Here you can follow along with us as we count down to Halloween by watching 1 horror movie a day! This is a fun little challenge that my wife and I work to do every year starting October 1st and going all the way through Halloween! So without further ado, let’s get this list started!
October 1st
Casper (1997)
A light hearted family-friendly movie that isn’t afraid to lean into more mature subject matters. Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman have wonderful chemistry and the effects hold up beautifully to this day.
October 2nd
SAW X
A fantastic return to form that breaks the mold by putting Jigsaw front and center. For the first time in the franchise we get to see John Kramer actually interact with all his victims as he tests them. Gave me everything I wanted from a SAW movie; from story to traps to gore. A fun bloody time.
October 3rd
Sympathy for the Devil (2023)
Nicholas Cage does what he does best: providing audiences with a delightfully crazed performance that dances on the edge of intensely scary and insanely hilarious. A great suspenseful thriller that has you guessing the truth from start to finish.
October 4th
Little Corey Gorey (1993)
Not good. Just, not good at all. There is no one to root for, not even Corey thanks to his creepy tendencies towards a girl he likes. It takes forever for the story (and the kills) to take place. Until then we are stuck with unlikable characters, horrible sound design, and a painfully dull story.
October 5th
Urban Legends 3: Bloody Mary (2005)
While the premise is decent enough, the movie fails to live up to its predecessors. Regardless of a few good moments, the overall movie is quite lackluster. We are basically dealing with some unimaginative kills, bland, wooden characters, and a generic storyline. I’d rather stick to the originals.
October 6th
Planet Terror (2023)
Not surprisingly, this movie embraces it’s grindhouse roots. Therefore you can expect everything that makes grindhouse films so much fun; over-the-top violence, crazed characters, and tons of high-octane action. Although it runs a little long, it is still a great addition for fans of action-horror.
October 8th
Amityville in the Hood (2021)
I know what to expect when it comes to the Amityville movies but nevertheless I still shocked at how rough this one was. Particularly in the fact that they dropped their primary storyline a little before the halfway mark to provide onto us a Amityville clip show. Specifically clips from Amityville Clownhouse and Toybox.
October 8th
The Haunted Mansion (2023)
Considering the source material being a Disney Ride, the Haunted Mansion is actually quite entertaining. While not perfect (is oddly long), it is still an enjoyable experience fit for the whole family. Loved the special effects and the charismatic cast is a delight to watch. Much better than I had originally expected.
October 9th
Willard (1971)
There is something about Bruce Davison’s performance as Willard that reminds me a lot of Normal Bates. Sympathetic yet oddly creepy. Ernest Borgnine is also fantastic as the cruel and manipulative Al Martin – Willard’s boss. While slow, the intensity of the last 25 minutes is really satisfying. Who knew a squinting rat could look so menacingly? Always a plus to see real animals used in movies such as this as well.
October 10th
Dead Silence (2007)
I absolutely love the dark atmosphere that permeates throughout every frame of this movie. James Wan does a wonderful job providing us with a suspenseful thrill ride that is one part ghost story and one part slasher film. I especially love the ending – which you will have to see for yourself.
October 11th
Coraline (2009)
I absolutely love this movie. It is visually beautiful, wonderfully acted, and is just a blast to watch. It is rare when we get family-friendly movies that aren’t afraid to get a little dark. We go into more detail in our “Horror for Beginners” article so please check it out!
October 12th
SleepAway Camp (1983)
Probably one of the best “summer camp” slasher movies ever made. From it’s brutal opening to it’s memorable and horrific conclusion, SleepAway Camp is one movie that you will not forget.
October 13th
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)
Easily one of the stronger 13th sequels. This is primarily due to the introduction of Tommy Jarvis (Corey Feldman) who is undoubtedly one of the best characters of the franchise. Serves up everything you’d come to expect from the franchise; nudity, suspense, and a whole lot of kills. Absolutely love just how brutal the ending is.
October 14th & 15
Out of Town!
Unfortunately, we were unable to watch a movie during the 14th and 15th of October. Instead, we were visiting the infamous Winchester House for their “Unhinged” event! We’ll be making a post about the event shortly, so until then; please keep an eye out on the front page!
October 16th
Goosebumps (2023) (Episodes 1-4)
An overarching storyline where each episode ties in to a specific Goosebumps book. I am really enjoying the more mature themed take on this show. Although it has moments of humor, it is not afraid to get dark with its language, use of blood, and themes.
October 17th
Poltergeist (1982)
Poltergeist is undeniably one of the greatest horror movies ever made. So much so that I find it hard to condense my thoughts into a single paragraph. So let me say this; from the cast’s wonderful chemistry to the spectacular special effects, Poltergeist is perfection defined.
