Hooked On Horror's 31 Days of Horror 2025

We're officially into Spooky Season, and of course as we do every year we'll be bringing you our 31 Days of Horror. A horror film recommendation, complete with fun facts and behind the scenes content, every single day to keep you busy through the best time of the year.

Hooked On Horror's 31 Days of Horror 2025

As we're celebrating our 10th Anniversary this year, we thought this years focus would focus on our 'Top 10 Horror Films'. So without further ado, myself (Adam), Mike & Kourtney give you our 'Top 10' horror films to celebrate this years 31 Days of Horror.

October 1st

Sleepaway Camp (Robert Hiltzik, 1983)

Bunks and the showers are a mad stabber's beat at a summer camp strictly for teens.

Oh, Sleepaway Camp. A Slasher that’s shockingly underrated, or deemed ‘good, only due to the ending’. At times its corny, at times its surreal, at times its unintentionally funny and its wonderfully camp (no pun intended!). It’s very much of its time, with certain slurs and language befitting of the 1980s - not so much now - but doesn’t detract from the overall viewing.

Angela (Felissa Rose) a quiet, introvert, is relentless bullied as she attends summer camp with her cousin, Ricky (Jonathan Tiersten). One-by-one, those that wronged her begin suffering a series of misfortunes, ranging from boiling potato water to the face, stray arrow to the neck. One, would-be, Karen even ‘misplaces’ their hot curling iron in… an uncomfortable place. 

Although the acting lacks for the most part, the incredibly gruesome practical effects make up most of the enjoyment for the film. Not to mention the killer reveal at the end of the film that will burn into your memory like a curling iron in… an uncomfortable place.

-Mike

October 2nd

Shaun of the Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004)

Shaun is a salesman whose life has no direction. However, his uneventful life takes a sudden turn when he has to singlehandedly deal with an entire community of zombies.

An incredible start to three friends making films together. Don’t get me wrong the other two in the 'Cornetto Trilogy', Hot Fuzz & The World’s End, are phenomenal, but this is a perfect horror-comedy for me.

The one liners, the incredibly well-crafted humour and typical dry British wit, an incredible cast (most notably Pegg & Frost's bromance), few fun cameos, a great soundtrack, the nods/Easter Eggs to the greats that have come before and enough gore and zombies to satisfy even the hungriest of horror fans. Speaks volumes when the King of the Zombies, George A. Romero, proclaimed such love and admiration for a film that was essentially a love letter to the films he pioneered starting with Night of the Living Dead back in 1968. Pegg and Wright later went on to make a brief cameo appearance in his 2005 film Land of the Dead which was pretty fun.

Worth checking out Spaced if you’re a fan of this as well, Shaun off the Dead wouldn’t exist without that show.

-Adam

October 3rd

The Strangers (2008, Bryan Bertino)

James and Kristen's getaway to an isolated vacation home turns into a fight for survival when they are interrupted by three masked strangers.

The Strangers has made it to this list simply because it was the first horror film to truly scare me in a different way to all the others. I hadn’t watched a realistic horror up until this point, it typically involved monsters, ghosts, possessions etc, so this was my first time watching something that felt like it could actually happen in real life. It does nothing new, but was new to me at the time. It will have you turning all of the lights on and checking every corner of the house before you go to bed.

"Because you were home" has to be one of the most chilling lines ever!

-Kourtney

October 4th

An American Werewolf in London (John Landis, 1984)

Behind the scenes of An American Werewolf in London

A werewolf assaults Jack and David whilst on a walking tour of the UK, leading to Jack's death. As David recovers in a hospital, he is tormented by nightmares and visions of his mangled dead friend Jack warning him that he will become a monster.

A gamechanger to the horror genre, and one of my favourite werewolf films. I say favourite now, but I didn’t always get on with this one. I watched this a lot younger than I should’ve been (thanks Dad). Anyways, it scared the hell out of me to the point I ended up with a good couple of months of ridiculously vivid nightmares that kept me up most nights. This one will always creep me out on some level because of that, but I’ve grown to love this one over the years.

