An International 31 Days of Halloween 2025 – A Horror Move a Day

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today, we are on a trip around the world as we bring you An International 31 Days of Halloween 2025.

Around The World in 31 October Days

For those of you who are tired of the same old same old when it comes to 31 Days of Halloween lists. Why not jump onboard Knockout Horror airlines (man, that’s so lame, I am sorry!) and get ready to jet around the world uncovering new frights?

I have designed this list purposely to expand and broaden your global horror horizons. We aren’t sticking to just one country or location. Nope, we are bringing you a different horror movie from a different country each day of October. We will be heading to the far east, back over to the north of Europe, right down to South Africa, and then all the way to the Americas in this list.

Bring your passport and your melatonin so you can avoid the jetlag. We are going to be amassing some serious air-miles, here. I want to offer up the best of the best in this list so expect every single movie to be worth watching. I am going to try and focus on films that have easily available subtitles, as well. Strap in, turn off your devices, and prepare for a truly diverse and terrifying October!

Week 1 (October 1st to October 7th) – A Supernatural Classic, Plastic Surgery Zombies, and a Home Invasion

We are going to start the month as we mean to go on with one of the pillars of the J-Horror genre before heading over to Belgium for a face lift with difference. We are then going to meet up with a very strange Romanian man called Adrian.

October 1st: 🇯🇵 Japan – Ringu (1998)

We kick off our marathon with the film that turned an entire horror nation into a global superpower. A mysterious videotape causes the death of anyone who watches it within seven days. Ringu is the movie that most would associate with the late 90s J-Horror boom.

It really changed the genre, as a whole, in a lot of ways and helped define an entire generation of supernatural horror. It’s not my favourite J-Horror but it might be the most important and it’s a great way to kick off our global horror adventure. Check out our review of Ringu right here.

October 2nd: 🇿🇦 South Africa – 8 (The Soul Collector) (2019)

We are off to South Africa for our next entry into this list. A man who takes over his ancestral farm unwittingly makes a deal with a supernatural entity that feeds on lost souls. 8 (The Soul Collector) is a slow-burn, atmospheric folk horror steeped in African mysticism and dread. It looks visually fantastic, as well.

October 3rd: 🇧🇪 Belgium – Yummy (2019)

Let’s remind ourselves that everything in this list doesn’t need to be serious. The perfect way to do that is with an over-the-top, blood-soaked zombie comedy. A young couple travels to a shady Eastern European hospital for plastic surgery, but a botched experimental rejuvenation treatment unleashes a horde of ravenous, flesh-eating zombies.

Expect extreme gore, slapstick violence, lots of boob and dick references, and a gleefully tasteless sense of humour. I really enjoyed this movie. It’s a great way to just turn off your brain and have a good time. Check out our review of Yummy right here.

October 4th: 🇫🇮 Finland – Sauna (2008)

Wrap up warm because we are off to Finland, next for a deeply atmospheric and bleak historical horror film. As two brothers mark a new border between Finland and Russia after a brutal war, they discover a mysterious village with a sauna said to cleanse one of their sins.

What follows is a slow, dreadful descent into madness, driven by guilt and a pervasive, ambiguous evil. While not the greatest movie on this list, it’s fascinating to explore Finland’s take on historical horror.

October 5th: 🇷🇴 Romania – Be My Cat: A Film for Anne (2015)

Surprisingly, considering my proclivity for including found footage horror in lists, we don’t have any in this international 31 days of Halloween countdown. Well, apart from this one, that is – Be My Cat: A Film For Anne. This is a rather disturbing and meta found-footage film that definitely deserves a watch.

An aspiring Romanian filmmaker’s obsession with actress Anne Hathaway drives him to increasingly horrific acts as he coaxes three local actresses into his “film,” in order to impress her. This is a must-see for fans of uncomfortable, character-driven horror. My fiancée said that the lead character reminds her of a sinister Mr Bean and I think that is absolutely spot on. Check out our review of Be My Cat right here.

October 6th: 🇸🇬 Singapore – The Maid (2005)

Singapore is often forgotten about when it comes to horror nations. That’s something of a shame because they have some intriguing options. The Maid follows a teenage domestic helper who arrives in Singapore during the Ghost Month and unwittingly breaks several spiritual rules.

