And spooooooky season has once again just ended so once again so has my horror binge...
This year I was a little more sane and only got to 32 films (well I'm adding a 33rd)- much better for the brain than the other 40 last year. So what did I watch this year...
Film 1- Resident Evil (2026)
What is scary- mutated zombie type creatures
General or non horror people content warning- buckets of gore (and then some), animal death, child death, and if you don't like abortion plot lines there is one.
Plot- A medical courier, in a attempt to delay a conversation with his girlfriend about the fact she has just discovered she is pregnant, accepts a last minute urgent delivery to Raccoon City despite the fact his car is not equipped for the snowy mountain landscape on the way there. He hits a woman on the road in the middle of the woods and though possibly alive, she is very injured, non verbal, and tried to bite him.
Short review- this third Zach Cregger written and directed horror film is a hoot. I have never played the Resident Evil games or seen the previous films of them, but I have seen both Barbarian and Weapons so I came to this more as a person who likes Cregger films and zombies than a fan of the games. I think the earlier Cregger films are smarter but this is just a lot of fun. It plays with the comic energy of end of the Weapons and though it doesn't reach those heights (the Gladys and the kids scene was one of my favourite scenes in any film in 2025), it carries the humour for a longer window. Its visuals perfectly echo the vibe of first person shooter- I think it is the most effective take on that in a film. Everyone should also want an audience like mine when I saw this as it was clear everyone knew what they were in for and was there for it, and that made the film even better and this an even better start to October. That said if you don't do horror, this ain't for you as it is buckets of gore.
New to me or a rewatch- This is still at the cinema so obviously new to me (I will say very few rewatches this year)- I think it maybe just landed for rent or purchase on streaming.
Where did I watch it- the cinema
Film 2- Vivarium (2019)
What is scary- unescapable suburbia and sudden cuckoo child
General or non horror people content warning- the housing crisis, creepy child who watches you at all times (ALL times), and some trippy creepy pasta vibes for a bit
Plot- A couple (Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots) are looking to buy their first home. A creepy real estate agent takes them to a housing development and then abandons them and when they try to leave, they find they cannot. As they are trapped in the housing estate, mysterious deliveries of food and essentials arrive, and then one day, the deliveries include a baby who ages fast.
Short review- this film was at times heavy handed- for example Poots' character who is a teacher talks to a kid about cuckoos in the opening scene- and at other times just shows wasted potential. There is something here about the housing crisis, commitment struggles, and possibly even fertility struggles, but all of it is not developed. Also the two leads don't have enough chemistry to carry this as the two hander it is for many scenes. It wasn't good enough to be good, or bad/dumb enough to be good bad. It was just dull.
New to me or a rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 3- Totally Killer (2023)
What is scary- serial killer
General or non horror people content warning- some gore, though this is definitely on the comedy end of comedy horror
Plot- In the 1980s, a killer killed three girls on their 16th birthday but then disappeared and was never caught. In 2023, Jamie (Kiernan Shipka) is the teenage daughter of a woman who was friends with all of the original victims. On Halloween when handing out candy, her mother is killed by what seems to be the killer returned. Jamie is later chased by the killer and she hides in the time machine her friend has been making and it activates and sends Jamie back to the time of the killer's original spree.
Short review- this definitely leans more comedy than horror for a lot of its run time with an emphasis on the ways society has changed since the 1980s. It wasn't an amazing film but I had a fun time with it as it had a lot of nods to cheesy 80s horror. I think if you were someone looking to gradually get into horror this (and the film Final Girls which has some similar vibes) would be a good place to start as the horror is there but it is fairly tame. I would watch it again as it was a bit of fun, and also I want to support the director as she created one of my fave sitcoms (Don't Trust the B*tch in Apartment 23).
New to me or a rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 4- Hungry (2026)
What is scary- hippos
General or non horror people content warning- some blood and sigh racism
Plot- two young women on a trip to Louisiana opt to go on a gator tour. Before the tour starts, they are at the starting point and the people on the tour are told about an old plan to bring hippos to Louisiana and farm them. On the tour, a wealthy woman pays the tour guide to go off course to find the biggest gator but then they find they are under attack by something bigger.
Short review- whilst not the worst film as a film that I watched all month, this was the one I enjoyed the least. The script and acting were both awful, and there were not enough hippos. The title on its own should have been a warning as in the film they point out several times that hippos are vegetarian, which means by definition if they are going for humans, they ain't hungry and no just the reference to the game didn't make it work. Also I just need to call out the fact that for a lot of the run time the biggest villain is the black woman who the film points out cannot swim which sigh is some straight racism which in 2026 you have no excuse for. Having just seen hippos in the wild in Africa, seeing their canine teeth and seeing one try and charge on that trip as it was protecting a baby was basically scarier than anything here.
