31 Days of Halloween 2025 – The Ultimate Horror Calendar

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today, we are bringing you our 31 Days of Halloween 2025 – The Ultimate Horror Calendar.

A Themed Horror Movie a Day October 2025

This year, Knockout Horror has grown a lot so I want to give you guys a list that you can follow from day 1 of October. I never did this before because, for the most part, people probably wouldn’t see it. That’s changed so if you are looking for a list of movies to watch each day of October, you are in the right place.

As always, I like to do things a little different. With this in mind, this list will feature a theme for each day of October. Each day will have a suggestion for a well known horror movie to watch as well as one or two more obscure options that you might have missed.

Pick your poison and scare yourself silly for 2025’s 31 Days of Halloween. Side note, I will still be reviewing a movie each day of October. That won’t change, of course. Oh, and if you are looking for something a little different, why not check out our Found Footage 31 Days of Halloween for a different found footage movie every day of October?

📅 At a Glance: The 2025 Horror Calendar

Week 1: Still Early But Already Getting Spooky!

It’s the first week of October and we are going to knock out some absolute horror classics to get in the mood.

October 1 (Wednesday) – Witchcraft!

Today’s theme is all about Witchcraft. Do you dare go back to 1922 to check out our obscure selection? Kick off the month with tales of covens, witches, curses, and spells as we dive into some witchcraft themed horror movies.

• Well-Known: The Witch (2015) – An exiled family in 17th-century New England is torn apart by paranoia. Everyone knows this film and it’s a great way to kick off the month. Check out our review of The Witch right here.
• Slightly Different: You Won’t Be Alone (2022) – A young girl is kidnapped and transformed into a witch. This is a genuinely haunting alternative that you might have missed.
• Obscure Gem: Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922) – A silent era fictional documentary exploring the history of witchcraft with gorgeously vivid and surreal imagery.

October 2 (Thursday) – Folk Horror

It’s time for some Folk Horror. What better way to follow up the witchcraft stuff? Journey into the unsettling traditions and ancient evils of isolated communities.

• Well-Known: The Wicker Man (1973) – The quintessential folk horror film about a police sergeant investigating a disappearance on a remote pagan island. Set the bar high early in the month. Check out our review of The Wicker Man right here.
• Deeper Cut: A Dark Song (2016) – A determined woman and a troubled occultist lock themselves in a house for months to perform a gruelling and dangerous ritual. This Irish, Welsh collaboration is massively underrated and legitimately compelling. Check out our review of A Dark Song right here.

October 3 (Friday) – 80s Slashers

It’s 80s Slasher Night because we really need to cool the serious vibes a little. Grab a few drinks, a lot of popcorn, break out the synth music and questionable fashion, and let’s take a trip back to the golden age of slashers.

• Well-Known: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Wes Craven’s surreal and terrifying slasher with a difference. This film moved the goal posts on how a slasher should look. Check out our review of A Nightmare on Elm Street right here.
• An Alternative Suggestion: The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) – Written as a parody of slashers but filmed as a straight horror, it’s actually a surprisingly effective film that went on to be a genuine cult classic.

October 4 (Saturday) – Creature Features

Let’s pivot to something completely different – Creature Features. It’s time for monsters, big and small, to take centre stage for some Saturday night silliness.

• Well-Known: The Thing (1982) – John Carpenter’s paranoid classic about a shape-shifting alien in Antarctica. We are setting that bar high again with another absolute classic. Check out our review of The Thing right here.
• Deeper Cut: Grabbers (2012) – An Irish horror comedy where the only way to survive an alien invasion is to stay incredibly drunk. Let’s be honest, only Ireland could make a movie like this, right?

October 5 (Sunday) – Gothic Horror

It’s time for something altogether more Gothic & Atmospheric for a quiet Sunday night. Let’s slow things down with haunting visuals, creeping dread, and beautiful decay.

