A film-by-film recap of October, in November? Have I gone mad?!
Yes, and I’ll take no more questions.
I had the flu on Halloween, and the time for Holly Jolly bologna is nigh, so one may have to forgive me for feeling nostalgic during this time that I affectionately refer to as “Pre-New Year’s Purgatory.”
Despite October ending with a greater thud than that of humanity’s inevitable doom, I will say that the month was overall successful in terms of not only hitting my 31 Films in 31 Days goal, but slightly surpassing it by hitting a grand total of 33. The idea of ranking them all sounds ridiculous, and sure it would be easier and cleaner to do only at Top 10, but what’s the fun in that, I ask you?? Besides, it’ll give me a chance to practice being more concise for a change. Also, this ranking is how the films felt to me at the time of the marathon. I know there will be some on this list that historically would be higher, but that's the fun of lists - they can change every year.
If you haven’t left yet, then strap in, because here is 2025’s October marathon in a nutshell:
33. “UNDERGROUND” (2023)
I’ve been finding myself becoming more forgiving and curious of found footage horror these days. Maybe the raw nature of it is catching my eye more than films with extra polish, and when I came across “Underground” that boasts a possibly haunted bunker from World War II, the film was able to take me home without buying me a drink first. Too bad the mystique was completely foiled by, SPOILER, pentagrams and Satan. "But, but, but, the pentagrams act as a portal through time!!" That's true, you've got me there. I hate it so much.
Where to find: Tubi
32. “GARDEN OF EDEN” (2025)
The filmmakers for “Garden of Eden” must have been watching “SAW” one day and thought, “You know what this needs? A ‘Midsommar’ aesthetic.” So they did that, and while it looks nice, it’s full of boring kills and characters with no depth. I don’t know how that happens with that marriage, but here we are.Where to find:
Prime/Sling
31. “SISTER DEATH” (2023)
Much like I’ve grown ridiculously fatigued by Satan being blamed for everything in modern horror (Lou just wants to party, man), I’m also getting there with “A convent is haunted because of all the inhumane things done within its walls in the name of God?? Slap me sideways, you must be joking!” Honestly, “Sister Death” isn’t a poorly made film and likely will entertain many, I’m just fucking bored of the bit at this point.
Where to find: Netflix
30. “THE DEAD THING” (2025)
Speaking of marriages, here’s another one. “The Dead Thing” asks the audience, “What if ‘Ghost’, but Patrick Swayze is a total asshole?” Sure, why not? That can make for compelling horror, except it never really grows beyond that and rides the singular idea for 90 minutes. Not the worst I’ve seen, I just doubt I’ll remember it from this time next year.
Oh, one more thing. As the film ended, I couldn’t help but be struck by the fact that “You threw some 'It Follows' in here, didn’t you? You son of a sneaky bitch!” Minus 50 points to Gryffindor.
Where to find: Shudder
29. “NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE” (2021)
This one should have been rated lower as the first two Acts are so forgettable that I can hardly tell you what happened at this point, but the ending has this really cool, albeit CGI-heavy deity beast that’s pretty badass and inflicts some deliciously gory pain. E for Effort.
Where to find: Netflix
28. “A CLASSIC HORROR STORY” (2021)
Similar to “Sister Death”, “A Classic Horror Story” is a pretty decent film in terms of vibes and execution. If nothing else, it’s got some legitimate contenders for future Halloween costume ideas. The reason I have it ranked so low all lands on the ending. I couldn’t quite make up my mind if it was simply trying to be funny, or if it was trying to be preachy. The fact that I even have to weigh those options is enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth. I’m sure I’m forgetting some examples, but for the most part, preachy has no place in horror, so fuck off.
Where to find:
Netflix27. “GROTESQUE” (2009)
Short, sweet, and well, grotesque! I feel like once you’ve seen “A Serbian Film” or any other in the same realm (or worse), it’s difficult to be shocked anymore, but “Grotesque” certainly tries with all of its low budget might. If straight up torture porn and uncomfortable sexual exploitation does it for you, I’d say give “Grotesque” a go, but I would have preferred a little more heft to the characters that the film teased but never really delivered on.
