31 Days of Halloween 2026 – Horror Movie a Day Pick Your Poison

Welcome to Knockout Horror. October is here so that can mean only one thing – it’s time for our 31 Days of Halloween feature for 2026.

Pick Your Horror Poison

Naturally, being a horror fan, I adore the month of October. The nights draw in, the leaves turn orange, and everything feels just a little spookier.

If you are anything like me, you will be spending the entire month in front of your television watching a horror movie each and every day. With that in mind, why not let Knockout Horror help you scare yourself stupid?

This list features a different horror movie for each day of October. These range from horror classics, to international fright fests, to indie flicks that you might have missed. There’s something for every taste here, but I always like to do things a little different on this website.

This list lets you pick your poison and decide exactly how you want to torment yourself. For those of you who followed my 2025 list, you will recognise this formula. Every day features a different horror theme and a couple of movies to choose from that fit that particular theme.

There will be a more well known suggestion and one or two slightly more obscure suggestion for you to expand your horizons with. Simply pick the movie that intrigues you the most. I’ve tried to avoid clashes with last year’s list so this should be completely fresh. Without further ado, let’s get to it.

📅 At a Glance: The 2026 Horror Calendar

Week 1 – Shadows, Strangers & Ancient Fears

It’s the first week of October and you are probably feeling just a little too comfortable just chilling there on your couch. Let’s make you feel like your town, your street, and even your very own home are completely unsafe.

October 1st (Thursday) – Home Invasion & Strangers at the Door

Today’s theme is Home Invasion & Strangers at the Door. What could be worse than knowing that your own home isn’t safe and someone might be lurking just beyond your bedroom door? We have a modern classic option for you here, a seriously sick option for all you twisted horror fans, and something that you may have missed completely.

• Well-Known: The Strangers (2008) – A couple spending a weekend together in a holiday rental hear a knock at their door. Little do they realise, they are in for a night of torment and torture. It’s probably even scarier than you remember it being. Check out our review of The Strangers right here.
• Seriously Sick: Inside (2007) – A heavily pregnant woman is mercilessly attacked in her own home on Christmas eve in this gloriously gory New French Extremity classic. Definitely not for the faint of heart. Check out our review of Inside right here.
• Obscure Option: In Their Skin (2012) – A family’s idyllic cottage vacation is ruined by the appearance of another family but inconvenient meetings are the least of their worries in this home invasion horror. People forget about this movie all the time and, despite a few flaws, it is very watchable.

October 2nd (Friday) – 70s Proto-Slashers & Grindhouse Sleaze

It’s Friday so we need something that is going to match that end of week vibe and get you ready for the weekend. Let’s go with 70s Proto-Slashers & Grindhouse Sleaze to get you feeling grimy and just a little unsafe. We have a classic option and an obscure option for you here.

• Well-Known: The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) – This proto-slasher was based on the real-life case of the hooded killer who murdered 5 people in Texarkana, Arkansas. It’s dirty, grimy, and it provided a ton of the visual and structural DNA that so many slasher movies would adopt in the decades that followed. It’s also delightfully 70s in the best way possible.
• Obscure Option: The Driller Killer (1979) – It’s often talked about, rarely actually watched. A struggling painter unable to cope with his ever difficult life turns to killing derelicts in the streets with his power drill in this classic Video Nasty. Remember to play it LOUD!

October 3rd (Saturday) – Backwoods & Hillbilly Horror

Saturday needs something punchy to really dial in on that weekend feeling. Let’s remind ourselves just how badly things can go wrong when we take a wrong turn on a dark country road and end up deep in the backwoods.

• Well-Known: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – Let’s not over complicate this one – we’ll go with an absolute classic. A group of friends find themselves trapped in the middle of nowhere in a deserted Texas house with the family from hell in Tobe Hooper’s backwoods horror classic. This movie genuinely gets better, and scarier, with age. Check out our review of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre right here.
• International Obscure Option: Storm Warning (2007) – We all associate backwoods and hillbilly horror with the rural USA but Australia has their very own brand of it. Instead of dusty Texas roads we have Alligator infested mangrove swamps. Storm Warning is a seriously underrated example. A yuppie couple lost in the outback realise they made a huge mistake when they seek sanctuary in a seemingly abandoned house. It’s violent, nasty, and the final third is seriously memorable.

October 4th (Sunday) – Claustrophobia & Subterranean Nightmares

Thought you could have a nice relaxing Sunday night? No chance! We are going deeper underground into caves, bunkers, catacombs, and horribly confined spaces where the lack of air is as much of a concern as the things hiding in the darkness.

