#31in31 – “The Elixir”

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Denise

“Don’t worry about the reason behind all this, what’s important is a solution!”

Story: When the head of Wani Waras herbal treatments tries their new elixir on himself, it works. He’s younger! But those side effects will kill you. You, and anyone unlucky to be in biting distance. But good news – you won’t be down for long. You won’t be alive anymore, but you won’t be down. Success! Now, to let his awful adult children know… Hey, what’s that weird rash?

Scares: Creepy looking zombies. Tense situations.
Splat Factor:  Blood AND guts. But a lot of the blood is black, so it’s not as icky as it could have been.

Subgenre: Untested New “Remedy” = Zombies
Year Released: 2025
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Original

Trick or Treat?: No, this is not a sequel to The Substance. It’s more like Succession meets Ziam. Except if their premises vanished less than halfway through, and were replaced by absolutely nothing.

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#31in31 – “Slenderman”

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Denise

“You can’t just give him something you love…”

Story: Four teenage girls who should know better, decide to play around with – and completely believe – the Creepypasta Slenderman story. So in this reality, he comes for them. Ooh, spoopy.

Scares: Of the jump variety
Splat Factor: PG-13. So, nope.

Subgenre: Online Urban Legends
Year Released: 2018
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Based on the online legend of the Slenderman, and the 2014 Slenderman Stabbing.

Trick or Treat?: I knew this would be a garbage fire, so I skipped it for years. But now that it’s on Netflix, and I need another review for #31in31? Boom. Here you go. And yep, it’s as boringly trite as you’d expect.

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#31in31 – “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2025)

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Denise


“Fuck the 4th of July.”

Story: Ava comes home to Southport, NC, to celebrate her high school BFF Danica’s engagement. But when Our Gang decides to drive out to a dark road to catch the firework or whatever? Their inability to stay off the road causes another driver to literally crash out. Let’s pretend t never happened, ‘kay? What’s the worst that can happen? One year later, the worst happens.

Scares: Suspense and jump scares.
Splat Factor: Mild considering the way characters get got.

Subgenre: 90s Horror Reboots
Year Released: 2025
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Based on the movie of the same name. Fourth film in the of the Summer franchise.

Trick or Treat?: I was torn over this reboot. Seeing Jennifer Love Hewitt back in the game sounded good, and I wondered how they’d tie together old and new stories. Gotta say, it’s not bad.

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#31in31 – “Monster Island”

Posted on October 25, 2025 by Denise

“You will come to realize who your real enemies are.”

Story: Saito is a traitor to his comrades in WWII Japan. So he’s put on a Hell Ship, to be executed as an example. Til they arrive though, he’s shackled to UK POW Bronson, to teach them both a lesson. But when the ship is sunk, these two find themselves on a deserted island. Yay, they’re safe! Wait, what’s that clicking noise?

Scares: A few jump scares.
Splat Factor:  Dead bodies, some bloody attacks by both humans and creatures.

Subgenre: Historical Creature Features
Year Released: 2025
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Based on The Creature From the Black Lagoon and Malaysian folklore.

Trick or Treat?: I love a horror movie that teaches me something along the way. I didn’t know about the horrible Japanese Hell Ships that transported POWs , nor had I heard about the Malaysian Orange Ikan soldiers swear they saw on otherwise deserted islands. These two tidbits make for a fascinating story.

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#31in31 – “Ravenous” (1999)

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Denise



“He’s tough. But then a good soldier ought to be.”

Story: When Second Lieutenant John Boyd inadvertently becomes a hero during an act of cowardice, he’s shipped off to Fort Spencer, a place for Army screwups. But this ain’t the sequel to Stripes. Because when a stranger named Colqhoun comes to the Fort with tales of Oregon trail horror and cannibalism? The men set out to help. But hoo boy, Colqhoun has quite a different idea of what inviting people to dinner really means…

Scares: More creepy than scary, simply because we all know what’s going on pretty quickly.
Splat Factor: Cannibalism. So yeah. A lot.

Subgenre: Homoerotic Western Cannibal Horror
Year Released: 1999
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Brilliantly original.

Trick or Treat?: I can’t believe I haven’t done this one yet. In 13 years? It’s one of my favorite things. Even though that creepy PDF is in it. So y’all know it’s worth a look.

Hello colonialism! Writer/director Antonia Bird and screenwriter Ted Griffith tear apart the American flag-waving we can’t get enough of around here. Ravenous shows the ugliness of the westward expansion by using dark humor to dig into a viewer’s brain, allowing us to consider the critiques shown as the story sticks with us.

