Hooked On Horror's 31 Days Of Horror 2026

As is tradition every Halloween since 2020, we give you (our incredible & amazing audience) our 31 Days of Horror. Which, if you didn’t know, means you’ll be getting a film recommendation from myself (Adam) & Mike complete with behind the scenes content, facts, art and more everyday throughout October. How we've managed to pick 16 films each I don't know...

Hooked On Horror's 31 Days Of Horror 2026

This year, you horror fans voted for this years to focus on Monster Movies & Creature Features. So, without further ado, here’s Hooked On Horror’s 31 Days Of Horror 2026. Be sure to come back here for a new film daily!

October 1st

Aliens (James Cameron, 1986)

Aliens by Benedict Woodhead

Ellen Ripley is sent back to the planet LV-426 to establish contact with a terraforming colony. Once there, she encounters the Alien Queen and her offspring and has to fight them to survive.

Thought we’d start things off strong with a truly incredible film featuring, for me personally, one of the greatest movie monsters of all time- the Xenomorph. As Ash says in the first film, they’re “The perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.”  

Where the first film is pure, slow-burn horror, this one leans far more into action while still weaving in that underlying sense of dread and tension. It shifts the tone but never loses the franchise’s identity.

It’s a fantastic sequel and easily one of the best in the series. Sigourney Weaver is even more of a badass here, with her character development being one of the strongest parts of the film — especially in the extended cut, where the addition of the scene involving her daughter adds real emotional weight and context.

The effects are on another level compared to the first film, massively stepping things up and making the scale feel much bigger and more intense. We saw a lot more of what these creatures can do in this, and how terrifying they truly are. And of course, let’s not forget how breathtaking that Alien Queen is in this. *

The cast are all excellent, with Michael Biehn and Bill Paxton stealing pretty much every scene they’re in, bringing both intensity and personality to the chaos. Still, it’s hard not to feel a bit gutted when the Queen kills Bishop at the end — a brutal moment in an already relentless finale.

*Side note: Don’t forget Disney owns Fox, which technically means Ripley & the Alien Queen are both Disney Princesses.

October 2nd

Them! (Gordon Douglas, 1954)

The earliest atomic tests in New Mexico cause common ants to mutate into giant man-eating monsters that threaten civilization.

An absolute classic monster movie and one of those glorious films to come out of Hollywood's obsession with Cold War atomic bomb anxieties and science gone horribly wrong. There's something wonderfully entertaining about this era of monster movies, where nuclear testing and scientific experiments were responsible for all sorts of gigantic creatures wreaking havoc, and Them! is one of the best examples of it.

The giant ants are fantastic, and the effects are insanely impressive for a film released in 1954. While many films of the time simply green-screened real-life bugs into the footage to make them appear gigantic, the practical work here is genuinely brilliant and still holds up remarkably well today.

Interestingly, the film was originally intended to be shot in colour, but Warner Bros. slashed the budget just days before filming, resulting in the black-and-white version we know today. Funnily enough, despite the studio's doubts, it went on to become one of their highest-grossing films of the year.

Them! is a fantastic slice of classic creature feature horror that remains just as enjoyable today, and a brilliant reminder of why 50s monster movies are so bloody much fun!

October 3rd

The Fly (David Cronenberg, 1986)

A botched experiment transmutes a man into a monstrous insect.

That’s right - the remake - infinitely better than the Neumann, 1958, original. The film that makes at least one person in comments say, ‘D’you reckon his pen*s was in the bathroom cabinet?’ every time its mentioned online. When a film influences a person to ask - such a brave - question, you know it’s worth a viewing.

Starring the magnificent, Jeff Goldblum, and Geena Davis, showcasing the repercussions of scientific exploration / hubris, as Seth Brundle (Goldblum) test a revolutionary transporter infiltrated by, a common household fly. The body-horror practical effects are stomach churning and the emotional beats, as we observe the gradual loss of anatomy and human identity, are some of the best the genre & sub-genre have to offer.

Definitely a watch to quench a creature-feature thirst.

October 4th

Outlander (Howard McCain, 2008)

During the reign of the Vikings, Kainan, a man from a far-off world, crash lands on Earth, bringing with him an alien predator known as the Moorwen. Though both man and monster are seeking revenge for violence committed against them, Kainan leads the alliance to kill the Moorwen by fusing his advanced technology with the Viking's Iron Age weaponry.

