This October, a friend on Twitter invited me to participate in #31DaysofHorror, in which you strive to watch one horror movie each day. Initially, I thought I would participate here and there, as I could. I should have known better. Once I started, I became obsessive as I always do. After the Nightmare on Elm Street in theater marathon added 7 movies to my total in one night, I decided to go for 50 movies in the month of October.
And I got to 51.
Honestly, it was a blast. It was a lot of horror. Daunting at times, mind eroding at others. Yet ultimately, it was fun to indulge in so much of the holiday horror spirit and be able to share it with plenty of awesome people online. My poor, little mind may never recover, but I will definitely be doing it again next year. Probably even harder, if I know myself at all.
So I give you my 51 movies of horror in October. Happy Halloween!
 |
Wyrmwood
A bunch of interesting ideas that lacked the execution to really make them work. I wanted to like it, but it needed more development and polishing. |
 |
Cabin in the Woods
One of my favorite horror movies. A refreshing spin on horror lore, archetypes, and the genre in general. |
 |
We are Still Here
Simplistic, well executed horror. A well balanced and creepy haunting story. |
 |
28 Days Later
A movie that changed the zombie genre. Always amazing. |
 |
28 Weeks Later
The overproduced and Americanized sequel that pales in comparison to its predecessor. Fine movie, disappointing sequel. |
 |
Ghosts of Mars
Bad, just so very bad. But I do love John Carpenter. And Ice Cube. |
 |
Headless
We found this movie on a list of most disturbing horror. It was definitely graphic and gross and depraved–but all with purpose. I really enjoyed it. |
 |
Human Centipede 2
More graphic, more twisted, and more disturbing than its predecessor. Who knew it was possible? Yet still well done. |
 |
Human Centipede 3
What. The. Fuck. The franchise completely went off the rails into ridiculous and just awful. |
 |
What We Do in the Shadows
Interview with the Vampire meets The Real World. Just hysterical and wonderful. |
 |
You’re Next
One of my favorite newer horror movies. So well done and all about the survivor. |
 |
The Purge: Election Year
Perfect watch for this election year. Chock full of social commentary and blood. |
 |
Let Me In
Potentially my favorite remake. I adore Let the Right One In, and this one manages to live up to it. |
 |
The Fog
Creepy and classic. |
 |
V/H/S
A very clever horror anthology that made me nauseous. With the shaky cam filming rather than the content. |
 |
The Final Girls
A horror comedy I have loved since first seeing it at The Stanley Film Festival. |
 |
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
I was very skeptical of this selection but found it gory and very fun. |
 |
A Nightmare on Elm Street
Just as brilliant as it is classic. This one may contain my favorite death scene in ALL of horror. |
 |
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
The homoerotic sequel that does not make a whole lot of sense. |
 |
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
The second best in the franchise; the sequel that should have followed the first. |
 |
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
Eh. An acceptable chapter. |
 |
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
Terrible. Just TERRIBLE. I only watched it because it was in the theater in the middle of the marathon. I would have napped through if I didn’t have so many Monsters. |
 |
Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare
The humor is on point, and Freddy is awesome, but the rest of the movie was just crap. |
 |
New Nightmare
I am utterly torn on this one. I love when horror makes fun of itself, and the premise is clever. Plus a great cast reunion! Yet I hate what they did to Freddy when he leaves the screen. |
 |
Freddy vs Jason
A great Freddy movie. Just fun. |
 |
Feast
Funny and creepy and gross but enjoyable. |
 |
In the Mouth of Madness
Amazing. Required for both horror fans and writers (like myself). |
 |
The Guest
Unnerving and well balanced. A perfect blend of suspense. |
 |
V/H/S 2
The entries in this anthology might be inferior to the first collection, but the filming did not make me sick, which made it easier for me to participate and enjoy. |
 |
Evil Dead 2
When the franchise really embraced itself. |
 |
Army of Darkness
A little bit of ridiculous fun with the undead. |
 |
Drag Me to Hell
Campy and gross. Very fun. |
 |
American Mary
Sexy horror and depraved fetish. Basically, me in a nutshell. One of my very favorite movies. |
 |
Otis
Funny and twisted. When revenge becomes a family affair. |
 |
Tales of Halloween
Not the best Halloween anthology I have seen (clue: it’s Trick r Treat) but still a festive watch. |
 |
Dead Snow
Nazi zombies. Nazi. Zombies! So good. |
 |
V/H/S Viral
I hated the final chapter in the franchise. It’s like the filmmakers got financing and did not know what to do with it. |
 |
Halloween
The Halloween classic that started it all. |
 |
Halloween II
A direct continuation of the first. |
 |
Halloween H20
The third and only other entry I recognize in the Halloween franchise. I love watching Laurie decide to face her demons. |
 |
Candyman
Clever twists on the haunting convention. |
 |
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Absolutely brilliant horror comedy that comes after every horror convention and archetype. |
 |
The Conjuring
As my husband always says, creepy as balls. And balls can be pretty creepy. |
 |
The Re-Animator
The B-rated Lovecraftian classic. |
 |
Scream
My VERY first horror movie! |
 |
Scream 2
I am still accepting that they killed Randy. |
 |
Scream 3
I do like the jabs at horror and Hollywood, but really? What? |
 |
Scream 4
My favorite of the sequels. I like the critique of nouveau horror and reboots. |
 |
Saw
Another genre changer. Gritty and raw and original. |
 |
The Silence of the Lambs
One of my favorite movies (not just horror). Hannibal Lecter is the best serial killer. |
 |
Trick r Treat
THE Halloween movie. This film embodies everything I love about the holiday in one anthology. Our post trick-or-treating tradition. |
What horror movies did you watch in October? Any Halloween traditions? What’s your favorite scary movie?
Christina Bergling
christinabergling.com
facebook.com/chrstnabergling
@ChrstnaBergling
chrstnaberglingfierypen.wordpress.com
pinterest.com/chrstnabergling
Savages
Two survivors search the ruins of America for the last strain of humanity. Marcus believes they are still human; Parker knows her own darkness. Until one discovery changes everything.
Available now on Amazon!
savagesnovella.com
The Waning
Beatrix woke up in a cage. Can she survive long enough to escape, or will he succeed at breaking her down into a possession?
Fiery Pen 
[…] #31DaysofHorror […]
LikeLike
[…] year, I stepped up my #31DaysofHorror (watching a horror movie every day in the month of October) experience by adding bingo to the […]
LikeLike