In the process, she inadvertently awakens a vengeful spirit. A classic Southeast Asian ghost story packed with effective scares that should feel like a warm hug to anyone who enjoyed 2000s supernatural horror.

October 7th: 🇫🇷 France – Them (Ils) (2006)

Be honest, were you expecting Martyrs? I’m not trying to subvert expectations or anything, here. I just want to suggest a few titles that are sometimes missed by horror fans. That’s where Them (Ils) comes in. It’s a genuine masterclass in minimalist terror and probably my favourite French horror movie.

A young couple living in a remote country house is tormented through the night by mysterious, hooded assailants. This is a bare bones yet unbearably tense, and brutally efficient home invasion film, made all the more chilling by its claim to be “based on real events.” The ending is one that will definitely stick with you forever.

Week 2 (October 8th to October 14th) – Something Tragic, Something Hilarious, and Something Spooky

We have a really nice mix of themes for week 2. Prepare to feel very angry with a Danish horror, laugh your ass off in Australia, and then jet off to New Zealand for a sleepover in a haunted house.

October 8th: 🇵🇱 Poland – The Lure (2015)

Let’s head to Poland next for a one-of-a-kind horror musical about two carnivorous mermaid sisters who come ashore in 1980s Warsaw. They join a nightclub act, but their monstrous instincts clash with their new lives as one seeks love and the other hungers for human hearts.

There aren’t a great deal of horror-musicals out there so it’s nice to be able to include one in this international 31 days of Halloween list. The Lure is a surprisingly gory, neon-soaked, and actually rather emotional fairy tale unlike anything you’ve probably ever seen.

October 9th: 🇶🇦 Qatar / 🇯🇴 Jordan / 🇬🇧 UK – Under the Shadow (2016)

Let’s mix things up with an international collaboration so we can show some love to a few middle eastern countries. Under The Shadow is a critically acclaimed supernatural, psychological horror set in war-torn 1980s Tehran. As the Iran-Iraq War rages outside, a mother and her young daughter are haunted by a sinister entity known as a Djinn that is carried on the wind.

The film masterfully blends terrifying paranormal scares with the psychological horror of living under political and social oppression. All while throwing in some Islamic folklore to boot. A lot of horror movies focus on the legend of the Djinn but Under the Shadow might be the best.

October 10th: 🇩🇰 Denmark – Speak No Evil (2022)

How about a trip to Denmark next for an excruciatingly tense and deeply uncomfortable psychological horror film? A Danish family visits a Dutch family they met on holiday. Little realising that their weekend getaway will slowly devolve into a nightmare of passive-aggressive boundary-pushing and an exercise in the consequences of not knowing when to say no.

Speak No Evil is a picture perfect depiction of social anxiety based horror. It’s awkward, uncomfortable, and, frankly, tooth gratingly frustrating at times. The ending is one of those that absolutely antagonises people to the point where they simply have to talk about it. The lead up to that point, however, is a genuinely compelling time.

October 11th: 🇮🇩 Indonesia – Satan’s Slaves (2017)

Did you know that Indonesia is one of the most prolific horror nations on earth? Just go and have a look on IMDB. There are dozens and dozens of movies. With that being said, there is also a lot to choose from for this list but let’s go with something from my favourite Indonesian horror director Joko Anwar – Satan’s Slaves.

This is a terrifying supernatural horror film set in the late 1970s. After their mother dies, a family is tormented by her vengeful spirit and a sinister cult. This film offers genuinely disturbing scares and a rich, eerie atmosphere that is just a hint of how great Indonesian horror can be.

October 12th: 🇦🇺 Australia – The Loved Ones (2009)

I bet you thought I was going to put The Babadook here, didn’t you? Well, I could hardly miss out on talking about one of my all time favourite horror movies, could I? The Loved Ones follows a high-school student who makes the enormous mistake of politely declining a classmate’s invitation to the prom.

It isn’t long before he is left with little to no say in the matter as he is kidnapped by her and her father for a twisted, private “prom” of their own. This film is a brutal, darkly comedic, frequently wince-inducing, and unhinged descent into torture and obsession that defines Australian extremity. I love this film! Check out our review of The Loved Ones right here.

October 13th: 🇹🇼 Taiwan – The Sadness (2021)

We are back in the world of Zombie apocalypses next as we head over to Taiwan for something Extreme and relentlessly brutal. A rapidly mutating virus turns people into hyper-violent, sexually depraved maniacs.

