wind-up toys rattle to life in empty rooms, rocking chairs creak with no one sitting in them, and shadows cling to corners that seem to hide more than dust. And then there’s…her. The Woman in Black. Tall, pale, dressed in mourning clothes, and more terrifying for the fact that she never screams or runs. She just watches. Every time she appears, I feel that chill of dread, knowing it means another child in the village will die in some horrific, unexplained way. We’re not just watching a haunting unfold; we’re watching a curse take its toll. And honestly? I couldn’t help but wish Radcliffe would pull out his wand and yell “Expecto Patronum!” at least once. Because if anyone needed a Patronus, it was Arthur Kipps in that house.
From the opening scene to the final act, the creeping dread of this movie is almost unbearable. For me, The Woman in Black isn’t just a ghost story. It’s a dare. Watch it alone, in the dark, and try not to glance at the corner of the room…just in case she’s already there.
–Ricky Rat
Day 28—I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
The slasher genre was pretty much dead until one man pretty much single-handedly revived it: Kevin Williamson. By taking a meta approach to the genre as a whole, Williamson’s Scream script, masterfully directed by horror legend Wes Craven, successfully revived the slasher. A year later, Williamson proved that Scream‘s success wasn’t a fluke by delivering not just Scream 2 but I Know What You Did Last Summer. Loosely based on the Lois Duncan novel of the same name, the 1997 slasher features four teens who cover up a murder, only to be stalked a year later by the hook-wielding killer, the Fisherman.
Much like Scream, the Fisherman will be someone who has a personal connection to the four young protagonists, who are played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr. There’s also a young Johnny Galecki, back when he was doing movies and not starring in one of the biggest sitcoms of the 2010s. IKWYDLS may not be as great as those first two Scream sequels, but it’ll scratch that slasher itch.
–Marmaduke Karlston
Day 29—Frankenweenie (2012)
Frankenweenie is the sweet spot between creepy and cozy, and in my opinion, it deserves a spot in every Halloween movie marathon. Tim Burton takes the classic Frankenstein story and reimagines it in the most heartwarming way possible – with a boy and his dog. It’s creepy, funny, and surprisingly touching all at once. The film is a black and white stop motion masterpiece, which gives it that old-school horror vibe while still being kid-friendly. Think lightning bolts, eerie labs, and shadows that look like they belong in a 1930s monster flick, but with a modern twist. It’s the kind of movie where you’ll laugh at the quirky characters one minute and maybe tear up the next (because who doesn’t cry over a loyal dog?).
But what makes Frankenweenie extra cool (to me, at least) is that it’s actually a great introduction to Frankenstein for kids. Instead of diving straight into Mary Shelley’s gothic novel or the Boris Karloff classic, this film gently introduces the themes of science, life, and loss in a way that’s easy for younger viewers to understand. It sparks curiosity without being too scary. Plus, the whole town is full of oddball neighbors and monster movie references, making it a perfect watch for Halloween night. It’s spooky enough to set the mood, but not so intense that kids will be hiding under the covers.
–Ricky Rat
Day 30—Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell (1995)
The movie follows a beefy bodybuilder whose workout is interrupted by a call from his ex-girlfriend, who is researching haunted houses. Alongside a psychic, they visit an abandoned house once owned by the bodybuilder’s father. A dark secret and a vengeful ghost with a 30-year grudge awaits.
Often dubbed “The Japanese Evil Dead,” Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell is a gloriously unhinged, low-budget horror gem that delivers exactly what its wild title promises. With the quality of a ’70s porn film, this 62-minute splatterfest is a love letter to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead series, blending over-the-top gore, slapstick humor, and a gritty DIY spirit that’s impossible not to admire.
–Vincent Kane
Day 31—Kenny & Company (1976)
Before Phantasm warped the brains of every horror fan in 1979, Don Coscarelli dipped his toe into something a little lighter, a little sunnier, but no less weird in hindsight: Kenny & Company. Think of it as a “hang-out movie” with Halloween trimmings. It’s a slice-of-life story about a kid named Kenny, his buddies, and the bittersweet stretch of childhood that’s equal parts skateboards, first crushes, and finding dead dogs in the street. Yeah—it’s that kind of movie.
On the surface, it plays like Coscarelli’s answer to American Graffiti: nostalgia-baked, episodic, and more concerned with capturing a mood than following a strict plot. But lurking underneath the BMX bikes and pranks is that peculiar Coscarelli flavor—the sense that something off-kilter, something wrong, is just out of frame. The tone swings wildly between lighthearted kid antics and unexpectedly heavy moments. One scene has the boys goofing off in a Halloween costume shop, another has them wrestling with the unfairness of mortality. It’s jarring, but in a way that feels authentic to being a kid. It’s not a horror movie, but if you’re looking for a Halloween movie you’ve never seen, Kenny & Co. is it.