Every October almost every site and podcast comes up with their master list of horror movies to watch and all with various themes, for example 31 days of zombies or slashers, or even classic horror, another attempt is the one a day method, others make a list called the scariest or most frightening, ever look through them, they include Hocus Pocus [1993] or Halloweentown [1998], skip in Harry Potter movies, sorry that’s not horror. A few horror comedies are fine, face it they are required, but a one a day horror viewing is unacceptable, why you might ask? First there are plenty of VOD and cable services that will start out by playing at least 2-horror movies a day, increasing it gradually and by the 29th of the month they filter into an endless cycle of films, average a 24 to 72 hours of scary flicks. It actually becomes a contest to watch as many as possible upping your friends, or just your own personal goals, in fact some have DVR primarily for this one month bare beforehand.
In addition, fans enjoy lists and in the past I refrain from this approach, nevertheless after the successful 31 days of the Holiday Horror Season article parts 1 and 2 filled with the Seasonal Grievings of slashing with delights and bowels of Holly hanging from the walls, I figure only proper that I join in the fun of delivering The Horror Times’ treats of films to see. Now, some movies could be listed under multiple themes, for example some recently noted Frankenstein [1931] as a zombie movie, because the corpse rises from the deceased, that to me is stretching it, if using that concept then vampires are zombies too as they rise from the undead to feed on the blood of the living. Don’t get too serious, have fun with it.
We, at The Horror Times, do it with a twist, each Sunday we will deliver a list of the films to watch, that upcoming week all nicely packaged in dripping ghoulish fun on a theme, for the day. WHAT? Yes, that’s right, each week and each day has a theme, no one else is going to attempt that, or even think of it. Therefore, the week of October 4th thru 10th the theme is Monsters, Vampires, Werewolves, Maniacal Doctors, Cannibals, Classic Horror and Aliens… curious for week 2, you’ll need to wait for October 11th to find out, but this list will keep you entertained for the frights and chills. Now, some will have the films in their collections, and others crafty enough to discover on YouTube and various of VOD platforms. Face it some movies could easily filter into other themes, but we tried our best to make it work. Lastly the max films allowed per day is 10, if based on 90-minutes it’s 15 hrs. a day viewing, with some other days having less it is all doable.
WEEK 1 OCTOBER 4TH TO 10TH
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH – MONSTERS
Basket Case [1982] – A young man Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) carrying a big basket that contains his extremely deformed Siamese-twin brother seeks vengeance on the doctors who separated them against their will; directed by Frank Henenlotter.
Ghoulies [1984] – A young man and his girlfriend move into an old mansion home, where he becomes possessed by a desire to control ancient demons. Silly, yes but a fun b-movie.
Splinter [2008] – Trapped in an isolated gas station by a voracious Splinter parasite that transforms its still-living victims into deadly hosts, a young couple and an escaped convict must find a way to work together to survive this primal terror.
The Descent [2005] – A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.
The Fly [1986] – A brilliant but eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) begins to transform into a giant man/fly hybrid after one of his experiments goes horribly wrong witness by journalist Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis), from director David Cronenberg. This is a remake of the 1958 film The Fly that starred Vincent Price.
The Host [2006] – A monster emerges from Seoul’s Han River and begins attacking people. One victim’s loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.
The Mist [2007] – A freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives, based off of a Stephen King novel.
The Monster Squad [1987] – A young group of monster fanatics attempt to save their hometown from Count Dracula and his monsters Wolfman, Gillman, Mummy, and Frankenstein’s Monster, a film director by Fred Dekker.
Tremors [1990] – Natives of a small isolated town defend themselves against strange underground creatures which are killing them one by one.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH – VAMPIRES
30 Days of Night [2007] – This is the story of an isolated Alaskan town that is plunged into darkness for a month each year when the sun sinks below the horizon. As the last rays of light fade, the town is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires bent an ungodly amount of violence and feeding frenzy.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula [1992] – This version of Dracula is closely based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel, directd by Francis Ford Coppola, and won 3 Oscars. The centuries old vampire Count Dracula (Gary Oldman) comes to England to seduce his barrister (Keanu Reeves) Jonathan Harker’s fiancée Mina Murray (Winona Ryder) and inflict havoc in the foreign land, while battling Professor Abraham Van Helsing (Anthony Hopkins).
Dracula [1931] – After a naive real estate agent succumbs to the will of Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi), the two head to London where the vampire sleeps in his coffin by day and searches for potential victims by night.
Fright Night [1985] – A teenager Charley (William Ragsadle) discovers that the newcomer in his neighborhood is a vampire (Chris Sarandon), so he turns to an actor (Roddy McDowall) in a television horror show for help dealing with the undead.