• Well-Known: The Descent (2005) – I’m not going to get cute with this selection, The Descent is the obvious one and for good reason. A group of friends head into an unexplored cave for some bonding and find far more than tight passageways and stagnant air. This is like two horror movies in one. The first half is a palpitation-inducing trek through horribly claustrophobic spaces while the second half is one of the best creature horrors of the 2000s. Prepare to panic! Check out our review of The Descent right here.
• The Deeper Cut: The Tunnel (2011) – Here’s one for found footage horror fans. A group of reporters head into a series of abandoned train tunnels to expose a government coverup but find much more than they bargained for. This fantastic Aussie horror is legitimately claustrophobic and the genuine sense that the tunnel system has no way out only adds to the terror. Check out our review of The Tunnel right here.
• The Internet Lore / Deep Cut: Living Dark: The Story of Ted the Caver (2013) – Creepy Pasta fans, this one is for you. Two brothers explore a hidden cave, little realising that something sinister down there may have a much closer connection to them than they could possibly imagine. Nobody talks about this but it is honestly one of the better horror movies based on an internet creation.

Week 2 – Suburban Rot, Urban Legends, And The Unknowable

Week two is where the comfortable illusion of safety completely unravels. We’re moving from the manicured lawns and nosy curtains of suburban cul-de-sacs straight into the whispered myths, internet rabbit holes, and cosmic voids that defy human logic. Lock your front door, close the blinds, and prepare to question everything you think you know.

October 5th (Monday) – Suburban Nightmares & Rotten Cul-de-Sacs

It’s the start of a new week and another chance to remind you that the safest looking neighbourhoods hide the darkest secrets. Let’s take a peek behind closed doors as we examine the spooky side of suburbia.

• The Nostalgic / Classic Pick: The ‘Burbs (1989) – I had to suggest this because Joe Dante’s depiction of rotting suburbia is better than you remember. A man and his neighbours believe that a new family that has moved in on their block is part of a satanic cult. It’s darkly comical and actually a lot more sinister than you might think.
• The Modern Pick: Weapons (2025) – We are going to skip the obvious stuff and going for something modern here. Zach Cregger’s brilliant sophomore effort Weapons sees an entire classroom of kids mysteriously disappear in one night. This is one of those movies that places the horror right in the middle of glorious American suburbia and reminds us that the horror is what is festering right in the middle of perfectly manicured lawns. Watch out for our review this month.
• The Obscure Pick: Parents (1988) – A young boy living in 1950’s suburbia suddenly believes that his parents are actually cannibals who are feeding him human meat in this super dark satirical horror by Bob Balaban. It has this glorious mix of grime and nastiness placed against a backdrop of pastel retro loveliness that makes this movie a seriously fun hidden gem of suburban horror.

October 6th (Tuesday) – Urban Legends & Creepypastas

We are staying in the busiest places where you should feel pretty safe for the next category as we dive into modern folklore, chain messages, creepy tales whispered in classrooms, and internet horrors brought to life.

• Well Known: Candyman (1992) – One of my all time favourite horror films. Candyman sees grad student Helen Lyle writing a thesis on modern urban folklore, only to find herself falling victim to the legend of the Candyman – an imposing figure with a hook for a hand who appears when someone repeats his name in front of a mirror. It’s still really damn scary and perhaps one of the greatest examples of horror based around urban folklore. You can substitute for the more recent remake but I much prefer the original. Check out our review of Candyman right here.
• Obscure(ish) Pick: We’re All Going to the World’s Fair (2021) – I can’t get too obscure here because most of the creepypasta based stuff is absolutely awful. We’re All Going to the World’s Fair is one of the stronger options and follows an isolated teen as she participates in an online viral creepypasta challenge. It’s not scary so much as it strange, but it captures the concept of Creepypastas fantastically.
• The Out There Pick: Cropsey (2009) – Bear with me, here. This isn’t a horror movie. It’s a documentary where two filmmakers examining the origin of an urban legend from their youth realise that it might not have been a legend at all. Genuinely, this is a brilliantly made examination into where urban legends come from and how they may be rooted in fact. It’s informative, deep, and actually seriously chilling so give it a try if you fancy something different.

October 7th (Wednesday) – Southern Gothic & Swamp Dread

Let’s head into the sticky, horribly humid, moss-draped woods of Southern USA for this midweek scare-fest. I’ve picked one movie that I think is rather underrated and another movie that I absolutely love but doesn’t seem to get talked about enough.

• Well Known: The Skeleton Key (2005) – Let’s head off to the humid swamps of Louisiana for our first suggestion. A hospice nurse finds herself slap bang in the middle of a Southern Gothic mystery as she takes on a job at a former plantation home in New Orleans. Critics really didn’t like this one but I think it is aging like wine. It’s genuinely spooky, gloriously grimy, and extremely compelling.
• Obscure Pick: Jug Face (2013) – I absolutely love this film and I hope you will too. It is thoroughly underrated. Deep in the backwoods of Tennessee, a young woman learns that a pit that the villagers worship has demanded her as a blood sacrifice. Unwilling to die, she attempts to find a way to escape against all the odds. This is a fantastic mix of backwoods swamp dread and folk horror while never leaning too deeply into the whole “crazy hillbilly” thing. It’s well worth checking out.

