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I see people doing this so I'll try to do an October horror movie recommendation thread. Don't expect everyone to enjoy all of these, obviously, but some are weirder and obscure things I liked. FYI jump scare heavy movies aren't my thing so this'll be good if you don't like them.
Oct 1: The Descent (2005)
This one isn't really obscure anymore, and that's a good thing. I recommend you watch it knowing as little as possible. I had no idea what it was about (discovered it in 2006) and the experience was better for it.
This one isn't really obscure anymore, and that's a good thing. I recommend you watch it knowing as little as possible. I had no idea what it was about (discovered it in 2006) and the experience was better for it.
Oct 2: The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015)
This movie does something super smart I've never seen and you'll be asking yourself why no one thought to do it before this. Love when I am surprised by a movie like that. Made by Oz Perkins, the son of Anthony Perkins from Psycho.
This movie does something super smart I've never seen and you'll be asking yourself why no one thought to do it before this. Love when I am surprised by a movie like that. Made by Oz Perkins, the son of Anthony Perkins from Psycho.
Oct 3: Suspiria (2018)
With respect to Argento's original, this reimagining hit me super hard. It has one of the most shocking death scenes I've seen in years and is brutally bizarre and unusual. A lot of it is in German. Tilda Swinton plays multiple parts, including an old man.
With respect to Argento's original, this reimagining hit me super hard. It has one of the most shocking death scenes I've seen in years and is brutally bizarre and unusual. A lot of it is in German. Tilda Swinton plays multiple parts, including an old man.
Oct 4: Oculus (2013)
One of the best movies to come out of the wasteland of slick, over-produced, shiny horror pap that studios cough up every year. Some real visual style in the storytelling and a cool idea. Stay tuned for more from Mike Flanagan.
One of the best movies to come out of the wasteland of slick, over-produced, shiny horror pap that studios cough up every year. Some real visual style in the storytelling and a cool idea. Stay tuned for more from Mike Flanagan.
Oct 5: The Neon Demon (2016)
Nicolas Winding Refn's fever dream fairy tale about the world of high fashion creates horror out of unexpected things. Both the visual and audio components of this experience are really powerful and wow, Jenna Malone. What a trooper for this role.
Nicolas Winding Refn's fever dream fairy tale about the world of high fashion creates horror out of unexpected things. Both the visual and audio components of this experience are really powerful and wow, Jenna Malone. What a trooper for this role.
Oct 6: Bone Tomahawk (2015)
I've been a fan of this movie since before anyone had heard of it. It's pretty infamous now for *that* scene, but overall it's just a great, tense horror Western with good acting and really well-written dialogue.
I've been a fan of this movie since before anyone had heard of it. It's pretty infamous now for *that* scene, but overall it's just a great, tense horror Western with good acting and really well-written dialogue.
Oct 7: Pandorum (2009)
Not the best of the horror in space genre but maybe the best one that almost no one has seen. I like the story ideas, I like the design of everything, I like the actors, I like Stan Winston's special effects work. I think it's definitely underappreciated.
Not the best of the horror in space genre but maybe the best one that almost no one has seen. I like the story ideas, I like the design of everything, I like the actors, I like Stan Winston's special effects work. I think it's definitely underappreciated.
Oct 8: Hereditary (2018)
Not all of these will be obscure but I can't not recommend it. This movie has the unique ability to fray your nerves for the entire runtime. It's unsettling and scary in an oppressive, dramatic way. Watching it in the theater was an experience.
Not all of these will be obscure but I can't not recommend it. This movie has the unique ability to fray your nerves for the entire runtime. It's unsettling and scary in an oppressive, dramatic way. Watching it in the theater was an experience.
Oct 9: The Ritual (2017)
Some people didn't like this but I was really pleasantly surprised by it. It's almost like the male equivalent of The Descent. Some cool, creepy visual ideas and a payoff that I found very satisfying.
Some people didn't like this but I was really pleasantly surprised by it. It's almost like the male equivalent of The Descent. Some cool, creepy visual ideas and a payoff that I found very satisfying.