Horror of Dracula [1958] – Jonathan Harker begets the ire of Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) after he accepts a job at the vampire’s castle under false pretenses, forcing his colleague Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) to destroy the predatory villain when he targets Harker’s loved ones.
Nosferatu [1922] – Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter’s wife. This the famous German classic silent movie from director F.W. Murnau.
Planet Of The Vampires [1965] – After landing on a mysterious planet, a team of astronauts begin to turn on each other, swayed by the uncertain influence of the planet and its strange inhabitants. This movie features more a psychic connection meets vampire possession than the common method of blood sucking; directed by Mario Bava.
The Night Watchmen [2017] – Three inept night watchmen, aided by a young rookie and a fearless tabloid journalist, fight an epic battle for their lives against a horde of hungry vampires.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH – WEREWOLVES
American Werewolf in London [1981] – Two American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.
Dog Soldiers [2002] – A routine military exercise turns into a nightmare in the Scotland wilderness.
Ginger Snaps [2000] – Two death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with the tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf.
Howl [2015] – When passengers on a train are attacked by a creature, they must band together in order to survive until morning.
Late Phases [2014] – When deadly beasts attack from the forest, it is up to a grizzled veteran to uncover what the residents of a secluded retirement community are hiding.
The Howling [1981] – After a bizarre and near deadly encounter with a serial killer, a television newswoman (Dee Wallace) is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem, from Director Joe Dante.
The Wolf Man [1941] – Larry Talbot returns to his father’s castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman. One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where they meet a mysterious gypsy fortune teller.
The Wolfman [2010] – Upon his return to his ancestral homeland, an American man is bitten, and subsequently cursed by, a werewolf.
Wer [2013] – A defense attorney begins to suspect that there might be more to her client, who is charged with the murders of a vacationing family, than meets the eye.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7TH – MAD DOCTORS
Dead Ringers [1988] – Twin gynecologists (Jeremy Irons) take full advantage of the fact that nobody can tell them apart, until their relationship begins to deteriorate over a woman; another cool movie from director David Cronenberg
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [1931] – Dr. Jekyll faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that transforms him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde.
Eyes Without A Face [1960] – A surgeon causes an accident which leaves his daughter disfigured and goes to extremes to give her a new face.
Frankenstein [1931] – Dr. Frankenstein dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster (Boris Karloff) out of lifeless body parts, based on the novel from Mary Shelley and directed by James Whale.
Island Of Lost Souls [1932] – Mad Doctor Moreau (Charles Laughton) conducts ghastly genetic experiments on a remote island in the South Seas, much to the fear and disgust of the shipwrecked sailor who finds himself trapped there, based from a H.G. Wells’ novel.
Re-Animator [1985] – After an odd new medical student (Jeffrey Combs) arrives on campus, a dedicated local (Bruce Abbott) and his girlfriend (Barbara Crampton) become involved in bizarre experiments centering around the re-animation of dead tissue; an incredible movie from director Stuart Gordon, based on a H.P. Lovecraft’s story.
The Abominable Dr Phibes [1971] – A doctor, scientist, organist, and biblical scholar, Anton Phibes (Vincent Price), seeks revenge on the nine doctors he considers responsible for his wife’s death.
The Creeping Flesh [1973] – A Victorian-age scientist (Peter Cushing) returns to London with his discovery from Papua New Guinea; unfortunately, when the bones are exposed to water, flesh returns to the bones unleashing a malevolent being on the scientist’s family and friends.
Young Frankenstein [1974] – An American grandson, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder) of the infamous scientist, struggling to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believe, is invited to Transylvania, where he discovers the process that reanimates a dead body. Hence with help Igor (Marty Feldman) he works to create a new Monster (Peter Boyle), a fantastic horror comedy from the genius mind of Mel Brooks.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8TH – CANNIBALS
Bone Tomahawk [2015] – In the dying days of the old west, an elderly sheriff and his posse set out to rescue their town’s doctor from cannibalistic cave dwellers.
Cannibal Ferox [1981] – Three friends set out to disprove cannibalism on a trip to the Amazonian jungle, where they meet two men trying to escape a vicious cannibal tribe but find splatter on the menu. The first of two movies on this list from director Umberto Lenzi.
Cannibal Holocaust [1980] – During a rescue mission into the Amazon rainforest, a Professor Harold Monroe (Robert Kerman) stumbles across lost film shot by a missing documentary crew. Directed by Ruggero Deodato, who many including Italian authorities thought actually murdered his cast, gruesome scenes are repeatedly shown throughout the film.
Death Line [1972] – (AKA: Raw Meat) When a government official disappears in the London tunnels, after several reports of missing people in the same location, Scotland Yard start to take the matter seriously, along with a couple who stumble into a victim by accident.