October 8th (Thursday) – Eco-Horror & Nature Striking Back

Today is all about Eco-Horror. Nature is tired of our nonsense, and the biosphere is ready to fight back. From predatory fungi and toxic blooms to hostile flora, here is where the wilderness stops playing nice.

• Well-Known: Annihilation (2018) – Alex Garland’s seriously hypnotic and legitimately terrifying sci-fi horror journey into the “Shimmer” opens up week 2 for us. This is a story where biology mutates and fractures reality as a group of scientists head out on an expedition into an area where the laws of nature don’t apply. It’s weird but it’s beautifully captivating, too.
• Deeper Cut: The Ruins (2008) – A group of friends have their Mexican vacation ruined after venturing to an archeological dig site where an ancient evil is hiding just below the surface. This is a brutal, claustrophobic survival nightmare set in an ancient Mayan temple that’s overrun by predatory, carnivorous vines. It really goes under the radar quite a bit but I think it is a perfect option for an eco-horror popcorn flick.
• Obscure Gem: Gaia (2021) – If you fancy an eco-horror take on The Last of Us, Gaia is right up your street. It’s a fungal, visual feast of body horror and forest folklore set deep within an isolated South African woodland as a ranger finds herself stranded in the woods. It’s really quite scary in parts. Check out our review of Gaia because there is a good chance this one slipped your attention.

October 9th (Friday) – 80s Practical FX Splatterfests

It’s Friday night, it’s probably been a long week, which means it’s time to crack open a cold one and revel in the glory of some good, old-fashioned 80s Practical Effects. No soulless CGI bullshit here, just latex, gallons of fake blood, puppetry, and glorious practical craftsmanship.

• Well-Known: Evil Dead II (1987) – Let’s not complicate our movie selection, we just want to get into the carnage. Sam Raimi’s frantic, blood-soaked masterpiece perfectly balances slapstick comedy and frantic demonic carnage with legendary practical gore as Ash fights off the Deadites deep in the woods. Check out our review of Evil Dead II right here.
• Obscure Gem: Street Trash (1987) – A liquor store owner sells cheap bottles of plonk known as Viper to homeless people, little realising what they actually contain – a substance that makes the consumer melt. This is the undisputed king of melt movies and the practical effects are simply fantastic in the most 80s way possible. Pure, unadulterated, colourful body-melt insanity.

October 10th (Saturday) – Evil Toys, Dolls, & Puppets

Let’s focus on the uncanny and the supposedly comforting turned sinister to start the weekend. Saturday night belongs to Killer Toys & Creepy Dolls. Who said playtime was over?

• Well-Known: M3GAN (2022) – A brilliant toy developer creates an AI powered toy called M3GAN and allows her orphaned niece to test it. Designed to be the perfect companion for young children, M3GAN turns deadly when her devotion to Cady stretches to murderous levels. This movie is an absolute riot and perfect Saturday night viewing. It’s high energy, frequently funny, and even suitable for young teens. Check out our review of M3GAN right here.
• Obscure Gem: Possum (2018) – For something altogether darker and more disturbing, let’s pivot to British psychological-horror movie Possum from 2018. A disgraced puppeteer returns to his childhood home to confront more than just the darkness of his past. If you are expecting Child’s Play style humour, think again. This is actually a seriously depressing descent into trauma all centred around, what might be, the most disturbing puppet in horror history.

October 11th (Sunday) – Cosmic & Lovecraftian Madness

Let’s slow things down for Sunday night and get seriously weird with some Cosmic Dread. Prepare to stare into the unfathomable abyss of the universe where sanity is entirely optional and let’s all hope that it doesn’t stare back.

• Well-Known: In the Mouth of Madness (1994) – Let’s indulge ourselves with a cosmic horror classic while also paying tribute the late, great Sam Neill. A missing horror novelist, a town that shouldn’t exist, and a reality slowly coming apart at the seams make In the Mouth of Madness one hell of a descent into Lovecraftian madness. John Carpenter is on top form here. It’s essential viewing.
• Obscure Gem: Resolution (2012) – This might not be the most obvious cosmic horror ever, but once the story begins to develop you will be surprised at how well it fits. A man locks his drug addicted friend in a trailer in an attempt to get him off the gear. Little does he realise, the events around him, as well as the world itself, are being manipulated by something he simply can’t see. This is a genuinely captivating tale of friendship and struggle told against the backdrop of something truly unknowable. Check out our review of Resolution right here.

Week 3: Fractured Minds & Biological Terrors

Heading into the middle of October, things get significantly stranger and more visceral as we dive into medical nightmares, paranoia, and subcultures. Prepare to scare yourself away from ever wanting to visit a hospital and to put paid to those paranoid thoughts in your mind.