New to me or a rewatch- New and I definitely would not rewatch
Where did I watch it - Disney+
Film 5- Hellraiser (1987)
What is scary- pain loving alien types OR reanimated creepy dude
General or non horror people content warning- If you don't do horror, don't watch this basically. Buckets of gore, blood, and goo, and some S&M vibes
Plot- A man, Frank, buys a puzzle box which he uses to summon the pain loving cenobites who pull him into their pain dimension where they torture him. This man's brother and sister-in-law move into his old house in London, and when a drop of blood falls on the floor of the attic (where Frank went to pain dimension), Frank starts to reanimate piece by piece and he enlists his sister-in-law (with whom he previously had an affair) to help him fully restore himself.
Short review- this is definitely not for the faint hearted. I really did enjoy it as for all the sex and pain vibes, it does try and lay over that some 80s morality using Frank's niece, Kirsty. I definitely found Frank (even pre pain dimension that we see in flashback) more of a villain than Pinhead and their cenobite pals. The man says "come to daddy" more than once and yuck to that always. There are things that didn't make sense like the fact they never cleaned up that attic, that they were mostly American but were in London for some reason, and that ending (I mean what happens with the unhoused guy which was also great). The film does have something to say about the quest for new experiences above all else and also about 80s capitalism.
New to me or a rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 6- Forte (2025)
What is scary- mysterious cult like film music recording retreat
General or non horror people content warning- blood and attempted sexual assault
Plot- a young composer arrives at studio to record for an upcoming film to work her dream job but something isn't quite right.
Short review- first film not in English this October (one of three K horrors) and the second shortest (only 78 mins). The film is in segments and I found it not the easiest to follow the plot as it at times shows dreams as if they are reality. There was something here about artistic ownership especially when it comes to work by young women and the film was well made, but just don't ask me the plot details.
New to me or a rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- SBS on Demand
Film 7- Drag me to Hell (2009)
What is scary- Romani curse
General or non horror people content warning- gore including not a small amount of both blood and vomit
Plot- a woman, Christine, working as a loan officer in a bank is told by her boss that if she wants to the promotion she is up for she needs to be tougher and more decisive. Then an older Romani woman comes in asking for an extension on a loan and Christine denies it leading to the woman cursing her.
Short review- this was the first Sam Raimi horror I ever saw and it is still a film I love. There is a lot of gore and goo so this isn't for everyone, but if you like horror, this is an easy film to love. It is a lot of fun and at times very funny (the exorcism scene is amazing- that goat should get all the acting awards). It plays from the established Raimi playbook and it also is definitely really doing an interesting job reflecting the sub prime mortgage crisis in a really effective and definitely intended way. I would flag it does use the now outmoded term for the Romani people- in 2026 I question the plot of Romani curse being used at all but we have to keep previous iterations of it as I still need this film and Buffy in my life.
New to me or a rewatch- as is clear from the above, it is a rewatch (one of two this October)
Where did I watch it- SBS on Demand
Film 8- Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
What is scary- alien clowns
General or non horror people content warning- clowns
Plot- alien clowns unleash mayhem on a small American town
Short review- this film is dumb fun. No-one can act but a lot of them are doing the most. The plot makes no sense but I just don't care. The montage of clown killings is amazing, the janky special effects are great, and the music cues are next level. Also this film has a theme song that is next level. It does what it says on the tin and even if it does it poorly, it was the type of rubbish film I'm OK with. Oh and yes the title of this post is a quote from this film.
New to me or rewatch- New
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 9- Demons (1985)
What is scary- demons
General or non horror people content warning- gore especially of the green goo variety
Plot- a woman is given a ticket to a free film screening and gets her friend to come along. As they watch the film, something starts going awry and the demons being summoned on the screen appear to be being summoned in the real world too.
Short review- I should have said with the last film, this started a run of bonkers 1980s horror. Again here nothing makes sense. The film is clearly filmed in West Berlin (you can tell if you have been to Berlin) but it is in Italian because it is technically an Italian film (one of four Italian films I watched this October). The 2026 part of my brain was also like "why would any woman accept free film tickets from a creepy guy on the train" so was trying to reject the premise but I fought to overcome that and had a great time. There is a lot of goo at play and some violent deaths. I do think it missed the opportunity to make the usher with great resting bitch face in on the whole demon thing.
New to me or rewatch- New
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 10- Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
What is scary- serial killer
General or non horror people content warning- lots of violent death
Plot- two months after the events of Friday the 13th, Alice, the final girl from that film, is attacked in her house. Five years later, around the lake from Camp Crystal Lake (aka Camp Blood) a new training site for camp counsellors has opened and the first group of trainees have rocked up for training there... but is someone watching them.