Eaten Alive! [1980] – A young woman teams up with a mercenary to find her missing sister in the jungles of New Guinea where they find that a deranged leader, Jonas (Ivan Rassimov) of a religious cult has located his commune in an area inhabited by cannibals.
Eating Raoul [1982] – A relatively boring Los Angeles couple Paul and Mary (Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov) discovers a bizarre, if not murderous, way to get funding for opening a restaurant.
Parents [1989] – Michael Laemie (played by Brian Madorsky) is a young boy living in a typical 1950’s suburbanite home… except for his bizarre and horrific nightmares, and continued unease around his parents, Nick and Lily (Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt) he believes they are cannibalistic murderers.
Raw [2016] – A young woman, Justine (Garance Marillier) studying to be a vet, develops a craving for human flesh.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH – CLASSIC HORROR
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein [1948] – The Wolf Man (Lon Chaney Jr.) tries to warn a freight handler Wilbur (Lou Costello) that Dracula (Bela Lugosi) wants his brain for Frankenstein monster’s body (Glenn Strange), but his best buddy Chick (Bud Abbott) doesn’t believe him and just wants to finish dropping off cargo to Mr. McDougal’s House of Horrors attraction. However, nothing goes as plan, but plenty of laughs abound the viewers, listen for Vincent Price uncredited cameo.
Carnival of Souls [1962] – Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) is enjoying the day by riding around in a car with two friends. When challenged to a drag, the women accept, but are forced off of a bridge. It appears that all are drowned, until Mary, quite some time later, amazingly emerges from the river. But all doesn’t seem to be right
Creature from the Black Lagoon [1954] – 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.
House Of Wax [1953] – Matthew Burke burns down a wax museum with his business owner (Vincent Price) inside, but he survives only to become vengeful and murderous.
House on Haunted Hill [1959] – A millionaire (Vincent Price) offers $10,000 to five people who agree to be locked in a large, spooky, rented house overnight with him and his wife, a film by William Castle.
The Innocents [1961] – A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted; the film based upon the story The Turn of the Screw from Henry James.
The Invisible Man [1933] – A scientist (Claude Rains) finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane.
The Mummy [1932] – An Egyptian mummy (Boris Karloff) searches Cairo for the girl he thinks is his long-lost princess.
The Phantom of the Opera [1925] – A mad, disfigured composer (Lon Chaney) seeks love with a lovely young opera singer.
Theater Of Blood [1973] – A Shakespearean actor (Vincent Price) takes poetic revenge on the critics who denied him recognition.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH – ALIENS
Alien [1979] – After a space merchant vessel, Nostromo receives an unknown transmission as a distress call, Kane (John Hurt) is attacked by a mysterious life form and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun. A classic story from screenwriter Dan O’Bannon, a haunted house theme set in space directed by Ridley Scott.
Aliens [1986] – Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is rescued by a deep salvage team after being in hypersleep for 57 years. The moon that the Nostromo visited has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, colonial marines have impressive firepower, but will that be enough? Amazing it surpasses the original from director James Cameron.
Critters [1986] – A group of small but vicious alien creatures called Crites escape from an alien prison transport vessel and land near a small farm town on earth, pursued by two shape-shifting bounty hunters.
Grabbers [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.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers [1978] – When strange seeds drift to earth from space, mysterious pods begin to grow and invade San Francisco, California, where they replicate the residents into emotionless automatons one body at a time. This was the first true remake of the classic movie of the same name from 1956, Body Snatchers [1993] was a remake of the 1978 movie rather than the original. It also contains a stellar cast!
Invasion of the Triffids [1963] – After an unusual meteor shower leaves most of the human population blind, a merchant navy officer must find a way to conquer tall, aggressive plants which are feeding on people and animals. The movie is adapted from John Wyndham’s novel.
Night of the Creeps [1986] – Alien brain parasites, entering humans through the mouth, turn their host into a killing zombie. Some teenagers start to fight against them. It all came from the creative mind of writer and director Fred Dekker and starred Tom Atkins.
Slither [2006] – A small town is taken over by an alien plague, turning residents into zombies and all forms of mutant monsters; Michael Rooker stars in the James Gunn flick.
The Blob [1988] – A deadly entity from space crashes near a small town and starts to consume anyone in its path. Panic ensues, as shady government scientists try to contain the horrific creature. A remake of the 1958 classic The Blob, which starred Steve McQueen.
The Thing [1982] – A US research station, Antarctica, early-winter 1982, hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims and can spread like a virus. While first panned by critics, it has become horror fans holy gospel of horror delights, directed by John Carpenter, stars Kurt Russell as MacReady and Wilford Brimley as Dr. Blair, while not a direct remake it is considered a version of the original The Thing from Another World [1951].