Long before cowboys faced-off against aliens, two warring extraterrestrials (one humanoid, one beastial) crash land in a 700 AD earth. The lord and saviour, from the Passion of the Christ, Jim Caviezel (as Kainan)- having previously colonised the home planet of the Moorwen (beastial entity), hence the on-going pursuit - forms an alliance with chieftains Hrothgar (John Hurt) and Gunnar (Ron Perlman), as they attempt to survive the encounter.

An enjoyable action-filled adventure, pitting the Iron Age steel against the primal, revenge-fuelled rage of a fiery creature, as it seeks retribution for the colonisation and destruction of its home planet.

October 5th

Puppet Master (David Schmoeller, 1989)

After being contacted by their mysterious former colleague, four psychics arrive at a secluded hotel where they are stalked by a group of murderous puppets.

Look, I know Puppet Master is bad, but this is one of those films that is just so bad it’s good. It’s gloriously cheesy, a little bit ridiculous and clearly made on a shoestring budget, but there’s something about it that makes it ridiculously entertaining. David Schmoeller takes a stab at his own killer toy movie, following the success of Child’s Play, and while it might not reach Chucky levels, it gives us something completely different.

And honestly, it’s the puppets that make this film. Blade, Pinhead, Tunneler, Jester and Leech Woman are all fantastic designs, each with their own completely bonkers gimmick. Blade is obviously the standout, but there’s something brilliant about a tiny puppet with a drill on its head or one that spits fucking leeches at people. The designs were inspired by everything from German Expressionism and Grand Guignol to Renaissance art, which explains why they have such a distinctive look.

The stop-motion and practical effects are another big part of the fun. David W. Allen and his team did some great work bringing these little bastards to life, especially considering the budget. A fun fact is that Blade, Jester and Tunneler actually shared the same basic puppet body, with the costume, head and hands swapped between shots. Blade’s face was also reportedly partly inspired by actor Klaus Kinski, who Schmoeller had previously worked with.

This film certainly isn’t a masterpiece, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s cheesy, weird, occasionally hilarious and packed with some brilliant killer toy designs. A proper low-budget 80s/90s horror oddity that’s impossible not to have fun with. So bad it’s good, and I bloody love it!

October 6th

Grabbers (Jon Wright, 2012)

When an island off the coast of Ireland is invaded by bloodsucking aliens, the heroes discover that getting drunk is the only way to survive.

A filum after me own ‘art. Grabbers, in a nutshell, is what I do best: get heavily and continuously drunk at the local. Albeit, the leading cast of characters have a legitimate reason, as they're pursued by aquatic, blood-thirsty monsters that have a lethal aversion to digesting the islanders with high blood alcohol levels. Needless to say, the HOH crew would be perfectly fine in the event of this type of invasion.

Sporting a cast of "I know them from somewhere” actors, the film is great fun, from start to finish, and definitely a fun time with pals.

PSA: HOH does not condone, or advise viewers to take a drink when: a character takes a drink, someone is attacked by one of the ‘Grabbers’, someone say’s Sláinte (pronounced, slawn-cha), or when a sea creatures washes up on shore.

October 7th

Slither (James Gunn, 2006)

A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters.

It’s honestly hard to believe that this is the same James Gunn who would go on to make Guardians of the Galaxy and Superman. Before the superheroes, Gunn gave us Slither – a wonderfully disgusting, hilarious and completely unhinged love letter to the horror movies of the 80s. You can feel the influence of films like The Thing, The Fly, Re-Animator and Evil Dead II all over this thing, and Gunn clearly has an absolute blast throwing every bit of 80s horror madness at the screen.

And bloody hell, does it get disgusting. The film doesn’t shy away from the truly unforgettable, grotesque and utterly disgusting moments that made that era of horror so much fun. The practical effects are fantastic, with mutations, parasites, tentacles and enough slime to make your stomach turn. Gunn himself said that almost 90% of the effects shots were practical, which really shows when you see just how much of the madness was physically created on set.

The cast are also fantastic. Michael Rooker is completely unhinged, Elizabeth Banks brings a surprising amount of heart to the madness, and Nathan Fillion is brilliant as the sarcastic police chief trying to make sense of everything going on around him. They all understand exactly what kind of film they’re making and completely commit to it.