• Well-Known: The Others (2001) – People still absolutely love this film so, why not? A modern ghost story that oozes that quintessential classic gothic style.
• Obscure Gem: The Changeling (1980) – Look, controversial, I know, but I think that George C. Scott is the second best Scrooge of all time… After Michael Caine, of course. In The Changeling, he plays a composer who moves into a historic mansion and uncovers a ghostly mystery. This is one of the best executed haunted house films ever made.

Week 2: Getting Spookier – Let’s Twist it Up

Week 2 is underway so let’s mix the themes up a little and get a bit twisted.

October 6 (Monday) – Tech Horror

Let’s step into the perils of Tech Horror to kick this week off. What happens when technology fights back? From cursed videotapes to haunted computers.

• Well-Known: Ring (1998) – We absolutely need some J-Horror in here. The Japanese original that terrified the world and kicked off a movement with its story of a deadly cursed tape that condemns the viewer to death in seven days. Check out our review of Ringu right here.
• Deeper Cut: Pulse (2001) – As an alternative, let’s look to the twisted mind of Kiyoshi Kurosawa. A profoundly bleak and, frankly, terrifying Japanese horror about ghosts invading the world of the living through the internet.

October 7 (Tuesday) – Body Horror

One thing all of these movies lack is some horrifying mutations so let’s check out some Body Horror on this sleepy Tuesday. Prepare to be disturbed by the grotesque and visceral transformation of the human form.

• Well-Known: The Fly (1986) – We are rolling out a classic practically every day with this 31 days of Halloween list. David Cronenberg’s horrifying, and strangely moving, story of a science experiment gone wrong. Check out our review of The Fly right here.
• Obscure Gem: Possessor (2020) – We’ve had a elder Cronenberg suggestion so why not something from his son, Brandon? This is an unsettling and pretty damn original sci-fi horror where an assassin uses brain implant technology to inhabit other people’s bodies.

October 8 (Wednesday) – Found Footage

You know I have a soft spot for this hump day suggestion – Found Footage. Experience the terror from a first person, and often shaky, perspective.

• Well-Known: The Blair Witch Project (1999) – Another absolute classic. The film that defined the genre, helped reinvigorate horror, and proved that what you don’t see is the most terrifying. Check out our review of The Blair Witch Project right here.
• Deeper Cut: Butterfly Kisses (2018) – It’s criminal that this movie doesn’t get more love. This is your chance to experience the legend of Peeping Tom in all its glory. Here’s our review.
• Even Deeper: The Conspiracy (2012) – It’s tough to go obscure with found footage without also going “crap” so how about Conspiracy? A story about two journalists interviewing a conspiracy theorist only to find themselves falling head first into a dark world. Check out our review right here.

October 9 (Thursday) – Giallo

How about a touch of Giallo for your Thursday viewing? Dive into the stylish, violent, and suspenseful world of Italian horror thrillers.

• Well-Known: Deep Red (1975) – The legendary Dario Argento’s masterpiece, featuring a jazz pianist who witnesses a brutal murder. You can’t mention Giallo without talking about this film.
• Obscure Gem: Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972) – What a title! Sounds like a Panic at the Disco track. A sleazy and brilliantly plotted thriller set in a crumbling country manor.

October 10 (Friday) – Horror-Comedy

Again, it’s Friday. Grab a few drinks and some popcorn for some Horror Comedy. Let’s kick the weekend off with a night of laughing and screaming in equal measure.

• Well-Known: Shaun of the Dead (2004) – The perfect blend of zombie horror, British comedy, and genuine heart. People adore this movie a lot more than I do so let’s throw it in the list.
• Deeper Cut: One Cut of the Dead (2017) – Personally, this would be my choice. Go into this Japanese zombie film knowing as little as possible. It’s a hilarious, inventive, and fiendishly clever take on the zombie genre. Check out our review of One Cut of the Dead right here.

October 11 (Saturday) – Terror From The Deep

Let’s make like Ariel and head Under the Sea with some Terror from the deep. What lurks in the crushing, dark abyss?