Short review- it is a very long time since I watched Friday the 13th and thinking of the big 70s/80s horror franchises, I found it weaker than A Nightmare on Elm Street and, now that I've seen in, Hellraiser, and significantly weaker than the film that it was made to rip off, Halloween (by far the best of these). I have never previously gone past film one of these franchises except Elm Street as they are known to be weak. This watch was in part inspired by the just released Crystal Lake series. I don't have any qualms about spoiling Friday the 13th as Scream does it in its opening scene (I def saw Scream first so it was spoilt for me) but it was time to finally spend some time with Jason Voorhees after his mommy in the first film. That said I was not ready for the fact that this is proto Jason without his signature hockey mask (he is rocking a sack or a pillow case or similar) and he alternates the machete with other weapons. The film packs in way too much cannon fodder for its runtime so get prepped for zero character development for most people. Pros for the film- Ginny has the makings of a great final girl even if she needed more character development, the classic Friday the 13th score, and the film is open to having a wheelchair user just a normal part of the counsellor group (he gets zero character development but just him being there was more progressive than I expected from this). Cons- mommy Vorhees is more interesting than Jason as she talks, lack of character development, and creepy 80s male gaze vibes at times (could have been worse I hear as like the first entry in this franchise this was heavily cut for violence but unlike it, it was also cut for nudity as they discovered after filming that an actress was underage and had to cut her nudity (the film's main sex scene features this actress and even before I knew about the edit, I was like something is odd here as this is 80s horror and there are no boobs in this sex scene). I will warn that in a bit, I'm going to say parts of this film were plagiarised which they definitely were.
New to me or rewatch- obviously from above, new
Where did I watch it- Stan
Film 11- Sleepaway Camp (1983)
What is scary- serial killer
General or non horror people content warning- violent murders, adults who should not be around children, bullying, homophobia, and transphobia
Plot- Two children are boating with their father when one of the children and their father die have their boat collides with other one. Cut forward a few years and the surviving child who now lives with their aunt is headed off to camp with their cousin. They get to camp and people start dying.
Short review- I said the last film was inspired by its prequel series, I will also say watching that and this were inspired by one of my favourite 2026 films to date, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, which draws heavily on 1980s horror especially this film and the Friday the 13th films. I have never been more on a killer's side than here as the older teens and adults are the worst- one of them is definitely a sex offender on my read- and deserve their fates. I will say for that and the character development, this film is better than Friday the 13th Part 2 but only just and that is before I get to the ending. I also say I appreciated that the teens were largely teens and not 30 somethings, and that this was an 80s slasher with no boobs (sigh that I bookended it with two films that went the other way) and which seems to be keener on getting men naked or less clothed than women (odd considering the ending and that this was directed by a straight man). It is also well camp which I always appreciate in a slasher. That said, I have say, though I know some LGBT+ folks do appreciate this film for its camp elements, the ending just hard no. It is notorious for a reason and well problematic- that said without it we wouldn't have Camp Miasma so something good to come from it.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Youtube for free- it isn't available in a non dodgy way in Australia
Film 12- The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
What is scary- serial killer
General or non horror people content warning- violent murders, a film that could have been feminist being ruined by men in development
Plot- one of the night after the driller killer escapes from prison, a group of teen girls gathers for a slumber party. Valerie, a new student at their school and the neighbour of the girl throwing the party, is invited but declines the invite as she heard the host bitching about her and also she has to babysit her younger sister.
Short review- my first experience of the Slumber Party franchise was an odd one and it wasn't watching this film. When I was 19, someone put on the second film in the franchise in the early hours of morning at a party, and everyone fell asleep, only for me to wake up during the film's most infamous scene- spoiler but not really as I believe it is on the poster, the killer attaches his drill to a guitar in the second film and there is a guitar solo- which was a deeply confusing experience at about 3am. So my previous experience was about five very confusing minutes of the sequel that I saw over 20 years ago. This film is a giant missed opportunity. The writer and director were both women, and the script was originally a dark feminist comedy parodying the cliched 80s slasher. Unfortunately for everyone, then Hollywood got involved. There are occasional flashes of the original script- there was a Koolaid that I really liked- but otherwise it was morphed into the slasher it was meant to parody. There are a bunch of unnecessary boob shots and most of the characters are watered down to bitchy 80s cliches. The kills are fun and it is super short (shortest film I watched at 76 mins) but it just hints at a better film that could have been.
New to me or rewatch- as mentioned, new
Where did I watch it- Youtube for free- again not available in a non dodgy way in Australia, and even the version I found blurred boobs (which I didn't care so much about) and some violence (which I wasn't happy about)
Film 13- Soulm8te (2026)
What is scary- killer sex bot
General or non horror people content warning- squashed penises (legit two of them), a lot of blood and violence, also not a small amount of sex starting in the opening credits
Plot- A lonely widowed programmer works at a company that is bought out by a bigger robotics and AI firm. The new firm has developed a chat bot that is very successful and they are using that chat bot to inform a companion bot they have developed, and they ask him to beta test the bot.
Short review- I said companion bot above but that is sugar coating it, the bot is always just a sex bot and the credits make that clear. This film is by the makers of M3gan which I have not seen but hear is fun, so even though this was direct to streaming I gave it a chance. It ain't great and it really suffers from comparison to two other films- one from 2025 that I won't spoil as the thing in it that links to this film is a twist, and Obsession which is one of my favourite films so far this year. It is also unclear here which point the film is going for. If it was meant to be more feminist, the sex bot needed to be more sympathetic, the control of her will by a man more condemned, and the film needed to make this more clear than squashed penises. If the bot is just a villain, well that is a story told to many times. I want to support female written and directed horror but I definitely would not rewatch this.