One of my favourite behind-the-scenes facts is that Gunn actually created an entire biology for the alien creatures, including rules for how they reproduce and infect people – although even Elizabeth Banks admitted that some of the explanation Gunn wrote for her didn’t make much sense!

Slither is bloody brilliant! It’s funny, disgusting, gory, wonderfully weird and packed with fantastic practical effects. A proper throwback to the kind of outrageous 80s horror Gunn clearly grew up loving, and one that deserves far more love than it originally received.

xOctober 8th

The Mist (Frank Darabont, 2007)

In the small town of Bridgton, Maine, people become trapped inside a supermarket after a mysterious mist envelops the town.

Based on Stephen King’s novella from Skeleton Crew, The Mist takes that already brilliant story and expands it into an incredible piece of horror. What starts as a simple trip to the supermarket quickly turns into a nightmare when a mysterious mist rolls into town, bringing with it some truly horrifying creatures. But the monsters are only part of what makes this film so terrifying.

It’s the fear, paranoia and desperation of the people trapped inside that makes this film so harrowing and haunting. As everything begins to unravel, it becomes increasingly difficult to know who or what is more dangerous. I think everyone watching this film cheered when that P.O.S Mrs. Camody ate a bullet.

The creature effects are great; the atmosphere is relentlessly tense and there are some genuinely terrifying moments throughout. Cast is equally fantastic. But then there’s that ending. Absolutely brutal, heartbreaking and one that stays with you long after the credits roll.

The Mist is an incredible film and a proper gut-punch of a horror movie that gets under your skin and refuses to let go.

October 9th

Attack the Block (Joe Cornish, 2011)

A teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion.

From the writer of Marvel’s Ant Man (), Joe Cornish, comes a British horror flick, as a mutual distrust becomes a unity to stave off an alien invasion… doing exactly what it says on the tin. Attack(ing) the Block. The block in question? An urban London housing block of flats, whereby, future Doctor Who star, Jodie Whittaker, and future, Star Wars alumni, John Boyega, form an alliance after the latter’s group of friends accidentally trigger a primal attack on their abode.

A must-see for those who enjoyed the shot-lived wave of British B-Horror between 2005-2012.

October 10th

Eight-Legged Freaks (Ellory Ellkayem, 2002)

Venomous spiders get exposed to a noxious chemical that causes them to grow to monumental proportions.

This is one of those creature features that really doesn’t get the love or attention it deserves, especially considering how much fun it actually is.

It fully embraces that old-school monster movie format, leaning into chaos, special effects energy, and big bug-filled set pieces that are both ridiculous and genuinely entertaining.

The cast are all great, with David Arquette playing a really likeable, relatable lead, alongside an early career appearance from Scarlett Johansson, and Doug E. Doug absolutely stealing moments whenever he’s on screen.

It’s funny as hell throughout and never tries to be more than a big, silly, entertaining monster movie — and that’s exactly why it works. Honestly, part of me would still love to see a sequel one day. If you’ve got this on DVD, it’s worth heading to the special features to check out the original short that inspired it.

October 11th

Arachnophobia (Frank Marshall, 1990)

A new species of South American killer spider hitches a lift to a California town in a coffin and starts to breed, leaving a trail of deaths that puzzle and terrify young Dr. Ross Jennings, who is newly arrived in town with his family.

There are only three things I have irrational fears of:

Open Water (being near / in), Old Women and the eight-legged monstrosities from the planet, NOPE.

Frank Marshall’s horror/comedy, Arachnophobia, is a must-see [natural] creature feature for all those remotely squeamish to the eight-eyed abominations and absolutely isn’t a comedy for those with the titular phobia.

After a South American creepy-crawly arrives in California (via a coffin, not via authorised TSA processes) and sets up home in a spacious, no bedroom, no bathroom, barn on Dr Jennings (Jeff Daniels) property, it quickly reproduces, spreading fear and death and bum string, across the rural town.

October 12th

Creature From the Black Lagoon (Jack Arnold, 1954)

Creature From the Black Lagoon by Geoff Shupe

A strange prehistoric beast lurks in the depths of the Amazonian jungle. A group of scientists try to capture the animal and bring it back to civilization for study.