• Well-Known: Jaws (1975) – The original and best summer blockbuster that made everyone afraid to go in the water. Is it really horror? Who cares? It has a giant shark and a great story.
• Less Obvious: The Abyss (1989) – While more sci-fi than a horror, James Cameron’s director’s cut actually has some incredibly tense and claustrophobic sequences that fit perfectly.
• Less Obvious Still: Sea Fever (2019) – This Irish horror movie sees a crew in a fight for survival while marooned at sea. Pretty underrated and a great option for something a bit more obscure.

October 12 (Sunday) – Silent Screams

It’s a Sunday so we need something relaxing a peaceful. Let’s check out some Silent Screams as we go back to the very beginning of horror cinema, where visuals and music did all the talking.

• Well-Known: Nosferatu (1922) – F.W. Murnau’s unauthorized and chilling adaptation of Dracula. It’s an obvious one but it still holds up really well. If you really can’t do the whole silent movie thing, throw in the 2024 remake.
• Deeper Cut: The Hands of Orlac (1924) – A concert pianist receives the transplanted hands of a murderer and fears he is losing control. This is an absolute landmark of German Expressionism and one of the most important movies in history when it comes to shaping horror.

Week 3: Mixing Things Up Even More

Shall we explore some deeper themes for the third week? Let’s throw in a little animation too.

October 13 (Monday) – Animated Frights

This list is really missing some Animated Frights. Just because it’s not live action doesn’t mean it can’t be terrifying. We’ve got something for the kids here and something a little more adult.

• Well-Known: Coraline (2009) – A beautiful stop-motion fairy tale that is actually far more creepy than you might expect. Kids love it, adults love it, why not start your week with it? Check out our review of Coraline right here.
• Something Else: Paranorman (2012) – A genuinely underrated tale about a young boy who can talk to ghosts. I love this film; it’s funny and has tons of heart. Check out our review of Paranorman right here.
• Obscure Gem: Perfect Blue (1997) – Satoshi Kon’s stunning psychological thriller about a pop idol-turned-actress who is stalked by an obsessed fan. I wanted to watch this movie so bad, years ago, that I bout the only version I could find – a PSP UMD.. That was not a great experience. Great film, though.

October 14 (Tuesday) – Vampire Variations

How about a traditional horror trope with a twist – Vampire Variations. Let’s go beyond Dracula to explore the diverse and deadly world of the undead.

• Well-Known: Let the Right One In (2008) – The original Swedish masterpiece about a bullied boy who befriends a young vampire. One of my favourite horror movies of all time. Check out our review of Let The Right One In right here.
• Deeper Cut: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) – A stylish and atmospheric “Iranian vampire Western”, I know, it’s as crazy as it sounds, shot in black and white.
• Even Deeper Cut: The Transfiguration (2016): It’s a bit like Let The Right One In but even gloomier as a young boy with a vampire obsession meets an equally disturbed young girl. Check out our review right here.

October 15 (Wednesday) – They’re Not Human

How about we get a bit paranoid on a Wednesday night at the half way point of the month with They’re Not Human. Suspicion and dread from alien imposters and doppelgängers.

• Well-Known: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – The brilliant 70s remake that perfectly captures a sense of all encompassing societal paranoia. You can throw in the 1956 original if you fancy getting a bit more nostalgic for the cold war era.
• Slightly More Obscure: Coherence (2013) – This is such a good movie that is finally getting the love it always deserved. A low-budget, yet high concept, sci-fi thriller where a passing comet fractures reality for a group of friends at a dinner party.

October 16 (Thursday) – Small Town Terror

It’s almost the weekend but let’s keep the chill vibes going with some Small Town Terror. There’s something wrong in this town, and the friendly neighbours are not what they seem.

• Well-Known: It (2017) – The first chapter of the modern movie adaptation that focuses on a group of young friends haunted by a killer clown known as Pennywise. Check out our review of It right here. You could also throw in the 90’s miniseries here for something with a bit of a retro vibe.
• Deeper Cut: Super Dark Times (2017) – Not many films manage to hit the small town horror vibe quite like Super Dark Times. This troubling story of how a tragic accident transforms the lives of a group of friends is well worth checking out. Take a look at our review of Super Dark Times right here.