We follow a couple in a desperate fight for survival as they attempt to meet up across the city. This film is a visceral, no-holds-barred experience, that really pushes the boundaries of gore and depravity. People always point to a few specific scenes as among the most shocking in horror so have fun with that.

October 14th: 🇳🇿 New Zealand – Housebound (2014)

Again, there is plenty to choose from here. New Zealand, despite its size, is a surprisingly prolific horror nation. I have to go with Housebound, though, because I absolutely love it. It’s a perfect blend of haunted house horror and comedy.

A rebellious young woman is sentenced to home detention at her mother’s house, which she’s convinced is haunted. What starts as a spooky ghost story brilliantly unfolds into a hilarious and genuinely thrilling mystery with fantastic characters. I absolutely have to review this movie as soon as possible.

Week 3 (October 15th to October 22nd) – Psychological, Splatter, and Werewolves

There isn’t a single weak title, here. We have one of Austria’s greatest horror movies, a werewolf modern classic, and one of my favourite splatter horrors from Hong Kong.

October 15th: 🇦🇹 Austria – Goodnight Mommy (2014)

There’s a lot of titles we could have looked at for Austria. Let’s wash the bad taste of the 2022 Hollywood remake out of our mouths, however, by checking out the 2014 original version of Goodnight Mommy. It’s a clinical and chilling psychological thriller with a twist ending that’s still quite satisfying.

Twin boys welcome their mother home after cosmetic surgery, but with her face wrapped in bandages and her behaviour disturbingly altered, they begin to suspect she is an imposter. What follows is a tense and terrifying battle of wills that builds to a shocking conclusion that you just might not see coming. Check out our review of Goodnight Mommy right here.

October 16th: 🇭🇰 Hong Kong – Dream Home (2010)

So, full disclosure, this isn’t exactly a country but I have always found Hong Kong to have a distinctly different horror style to that of mainland China. What with its very unique cultural background, and all. I love talking about Dream Home, too. It’s a savagely brutal splatter horror that doubles as a sharp satire on capitalism and the specific perils of the Hong Kong housing crisis.

Desperate to buy her dream apartment with a sea view. A young woman goes on an inventive and incredibly gory killing spree in the building to drive the property value down. This film is a shocking, nihilistic, often hilarious, and unforgettable piece of extreme cinema. Check out our review of Dream Home right here.

October 17th: 🇨🇦 Canada – Ginger Snaps (2000)

Wow, so many options to choose from here. My mind, initially, went to a few classic slashers but I think something a bit more modern would be more appropriate. Let’s go with Ginger Snaps! A feminist werewolf coming-of-age story.

Two death-obsessed teenage sisters’ bond is tested when one of them is bitten by a werewolf, unleashing a terrifying transformation that mirrors the horrors of puberty. Clever, gory, and, to be perfectly honest, fairly iconic. This was one of my fiancée’s favourite movies when we first met and for good reason. Plus it stars Katherine Isabelle who is always fantastic.

October 18th: 🇲🇽 Mexico – Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017)

This suggestion comes courtesy of my fiancée as we were chatting about this list in the car. It’s a haunting dark fairy tale for the modern age. The story follows a young girl with three wishes who joins a gang of children orphaned by gang violence and now targeted by a cartel.

Tigers Are Not Afraid is a surprisingly beautiful movie that’s actually genuinely heart wrenching when you think of the real life stuff it is based on. It’s also chillingly surreal, blending magical realism with gritty horror. Mexico has a ton of great horror but this one stands out.

October 19th: 🇳🇴 Norway – Trollhunter (2010)

Found-footage meets fairy tale and some absolutely hilarious CG. Again, there are so many Norwegian horror movies that would have fit here but I think Trollhunter stands out as one of the best.

A group of students investigates a series of mysterious bear killings, only to discover that the culprit is actually linked to something far more fantastical and terrifying. This is a surprisingly effective and fun monster movie with fantastic creature design and far more laughs than you might expect.

October 20th: 🇦🇷 Argentina – When Evil Lurks (2023)

Argentina has a few options that would fit really well, here. We are going to go with one that is absolutely adored by the horror community, though – When Evil Lurks. This is a relentlessly bleak and brutal take on demonic possession that feels, frankly, extremely fresh; even despite the rotting corpses.