I love the dark humour throughout this, thought the cast were great, had some decent scares and chills (love that Slaughtered Lamb scene- “You made me miss.”) and the special effects are utterly incredible in this- Oscar worthy actually! This kind of set the bar for me regarding special effects, and even 40+ years later, I still don’t think Rick Baker’s work on the werewolf transformation has been topped, and maybe even matched. Aw the 80s were pinnacle for this stuff, the SFX artists were always trying to one up themselves- made for some gnarly and disgusting stuff! And this is probably one of the best to come out of 80s horror, and that's saying something as that was an incredible decade for the horror genre.

-Adam

October 5th

From Beyond (Stuart Gordon, 1986)

A group of scientists have developed the Resonator, a machine which allows whoever is within range to see beyond normal perceptible reality. But when the experiment succeeds, they are immediately attacked by terrible life forms.

I — I don’t even know where to start. The legendary Stuart Gordon, loosely adapting a H.P. Lovecraft story, starring Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton and Ken Foree, body horror practical effects with a splash of cosmic awesomeness…

From Beyond is another swing and a hit by the director (and the majority of the crew) of Re-Animator (1985). Scientists create a machine, called ‘the resonator' that enables whomever the ability of a sixth sense. Now, I know you're thinking, they’ll see dead people. They wish they only saw dead people. Instead, the resonator brings forth Dr. Pretorious (Ted Sorel), the first failed test subject, in mutated, shape-shifting, gelatinous form, and with him, chaos from another dimension.

There’s - there’s honestly nothing more I can say without resorting to describing squelching sounds and grotesque substances… the film is well worth your time!

-Mike

October 6th

Troll 2 (Claudio Fragasso, 1990)

A young boy's family take a trip to a place, which, unknown to them is the kingdom of the goblins. Now it's up to Josh and his magical time stopping Grandpa to save the family.

This is the difference maker to all other entries in Hooked on Horror’s 31 Days of Horror. Troll 2, is expertly directed by the talented, Claudio Fragasso, starring relatively unknowns - all of whom, act their souls out to deliver a compelling, gut-wrenching, captivating display only Daniel Day Lewis could ever fully comprehend. From cinematography, to story & character development, Troll 2 is a spectacular adventure of horror and mystique—Alright, that’s enough bullshit - the film is incredibly bad. So bad, that it warms my heart every time I watch it.

Troll 2 is regarded as the Best, Worst Movie and it really is. Fragasso didn’t have a clue when making this film and it’s magical. The actors range from first timers that were picked up randomly on the street, to a professional dentist. You’ll have no doubt seen clips of the film - without ever having heard of it - involving quotes; such as, ‘You can’t piss on hospitality, I won’t allow it!’, ‘Are you nuts, are you trying to turn me into a homo?’, ’Tightening my belt by one loop, so I don’t feel hunger pains’, ‘Joshua, sing that song I like so much… Row, row, row your boat’, ‘we’re vegetarians here in Nilbog!’, ’Nilbog is Goblin spelt backwards!’, ’They’re eating her. And then they’re going to eat me (altogether now) OH MY GOD!’.

Please know, I had a big smile writing those out from memory…

-Mike

October 7th

Suspiria (Dario Argento, 1977)

Suzy travels to Germany to attend a prestigious ballet academy. She soon discovers that the school is a front for something sinister when students begin mysteriously dying.

A neon nightmare accompanied by a spooky score to get lost in. Incredibly beautiful set design, bright captivating colours and a creepy atmosphere. Truly a one of a kind cinematic experience!

-Kourtney

October 8th

Hellraiser (Clive Barker, 1987)

"We have such sights to show you"

Frank Cotton opens a portal to hell when he tinkers with a mysterious puzzle box, summoning the Cenobites.

A groundbreaking horror classic. Hellraiser is a hectic bloodfest full of mystery, violence and atmosphere with a unique combination of sex, sadism, body horror and gore. It's one of the most grotesque and visually horrific films you will see. The level of artistry and craftmanship on display is remarkable. It has some gnarly practical effects and stunning character designs which is honestly one of the main reasons i'm such a fan, there's nothing quite like Pinhead and the Cenobites. 

-Kourtney

October 9th

Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975)

Poster by Phantom City Creative

When a giant white shark fatally attacks swimmers on the shores of Amity Island, Sheriff Martin Brody teams up with a marine biologist and a local fisherman to hunt down the creature.