October 17 (Friday) – 90s Teen Scream

We’ve done the 80s so now its time to take a look at some 90s Teen Scream. Get meta with the self aware, witty, and bloody horror of the 90s.

• Well-Known: Scream (1996) – This is an obvious option, right, and another absolute classic? The film that revitalized the slasher genre with its clever deconstruction of horror tropes. Check out our review of Scream right here.
• Deeper Cut: The Faculty (1998) – Not exactly obscure but we will fix that in a sec. This is a fun, fast-paced sci-fi horror from the writer of Scream where high school students suspect their teachers have been replaced by aliens.
• Even Deeper Cut: Kolobos (1999) – A group of strangers are filmed “Big Brother” style in a house where they meet a serial killer. It’s a lot weirder than you might think but damn does it not get enough attention?

October 18 (Saturday) – Haunted House Double Feature

Let’s double our pleasures today with a Haunted House Double Feature. Two tales of terror within four walls that come from completely different perspectives.

• First Film (Classic): Poltergeist (1982) – The ultimate suburban haunting, full of iconic scares. It’s probably better than you remember it being, despite the passage of time.
• Second Film (Modern Gem): His House (2020) – A powerful film about a refugee couple from South Sudan who find a supernatural evil lurking in their new English home. This movie does a nice job of juxtaposing the migrant expectation with the migrant reality while also weaving a moving story of the supernatural.

October 19 (Sunday)

There definitely hasn’t been enough Psychological Horror in this list so let’s get some. The monsters in these movies aren’t real; they are all inside your mind.

• Well-Known: Black Swan (2010) – A ballerina’s drive for perfection sends her into a nightmarish spiral. Black Swan was a bit of a surprise hit back in 2010 and it still stands as one of the better psychological horror movies in a very long time.
• Deeper Cut: The Lodge (2019) – A slow burning, atmospheric film where a soon to be stepmother is snowed in with her two stepchildren, and terrifying events begin to unravel their sanity. Riley Keough is spectacular in this movie that is just a tad more disturbing than you might think. Check out our review of The Lodge right here.

Week 4: The Final Descent Into Madness

We are getting really close now. Let’s turn up the carnage and get a bit more hi-octane.

October 20 (Monday) – Zombie Apocalypse

It’s time to open up the final part of the month with a brutal Zombie Apocalypse. The dead walk and they are hungry for brains. Barricade the doors and aim for the head.

• Well-Known: 28 Days Later (2002) – Danny Boyle’s frantic reinvention of the zombie genre that transformed the infected from bumbling idiots to rage fuelled freak shows. You could also throw in the more recent 28 Years Later here.
• Obscure Gem: The Sadness (2021) – A quick warning: this Taiwanese film is one of the most extreme and brutal splatter horror movies of recent years, don’t blame me when you are wincing throughout. With that being said, it’s an unforgettable depiction of a society collapsing into depravity as two lovers fight to reunite in a city afflicted by a zombie apocalypse.

October 21 (Tuesday) – Revenge Horror

Sometimes, the most terrifying monster is a person who has been wronged. It’s time for some Revenge themed horror.

• Well-Known: Carrie (1976) – Pretty much an annual October watch in our house. The ultimate supernatural revenge fantasy as a girl with telekinetic powers unleashes hell on those that wronged her. Check out our review of Carrie right here.
• Deeper Cut: Blue Ruin (2013) – Okay, probably more of a thriller, really but well worth a watch. This is a gritty, realistic, and brutally tense film about a drifter whose life is upended when he returns to his home town to avenge his parents’ deaths.
• Actually Obscure: M.F.A. (2017) – A college girl turns full blown vigilante after she is the victim of a horrifying assault. This movie definitely deserves more attention.

October 22 (Wednesday) – Killer Kids

How about some Killer Kids to get us past hump day? Don’t turn your back on these little bastards. Their innocence is just a disguise.