October 18th
Living with Chucky (2022)
A fun documentary detailing the legacy of the Chucky franchise – starting all the way from the original Child’s play and going all the way through Cult. Despite the time and care put into this documentary, it is unfortunate that they are unable to spend much time per movie considering how much they have to cover. Nevertheless, it still manages to be a heart-warming movie that details not only the franchise but those who have worked upon it over these last 30 years.
October 19th
Cube (2021)
A worthwhile remake that focuses more on the characters’ interactions than the traps themselves. Nevertheless, it still has some fantastic and creative kills strewn throughout. I recommend this for those who want more of a psychological thriller than a gory torture-fest.
October 20th
Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
A fun anthology directed by some of the biggest names in Hollywood. On a personal level, I enjoyed the 2nd segment, Kick the Can (Directed by Steven Spielberg), and the finale segment, Terror at 10,000 Feet (Directed by George Miller) the most.
October 21st
Bride of Chucky (1998)
This is the movie that forever changed the Child’s Play franchise. Bride thrusts Chucky into the spotlight, turning the villain into the franchise’s new main character. It also introduces Jennifer Tilly as the titular Bride – easily one of the best additions to the series. Funny, quippy, and gory – this is easily one of the better horror comedies of the 90s.
October 22nd
Eerie Indiana (1991) (Episode 01)
One of the things that made the 90s special was the rise of “Kid-Friendly” Horror. We had the spectacular Are You Afraid of the Dark – modeled after such series as Creepshow – and Goosebumps. Then you had Eerie Indiana. Unlike the aforementioned shows, Eerie had an continuous plot following the journey of Marshall Teller as he explores the weirdness that is Eerie. It’s 90s corniness that still tastes good to this day.
October 23rd
Maximum Overdrive (1986)
This is the only movie directed by Stephen King who was, admittedly, “Coked out of my mind.”. And it shows in the wonderfully bizarre Maximum Overdrive. While it is true that the movie has some serious pacing issues, that does not hinder how much fun it is to watch this literal car wreck of a movie. The acting is over-the-top, the violence shocking and brutal, and the practical effects quite revolutionary for the time this was released. This is not a perfect movie but it is a fun movie.
October 24th
Paranorman (2012)
Like Coraline before it, ParaNorman is a visually beautiful work of art. What I truly appreciate about ParaNorman – besides its artstyle and wholesome messages – is that this one leans a bit heavier into the Horror genre. It isn’t afraid to use more adult language, imagery, and themes throughout the course of its runtime. I also stand by my opinion that ParaNorman’s final confrontation with the villain is one of the more intense moments I’ve seen in a kid’s film.
October 25th-28th
The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)
The Fall of the House of Usher was a pleasant surprise. I was not the biggest fan of Haunting of Hill House but Usher’s trailers intrigued me. A Supernatural Murder Mystery based around the tales of Edgar Allen Poe? How could I resist? Thankfully the show was absolutely fantastic. It was gothic, suspenseful, gory as hell – it was a welcome surprise that I truly enjoyed. Absolutely loved it!
October 29th
SCREAM (1996)
Oh Scream. What can I say? This is a movie that I absolutely love to make fun of. While it is true that Scream is a classic (it revolutionized horror movies with it’s meta tone and singlehandedly revitalized the slasher genre), it is also a movie that I cannot take seriously. It is deliciously cheesy – with Skeet Ulrich, Jaime Kennedy, and Matthew Lillard chewing up the scenery every chance they get. And despite the comedic moments, it still manages to be a legitimately scary horror movie. It is suspenseful, gory, and keeps you guessing from start to finish. But what I love the most is the fact that there are a lot of little clues for you to catch upon repeat viewings. That kind of detail is something I cannot help but appreciate.
October 30th
In The Tall Grass
I have a weakness for movies that mess with time and space. Such is the movie In the Tall Grass. It isn’t a flawless movie; it has some pacing issues and tends to drag on in places. Nevertheless, it is an interesting movie that plays with the aforementioned concepts rather well. I would recommend this to those who want something unique. Plus it stars Patrick Wilson and who doesn’t love our Scream King?
October 31st
HELLRAISER (1987)
I have a special place in my heart for Hellraiser. This is because Hellraiser was the the movie I would constantly look at as a kid. I would sneak into the Horror Section at my local Blockbuster in order to look at Hellraiser’s terrifying VHS cover. I don’t know what it was about Hellraiser’s cover art that enticed me but I do know I would return to it every single time I visited Blockbuster. And I am glad that I did. Hellraiser is unique in not only it’s story but presentation as well. Everything about the movie just oozes creativity and style – from it’s makeup to its special effects. And while I do enjoy most of the sequels, spin-offs, and even the reboot, I still hold the original on it’s own pedestal. This is one horror movie you cannot afford to miss. Trust me on that.
There you have it! It may have taken us a while but we have finally completed our “Daily Horror Movie Marathon” for 2023! Were any of these moves on your list? Which ones did you watch that we didn’t include? I’d love to read your comments below!