Where to find: Tubi
26. “NOBODY SLEEPS IN THE WOODS TONIGHT II” (2021)
I’ll admit I was mostly lukewarm on the first “Nobody Sleeps”, though I appreciated some of the practical effects and comedy. This sequel takes a full leap into the latter while the rest pretty well remains the same, which sadly didn’t amount to much for me, personally. Though I will say I’ve never laughed harder (in good humor) during a sex scene in my life.
Where to find:
Netflix25. “HALLOWEEN H20” (1998)
Look, we can agree that “H20” mainly gets a pass because it brought Laurie Strode back after the complete garbage piles that were “Revenge” and “Curse”, right? Don’t get me wrong, it’s entertaining despite all of its flaws, but so fucking dumb. For fuck sake, they gave Michael puppy dog eyes at the end behind one of the worst masks in the series. But hey, it could have been worse, and it certainly was a few years later.
Where to find: HBO Max
24. “WENDELL & WILD” (2022)
I’m a bit ashamed that I let this one sit in my Netflix queue as long as I did. With the same director as “Coraline”, one of my most beloved October-time films, it should have been at the top of my list upon arrival, and yet I kept forgetting about it. Maybe that was my gut guiding me, because while the animation is solid and there’s a good story being told, I felt not terribly moved by “Wendell & Wild” with most of the weakness falling on the titular characters. I really enjoy Key and Peele as a duo, but this act felt forced to me I’m sad to say.
Where to find: Netflix
23. “LANDMINE GOES CLICK” (2015)
One could make a solid argument as to why “Landmine” may not qualify as horror, but more as a suspense thriller, and 99% of the time I would agree. What pushes the film into horror in my mind is the attempted shock value, which I will say is genuinely effective. “Landmine” did draw me in, and dare I say, gave me some white knuckles along the way. Yet, after an ending that I absolutely despised, I realized that’s really all it is - envelope pushing for the sake of it with mostly unlikeable characters and nothing more to say. This isn’t me clutching pearls, I’m often down for this sort of thing, but as I’ve gotten older and the world has gotten uglier, I started liking this film less and less, though if you’re not bothered by that sort of thing, give it a go.
Where to find:
Prime22. “R.L. STINE’S PUMPKINHEAD” (2025)
Nostalgia can be a tricky mistress. This non-”Goosebumps” film gave me all the flashbacks to the 1990’s TV series that I could ever want, and on that basis alone, I loved “Pumpkinhead”. The tricky part is shutting up the part of my head that’s much older now and wants more intense horror. Still, it’s a great intro to horror for the younger crowd the same way “Goosebumps” was for me, and I adore it so much for that.
Where to find: Tubi
21. “SHELBY OAKS” (2025)
If there was no other connection to it, I likely wouldn’t have bothered to see “Shelby Oaks” in the theater. It’s the type of horror I’m usually interested in, but am content to stream. In this case, the film is the first project for YouTuber Chris Stuckmann, whom I’ve been following for over a decade. He seems like a genuinely good dude who loves cinema, and I wanted to show some support, no matter how minor. The film itself really isn’t too bad for a first swing. The vibes were in the right place, the acting was decent, and had some cool visual effects as well. I’m interested to see where he goes from here as I see some genuine talent in Chris’ craft. Also, if you’ve heard this film is a cross between “Blair Witch” and “Hereditary”, yeah, it’s that.
Where to find: Rental
20. “CREEPSHOW 2” (1987)
I confess this is my first delve into “Creepshow 2”, and while it did have a more Direct-to-DVD “feel” to it than the first, I still found myself having a lot of fun. In fact, I could say I’m even envious. I wish I had dreamt up the idea of carnivorous pond scum.
Where to find: Prime/Tubi
19. “BUG” (2006)
Do you enjoy feeling itchy? If you answered “Yes”, then you should definitely watch “Bug”. If you answered “No”, you should still watch “Bug”. I won’t say it’s in league with Friedkin’s best, such as “Exorcist” and “Sorserer”, but for later in his career, it’s still a damn formidable thriller with ace performances from Ashley Judd and Michael Shannon.