I know there’s a few of probably reading this and asking yourself, “Jaws is a horror?” I guess you could say it’s subjective, but I think any film that scares people away from going in the ocean is a horror film end of story. Sharks are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how terrifying the ocean actually is though! I’d also categorise this as a monster movie as well so, ye definitely a horror- this is a hill I will die on, and an argument I have with someone at least once a week. Even I’ll admit, this one still makes me very weary, and careful, whenever I go in the ocean; Jaws 2 on the other hand is the reason I have never (and will never) go water skiing. Pet Semtary is the reason me or my siblings never had a kite growing up (thanks Mum), but that’s a story for another time.

Anyways, a phenomenal film that turned out a lot better than I think Spielberg originally thought it was going to be. The whole thing was one disaster after the other, the main issue of course being the movie’s monster not working the way it was intended to…or even at all a lot of the time. Regardless, Spielberg’s creative genius saved the film predominantly using the camera as the shark and parring it with John Williams’ now iconic score. That combined with great cinematography and Scheider, Shaw and Dreyfuss (each expertly bringing something unique and different) giving some of the best performances of their careers, made for a winning recipe. I know it caused numerous issues behind the scenes, but I loved the shark. Thought it looked great and still holds up today; Alves did a fantastic job with this iconic monster.

Bruce & Robert Shaw take a break from Quint's death scene

Behind the Scenes of Jaws

The book is worth a read if you’ve not had the chance to check it out, but very different from the film. A lot got dropped, like Hooper’s affair with Ellen Brody or the mob pressuring the mayor to keep the beaches open for example, or changed, like Hooper being eaten by the shark, Orca returning to shore every night or Quint’s death. I’ll admit, I do think this is one of the rarer occasions the film is better than the book. I won’t ruin it, but the ending is a HUGE letdown. Although this is more of a summer film, I couldn’t reveal my Top 10 and not talk about this masterpiece. 50 years on, and I've still to see a shark film better than this.

My viewing figures probably in the hundreds of thousands by now…but I will never tire of this one. And I still haven't forgiven Universal Orlando for demolishing the ride.

-Adam

October 10th

A Nightmare on Elm Street (Wes Craven, 1984)

Behind the scenes of A Nightmare on Elm Street

Teenager Nancy Thompson must uncover the dark truth concealed by her parents after she and her friends become targets of the spirit of a serial killer.

An 80s slasher that re-defined the genre, birthed a horror icon and saved a studio from bankruptcy. New Line took a chance on Craven and this film after he couldn’t find anyone else in Hollywood to finance it, and thankfully it paid off. A Nightmare on Elm Street’s success saved New Line Cinema from bankruptcy, with the studio being jokingly named the house that Freddy built and started a franchise that has since grossed over $472 million worldwide.

Some fantastic special effects and trick photography in this that I’d still argue looks better than some of the tripe Hollywood is dishing out nowadays. This is one that has stuck with me since first viewing (again…surprise, surprise I watched it way too young) but has always fascinated me to an extent. The thought of someone being able to come and kill you when you’re sleeping, and at your most venerable, was enough to cause a few sleepless nights over the years.

The fact Craven came up with this story after reading an article in the LA Times is even more disturbing. There were reports of Southeast Asian refugees dying in their sleep after being plagued and tormented by nightmares, which came down to a condition that was later described as Asian Death Syndrome/ Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome (SUDS). And from there, disgruntled school janitor Fred Kruger was born.

Poster by Matt Ryan Tobin

Let’s be honest though, (apart from the kid killing bit) how can you not love Freddy?! He was a lot darker in this than some of the sequels (and that horrendously bad 2010 remake), but the foundations of the wise-cracking, quirky, maniacal slasher he goes onto become are there. They did try the darker route for the character in 2010, and fully leaned into the paedophilic serial killer/predator angle, but it wasn’t met with much praise.

Much like every other slasher franchise, this one has its ups and downs- but was ultimately left for dead after a disastrous remake. The OG from Craven however is untouchable, and one film I would urge anyone to make the time to watch! I would love to see more Freddy… but I’m at a bit of a loss as to who could slip the glove on this time. Will be hard to find anyone that’ll ever top, or match, Englund.