New to me or rewatch- New to me
Where did I watch it- Disney+
Film 14- A Bay of Blood (1971)
What is scary- mysterious killer
General or non horror people content warning- much blood and gore
Plot- an old woman is killed by her husband only for him to then be killed afterwards. Cut forward a bit and you meet the residents of the area around the bay next to which they lived, some tourists, and the relatives of the dead man.
Short review- oh Italian horror, I do love you. Though not the best film as a film, this was one of my two favourites this October. The director of this film, Mario Bava, is actually the father of the director of Demons. Though not my first Italian horror (even of this October), it is my first time with a film that is technically classed as a giallo film- the Italian horror/crime film genre that was most popular in the 70s. This film is beautiful on every level- the cinematography, the glamour make up, and the horror make up are perfection (much like Suspiria all the blood is orange paint). The film, despite being Italian, will normally be found in English in most English speaking countries as it was filmed in both languages and released in the appropriate one for the country. The film builds a bridge between soap opera and horror that I would love more of- the back story here, I would love as a soap opera. The film on release was controversial for its violence and was shown at drive ins and late night screenings under a collection of names- it was even paired so often with Last House on the Left that at times it was shown as Last House on the Left 2 which is interesting considering that Last House on the Left was infamously banned in a lot of places, this has no plot cross over, and I've not seen Last House on the Left but there is no chance this gets anywhere near its violence or controversy as violence here is again orange paint. Finally the ending of this film is just perfection.
I mentioned that Friday the 13th Part 2 plagiarised something and this is it. There are two murders that films takes nearly shoot for shoot from this film, and this film does both better.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 15- Slumber Party Massacre (2021)
What is scary- serial killer
General or non horror people content warning- violence and blood
Plot- in 1993, a group of teens at a slumber party are attacked by the driller killer and only one survives. Cut to 2021 and the teen daughter of the survivor is off on a weekend away with her friends (also crashed by younger sister of one of the friends). Their car breaks down in Jolly Springs, the renamed town that was where the original killings happened.
Short review- Remakes are often not something I jump to watch but this one I gave a chance and I found it better than the original. The writer and director of this film (like the original one both women) wanted to make the film that the original one was meant to be, and though the script isn't super strong and on occasion says the quiet part aloud, it gets at what the original could have been had 1980s Hollywood not got involved. It has feminist themes throughout, it subverts the horror genre especially as it existed at the time of the original film, and it reclaims the gaze- it is all women looking at men here. The actors seem to be having a good time and it has some great kill scenes (one of my faves all October is in this). Aside from the at times weak script, I wanted it to push the jokes and subversion more- for example, the names of the male characters are Guy, Guy, John, Sean, and Matthew, and I really wish they had gone with Jack, Juan, or Ioan instead of Matthew, as two guys names Guy, and three versions of John would have been hilarious.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 16- The Amityville Horror (1979)
What is scary- haunted, murdery house
General or non horror people content warning- house that yells at you, insects, creepy child, small amounts of violence, and in the last five minutes blood and a storm
Plot- a newly wed couple (James Brolin and Margot Kidder) buy a large house in which a murder previously happened. When they move in along with her kids from a previous relationship, she invites their local priest over and the house tells him to "GET OUT". Her daughter also has acquired a new friend who no one else can see, and she is being super creepy.
Short review- yawn! Nothing happens for most of this film and it is too long. There was potentially something interesting here as like now, the late 1970s were a big time for housing insecurity. The house is very cheap in 2026 money but in 1979 money it is bonkers that they pay $80,000 for a slightly run down house that had a murder occur in it. Housing insecurity is legitimately scary but instead this film just goes hard for about ten minutes at the end with a small amount of blood and a storm as its "big" scare. I will give the film this, it has two very attractive leads (both are peak 70s hot) and without we would not have had the comedy sketch that led to the creation of one of my favourite films, Get Out.
New to me or rewatch- New and unlikely to watch again
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 17- Child's Play (1988)
What is scary- murder doll
General or non horror people content warning- creepy doll, and violence.. Also slightly annoying child
Plot- Karen is a widower who is struggling to make ends meet, and it is her son's birthday and he desperately wants a particular doll. Her friend finds someone selling the doll for cheap behind the department store they work at. Karen gives the doll to her son, and doll introduces itself as Chucky.
Short review- This poor mother, she has to deal with her slightly annoying child making her the worst breakfast available even you get the whole murder doll vibe. This film is a lot of fun and well camp. Brad Dourif's voice acting as Chucky is excellent. It has great 80s effects especially the first murder by Chucky. Definitely planning to watch more in the series even if I found Andy (the kid) annoying. Even I hadn't enjoyed this film as much I did, I would be giving it flowers now after the creator of Chucky clapped back at Nikki Minaj about the US midterms.