• Well-Known: The Omen (1976) – We’ve knocked out some absolute horror classics in this list so let’s do another. The classic tale of the Antichrist in the form of a young boy named Damien.
• Bit Less Obvious: The Good Son (1993) – Remember when Macaulay Culkin took his Home Alone fame into the horror world playing a child that is only slightly less sociopathic than Kevin McCallister? Maybe you should go and remind yourself.
• Even More Obscure: Home Movie (2008) – How about a found footage movie for something even more obscure? A couple are terrorised by their children in this pretty interesting movie that is actually set at Halloween for some of its length. Check out our review of Home Movie right here.

October 23 (Thursday) – Science Fiction Horror

Let’s head into space today with some Science Fiction Horror because in space no one can hear you scream.

• Well-Known: Alien (1979) – Ridley Scott’s timeless haunted house movie on a spaceship. It’s just another absolute horror classic to tick off the list.
• Deeper Cut: Event Horizon (1997) – A rescue crew investigates a spaceship that disappeared into a black hole and has now returned with something evil on board. This movie was panned on release but people seem to have really turned around on it.
• Really Obscure: 3022 (2019) – A group of astronauts living in the haunting emptiness of deep space awake to find Earth has suffered an extinction level event. Not a perfect movie but definitely one that flies under the radar.

October 24 (Friday) – Werewolf Night

It’s time to howl at the moon because it is Werewolf Night. Grab a beer or some wine, open the popcorn, and let’s get hairy with some lycanthropic horror.

• Well-Known: An American Werewolf in London (1981) – Arguably the peak of the genre, with ground breaking practical effects and a perfect balance of horror and comedy. An absolute classic.
• Deeper Cut: Dog Soldiers (2002) – Before Neil Marshall was making us feel Claustrophobic in The Descent, he was terrifying us in the woods. A squad of British soldiers on a training mission in the Scottish Highlands must fight for their lives against a pack of werewolves.

October 25 (Saturday) – International Horror Showcase

Let’s explore some terror from around the globe. It’s time for an International Horror Showcase. Pick one or all of these movies and enjoy.

• Country: Spain: [REC] (2007) – One of the most intense and claustrophobic found footage films ever made, set in a quarantined apartment building. Some people still argue that this is the greatest FF film of all time. Decide for yourself.
• Country: France: Martyrs (2008) – A pillar of the New French Extremity movement. It is unrelentingly bleak and surprisingly philosophical. Watch with extreme caution and, perhaps, put a gumshield in for all the tooth grinding you will be doing.
• Country: South Korea: A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) – Two sisters are reunited in their father’s country house but things begin to unwind as strange events take hold. One of South Korea’s greatest horror movies and a perfect choice for some October viewing.
• Country: Hong Kong: Dream Home (2010) – If you are in the mood for some splatter horror then check out this movie that sees a young woman going to horrifying lengths to get her perfect dream flat.

October 26 (Sunday) – Based On a True Story

How about some horror that’s Based on a True Story? Films that blur the line between horrifying fiction and even more horrifying reality.

• Well-Known: The Conjuring (2013) – James Wan’s expertly crafted story from the case files of, definitely not charlatans, Ed and Lorraine Warren. People still love this movie so why not add it to your watchlist this October?
• Something Different: The Mothman Prophecies (2002) – An atmospheric and rather creepy film based on the strange events in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in the 1960s. This makes for a great movie to fall asleep with, as well. It’s just so relaxingly quiet.

Halloween Week

We are there. It is Halloween week. Let’s keep the classics coming.

October 27 (Monday) – Cult Classics

Let’s lighten the mood with some Camp & Cult Classics. Embrace the ridiculous, the over-the-top, and the wonderfully weird.

• Well-Known: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – The ultimate midnight movie experience. People still take part in sing along showings of this movie in cinemas to this day. Why not dress up and join in?
• Deeper Cut: Society (1989) – A teen boy finds that his family is part of a gruesome orgy cult in this brilliant cult classic. It’s a bizarre and shocking satire of the rich elite with one of the most insane body-horror finales ever put to film.