October 12th (Monday) – Medical & Clinical Dread

Nothing hits quite like the sterile smell of antiseptic and cold fluorescent lights. Let’s wipe away those Monday blues with some Medical Terror.

• Well-Known: Dead Ringers (1988) – David Cronenberg directs Jeremy Irons in a brilliant and seriously unsettling dual role as twin gynaecologists spiralling into delusion over a woman. It’s disgusting, weird, and pretty damn horrific but what do you expect from the master of Body Horror?
• Deeper Cut: Session 9 (2001) – An asbestos removal crew works in an abandoned, decaying lunatic asylum where the walls remember everything in this absolutely fantastic horror from Brad Anderson. This seems to be getting more love in recent years so go and catch up and see what the fuss is about.
• Obscure Gem: Double Blind (2023) – A group of people take part in a medical experiment that goes horribly wrong. If they fall asleep, they will die, leaving them desperately fighting to stay awake and find a solution. This went under the radar back in 2023 but I found it to be pretty enjoyable. Check out our review of Double Blind right here.

October 13th (Tuesday) – Parasites & Invasive Organisms

Get ready to scratch incessantly and to check your skin for creepy crawlies. Today is all about Parasitic Horrors and internal invaders.

• Well-Known: Slither (2006) – James Gunn’s hilarious, gooey love letter to 80s monster movies is an absolute riot and a great pick-me-up before the midweek hump day. It features slug-like alien parasites taking over a small town and transforming the residents into horribly mutated creatures. There’s loads of laughs here and the creature designs are actually great.
• Obscure Gem: The Bay (2012) – Barry Levinson’s eco-found footage horror about parasitic isopods terrorising a picturesque Maryland seaside community is a seriously underrated option, particularly for fans of found footage. It’s presented as something of a mockumentary and leans heavily into themes of the damage we are doing to our world. It seems almost more relevant in a post 2020 world.

October 14th (Wednesday) – Screenlife & Digital Screams

Mid-week terror moves onto the computer monitor in this found footage sub-genre. Screenlife Horror captures the extremely unique anxiety of video calls, cursed tabs, and internet rabbit holes.

• Well-Known: Host (2020) – The lean, mean, 56-minute Zoom horror sensation filmed entirely during lockdown that never wastes a single frame. A group of friends join a video chat with an online medium, little realising that they are about to introduce something terrifying into their homes. It’s clever, fiendishly innovative, features breakneck pacing, and is legitimately scary. Check out our review of Host right here.
• Obscure Pick: Deadware (2021) – Two friends playing around with retro 90s webcam software inadvertently unleash something cursed. It’s not a perfect movie by any stretch but if you are looking for obscure screenlife horror, it is right up there and very watchable.

October 15th (Thursday) – Gaslighting & Domestic Paranoia

Is there a monster in the shadows, or are you just losing your mind? Today’s theme explores the claustrophobia of Gaslighting & Domestic Suspicion.

• Well-Known: The Invisible Man (2020) – Leigh Whannell’s brilliantly tense, modern update to the Universal horror classic is far better than it has any right to be. Rather than copy the original, this version instead focuses squarely on trauma, surveillance, and coercive control as a woman believes her abusive husband is somehow tormenting her from beyond the grave. It’s genuinely compelling stuff and legitimately very scary.
• Obscure Gem: Resurrection (2022) – A woman has her life perfectly in order until a man from her past returns and tears everything apart. Rebecca Hall delivers a staggeringly fantastic, tour-de-force performance opposite a chillingly abusive ghost from her past. I have no clue why this is so underrated because it is seriously chilling and thought-provoking.

October 16th (Friday) – Heavy Metal & Rock Horror

It’s time to unwind now that the week is over so let’s turn it up to 11 for Friday night. We’re pairing distorted pedals, guitar solos, and devil worship for some high-octane Rock & Metal Horror.

• Well-Known: Green Room (2015) – Jeremy Saulnier blows the doors off with this absolutely fantastic and seriously visceral flick from 2015. A punk band gets trapped in a secluded venue fighting for survival against ruthless neo-Nazis after witnessing something they really shouldn’t have. This is pure adrenaline and savage realism, lending the otherwise light sounded story a touch of the dark and troubling.
• Deeper Cut: Deathgasm (2015) – A hilarious, hyper-violent New Zealand splatterfest where metalhead teens accidentally summon an ancient demon with black magic sheet music in an attempt to spice up their lives. This is a perfect merging of horror comedy, outrageous gore, and heavy metal. A perfect option for Friday nights in October.

October 17th (Saturday) – Carnival & Funhouse Horrors

Distorting mirrors, neon lights, and creepy carnies. Saturday night heads down to the boardwalk for Carnival & Amusement Park Terrors. Be sure to wrap up warm.