-Adam

October 11th

The Curse of Frankenstein (Terence Fischer, 1957)

As he awaits his own execution, Baron Victor Frankenstein tells the story of how he brought a creature to life, only for it to not behave as he intended.

The film that; technically, started my love affair with the British studio, Hammer Film Productions and regarded as one of; if not, the first colour horror films, The Curse of Frankenstein (Fisher, 1957). This, and many other films by Hammer, were the reasons I studied Censorship & Classification, as well as genre studies of Horror and Sex on Screen - formally for almost a decade and informally for even longer (although some may say, I don’t fully understand the simple, trivial, pointless, minute details that certain loyalists crave and idolise).

Starring the legendary Peter Cushing as, adult, Baron Frankenstein (Melvin Hayes starred as the young Baron), alongside the magnificent Christopher Lee as the Baron’s creation aka The Monster. Busting from the seams (not a pun regarding Valerie Gaunt’s sexualisation) with British wit and tongue-in-cheek humour, the film delivers in its unsettling macabre atmosphere and bleak period setting. The birth of death-by-association-to-Horror for the studio, but simultaneously putting British Horror on the map like it were an Empire once more.

-Mike

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We interupt this years 31 Days of Horror for a 'Shameless Podcast Plug'. If you want to hear more on classic Hammer Horror The Curse of Frankenstein, or the Chad-Man Paul Krempe, check out Episode One of Hooked On Hammer. Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts and most other major podcast streaming services- full list on our Podcast Page.

Now, as they say, "look alive", and we'll continue with this years 31 Days of Horror shall we?

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October 12th

The Descent (Neil Marshall, 2005)

Sarah decides to join her friends on a caving expedition in the Appalachian mountains. Their adventure turns into a nightmare when they become trapped deep in the uncharted cave and discover they are not alone. They must try to survive against flesh hungry creatures whilst searching for a way out.

A claustrophobic’s nightmare led by an incredible all-female cast. Featuring non-stop anxiety, dread and suspense, a horror that does everything right.  One thing I really like about this one is it actually has characters make smart, reasonable decisions which is rare and has you rooting for them even more. The Descent returns to cinemas this October for its 20th anniversary, it’s one I’ve always wanted to see on the big screen so I will definitely be seated!

Can we also talk about how cool the poster is?

-Kourtney

October 13th

Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)

A Phoenix secretary is on the run after stealing a huge amount of money from her employer. She spends the night at Bates Motel, whose owner seems to have a highly dominating mother.

A true classic here from Hitchcock in every sense of the word. Partly inspired by the crimes of Ed Gein, this adaptation of Robert Bloch’s novel is gripping from start to finish. I still find it a ballsy move Hitchcock killed off the film’s protagonist off within the opening third of the film.

Fantastic cast, with Anthony Perkins well and truly stealing the show here- I can’t find help but find myself feeling sorry for Norman by the end of this, even after the thousands of viewings. That final shot of that smile still gives me goosebumps…

Bernard Harmann’s score is probably up there amongst my favourites regarding horror soundtracks. Don’t think that shower scene would’ve been nowhere near terrifying without it. Reportedly Hitchcock felt the same and doubled the composer’s salary stating, "Thirty-three percent of the effect of Psycho was due to the music." I'd call this a must watch for any horror fan. The sequel from Richard Franklin was also a pleasant surprise, as was the TV Show starring Freddie Highmore & Vera Farmiga. I wasn't a huge fan of the remake with Vince Vaughan though.

-Adam

October 14th

Train to Busan (Yeon Sang-ho, 2016)

Saek-woo, his daughter and other passengers become trapped on an express train from Seoul to Busan during a zombie outbreak in South Korea. 

My favourite zombie flick and the first to make me ugly cry, no matter how many times I watch it. A rollercoaster of feels in a unique setting with great characters and fast zombies. It's an unmissable entry into the genre and one of the best in my opinion.

-Kourtney

October 15th

Night of the Creeps (Fred Dekker, 1986)

An alien experiment containing slug-like organisms crashes Earth and infects a fraternity member. Mayhem ensues when a couple of college boys discover the cryogenically frozen corpse.

Tom Atkins stars as a suicidal, alcoholic detective - haunted by years in the service and one fatal incident - amidst an alien / zombie homage to B-Movies. 