New to me or rewatch- New and would 100% rewatch
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
"Film" 19- Over the Garden Wall (2014)
What is scary- being children lost in the mysterious place
General or non horror people content warning- none. This is a cartoon for that I think most kids could watch.
Plot- two brothers, Wirt and Greg, are lost in the Unknown, a mysterious fantasy land. Accompanied by a sassy bluebird, Beatrice, they try to travel through this place to get home. They are immediately warned about the Beast, an evil entity lurking in the woods of the Unknown.
Short review- this is a bit of a cheat as it isn't a film but a TV miniseries. That said the episodes are 12 minutes long and there are only 10 of them, so at two hours total it is shorter than some films I watched. I have heard a lot of people watch this adorable series every October and I can see why. The animation is great and the characters adorable. The whole plot of Greg naming his frog about three different things in every episode is hilarious, and Beatrice definitely brings an energy I relate to. The voice cast is stacked with Elijah Wood voicing Wirt, Melanie Lynskey Beatrice, Christopher Lloyd the character of the Woodsman, and John Cleese and Tim Curry popping up across the series too. Now it isn't very scary for an adult but there are definitely episodes that give Halloween vibes- the second episode has jack o lantern people for example, and has creepy themes if you were a kid. It was one of the best things I watched all October.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- HBO Max
Film 20- The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
What is scary- creepy brother in law and the inquisition
General or non horror people content warning- some scares are a bit jumpy, and lots of torture themes
Plot- In the 16th century, an English nobleman travels to Spain after the death of his sister to investigate what happened to her. He arrives at the castle of his brother in law (played by Vincent Price) and discovers his brother in law is slightly unhinged and his suspicions are peaked.
Short review- mandatory Vincent Price film for this October and as a plus, one of his many appearances in a Richard Corman adaptation of a Poe story. Until its final act, the film isn't really the Poe story which is more about the inquisition and the torture, but as an expansion of what Poe was going for, it works. Price is perfect camp in the dual role of the protagonist's brother in law and that character's inquisitor father. Did I care that this was meant to be Spain and no-one was Spanish? If it was made this year, I would have been but it is from the 60s so all I wanted was the camp and this definitely was that. What ends up revealed as the fate of the protagonist's sister, iconic.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 21- Clayface (2026)
What is scary- body horror
General or non horror people content warning- body horror (tonnes of it), blood, gore, and some intense violence for a comic book film.
Plot- Matt Hagen is a rising actor who returns to Gotham for a film premiere. At a club, he locks eyes with the girlfriend of one of Gotham's many mobsters, and after Matt sleeps with her, the mobster and his goons slice Matt to pieces especially his face. In the quest to get his life back and fix his face, Matt links up with a scientist who is working with a AI driven artificial flesh.
Short review- I do love me a comic book film and this film was the perfect intersection of comic book film and horror. It has some of the most intense violence and gore of anything I watched all October, and didn't miss the fact that I didn't a Cronenberg this October as this brought the body horror. The scene in the airplane bathroom where Matt's eyes start to glue over is one of the most intense horror scenes I've seen in a while. It makes me excited that the Batman corner of the DCU might be ready to go as hard as the comics hint it should. The performances were great, the body horror was the right amount of gross, and this delivered a successful film version of Clayface which I didn't think was doable. I really liked it.
New to me or rewatch- obviously new
Where did I watch it- the cinema (it only came out at end of October)
Film 22- The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971)
What is scary- serial killer
General or non horror people content warning- violence but not much gore, and the best train death since Anna Karenina.
Plot- A journalist is investigating a murder in Rome, and the murder soon turns into a series of murders that appear to be linked with a genetics company. The journalist ends up teaming up with a blind former journalist to dig into what happened.
Short review- back to the Italian horror and one of two Dario Argento giallos for this October. This was the two in Argetto's three animal based giallos, and though there were elements I like, this one was a bit heavier on the crime than the horror and the biologist in me (the one who never uses her biology degree) hated the ending. That said it was a solid crime procedural and I'm not writing it off. It just wasn't horror enough for an October. I will give it a lot of points for two things, the somersault train death and the scene in a gay bar which was pretty progressive for the 1970s (well in other parts of the world it would be, it might be the norm in Italy for all I know).
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 23- Brightburn (2019)
What is scary- evil teen superman
General or non horror people content warning- blood, gore, violence, and stalking
Plot- a couple who are struggling to conceive adopt a child but where did they get said child to adopt? In his early teens, the boy starts to show signs of having superpowers but he also seems to want to use them for evil.