October 28 (Tuesday)

It’s getting closer to Halloween so how about some Haunting Ghost Stories? Stories where history refuses to stay buried.

• Well-Known: The Sixth Sense (1999) – The twist may be famous, but the film’s atmosphere and quiet scares hold up beautifully. Probably the best example of M. Knight Shyamalan’s unique style of horror film-making and still very enjoyable.
• Deeper Cut: The Devil’s Backbone (2001) – Guillermo del Toro’s haunting and poetic ghost story set during the Spanish Civil War. This was an early hint at just what a dark fantasy and horror powerhouse del Toro would become.

October 29 (Wednesday) – Devil’s Night

It’s time for Devil’s Night. Tales of demonic possession, Satanic cults, and hell on Earth.

• Well-Known: The Exorcist (1973) – The story of a young girl possessed by a demon is one of the most well known in horror. Widely considered the most terrifying film of all time for a reason. Still holds up to this day. Check out our review of The Exorcist right here.
• Deeper Cut: Kill List (2011) – A brutal British crime thriller that slowly and masterfully descends into a deeply unsettling folk horror/cult nightmare. Some of the scenes in this film are among the nastiest I have seen in horror. The hammer kill always stays with me.. Yuk!

October 30 (Thursday) – Final Girls

We are almost there so let’s get some Final Girl Power. These movies pay tribute to the resourceful, resilient, and iconic women who survive until the end.

• Well-Known: Halloween (1978) – The film that codified the “final girl” trope with the iconic Laurie Strode. It’s still one of the best slasher movies of all time. Check out our review of Halloween right here.
• Deeper Cut: You’re Next (2011) – A brilliant home invasion slasher that completely subverts expectation. The bad guys here have absolutely no idea what they are in for.

October 31 (Friday) – Halloween Showcase

HALLOWEEN NIGHT! It’s the big night! Time for a few movie that completely embody the spirit of the holiday.

• Start off Right: WNUF Halloween Special (2013) – Filmed in the style of an 80’s television news special on a haunted house investigation, complete with commercials. This movie will get you right in the mood for some Halloween fun. Check out our review right here.
• Keep It Going: Fright Night (1985) – It has werewolves, vampires, a plucky teen and small town America vibes. Fright Night is the perfect way to keep your Halloween feeling both spooky and fun. Check out our review right here.
• Perfect Pick: Trick ‘r Treat (2007) – The quintessential Halloween film. An anthology of interconnected stories all taking place on Halloween night, perfectly capturing the spooky, dangerous, and fun spirit of the holiday. Nothing feels quite so fitting for the big day than this film. Check out our review of Trick ‘r Treat right here and remember… Always follow the rules of Halloween!

Happy Halloween

I hope you enjoyed this list. I tried to include something for everyone, here; I didn’t want to go too obscure; I think there is something for everyone here. If you enjoyed this list, why not stick around a bit? We are constantly reviewing horror movies, curating essential lists, and explaining those brain-melting endings. Support your local one-man horror site. Thanks for reading!

💀 Quick Picks: The Best Horror Movies by Vibe

The Ultimate Halloween Experience: Trick ‘r Treat (2007)
If you only watch one movie this month, make it this one. It captures the fun, the danger, and the spooky atmosphere of the holiday better than any other film. It is the perfect movie for October 31st.

The “I Want to Be Terrified” Pick: The Exorcist (1973)
It’s a classic for a reason. If you want a movie that will genuinely unsettle you and leave you sleeping with the lights on, this is still the king of religious horror.

The Fun Night In: Shaun of the Dead (2004)
For when you want gore and scares but also want to have a good laugh. It’s endlessly rewatchable, quote-worthy, and features a surprisingly emotional core. Perfect for a Friday night.

The Aesthetic Masterpiece: Suspiria (1977)
For those who want their horror to look like a painting. Argento’s use of colour and sound is unmatched. It’s a sensory experience that proves horror can be beautiful as well as scary.

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