Take - My - Money.

An all-round good fun, horror-comedy that combines a zombie plague, with an alien parasitic invasion set in frat houses. Fun practical / special effects, typical 1980s acting and Tom Atkins going ham with a revolver. 

Sold? Sold.

-Mike

October 16th

The Wicker Man (Robin Hardy, 1973)

A puritan police sergeant arrives in a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl, who the pagan locals claim never existed.

One of the greatest folk horror films, directed by Robin Hardy and starring the late-great Edward Woodward. After reports of a child’s disappearance on the island of Summerisle, reserved conservative Christian, Sergeant Howie (Woodward) takes the trek to investigate. Met with hyper sexualised and uncouth pagan beliefs, Howie is thrust into a word of sin and faced with an uncomfortable challenge of morality, faith and… whether he’ll go into Britt Ekland’s bedroom for a bit of the devil’s business. I’ll be honest, I’d have been in there faster than the sound barrier and done & dusted even faster than that.

The film includes several beautiful diegetic songs, sang by much of the cast and provide an uncanny backdrop to the dark and bleak events that transpire.

If you liked Midsommar (Aster, 2019) and haven’t watched The Wicker Man, you’ll love to see how much was pulled from it, from pacing to set pieces. If you hated Midsommar - as I did - you might love The Wicker Man, as I do.

-Mike

October 17th

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Tobe Hooper, 1974)

"Who will survive and what will be left of them?"

Five friends set out to visit their grandfathers grave in rural texas. En route they run out of gas and encounter what appears to be a deserted house. They soon find out a psychopathic family lives there and they are tormented and killed one by one.

Whenever someone asks me what my favourite horror film of all time is it will always be the original TCM. This horror classic has lost none of it's charm and continues to terrorise people. It's raw, sweaty and shocking, the definition of 70's grit, a film aesthetic I love. There isn't a single minute wasted, it gets straight under your skin with it's gruesome images and sound design.

A nightmare come to life with one of the best horror film endings of all time. If anyone deserves the 'Scream Queen' title it's Sally.

-Kourtney

October 18th

The Invisible Man (James Whale, 1933)

A young chemist discovers a dangerous drug that makes one invisible. He commits a murder after consuming the drug. Mortified, he looks for an antidote that would turn him back to his normal state.

As much as I love the other original monsters, and their respective films, there's something special with this one for me. Claude Rains is an utter joy to watch in this. This is by far the dark, most sinister and downright villainous of the Universal Monsters- I mean he derails an entire train in one scene! Whilst that seems rather tame by today's standard remember this released in 1933 under a time of incredibly strict censorship for film.

Even now after multiple viewings, I can still watch this one with a smile on my face from start to finish. I'd say even the effects hold-up remarkably well considering the film is 92 years old. That unmasking scene still gets me! Leigh Whannell's remake was vastly different to this, but still a fun take on the story that grounded it more in reality than the original film.

-Adam

October 19th

The Lost Boys (Joel Schumacher, 1987)

"Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It's fun to be a vampire."

A mother and her two sons move to small town in California. Not long after their arrival the brothers are sucked into a dangerous world of Vampires. 

A brilliant piece of nostalgic 80's fun that balances horror and comedy perfectly with a killer soundtrack. I managed to catch this one at the cinema a few years ago and it was a surreal experience seeing it on the big screen. One that never gets old!

-Kourtney

October 20th

Ju-On The Grudge (Takashi Shimizu, 2002)

A mysterious and vengeful spirit marks and pursues anybody who dares enter the house in which it resides.

This was a toss-up between Ju-On: The Grudge and Pulse (Kurosawa, 2001). But, considering the Ju-On series, all the way back to the original incarnations Katasumi and 4444444444 to the most recent cross-over, Sadako vs. Kayako (Shiraishi, 2016) - Ju-On The Grudge won. Big shout out to the lesser known J-Horror, Tomie (Oikawa, 1998) that was also in the running.