Short review- normally I'm here for anything James Gunn associated and I like an evil Superman story, but this one was a bit meh. There was much more it could have done and sadly for it, The Boys was one of my favourite shows of recent years and it did the more and I saw it first. The film is not particularly scary most of the time and the violence would have been over the top if the kid had these powers. The creepiest element of the film was the way the boy interacts with a girl in his class that he has a crush on, and sits in that slightly too real (in the manosphere corrupted world of 2026) space for a beat too long.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Stan
Film 24- The Parenting (2025)
What is scary- a homophobic haunted house
General or non horror people content warning- some blood and gore but this is more on the comedy end of comedy horror
Plot- a gay couple have booked a vacation house for a weekend away where they are going to introduce their parents to each other, and one half of the couple is planning to propose over the weekend. The parents show up and one couple is a wealthier couple who adopted their son from overseas as a child, and the other is a more cliched middle class American family. Though they should have been thrown by the odd woman who meets them when they show up, they ignore that and settle in and soon enough odd things start happening.
Short review- The cast here is bonkers. The wealthier parents are Edie Falco and Brian Cox, the middle class ones Lisa Kudrow and Dean Norris, and the weird neighbour is Parker Posey. I will watch anything with Parker Posey in it and this came out the same year as she owned it on The White Lotus, and once again she doing her classic the most here. That all said, the script here is very weak and cliched. I wanted so much better for it but it wasn't doing anything new nor was it scary.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- Foxtel
Film 25- Poltergeist (1982)
What is scary- what the title says... a poltergeist
General or non horror people content warning- most of this is pretty tame but there is lot of pink goo, and one face peeling scene
Plot- a family living in housing estate (the suburban middle class US version, not the UK lower class version) find their youngest daughter sitting in front of the TV when it is static late at night. Soon after chaos starts to reign and the house is getting super haunted.
Short review- though I think most people could watch this, it is also well creepy. The point where Carol Anne sing song voices "They're here" pretty chilling even though I knew it was coming. Sadly for the film, time has not been kind to this film and it takes a lot of translating in 2026. Not as it has aged poorly, but more that technology has changed so rapidly. I remember back when the TV went to the off air pattern at night- in Australia it more likely went to that with classical music in the background than just static but I did know that static was often the option in other countries. However folks born after the mid 1990s would likely not remember this and though this is the biggest change from the 1980s, it isn't the only one and definitely if someone was born after 2000, I think they would need someone next to them telling them what things are. All that aside as someone who was alive in the 1980s, I had a great time. The effects were often great- the clown doll was creepy, the tree monster was effective, the face that melts off is even more stop motion effects madness than the similar scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and even bits where they are just load up the janky 1980s CGI I appreciate. Also the teen girl in this film is a hero- she is off living her own life and as soon as weird crap starts, she dips. I will say that I did get thrown when it is clear that the teen girl was born when the mother of the house was a teen- it is mentioned that she is 32 and the teen is clearly 16 or 17 and I can maths even if Spielberg and friends can't.
New to me or rewatch- I'm in repeat mode there, as mentioned most of these are new to me. Oddly I didn't watch this one as a teen or kid.
Where did I watch it- paid to rent it on Amazon Prime, it isn't included in any steaming service without cost
Film 26- Kwaidan (1964)
What is scary- ghosts
General or non horror people content warning- this does not need much of a warning but the ending of the third story is a bit bloody.
Plot- four Japanese folk stories told over three hours. Firstly, a samurai leaves his wife in Kyoto for a business prospect and an advantageous new marriage in another city, but he dreams of returning to his first wife. Secondly, when in the woods, a woodsman and his apprentice encounter a pale woman who kills the woodsman but leaves the apprentice alive. Thirdly, a blind musician who lives in a monastery is known for playing a piece about a particular battle, and then one night someone comes and asks him to play for the noble for whom he works. Finally, an author is waiting for his publisher, and as he waits he recounts an incomplete folk story about a samurai who sees another man's face in his tea.
Short review- this anthology film is beautiful and has the hallmarks of this era of Japanese film that often harken back to the feudal era (except the bits featuring the author in the fourth story which are in the early 20th century, all of the stories are set in the feudal era). The film is based on collections of folk stories that were recorded by a particular author in the early 20th century- it is named for one of his collections (Kwaidan means ghost story) though only two of the stories are from that collection and the other two are from others. My favourite of the four stories was "The Woman of the Snow" (the second story) which had spectacular painted skies though I would also shout out "Hoichi the Earless" (the third story) for the performance of the lead actor. The stories, except the last one, all have a through line of regret and revenge, and you can see why you would link them together. It was the best film as a film that I watched all October though I will say that sadly it ends on the weakest story and it might have been stronger (5 stars instead of the 4.5 I gave it on Letterboxd) without it.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- SBS on Demand
Film 27- The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
What is scary- mystery killer
General or non horror people content warning- blood and violence, and lots of killer cam.
Plot- An American writer living in Rome is making plans to return to return to the States taking his Italian girlfriend with him. The day before he is due to fly out, he sees what he thinks is a woman being attacked and the police tell him that he has to remain in Rome whilst they investigate. He discovers that the attack is likely linked to a series of murders of young women in the city, and he starts to investigate it.