• Well-Known: The Funhouse (1981) – Tobe Hooper’s atmospheric slasher about four teens who spend the night inside a carnival ride and witness a murder. The cast here are actually quite likable and the first half of the movie is more of an enjoyable night out at the carnival rather than an outright horror but it picks up big time, later on. It’s nowhere near as good as Texas Chainsaw Massacre but it’s still a lot of fun.
• Deeper Cut: Hell Fest (2018) – This is an energetic and vibrant slasher set inside a sprawling travelling horror-themed theme park where a real killer hides in plain sight and uses the place as his personal killing ground. Way better than it gets credit for and the park feels immensely authentic which only adds to the fun and thrills.

October 18th (Sunday) – British Folk & Rural Oddities

A quiet Sunday spent exploring standing stones, bleak moorlands, and isolated hamlets. Step into the cold, ancient world of British Folk Horror.

• Well-Known: Kill List (2011) – I’m going to ignore the obvious ones here to go with something far more violent and nasty. Kill List follows a debt-ridden hitman who takes on a new contract that spirals into a nightmarish descent through violence, paranoia and increasingly disturbing occult horror. There’s some seriously nasty scenes in this folk horror movie that you might not see coming. The ending stays with you in the most gutting way possible, too.
• Deeper Cut: Enys Men (2022) – A hypnotic, colour-drenched, retro-styled Cornish folk horror mystery about a wildlife volunteer stationed on an uninhabited island. Enys Men feels like it is ripped right out of the 1970s folk-horror wave thanks to its 16mm cinematography. It is genuinely haunting, ultra atmospheric, and a perfect option for fans of British horror weirdness.

Week 4: Cold Realities & Dead Ends

The home stretch is upon us. The nights are really drawing in, the weather is chilling, and our themes are getting darker, meaner, and just a little bit more intense.

October 19th (Monday) – Arctic & Winter Desolation

Wrap up warm for Monday night because we are off to somewhere cold. We’re venturing into sub-zero blizzards, frozen landscapes, and howling winds with Winter Horror.

• Well-Known: 30 Days of Night (2007) – Vicious, feral vampires take over an isolated Alaskan town during a month-long polar night. This movie put a whole new spin on vampires in a similar way to how 28 Days Later did with zombies. They are super aggressive and look absolutely terrifying. It’s a bloody brutal affair to so get ready for buckets of blood.
• International Pick: Let The Right One In (2008) – This is one of my favourite horror movies of all time and the cold Scandinavian landscape only adds to the somberness of its chilling, coming-of-age story. A lonely bullied boy forms an unlikely friendship with a mysterious girl next door, only to discover she is hiding a very dark secret. It’s dark, brooding, and even a little bit moving. Amazing stuff. Check out our review of Let The Right One In right here.
• Obscure Gem: Devil’s Pass (2013) – This found footage horror places the focus on The Dyatlov Pass incident in a way that might actually surprise you quite a bit. A group of researchers venture into the remote Ural Mountains in search of the truth but find something even more shocking. It’s not the scariest movie in the world but it goes in some strange directions that make it rather compelling.

October 20th (Tuesday) – Doppelgängers & Stolen Faces

There’s nothing scarier than looking into a mirror and seeing someone else… Well, apart from seeing yourself looking back from across the street, that is. It’s time to get cosy with yourself for Doppelgänger Night.

• Well-Known: Us (2019) – Jordan Peele’s ambitious, chilling tale of the Tethered rising up from subterranean tunnels to claim their counterparts’ lives is a must watch, here. It’s bizarre, scary, and extremely creepy while also having a powerful social message to go along with it.
• Deeper Cut: The Broken (2008) – Lena Headey plays a woman who sees herself driving around London, triggering a gradually escalating psychological nightmare in this fantastically underrated horror from Sean Ellis. It’s cold, eerie, and deliberately ambiguous, with the doppelgänger concept doing most of the heavy lifting. It’s not the most overt horror on earth but it’s still very unsettling.

October 21st (Wednesday) – J-Horror & K-Horror Curses

Unforgiving curses, pale faces, and waterlogged dread. Tonight we head east for some of my favourite types of horror movies – iconic Asian Horror Curses.

• Well-Known: Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) – Takashi Shimizu’s definitive haunted-house curse featuring Kayako and Toshio tormenting the hell out of an unsuspecting house keeper. This is one of the quintessential J-Horror movies that terrified an entire generation. Hell, you can even throw in the American remake here that was also directed by Shimizu and is actually pretty decent.
• Deeper Cut: The Wailing (2016) – Na Hong-jin’s epic Korean supernatural masterpiece blends village murder mysteries with demonic paranoia to absolutely incredible effect. A small town police officer is dragged far deeper than he could have imagined into a supernatural mystery after the disappearance of a man leads to a rapidly spreading sickness. The tension and atmosphere here never let up for one single second.
• Obscure Gem: Noroi: The Curse (2005) – Kōji Shiraishi’s mockumentary masterpiece that pieces together an intricate, deeply disturbing supernatural mystery. I know found footage fans are very familiar with this one but a lot of people still haven’t seen it. It’s long and fairly slow but if you allow yourself to become immersed in the story, it is utterly terrifying. Check out our review of Noroi right here.