Two brothers in a remote village discover a “rotten” man incubating a demon. In their botched attempt to handle the situation, they accidentally unleash a plague of infectious evil upon the countryside. A truly shocking and nihilistic horror that some consider to be a modern masterpiece. Check out our review of When Evil Lurks right here.

October 21st: 🇮🇳 India – Tumbbad (2018)

India has an absolutely tremendous amount of horror. A lot of it, however, is hard to find with subtitles so let’s go with one of their best – Tumbbad. A visually stunning horror film with deep routes in Indian mythology.

Set in 19th-century India, a man’s insatiable greed for an ancient treasure leads him to confront a slumbering god in a forgotten village. Rich in folklore, extremely original, and truly terrifying. This one might surprise you quite a lot.

Week 4 (October 22nd to October 28th) – A Collection of Big Hitters

We are entering the final full week of October with some seriously big hitters from all over the world. We have horror classics, movies that flew under the radar, and modern hits.

October 22nd: 🇹🇭 Thailand – Shutter (2004)

Another horror powerhouse. Thailand was right up there along with Japan and South Korea during the 2000s as one of the truly great South East Asian horror nations. While we have a lot to choose from here, let’s not complicate things. Shutter is still the gold standard of Thai horror.

A photographer and his girlfriend begin to see ghostly images in their pictures after a hit-and-run accident. This is a movie that does jump scares right. Along with it comes a whole bunch of dread and a twist ending that will leave you reeling. Highly influential in Asian horror and for very good reason.

October 23rd: 🇪🇸 Spain – Sleep Tight (2011)

So many different films to pick, here. I suppose I could have really mixed things up with a 60s Fantahorror but let’s go in a different direction. Rather than REC or The Orphanage, let’s spend some time with a creepy voyeur in Sleep Tight. This is a genuinely unsettling psychological thriller that might leave you feeling like your skin is crawling afterwards.

The story follows a miserable apartment concierge who is incapable of happiness. To make his life bearable, he dedicates his time to making his tenants’ lives a living hell. Things get even more sinister when he turns his attention on one particularly cheerful woman. It’s a tour de force of suspense that gets deep under your skin.

October 24th: 🇧🇷 Brazil – Bacurau (2019)

We are off to somewhere you might not often associate with horror next – Brazil. This unique film blends sci-fi, Western, and horror into one extremely strange sounding but surprisingly effective package.

A small, isolated Brazilian village finds itself literally erased from maps and then targeted by mysterious outside forces. Bacurau is a slow-burn movie that’s way better than you might expect, has a genuinely powerful message and even a few bursts of shocking violence. What’s not to love?

October 25th: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom – The Descent (2005)

Again, so many options here. Let’s go with a movie that a lot of people still consider to be one of the scariest British horrors ever – The Descent. Six friends on a caving expedition in the Appalachian wilderness get lost in an uncharted cave system.

What initially seems like a bit of an inconvenience suddenly turns into a nightmare when they realise that they may not actually be alone. This film is claustrophobic, brutal, and features an all-female cast battling not only primal fear and the elements, but also deep inner demons. Check out our review of The Descent right here.

October 26th: 🇮🇹 Italy – Suspiria (1977)

Oh man, there are so many Italian horror movies to choose from. We are going to side-step Giallo, though and go with something a bit more universal with Suspiria. This is a vibrant, kaleidoscopic, nightmarish ballet of terror. It’s also an absolute horror classic that is essential viewing for genre fans.

A young American ballerina joins a prestigious German dance academy. Only to discover a coven of witches at its core. Dario Argento’s giallo-adjacent masterpiece is an absolute feast for the eyes and a shock to the senses.

October 27th: 🇨🇱 Chile – The Wolf House (2018)

I guarantee, there is nothing else on this list remotely similar to The Wolf House. It’s a stop-motion animated horror film inspired by the Colonia Dignidad cult. When it comes to inventive horror movies, this has to be right up there with some of the best.

A young woman escapes into an abandoned house where two pigs become her children, but a sinister wolf lurks outside with evil intentions. It’s surreal, unsettling, and beautifully artistic. It took five years to make but still remains an absolutely staggering achievement.