Short review- this was first film in Dario Argento's animal series, and unlike A Cat o' Nine Tails, this is exactly what I want in October viewing. It is a very smart for a 1970 film in that the initial attack does some interesting things with perception as the main character is so traumatised by it that even though he was looking at it directly, he cannot remember the specifics. It nails the yellow that giallo is name for- everything is a "lovely" shade of 1970s yellow. You can also see the powerful influence that it had on future films especially slashers of the late 70s and early 80s. I don't think I've seen as much killer cam pre that era of slashers before (I mean The Bay of Blood had a little of it but nothing on this film), and it is clear that the American horror film makers took notes from this. It also is really tense in parts mainly when the main character's girlfriend is involved- the scene where she tries to break their apartment window with a candle stand to escape the killer was one of my favourites of the film. This was my last Italian film for the month and it was a great run that just showed why they were so known for horror at that time, especially as something like this is so much smarter than American horror of the same era.
New to me or not- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 28- Ghoulies (1984)
What is scary- devil worship
General or non horror people content warning- it is pretty tame, there is a like a wee bit of blood. Really bad acting and script maybe.
Plot- a young man inherits his family's old house, and he and his girlfriend move in. He seems to become obsessed with working on the house and it seems like he might be getting his demon worship on.
Short review- you might see I don't mention the Ghoulies above but that is because this film definitely not what it says on the tin. It was made in the aftermath of Gremlins in the hopes to capitalise on its success by not understanding that that the Gremlins were the reason that film was popular and not some broad reason for them. This film is super dooper bad. It is low budget, the script is a big wall of cliches, and the acting is just dreadful- some actors are trying to do the most but not in a way that I found to be camp fun. As an example of its badness, the writer decided it needed narration but then forgot about that after two instances of it. It is the worst film as a film that I watched all month but if there is a time to watch something rocking in at 7% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes that time is October. I did make the mistake of watching this sober and I think it would be fun with wines and a planned drinking game. Finally, yes Law and Order:SVU fans that is a baby faced Detective Benson you spy- Mariska Hargitay plays one of the couple's friends.
New to me or not- new
Where did I watch it- Amazon Prime
Film 29- The Fog (1980)
What is scary- leprosy ridden pirate ghosts
General or non horror people content warning- some blood, gore, and violence. Jump scares.
Plot- A small coastal town is prepping to commemorate its centenary. Mysterious things start happening and then a glowing fog descends on the town.
Short review- Nothing cooks like a John Carpenter score. This was my Carpenter film for this October and though I was having a lot of fun with it regardless, the score just tipped it over the edge. The effects feel peak 80s even if you then realise this was doing them earlier than most. The ghosts are good and sneaky and creepy, and it gets tense at times. I also now have my retirement plan to go and run a radio station from a lighthouse.
New to me or not- new
Where did I watch it- paid for it on YouTube- it isn't included in any streamers
Film 30- The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
This is an annual watch so if you want my thoughts on it go back two years at https://clarewoodley.blogspot.com/2024/11/im-into-survival.html
Film 31- House (1977)
What is scary- a house
General of non horror people content warning- a few scares are a little jumpy and a literal flood of blood (granted red cordial blood)
Plot- Seven girls (who are called....wait for it... Gorgeous, Fantasy, Prof, Mac, Melody, Sweet, and Kung Fu) go to stay at the country house of one of their aunt's after their original holiday trip plans were cancelled. Something in the house is mighty weird...
Short review- This film is amazing and insane. You will continually ask yourself what the filmmakers were on, and if you have picked up a contact high. Most of the cast were not professional actors but damn are they having fun. The plot makes less than zero sense most of the time but who cares. Where did that baby that Gorgeous plays with in the early scenes come from, how is it so hard to get a bucket off your butt, why does a character seem to enjoy being eaten by a piano, why are there bananas, is there a bear at that restaurant, is there a wind machine perpetually around Gorgeous's future step mother, why is Kung Fu wearing bikini bottoms not pants, should I be offended on Mac's behalf for the comment about her finding a potato field to snack on (relatable content), how and why is cat, are we animated now- just some of my questions from this film. And for all those questions, I just don't care about the answers as I was having the best time as this film is awesome. Particular shout out to Kung Fu who is the tough girl of the group whose solution to things is "kick them" - she was def my fave and to explain the nicknames, Gorgeous is very beautiful and also very privileged (it is her aunt's house), Fantasy lives in her fantasy world and has a big crush on their teacher, Prof is the smart girl with glasses, Mac loves to eat (the Mac isn't from McDonalds though, it is from... wait for it... stomach), Melody plays lots of instruments, Sweet is just very sweet and accommodating, and Kung Fu is kick arse. For all its weirdness, the film is also at times stunning with some exceptional animation and painted scenery. This came out the same year as Suspiria and wow with all the colours in both that would be an excellent double feature. So Japan in the 1970s, not sure what you were on, but if this is the type of film you make on it, have at it.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- the cinema at a Halloween night special event. I've been wanting to watch House for years and it sadly isn't normally available in Australia.