Where to find: Tubi
18. “NIGHT OF THE ZOOPOCALYPSE” (2025)
There was a time when I would have stuck my nose up at an animated film like “Zoopocalypse”. Why would I bother with such material when there’s juggernauts like Disney/Pixar and DreamWorks cranking out classic after classic, after all? I’m only being slightly facetious, but with Disney floating in a bowl of self-imposed mid the last 5 years more often than not, it’s good to give the underdogs a try, and you should certainly give this underdog a try. Light-hearted, but more thrills and creep factors than one would expect; you know, for a younger audience.
Where to find: Prime
17. “OTHER” (2025)
I try to keep the bar pretty low when it comes to Shudder properties. It’s not even so much that they’re all that bad, they’re just not all that great, either. While saying “Other” is great is a bit of a stretch, I kinda enjoyed the heck out of it. The acting and story were much higher grade than I was expecting, the mysterious vibe of the plot lent more suspense than I was expecting as well. I’ve bitched quite a bit about endings on this list already, and I know many have bitched about this one, but for once, I was pretty okay with how it put a clean bow on top.
Where to find: Shudder
16. “THE HAUNTED STRANGLER” (1958)
Not much I can say about this one that it doesn’t say for itself. “Haunted Strangler” is vintage 1950s Boris Karloff doing badass classic horror shit. What more could you want?
Where to find: Tubi
15. “PUMPKINHEAD” (1988)
Sorry, R.L. Stine, but the release of your credited film gave me a hankering for the original beast, and I still love him as much as ever. A cool campy monster, a witch in the woods, teenagers not making all the dumb decisions for a change, and an astonishingly well-rooted main protagonist coping with his own flaws. I feel ol’ Pumpkinhead gets overshadowed by his contemporaries of the era, and that’s a shame, because he do still be metal as fuck.
Where to find: Prime/Tubi
14. “THE UNINVITED” (1944)
While not my favorite ghost story of all time, “The Uninvited” is definitely up there. Given the time period, the editing was damn impressive, the two leads both stand out with their own motivations, and who doesn’t love a haunted house by the sea in some good old fashioned black and white?
Where to find: Rental
13. “MONSTER ISLAND” (2025)
Short, sweet, bloody, and a fucking awesome non-CGI sea monster. Not to mention two excellent lead performances that add some humanity to a genre that tends to leave that sort of thing behind most of the time. Expectations = EXCEEDED.
Where to find: Shudder
12. “THE WIND” (2018)
Horror westerns need to become more of a thing. Yes, I know they’re out there, but I said MORE, dammit. They really are pretty perfect for each other in a lot of ways, especially with isolation being such a key factor. If you’re getting tampered with, let’s say, by a demon, where and whom exactly are you going to turn to for assistance? “The Wind” seeks to answer that question and does a solid job of doing just that. I had high hopes and I found myself hooked. I know this subgenre would be niche to most, but I urge you to give it a look.
Where to find: Tubi
11. “CREEPSHOW” (1982)
They don’t make ‘em like this anymore! Well, they try, but most of the time they fucking suck because newer filmmakers seem to miss the point of what makes “Creepshow” work so well. A Quick Hint: It’s not supposed to be serious! I mean, c’mon, we watch Stephen King turn into a giant piece of sod and it’s awesome. Steve, could you write us a few more of these, please?
Where to find: Rental
10. “THE HOPEWELL HAUNTING” (2023)
I do love me a good haunted house story. I grew up reading them, and I’ll die loving them. I had never heard of “Hopewell” before this year as I stumbled across it entirely by accident. And look, I’m not trying to sell a Ford Taurus and pass it off as a Ferrari, but I loved “Hopewell Haunting". Low budget, sure, but made by those whose love for the craft and it soaks through each frame. The old rundown house they secured for this film was top notch as well. I wouldn’t say No to exploring it myself if given the chance.
Where to find: Prime
9. “FROM HELL” (2001)
I’ve probably seen “From Hell” one-hundred times at this point, and it still manages to rank high on my horror lists. Also, low key, it’s one of my favorite Johnny Depp films. Although, if I’m being honest, while he’s good in it, the film really belongs to the two late greats, Ian Holm and Robbie Coltrane. I’ve loved the gruesome mystery around Jack the Ripper in this film since it was released when I was in high school, and in my opinion anyway, it hasn’t lost a step.