This is a wonderful film and, for me, one of the very best of the Universal Monsters movies. There’s just something about this one that never gets old. The story, the atmosphere and those fantastic underwater sequences all come together to create a proper classic creature feature that I can happily return to time and time again. But the real star of the show is obviously the Creature himself.

The design and look of the Gill-Man is absolutely incredible and still looks fantastic all these years later. Milicent Patrick did an incredible job creating the final design, although her contribution was sadly downplayed at the time. The Creature is such an instantly recognisable monster, with the scales, gills, webbed hands and that wonderfully sinister face making him one of Universal’s most memorable creations.

The underwater photography is another huge highlight.

MIllicent Patrick with her creation Gill-Man

Ricou Browning played the Creature during the underwater sequences, swimming at Wakulla Springs in Florida, while Ben Chapman portrayed him for the land scenes. Browning even had to perform many of his underwater scenes without an air tank, holding his breath for several minutes at a time while wearing the costume. That makes some of those sequences even more impressive when you realise what was actually involved in filming them.

To put things in simple terms, it’s just a fantastic monster movie. The Creature looks incredible, the practical effects are brilliant, the atmosphere is spot-on and it remains one I always enjoy. A bloody brilliant Universal Monster classic that deserves its place alongside the best of them.

October 13th

Lake Placid (Steve Minder,1999)

Lake Placed by Amanda Marie Bell

Four people attempt to stop a gigantic crocodile, who is terrorizing residents in Black Lake, Maine.

What a time to be alive, to see Bill Pullman befriend a ghost and do battle with their three uncles in '95, do battle with aliens in '96, do battle with David Lynch’s direction in ’97, only to then do battle with a giant crocodile in 1999.

From the director of Day of the Dead (the bad 2008 version), Steve Miner, comes a dumb fun movie, with Pullman and crew, trying to stop an outlandishly large crocodile, from devouring residents (and life stock) in Maine.

Sporting impressive practical effects from Stan Winston Studio, Lake Placid is a fun, 1 hour 20 minute ride of people throwing logic out the window by not staying away from the water and surrounding area. Oh, and Betty White is great in it.

Don’t watch the sequels.

October 14th

Shin Godzilla (Hideaki Anno & Shinji Higuchi, 2016)

Something has surfaced in Tokyo Bay. As the Prime Minister of Japan pleads with the public to remain calm, a horrific creature of tremendous size makes landfall in the city, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Then it evolves.

Lovers and non-lovers of Gojira / Godzilla unite! This is a must-see event, bringing the Japanese titan back to the screen in a fresh new, agonising re-design and take on the tried & tested, titan formula. Witness Gojira evolving, engulfed in absolute misery and pain, as Japan’s Government gradually dissolves with every advancement.

Granted, the majority of the film is people moving from one location to another, holding meetings and talking… But it’s frackin’ wonderful. It takes the atomic bomb premise of the original 1954 and reprises historic concepts - spoiler, but not spoiler, when the Japanese Government debates the potential for whether the US dropping an atomic bomb will be acceptable to the remaining population, or whether it would unearth catastrophic cultural / social memory (from the WWII bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki).

Now leave your best impression of the Gojira / Godzilla roar in the comments.

October 15th

Primitive War (Luke Sparke, 2025)

Vietnam. 1968. A recon unit known as Vulture Squad is sent to an isolated jungle valley to uncover the fate of a missing Green Beret platoon. They soon discover they are not alone.

Fun, feral, ferocious, unbelievably chaotic and utterly unforgettable. Primitive War is another recent one that took me by surprise. This Aussie-made beast refuses to behave like the modest indie it technically is. The set pieces and action sequences here don’t just feel “good for a low-budget flick” – they feel like a full-on genre blockbuster. There’s an electricity in the way the camera tracks through ambushes, gunfire, and dinosaur attacks that rivals much bigger studio films.

Whilst it’s made it onto this list for a variety of reasons, the main is the dinosaurs – God they’re amazing. These aren’t polite, family friendly dinosaurs that play peek-a-boo – they’re visceral, teeth-and-gore set-pieces that make your blood pressure spike whilst providing a few legitimately good jump scares. You should get that Halloween feeling after watching a Pterodactyl slurp up a soldier’s innards like spaghetti…

You can read my full Primitive War review HERE.

Check back for tomorrow for October 16th.