Film 32- A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
What is scary- a step mother
General and non horror people content warning- many things- jump scares, blood, violence, child neglect, child abuse, trauma, suicide, unhealthy medication use, and disassociation
Plot- After the death of their mother and it is hinted something else, a father returns with his two daughters to their house where he has moved in their new stepmother. The father seems disinterested in his daughters and the stepmother is actively abusive of the younger girl which the father does not believe. Both girls appear to see ghosts or other evidence of haunting around the house.
Short review- K-horror bringing it. This was likely the darkest thing I watched all October. I'm hoping the warnings don't give you hints of where it might go. You might figure it out- I did for the most part- but it builds and twists. It is one of those films that you end up analysing after you finish it. It is well creepy and at times very jump scary. Early in the film, I thought it might be doing something about periods but thankfully in many reasons this is not periods be scary film. The performances by the four leads are great and I think especially the stepmother is outstanding.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- again cinema at a Halloween night special event. I did spy it on SBS on Demand a while back and it might still be there.
Film 33- Thirst (2009)
What is scary- vampires
General and non horror people content warning- blood, and elder abuse
Plot- a priest who works at a hospital volunteers to be part of a medical study of a disease that has been impacting primarily Catholic priests on mission in Africa. He recovers from the disease unlike many others and he becomes a bit of legend with people thinking he has healing power. He meets the mother of someone he knew as a younger man and when she invites him around to dinner, the priest finds himself drawn to his friend's wife. Soon the priest is not just having an affair with this woman, but also has discovered that the virus has had him a vampire.
Short review- I do love a Chan-wook Park film and this is one of the ones I had not seen. It has his combo of being beautifully shot and also super sexy (well not all his films are sexy but see what I read last year about Stoker or watch the slow burn of Decision to Leave which in my mind is a basically perfect film (it is my second favourite Park film)). This film leans into the underlying sexy that is inherent in the vampire genre and I needed a vampire film for the October (I did watch it on 1 November though). It is a bit long which is my only complaint. Also the performances are great from Korean cinema legend Kang-hp Song as the priest and especially as Ok-vin Kim as the main female character.
New to me or rewatch- new
Where did I watch it- I was meant to watch it in the wee hours of the morning of 1 November at the Halloween night special event I saw the last two films at but I was super tired so I headed home and watched it later in the day on SBS On Demand
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So that is another year done.
Best new to me film- As a film, Kwaidan. In terms of my favourites though, flip a coin between A Bay of Blood and House
Most fun new film- def House
Most OTT fun death- Piano in House. Honourable mention- train somersault in A Cat O' Nine Tails and woman thrown off building Child's Play and shower death in the remake of Slumber Party Massacre
Thing that most turned by stomach- closed over eyes in plane bathroom on Clayface (so tense and gross)
Best individual scene- every single scene in House
Biggest creep/scare factor- haunting stuff in A Tale of Two Sisters
I also did watch some horror TV which in summary this October/early November:
- Crystal Lake- please give Linda Cardellini all the awards. She is an exceptional Pamela Vorhees. I loved this series more than the other Friday the 13th content I've seen. It gives Pamela a backstory and some sympathetic traits without taking away that she is not mentally healthy. The kid who plays Jason is super cute and I did worry that it would make us like Jason too much but they legit kill him in the first episode. Also damn they got Hamish Linklater as Elias Vorhees... basically if that man is going to pop up in your genre content, that is a lock on things being exceptional for at least the episodes he is in. It does further mess with the already very messy timeline so great ready at the end of the last episode to be a bit "huh" about the timeline. If you want to watch it, it is on Stan.
- Carrie- OK so I have thoughts on it. I really liked the modernisation of the bullying and I thought the performances were really strong. I LOVE the number of women who directed episodes or contributed scripts (such a long way from the creepy male gaze of the opening scene of the film). I didn't love giving any of the bullying substance (you know what this is if you have seen it, it was just a plot that wasn't needed) and I also didn't love trying to make Margaret White or Chris Hargensen more than villains. Let your villains be villains and whist I was interested in some of what they did with Margaret White (I stress some of it), Chis is deeply horrid and giving her the family life this gives her just made her too sympathetic (or tried to- the construction site scene locked in my lack of love for her). Unlike others, I didn't hate some of the additions that will result in it having a second season especially as it appears they are Stephen King approved, but I do think it isn't new and I really want Mike Flanagan to just read The Power by Naomi Alderman (or he could watch the TV adaptation- I've not seen it as I didn't think it could have been as good as book) and realise he isn't doing something new. And yes I did feel ancient watching Stu Macher/Shaggy as the principal....but hey I want Matthew Lillard working always. It is on Amazon Prime if you want it.
- Agatha All Along- yep a rewatch. Love this series and I had no witches this October. On Disney+ obviously as it is MCU.
- True Blood- before this show got bonkers in the fifth season, it was one of my faves and being on Amazon Prime a lot for October meant that it got recommended to me (it is currently on there) and I started a rewatch of the sexy southern vampires.
And to see us out... just have some of the bonkers images from House. I did want to match the title of go with Killer Klowns but I want you all to watch House (everyone do it!):
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