Oct 10: Disturbing Behavior (1998)
Could be the best film to come out of the Wes Craven 90s teen horror movie craze. None of them have aged perfectly but I think this one did the best job of conveying that teenage angst and fear of adulthood. Really solid ensemble cast too.
Could be the best film to come out of the Wes Craven 90s teen horror movie craze. None of them have aged perfectly but I think this one did the best job of conveying that teenage angst and fear of adulthood. Really solid ensemble cast too.
Oct 11: The Witch (2015)
I don't know what else there is to say about this movie. Everything about it is pitch perfect, from the writing to the acting to the music to the cinematography. A monumental debut from Robert Eggers.
I don't know what else there is to say about this movie. Everything about it is pitch perfect, from the writing to the acting to the music to the cinematography. A monumental debut from Robert Eggers.
Oct 12: Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Perfect Halloween movie. It's surprisingly scary and has extremely cool visuals. When Tim Burton clicks with a project and isn't just cranking out tired awful echoes of his old work he can do some really compelling stuff.
Perfect Halloween movie. It's surprisingly scary and has extremely cool visuals. When Tim Burton clicks with a project and isn't just cranking out tired awful echoes of his old work he can do some really compelling stuff.
Oct 13: Into the Mouth of Madness (1995)
This one is kinda weird and might come across as goofy to people, but I've always enjoyed the Twilight Zone vibe of it and it has such a nostalgic 90s feel for me. Sam Neill is fun to watch. More from him later...
This one is kinda weird and might come across as goofy to people, but I've always enjoyed the Twilight Zone vibe of it and it has such a nostalgic 90s feel for me. Sam Neill is fun to watch. More from him later...
Oct 14: Cube (1997)
The Mack Daddy of doing a lot with a little. Another one that's pretty well known at this point but that I found in a random indie video store around 1999 and have been telling people about ever since.
The Mack Daddy of doing a lot with a little. Another one that's pretty well known at this point but that I found in a random indie video store around 1999 and have been telling people about ever since.
Oct 15: One Missed Call (2003)
Not to be mistaken for its utterly garbage American remake, Takeshi Miike's Japanese original is really creepy, goes places you don't expect, and has some great scares. Those old phones do look kinda funny now, though.
Not to be mistaken for its utterly garbage American remake, Takeshi Miike's Japanese original is really creepy, goes places you don't expect, and has some great scares. Those old phones do look kinda funny now, though.
Oct 16: The Mist (2007)
What else can be said about this? I love that it manages to be both kinda campy and over-the-top, and also legitimately disturbing and scary. Watch it in black and white. It's how Darabont intended and the CG looks better because it was made for b&w.
What else can be said about this? I love that it manages to be both kinda campy and over-the-top, and also legitimately disturbing and scary. Watch it in black and white. It's how Darabont intended and the CG looks better because it was made for b&w.
Oct 17: Perfect Blue (1997)
Don't tell me this isn't horror. It's a psychological horror masterpiece and it's my list and I'll do what I want. Seriously watch this. It's a brilliant mindfuck that influenced stuff you've definitely seen like Black Swan.
Don't tell me this isn't horror. It's a psychological horror masterpiece and it's my list and I'll do what I want. Seriously watch this. It's a brilliant mindfuck that influenced stuff you've definitely seen like Black Swan.
Oct 18: The Faculty (1998)
I unironically love this film and you're a bad person if you don't. The good parts are good and the bad parts are so bad they're good. It's the apotheosis of every popular 90s subgenre and the cast is epic and it's just a really fun time.
I unironically love this film and you're a bad person if you don't. The good parts are good and the bad parts are so bad they're good. It's the apotheosis of every popular 90s subgenre and the cast is epic and it's just a really fun time.
Oct 19: The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Even a cool meta concept like this could have been done poorly, but the entire movie is constructed in a smart way that turns it into a wholly unique experience. A perfect Halloween movie for fans of the genre.