Although, the third instalment to the franchise (The Curse in 2000 being the first feature), something about the pacing, the drawn out segments and generally the shock-value of some of the iconic moments brings Ju-On The Grudge to top billing. The frequent cat sounds, or the clicking croak accompanying the tense moments of the film, as well as the backdrop of some more ‘traditional’ Japanese locations, returns J-Horror to psychological / folk-focus orientation, as opposed to the anti-digital age films of the time. Ju-On The Grudge spawned a US remake in 2004 and likely one of the only relatively decent remakes of the J-Horror / US Horror cohort.

-Mike

October 21st

Audition (Takashi Miike, 1999)

Widower Shigeharu, auditions potential canditates to find a new wife through a friends casting call. He is interested in a ballerina, but things take a turn when she isn't who she appears to be.

Audition starts off as a slow, calm drama that hypnotically builds into a brutal nightmare. The second half has some of the most disturbing and unforgettable moments that will make even the strongest stomach's churn. Definitely not one for the faint of heart!

-Kourtney

October 22nd

The Exorcist (William Friedkin, 1973)

Linda Blair with director William Friedkin | Behind the Scenes of The Exorcist

When a mysterious entity possesses a young girl, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.

Just an expertly crafted film, from beginning to end. Builds tension so well, it gets unbearable at points, before the final pay-off and some incredible exorcism scenes. Cast are fantastic, Linda Blair well and truly steals the show here. Even if she didn't know everything she was doing (the crucifix masturbation scene), she still gives one hell of a performance.

Fancy creeping yourself out even more, spend a bit of time online reading about some of the weird and unusual stuff that happened behind the scenes whilst they were shooting this. If you believe in that sort of stuff of course.

Art by by Luke Headland

I've seen this numerous times over the years, and it never fails to scare me to my core. Not really a practicing Catholic in the last 15+ years, but I'm sure there's at least some part of me that believes in this sort of stuff. Why it sticks with me after the credits roll I guess.

I was lucky enough to catch this in the cinema last year (directors cut of the film), and it hits VERY differently in the cinema. Seeing it on the big screen made me realise why it scared the shit out of people upon initial release. I'd recommend watching this to anyone, but if you ever have the opportunity to go watch it in a cinema- GO!

-Adam

October 23rd

The Exorcist III (William Peter Blatty, 1990)

A police lieutenant uncovers more than he bargained for as his investigation of a series of murders, which have all the hallmarks of the deceased Gemini serial killer, leads him to question the patients of a psychiatric ward.

I hear what you’re saying, “Surely, you mean The Exorcist”, but you’d be wrong. And don’t call me Shirley.

Exorcist III is a fascinating instalment to the series, showcasing the very best of George C. Scott (although, Scott Temple, Ed Flanders and Brad Dourif. Based on William Peter Blatty's novel, Legion, the follows Lieutenant Kinderman (Scott), as he investigates a series of murders following a familiar MO. A serial killer - known as The Gemini Killer (Dourif / Jason Miller) - known to be dead, is discovered to be behind the recent bout of killings replicating a series of traits identified years ago. Slow paced, surreal, melodramatic and packed full of religious symbolism, eagle eyed viewers will also be treated to a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it performance by Samuel L. Jackson that has rudely be dubbed over by another actor…

-Mike

October 24th

Possession (Andrzej Zulawski, 1981)

Anna asks her husband Mark for a divorce for unspecified reasons and leaves him and her son. He suspects she is having an affair and determined to find out the truth he hires a private investigator to follow her. Anna descends into madness and starts exhibiting strange behaviour, indicating it is something much more sinister.

A bizarre, increasingly insane plot where so much is unexplained (in a good way). It dives into darkened relationships and explores just how complex humans are. Two hours of pure adrenaline and intensity with incredible camerawork and editing. Going into this one completely blind is an experience, it was like nothing I had ever seen before. It's definitely one that lingers, even if you don't want it to.

-Kourtney

October 25th

Army of Darkness (Sam Raimi, 1992)

Poster by Devon Whitehead

When Ash Williams is accidentally transported to 1300 A.D., he must retrieve the Necronomicon and battle an army of the dead in order to return home.

As much as I love every Evil Dead film, this is the best amongst them. And whether or not you’d agree with it, I’d put the short-lived TV Series Ash vs Evil Dead just behind it.

From the one liners, great action sequences, the sheer size of some of the scenes, plenty of gore, a wonderful cast that includes two variations of Bruce Campbell's beloved Ash (both played by the legend himself may I add), an epic soundtrack and great special effects that pay homage to stop-motion animation pioneer Ray Harryhausen.