October 22nd (Thursday) – Cannibalism & Taboo Appetites

Dinner is served, but you might not like what’s on the menu… Hell, you might even be on the menu yourself. Today’s theme delves into the ultimate taboo: Cannibal Horror.

• Well-Known: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) – It had to be this, right? It’s the psychological horror heavyweight that introduced the world to cinema’s most sophisticated cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. An FBI agent attempts to get to the bottom of a series of killings by enlisting the help of a cannibalistic psychopath. It’s clever, it’s scary, and it is utterly compelling. One of the greatest horror movies of all time and absolutely essential viewing.
• International Option: Raw (2016) – Julia Ducournau’s phenomenal coming-of-age body horror about a strict vegetarian veterinary student who develops a taste for meat is a brilliant option here. It’s a messy and fascinating take on coming-of-age told through a cannibalistic lens. Check out our review of Raw right here.
• Obscure Gem: We Are What We Are (2013) – Jim Mickle’s gothic, atmospheric reimagining of a devout family struggling to maintain their dark ancestral rituals. This is quite an enjoyable film that gets overlooked a lot, lately. If you want to go even more obscure, you can check out the Mexican 2010 original.

October 23rd (Friday) – 2000s Post-Scream Slashers

Get ready for Friday night with mid-2000s slick production, dark-washed cinematography, and angsty alt-rock soundtracks with Post-Scream Slashers.

• Well-Known: The Collector (2009) – How about a movie that fans love a lot more than critics? The Collector sees an ex-con raiding his employer’s house, only to find that another criminal has beaten him there and rigged the place with traps. This movie is a combination of proper 90s slasher and torture-porn. It’s way better than the critics are willing to admit and the traps are purely devious. It’s a perfect option for some Friday night blood-letting.
• Obscure Gem: Cold Prey (2006) – Genuinely one of the best slasher movies from outside of the US. This Norwegian horror sees a group of skiers stranded in a seemingly abandoned hotel, only to find out that they are not as alone as they think. This is such a fun movie featuring creative kills, a ton of gore, and lots of that token dry Norwegian humour.

October 24th (Saturday) – Deadly Games & Survival Gauntlets

Would you like to play a game? Saturday night tests your wits with sadistic puzzles, locked-room gauntlets, and deadly wagers with Survival Games.

• Well-Known: Saw (2004) – James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s low-budget indie marvel that kicked off a legendary franchise with a filthy bathroom and a single hacksaw. Two men wake up to find themselves chained up inside a bathroom with no escape. They are the latest victims of a notorious serial killer known as Jigsaw and he wants them to play a game. It still holds up fantastically to this day. The traps are clever, the stakes high, and that end twist is one of the greatest in modern horror. Check out our review of Saw right here.
• Deeper Cut: Would You Rather (2012) – I absolutely love this film and it feels as though nobody ever talks about it. A desperate woman attends a sinister dinner party where guests compete in a sadistic game of dare for financial gain. The escalating nature of the games mean that the tension doesn’t let up from the very start. It’s enthralling and quite disturbing, too.
• Obscure Option: 13 Game of Death (2006) – This brilliant Thai horror sees a down on his luck man competing in a series of increasingly demanding games in order to win prize money from a mystery caller. Again, the ever escalating nature of the games here keeps this movie wildly tense and utterly compelling. There’s a remake but the Thai original is definitely superior.

October 25th (Sunday) – Black & White Atmosphere

As the final week approaches, let’s strip away the colour and embrace pure shadow and light. Tonight is dedicated to Black & White Horror Mastery.

• Well-Known: Psycho (1960) – Alfred Hitchcock’s immortal thriller that changed cinema forever with a shower curtain and Bernard Herrmann’s screeching strings. This is the only horror movie I have ever awarded a 5/5 score to and my personal favourite of all time. A woman on the run finds herself in the Bates’ motel where the owner is more than simply a little bit strange. This movie helped structure the DNA for so many that followed. It holds up tremendously and some of the twists and turns are still mind-blowing to this day. Check out our review of Psycho right here.
• Deeper Cut: The Eyes of My Mother (2016) – I didn’t say black and white meant old. This is a gorgeously shot, nightmarish gothic portrait of isolation, surgical fascination, and obsession. It is very slow and deliberately paced but utterly stunning and entirely compelling if you let it get inside your head.
• Obscure Gem: Eyes Without a Face (1960) – Georges Franju’s gorgeously poetic French classic about an obsessed surgeon attempting face transplants for the daughter he inadvertently disfigured. It’s one of the first proper body-horror films and inspired legions that would follow. It’s still disturbing to this day.