Even a cool meta concept like this could have been done poorly, but the entire movie is constructed in a smart way that turns it into a wholly unique experience. A perfect Halloween movie for fans of the genre.
Oct 20: Let the Right One In (2008)
I haven't seen the American remake (directed by Matt Reeves). I think there's something more interesting about a kid vampire movie set in late 70's Sweden just because it's not really like anything else I've ever seen before.
I haven't seen the American remake (directed by Matt Reeves). I think there's something more interesting about a kid vampire movie set in late 70's Sweden just because it's not really like anything else I've ever seen before.
Oct 21: It Follows (2014)
People having been asking for this all month. A movie that's smart because it does the opposite of what modern zombie movies did. It substitutes a fast, aggressive, frothing menace with a slow, methodical, stoic, unstopping one. Instant classic.
People having been asking for this all month. A movie that's smart because it does the opposite of what modern zombie movies did. It substitutes a fast, aggressive, frothing menace with a slow, methodical, stoic, unstopping one. Instant classic.
Oct 22: Annihilation (2018)
Everything Alex Garland does is great. This is a real mindfuck that combines existential Lovecraftian weirdness with some really scary body horror and a good sci-fi concept. Great ensemble cast. The visuals and music just sell the weirdness so hard.
Everything Alex Garland does is great. This is a real mindfuck that combines existential Lovecraftian weirdness with some really scary body horror and a good sci-fi concept. Great ensemble cast. The visuals and music just sell the weirdness so hard.
Oct 23: Color Out of Space (2019)
Another Lovecraft meets body horror movie that has some surprisingly upsetting and disturbing moments. Some of the acting gets a bit much (utter insanity is a hard acting line to walk) but it's still good overall. The short story is fantastic.
Another Lovecraft meets body horror movie that has some surprisingly upsetting and disturbing moments. Some of the acting gets a bit much (utter insanity is a hard acting line to walk) but it's still good overall. The short story is fantastic.
Oct 24: Trollhunter (2010)
My personal favorite found footage movie because it's not used as a gimmick. It's a character-focused story with a very interesting character in its center. It has awesome lore that incorporates real Scandinavian mythology and some super tense moments.
My personal favorite found footage movie because it's not used as a gimmick. It's a character-focused story with a very interesting character in its center. It has awesome lore that incorporates real Scandinavian mythology and some super tense moments.
Oct 25: The Invitation (2015)
The less said about this the better. Suffice it to say it's just a great tense slow burn. A movie that I'm pleasantly surprised to see more and more people mention on lists like this.
The less said about this the better. Suffice it to say it's just a great tense slow burn. A movie that I'm pleasantly surprised to see more and more people mention on lists like this.
Oct 26: Event Horizon (1997)
Of course this was going to be on here. As far as I'm concerned it's iconic and one of the best horror movies of the 90s. Seeing it in the theater was a trip. I love the concept, the cast is great, and the visuals are distinct and memorable.
Of course this was going to be on here. As far as I'm concerned it's iconic and one of the best horror movies of the 90s. Seeing it in the theater was a trip. I love the concept, the cast is great, and the visuals are distinct and memorable.
Oct 27: The Ring (2002)
Yes, I'm actually recommending the American version because it's the perfect example of a localized remake done right. Gore Verbinski creates a very distinct look and atmosphere and there isn't a single comfortable moment in the entire film.
Yes, I'm actually recommending the American version because it's the perfect example of a localized remake done right. Gore Verbinski creates a very distinct look and atmosphere and there isn't a single comfortable moment in the entire film.
Oct 28: The Host (2006)
No not the Stephenie Meyer YA crap. Talking about Bong Joon-ho's excellent Korean monster movie. Like Parasite, this manages to be political in interesting ways that aren't off-putting. Also anything with Song Kang-ho in it is worth your time.
No not the Stephenie Meyer YA crap. Talking about Bong Joon-ho's excellent Korean monster movie. Like Parasite, this manages to be political in interesting ways that aren't off-putting. Also anything with Song Kang-ho in it is worth your time.