October 28th: 🇰🇷 South Korea – Train to Busan (2016)

We aren’t going to overcomplicate things here. We need a good old fashioned action flick so let’s go with one of South Korea’s best – Train to Busan. All aboard for a relentless, and surprisingly moving, zombie apocalypse!

A father and daughter find themselves trapped on a bullet train to Busan as a sudden viral outbreak turns passengers into ravenous undead. This film features an impressive mix of tension, emotion, and frantic action. Some regard it as the best zombie horror movie of all time so why not test that theory?

October 29th, October 30th & Halloween – A Swedish Classic, An Irish Oddity, and International Collaborations

We are wrapping up the month with one of Ireland’s greatest horror movies on Halloween eve before an international collaboration double bill on the big day itself.

October 29th: 🇸🇪 Sweden – Let the Right One In (2008)

It had to be Let The Right One In for Sweden, right? I know it is obvious but this is probably one of the best movies on the entire list. I love it! It’s a melancholic and often quite moving vampire tale that takes a whole different approach to the age old horror theme.

A lonely, bullied 12-year-old boy finds friendship with a mysterious new neighbour, who just so happens to be harbouring a dark secret. It’s tender, brutal, and deeply atmospheric. Coming of age horror rarely manages to feel so mature. Check out our review of Let The Right One In here.

October 30th: 🇮🇪 Ireland – Oddity (2024)

Again, there is a lot to choose from here but I have to go with one of my favourite horror films from 2024 – Oddity. It’s a fantastically creepy and inventive modern horror tale that equal parts scary, funny, and moving. A blind medium and collector of cursed objects wants to use her very special skills to get to the bottom of her sister’s death.

The only problem is that she might be closer to the truth than she realises. Blending supernatural chills with an ultra witty script and a standout performance from Carolyn Bracken. Oddity is a standout, original, and genuinely scary film that you definitely need to check out. Take a look at our review right here.

October 31st – Halloween Evening: 🇪🇸 Spain / 🇺🇸 USA / 🇫🇷 France – The Others (2001)

Let’s finish up the month and celebrate Halloween with an international double bill. We will start with a movie that is extremely well loved and comes by way of Spain, the USA, and France – The Others. For a classic, atmospheric scare, look no further than this gothic horror hit.

In a fog-bound manor after WWII, a devout mother and her two light-sensitive children are tormented by what seems to be a supernatural presence. But is there more to the haunting than they initially think? It’s a masterclass in slow-burn tension and features a famous twist ending that would make M. Knight Shyamalan blush. A great start to Halloween!

October 31st – Halloween Night: 🌍 International – Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Let’s conclude our global horror journey with a film that celebrates and subverts global horror tropes! While American and Canadian made, this film brilliantly skewers and utilizes every horror cliché you can think of, including monsters from every corner of the world.

A group of friends head out for a weekend of fun in a cabin deep in the woods. Little realising that their world will soon be influenced by something that they couldn’t possibly have imagined. This is a super self-aware and meta story about why we watch horror. A perfect finale for our marathon, a great movie for Halloween night, and a nice way to wrap things up.

Happy Halloween!

So that’s our International 31 Days of Halloween list all done. We have been all over the world and witnessed horrifying sights from numerous different cultures. Hopefully this list expanded your horror horizons and you had a good time exploring some of the fantastic frights that you might have otherwise missed.

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 International Horror by Vibe

The Adrenaline Rush: Train to Busan (South Korea)
If you want high-octane action with heart. This isn’t just a great foreign horror movie; it is one of the best zombie movies ever made, period. It’s fast, emotional, and absolutely relentless.

The Nightmare Fuel: When Evil Lurks (Argentina)
For those who think they have seen it all. This movie is shocking, bleak, and breaks every taboo in the book. If you want something that will genuinely disturb you and stick in your brain for days, this is the one.

The Fun Night In: Housebound (New Zealand)
For when you want a mystery with plenty of laughs. It’s the perfect blend of spooky atmosphere and dry Kiwi humour. It keeps you guessing until the very end and is a total blast to watch with friends.

The Visual Masterpiece: Suspiria (1977) (Italy)
For the aesthetes. Dario Argento’s classic is a feast for the eyes and ears. With its vibrant technicolour lighting and pounding Goblin score, it is essential viewing for anyone interested in the history of the genre.

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