Where to find: Prime
8. “TEETH” (2007)
Remember that old gag made up by insecure men regarding vaginas having teeth? Turns out you can make a movie riffing on that premise, and it’s both awesome and hilarious! Not before have I seen gore scenes in a horror film based solely on severed penises. I walked in not knowing what to expect and walked out a fan for life. Well played!
Where to find: Tubi
7. “CROPSEY” (2009)
Another documentary that I think sat in my Netflix for roughly…ohhhh…let’s call it a decade, give or take a few months. I had heard nothing but good things from reliable sources, so I had no reason to avoid it, but in my defense, the movie queue be never ending, yo. That being said, it is a tragically compelling story that will leave your stomach in knots. If I had any complaint, I wish the film was longer because it felt like an appetizer to a much larger meal. Nevertheless, the “Did he?” or “Didn’t he?” questions still weigh heavily on my head.
Where to find: Prime/Tubi
6. “BLACK PHONE 2” (2025)
I’m not going to say much on this one yet, because while I sincerely don’t know which one yet, “Black Phone 2” will be on one of my Top lists for 2025 coming later on.
Where to find: Rental
5. “EVIL DEAD” (2013)
I would think after a decade following its release, it’s okay to say that this might be one of my favorite all-time remakes. It pays respects with Raimi’s original, whilst also having the balls to say “We’re gonna fuck some shit up and paint it in blood”, and paint in blood they do. I will say some of the special effects haven’t aged brilliantly, but who cares? It’s blasphemous, it’s gory, and so much fucking fun.
Where to find: Pluto
4. “MANIAC” (2012)
I did say “Evil Dead” was ONE of my favorite remakes. There’s one on this list that goes a bit higher, and that would be “Maniac”. Shot almost entirely from a POV perspective, and a role that seemed tailor-made for Elijah Wood, this is the type of fun I’m looking for in a slasher. Good stabby kills, intriguing story that doesn’t overshadow the stabby kills, with a touch of camp to keep the whole thing honest. I probably should revisit the 1980 original more often out of respect, but then I ask myself, why? I’m going to turn it off and watch this one instead.
Where to find: Tubi
3. “THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS” (1993)
Yes, I know, unless I have a completely bonkers-ass October where every movie is a bonafide winner, “Nightmare” is a bit of a cheat and will likely always be in the Top 10 at least. And my response to that is, in the voice of Eric Cartman, “Whatever, I do what I want.”
Where to find: Disney+
2. “THE DESCENT” (2005)
For what is likely one of my favorite all-time horror movies, I really don’t watch it that much. I made it a point to pull “Descent” out this year when I realized, fuck, it’s been almost a decade. That’s plain unacceptable! I will say in good humor, with older eyes, that some of the special effects have aged pretty badly. One scene stands out where the party descends into the cave where a noun of “bats” comes flying out, and it looks like a screen saver copy and pasted over the actual film. Not sure how I missed that years ago, but hey, adds to the charm, right? But seriously, “Descent” is still as amazingly suspenseful and violent as it is bloody, and the Appalachian hillbillies, er, cave creatures, still look awesome as ever!
Where to find: Prime
Last, but not least, my favorite film from this year's October marathon is:
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1. “THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE” (1973)
Oh no! Did I rate this #1 again after putting it there about 10-ish years ago? Oh no, oh dear, oh how clumsy of me!
Yeah, I wondered if that would be the case when I took it off the shelf this year knowing it’s currently my favorite ghost movie, and, well, if it wasn’t obvious, still my favorite ghost movie. The house, or Hell House as it were, is about as perfect of a setting as you can get for this type of thing. I love the 70s aesthetic to it all in both story and characters. Of course, films relied almost entirely on practical effects in this era, and I’ve always loved how creative they feel in this film. Not much more I can say. It’s a gem that holds up almost 5 decades later, and it was my favorite film (again) for this year’s October marathon.
Where to find: Rental
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