I’d wax poetic over this one for A While, but someone beat me to it and said every single thing I wanted to say, and better. So please enjoy Mildo’s amazing look at how we BOTH wanted the protagonist and antagonist to just make out already. USA! USA! USA!

Score: 4.5 out of 5 pumpkins.



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#31in31 – “House of the Long Shadows”

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Denise

“Please share with us this evening. At least for a little while.”

Story: Snotty young writer Kenneth Magee makes a bet with his publisher that he can write a Gothic novel worthy of the classics in that genre…in 24 hours. But when Ken gets to the manor his publisher suggests he uses to get away? Things start to turn into the very type of thing he’d been wanting to write about. What’s going on?

Scares: A few jump scares. Hello kitty!
Splat Factor:  As gruesome effigy, and some paper mâché-looking burns.

Subgenre: Old Dark House Of Semi-Humorous Horrors
Year Released: 1983
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Based on the 1913 book Seven Keys to Baldpate, by Earl Derr Biggers.

Trick or Treat?: Vincent Price. Christopher Lee. Peter Cushing. John Carradine. UK horror icon Sheila Keith, and her bombastic side-eye. These legends together onscreen? To horror fans, this is as comforting as a warm hug on a cold night. Which, by the way, is the perfect time to check out this film.

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#31in31 – “Monster Man”

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Denise


“I’ve been waiting my whole life to fuck up like this.”

Story: Adam is heading to the wedding of his big crush, Betty-Ann. When his former friend Harley literally surprises him on the trip, things get dangerous. Who knew constantly insulting people for being “stupid rednecks” would have consequences? Um. Everybody. Everybody but these two.

Scares: Stupid, not scary.
Splat Factor:  A gas station bathroom that puts Trainspotting to shame. Fake dead animals used to simulate cunnilingus. (Yes really.)

Subgenre: Bad Dudebro Horror
Year Released: 2025
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Too stupid to be anything but original.

Trick or Treat?: Dumb and Dumber meets Duel in the worst possible way. Man is a complete waste of time, if you’re looking for a spooky October watch.

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#31in31 – a look at my 2006 review of “Underworld: Evolution”!

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Denise
Sure, I’m tired and kinda lazy. But I’m seriously gobsmacked that I haven’t shared this one yet. Originally published at Green Man Review. Enjoy?

Underworld: Evolution
Ever since the first Underworld came out, there has been talk of a sequel. Director Len Wiseman has often said that the story he wanted to tell was too big to be told in one film, so another was planned, almost from the beginning. So here it is; does it deliver? Yes, and no. While this film does take up where the last one left off, much of what I loved about the first film (discussion of genetics and its place in these mutations, the initial war between lycans and vampires) is jettisoned for more action and faster pacing. Which makes for a cooler ride, but not necessarily a more enjoyable one.

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza – “Regretting You”!

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Denise

Ready to go to the movies tomorrow night? Synopsis!

Based on the bestselling book, REGRETTING YOU introduces audiences to Morgan Grant (Allison Williams) and her daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace) as they explore what’s left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other. REGRETTING YOU is a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery in the aftermath of tragedy, also starring Dave Franco and Mason Thames with Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald, in theatres this October.

Ready? Let’s go!

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#31in31 – “Phenomena”

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Denise

“I’m sleepwalking, I must wake up. I’m sleepwalking, I must…”

Story: Out in the wilds of “The Swiss Transylvania” (not a real thing), young Jennifer begins life at a boarding school. But the area has had a spate of missing girls. Girls just like Jennifer. Though nobody is quite like our young protagonist. What do you mean, she’s talking to that bumblebee?

Scares: I hope you’re cool with maggots. Like, super cool.
Splat Factor:  Dario. Argento. Of course it’s bloody. And bloody surreal.

Subgenre: 80s Argento Goodness
Year Released: 1985
Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Original. Seriously, only Argento could come up with this.

Trick or Treat?: Phenomena (a shortened version is known as Creepers in the USA), has been called “bonkers” by a whole lot of reviewer-types. And boy howdy, that’s accurate. It’s also a complete blast if you’re into Giallo, and just a crazy good time if you’re into surreal 80s horror. Emphasis on crazy. If you haven’t seen an Argento film before, Phenomena is probably the most accessible of his films. And since I’m gonna talk about a film that’s about a girl with psychic powers that can “talk” to insects, and that has a monkey nurse as a major character? I hope you get exactly how beautifully gonzo Argento’s ourvre is.

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