Depending on which version you watch, you even get to pick your ending (well on the Blu-ray release I've got you do). As hilarious as I think the ending is where Ash oversleeps humanity demise at the hands of the Deadites, I usually tend to lean towards the happier Deadite slaying, hero gets the girl K-Mart ending- "Hail to the King, baby!"

What's not to love about this film!

-Adam

October 26th

As Above, So Below (John Erik Dowdle, 2014)

"The only way out is down" 

Archaelogist Scarlett and a team of explorers venture into the Paris catacombs in search of the philopsher's stone. They begin to encounter supernatural experiences and uncover dark secrets that lie beneath the city.

A unique story with lots of interesting lore, creepy characters and disturbing dialogue to chill you to the bone. I felt like I was holding my breath for the entire runtime of this one.

The found footage aspect blurs the lines between film and reality, making you feel fully immersed and present. This massively amplifies the tense and suffocating feeling As Above, So Below evokes. As a claustrophobic person this one really gets to me!

-Kourtney

October 27th

Day of the Dead (George A. Romero, 1985)

As the world is overrun by zombies, a group of scientists and military personnel sheltering in an underground bunker in Florida must decide on how they should deal with the undead horde.

Certainly a tough pick between Romero’s trilogy (excluding Land, Diary & Survival), Day of the Dead made me spill my cup of tea in the first 60 seconds and get scolded by my Mum. That’s right, I was incredibly late to the party with this film and watched it one evening on The Horror Channel back in 2004/5.

Nonetheless, Day of the Dead is a fantastic exhibition of make-up and practical effects (hat tip to the legendary, Tom Zavini) and showcasing a pseudo-society, on the brink of a (broken) military coup… oh, during the zombie apocalypse… in a salt mine… with a scientist nicknamed, Frankenstein, that wants to explore how to tame and control the outbreak.

Thoroughly enjoyable performance, from the over-the-top Military personnel played by, Joe Pilato, Gary Howard & Ralph Marrero, to the calmer, more down-to-earth personas of Lori Cardille, Terry Alexander, Jarlath Conroy and Richard Liberty. Oh, and Bub. Day of the Dead is not to be mistaken by the God-awful 2008 film of the same name, nor the abysmal 2017 Bloodlines.

-Mike

October 28th

Scream (Wes Craven, 1996)

A masked killer targets a past victim's daughter.

Another benchmark film in the timeline of horror, and one I'll always enjoy watching. Wes Craven's wonderfully made meta-slasher from an expertly written script from Kevin Williamson is a treat for any horror fan.

I'll be honest I didn't see the killer reveal coming upon initial viewing, I mean I thought it was Stu, but I had Randy pegged as his accomplice. Very happy he wasn't as I love him as a character. I'm still gutted when he meets his end in Scream 2 (spoilers sorry folks).

Not to mention the Ghostface mask, voicechanger and knife are just cool as hell. To be honest the whole Ghostface killer persona is just top quality, kind of like Boba Fett in Star Wars- just a cool looking character. Roger Jackson's voice just takes it to the next level.

-Adam

October 29th

Nosferatu (Werner Herzog, 1979)

Count Dracula moves from Transylvania to Wismar, spreading the Black Plague across the land. Only a woman pure of heart can bring an end to his reign of horror.

The match made in Hell duo collaborators, Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski, provide the first remake of Murnau’s 1922 German Expressionist film, Nosferatu. The New German Cinema style Herzog imbues into the gothic romance, combined with Kinski’s methodic and - at times - psychotic performative manner, breathe new life nearly 57 years on. Also starring the wonderful, Isabelle Adjani (Possession) and the magnificent Bruno Ganz, Herzog brings the harsh, gothic beauty to a tale of oppression, sexual exploitation and vampirism.

If you enjoyed Robert Eggers recent interpretation, without a doubt, you’ll enjoy this instalment. If you didn’t enjoy Eggers recent interpretation… without a doubt, I’ll enjoy rewatching his instalment, followed by Eggers recent interpretation. To end; Nosferatu > Dracula, and 1979 > 1922.