Halloween Week: The Grand Finale

This is it. The ultimate week of horror and the apex of spooky month. The barrier between worlds is at its thinnest, and we’re ending the month with our heaviest, most troubling themes.

October 26th (Monday) – Gothic Horror & Period Dread

Step backwards into the shadows of history. Long before modern technology, human beings were facing horrors in trenches, castles, and plague-ridden hamlets where the with Period Horror.

• Well-Known: Sleepy Hollow (1999) – Tim Burton’s glorious, blood-splattered Hammer Horror tribute is absolutely essential viewing for the autumn months. It’s basically distilled October as a hapless detective attempts to get to the bottom of a series of murders afflicting a town that is supposedly haunted by a headless horsemen. Gothic horror has rarely felt so damn eccentric and I love it. Check out our review of Sleepy Hollow here.
• Obscure(ish) Gem: Black Death (2010) – If you like your period horror a bit more severe then this is it. Medieval knights travel through a bubonic plague-ravaged countryside to investigate a village supposedly untouched by sickness. I watched this in the cinema years ago and thought it was absolutely fantastic. It’s dark, brutal, and utterly compelling. It also seems to be forgotten about quite a lot nowadays which is something of a shame.

October 27th (Tuesday) – Freshwater & Swamp Monsters

Forget the open ocean. We need to be far more concerned with what is lurking in the murky lakes, flooded bayous, and stagnant creeks. It’s time for some Freshwater Creature Features.

• Well-Known: Lake Placid (1999) – This one doesn’t need any justification… It features Betty White feeding cows to a 30-foot prehistoric crocodile. A group of people attempt to stop an enormous crocodile that is making a meal out of a small town’s residents. It’s a brilliantly snappy, endlessly fun horror-comedy that has tons of laughs and plenty of actual creature feature carnage to keep the horror flowing.
• Deeper Cut: Rogue (2007) – Greg McLean’s tense, beautifully shot Australian thriller about a tourist boat cornered in a river by a massive territorial salt water crocodile is absolutely fantastic and actually quite scary. You could flip this with the very similar Black Water if you really wanted but I think Rogue just has more in the way of tension and atmosphere.
• Obscure Gem: Frankenfish (2004) – If the above options aren’t B-Movie enough for you then may I present you with Frankenfish. A genetically modified snakehead fish terrorises Louisiana houseboats. Far better than a mid-2000s TV-movie has any right to be.

October 28th (Wednesday) – Religious & Occult Fanaticism

Sometimes the scariest monster of all is unwavering human belief. Today we dive into unhinged dogma, holy delusions, and dangerous sacraments with Religious Fanaticism.

• Well-Known: Saint Maud (2019) – Potentially the darkest movie on this entire list. Rose Glass’s devastating portrait of a pious palliative care nurse who believes she is directly tasked by God to save a soul is one that will stay with you. It’s slow moving and very deliberate but those final scenes are among the most affecting in horror history. A modern masterpiece. Check out our review of Saint Maud right here.
• Deeper Cut: Red State (2011) – Kevin Smith pivots from laughs to unyielding terror as a heavily armed fundamentalist Christian militia corner three teens who turned up expecting a good time in this religious horror movie with a difference. There’s a nice little bit of dark humour running through the centre of this one but the actual themes are deadly serious. Well worth checking out as something completely different.
• Obscure Gem: The Devil’s Doorway (2018) – Here’s one for found footage horror fans. Two priests investigating a mysterious anomaly at a remote Irish convent uncover a horrifying secret lurking beneath its walls. This is based on real life Irish Catholic history so it’s far darker than you might imagine. It’s not a fun watch but it is a compelling one.

October 29th (Thursday) – Cursed Media & Lost Broadcasts

Static on the TV, lost late-night broadcasts, and VHS signals from the void. Today we explore Cursed Media & Analogue Dread.

• Well-Known: Late Night with the Devil (2023) – A 1970s live television broadcast goes horribly wrong on Halloween night after the host inadvertently unleashes a devilish curse in this super tense, pitch-perfect period horror. It’s a blend of found footage and mockumentary presented as the recovered footage of a late night talk show and it is utterly compelling from start to finish. Check out our review of Late Night With The Devil right here.
• Deeper Cut: Censor (2021) – Set during the 1980s UK Video Nasty moral panic, a British film censor searches for her missing sister through banned exploitation tapes. This is utterly engrossing and does an immensely effective job of tapping into what made this era of censorship so bizarre. The lines between what is real and what is performance blur in the most interesting way possible.
• Obscure Gem: Broadcast Signal Intrusion (2021) – Now this is an obscure one. A video archivist becomes obsessed with strange, uncanny pirate broadcast signals linked to missing women. The plot is, honestly, a bit on the confusing side but the atmosphere and creepiness do enough to elevate it to very watchable status.

October 30th (Friday) – Slasher Eve: The Masked Stalker

Mischief Night has arrived, and it falls on a Friday – a perfect night for some serious horror viewing. There is only one way to honour the eve of Halloween: by queuing up the most iconic, unyielding Masked Slashers in cinema history.

• Well-Known: Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) – Probably the most entertaining Friday film of the entire run, resurrecting Jason Voorhees with lightning and turning Camp Crystal Lake into a full-blown zombie slasher riot. We need one of the classics slasher villains so why not revisit the golden era. This one really leans into the dark humour that evolved from the first few films. It’s funny, the kills are fantastic, and it is actually a pretty well made movie.
• A Modern Cut: Terrifier 2 (2022) – Art the Clown returns for an unapologetic, ultra-gory, splattery practical epic that has rapidly cemented itself as a modern Halloween tradition. It’s still a lot better than the follow up and some of the scenes are just as disturbing. It’s impossible to deny just how charismatic that damn clown is, as well. Just prepare yourself for lots of the red stuff.
• Obscure Gem: Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006) – This is still a pretty obscure film despite getting a lot of praise, over the years. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon plays out as a brilliant mockumentary dissecting exactly what it takes to build a slasher legend from the ground up. It’s clever, ultra self-aware, and pretty damn hilarious. Found footage fans are in for a treat with this one.

October 31st (Saturday) – Halloween Night Anthology Showcase

HALLOWEEN NIGHT! The big night is finally here and, best of all, it’s a Saturday! Dim the lights, carve the pumpkins, grab a few drinks, and enjoy some spooky anthology horror movies to cap off the 31 days and one last horror showcase.

• One For the Kids: Hocus Pocus (1993) – If it’s still early and the kids want a fun Halloween movie before they head to bed, why not throw on one of the greatest family friendly horror movies of all time – Hocus Pocus? It’s slightly mean but full of heart and it’s a sure fire way to round up the big day with smiles and laughs.
• Start Off Right: The Mortuary Collection (2015) – This is a horror anthology centred around a creepy mortician telling stories to a prospective employee. It’s colourful, nasty, really quite funny, and extremely Halloween-y. The autumnal vibes are simply bursting out of this one and, what’s more, it’s seriously under the radar. It’s the perfect way to kick off your Halloween celebrations.
• Keep It Going: Tales of Halloween (2015) – What better way to keep the Halloween vibes going than with another anthology set on the day itself? Tales of Halloween features ten interconnected stories from some of the best indie genre directors, all taking place in a sleepy suburban town on Halloween night. This is a nice mix of scary and comedic stories that is definitely sure to get you in the mood for more spooky fun.
• A Perfect Ending: The Cabin in the Woods (2011) – How about some monster madness to wrap up your 31 Days of Halloween extravaganza? The Cabin In The Woods has everything you could possibly want from horror, all in one perfect package designed to see out the month with. It’s funny, clever, ultra meta, and the last third is a monster mash of the best variety with a whole host of cinema’s favourite horror icons all coming together to cause carnage. It’s the perfect celebration of the genre and all things spooky to finish up with.

Happy Halloween

Thanks for reading and I really hope you enjoyed this list. It was a little difficult this year as I really wanted to avoid clashing with my list from 2025. Hitting that balance between fresh suggestions and limited repetition is quite tough when your mind naturally gravitates towards certain October appropriate genre films. I think I managed a nice mix, though.

Remember, we bring release these lists every year and very few other sites offer this multi-option format so keep coming back for more. We will also be reviewing a horror movie every single day of October so visit often to see what I will be watching this month. Have an awesome Halloween and stay spooky!

💀 Quick Picks: The Best Horror Movies by Vibe

The Pure October Atmosphere Pick: Sleepy Hollow (1999)
If you want a film that practically sweats autumn out of every single frame, this is it. Tim Burton’s blood-splattered, fog-drenched, extremely full-bussomed love letter to Hammer Horror captures the essence of October better than almost anything else. It’s eccentric, gothic, and the perfect mood-setter for a chilly night in.

The “I Want to Be Terrified” Pick: The Strangers (2008)
For when you want to feel thoroughly unsafe in your own home, this is the one to go to. There are no supernatural curses or ancient demons here, just cold, senseless, masked torment waiting right outside your door. It’s relentless, bleak, and will leave you double-checking your deadbolts before heading to bed.

The Friday Night Crowd-Pleaser: Evil Dead II (1987)
Crack open a cold drink and revel in glorious, blood-soaked practical madness. Sam Raimi’s manic balance of cartoonish slapstick, chainsaws, and relentless Deadite carnage makes it the ultimate popcorn horror to kick back with on the sofa. Zero CGI fluff, just pure splattery fun.

The Gut-Punch Artistic Pick: Saint Maud (2019)
For when you want your horror slow, unsettling, and emotionally gutting. Rose Glass delivers an extraordinary, claustrophobic character study of loneliness and religious obsession that builds a suffocating sense of dread before culminating in one of the most unforgettable final moments in modern genre history.

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