-Mike

October 30th

The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991)

'Bill's Basement' by Dave O'Flanagan

A young F.B.I. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims.

Cue Goodbye Horse please... I'll wait.

That's Mike in the background by the way...

Another absolute gem of a horror film here. A fantastic adaptation of the Thomas Harris novel with near perfect casting. Jodie Foster delivers a incredibly moving performance alongside Ted Levine's remarkable (and terrifying) performance as disturbed serial killed Jame Gumb (aptly named Buffalo Bill). Of course the scene stealer of this film goes to Sir Antony Hopkins, for a role that terrified and fascinated audiences in equal measure.

Delivers on all fronts, and even now I still sit there on the edge of my seat for a lot of the film. That climatic sequence in Buffalo Bill's house & basement is utterly terrifying. And that end phone call- "I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye."- still sends shivers up my spine.

Whilst the prequel Red Dragon was equally as great as this, some of the others in the franchise just didn't measure up.

-Adam

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To conclude this year's 31 Days of Horror, we've all contributed another favourite of ours to enjoy on Halloween night. So, technically you got 'Top 11 Horror Films' from me (Adam), Kourtney & Mike- you lucky bunch!

Just to clarify, these haven't been in order at all- I mean we found it hard enough just picking 11 films each to be honest...

October 31st

Poltergeist (Tobe Hooper, 1982)

A family begin to experience strange happenings in their home. Upon realising it is something truly evil, a team of para-pyschologists are called in to help.

A cozy but consistently frightening classic that hold's up. Masterfully directed with plenty of major scares that stick with you. Poltergeist is the very first horror film I have memory of watching that kickstarted my love for the genre! My dad was responsible for traumatising me with this one but I ended up loving it and wanting to watch it all the time.

It hits a little bit different watching as an adult, it's more of nostalgic comfort film for me now but will always appreciate the scares, especially after the nightmares they gave me.

-Kourtney

Salò, or 120 Days of Sodom (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1975)

In World War II Italy, four fascist libertines round up nine adolescent boys and girls and subject them to 120 days of torture.

Banned for nearly 25 years (in the UK), Salò or the 120 Days of Sodom, is the final film in a loose trilogy by Pier Paolo Pasolini. The film - a renowned polemic for anti-fascistic oppression - follows four libertines, as they kidnap 18 adolescents and subject them to several months of an authoritarian regimen, exploiting and gradually dehumanising them, before brutally torturing and murdering those that acted against the regime.

Although misrepresented as a film akin to A Serbian Film (Spasojevic, 2010), Salò delves into political theology, exploring unopposed authoritarianism, fascism, totalitarianism, as well as sadism, sexual exploration and - most prominently - morality. 

Not your average horror film, Salo is a tough experience to stomach, and I’m not just talking about the aptly named segment, titled, Circle of Shit. It’s not for everyone, but fascinating to breakdown.

-Mike

Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978)

Poster by Jason Edmiston.

Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, to kill again.

Where do I even begin with this one, probably my favourite horror film end of story. One I re-visit multiple times throughout the year (along with most of the others featured in this year’s 31 Days of Horror). And of course, a must watch every single Halloween night without fail (Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat being another).

From Carpenter’s great direction and equally fantastic score, Debra Hill’s brilliance with the script, Dean Cundy’s beautifully done cinematography, Donald Pleasence in a career defining role, Jamie Lee Curtis in her first feature film role and jaw-dropping production design from Tommy Lee Wallace (that mask is just top tier). Fact it was shot on a shoestring budget just makes this that little more special.

John Carpenter & Debra Hill | Behind the Scenes of Halloween

Some of the sequels I really enjoyed, like Carpenter’s 1981 sequel or two thirds of the ‘Blumhouse Trilogy’, others I can take or leave, like Halloween Resurrection (guilty pleasure- don’t you judge me!) and others I could quite happily never watch again- Curse of Michael Myers and Zombie’s Halloween II. But none of them will come close to this one.

I've never related to a meme so much in my life...

 Who would’ve thought a William Shatner mask with slight modifications and a paint job would go on to become one of horrors most iconic villains?

-Adam

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That concludes this years 31 Days of Horror! Check back across the website and socials for plenty more horror related content and daily 31 Days of Horror content.

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