Story: Two sisters grow up in a perfect life, with loving aunts and literal magic. But when they get older, they realize the family curse is no joke. But what’s a little curse if you’ve got magic? Well…
Scares: A few chilling moments. Splat Factor: A dead body. Some SA that gets lightly bloody.
Subgenre: Magical Mayhem Year Released: 1998 Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Original on the book of the same name by Alice Hoffman
Trick or Treat?: Yet another film I can’t believe I haven’t written about in a #31in31. Magic is a perfect October watch for viewers who want a story that ties together magic, mayhem, and the bonds of family and sisterhood.
“WHO’S SMILING NOW, YOU INFERNAL SON OF A WHOOOOOORE???” [God I love Adam Scott.]
Story: Twin boys, Bill and Hal, find out that their deadbeat dad has a closet full of “weird stuff” he picked up on his travels. Their mom says it’ll be theirs one day…but they can’t wait. So naturally, they pick a weird monkey toy to check out. They wind it up, and it works, kinda. But when their babysitter is brutally killed in a “tragic accident”, it’s the first of quite a few of those kinda things. Twenty-five years later, the boys still can’t seem to get past what happened when they were kids. Even though they got rid of the monkey, their lives are garbage. Wait; or did they get rid of that monkey? What’s that over there?
Scares: Just that creepy-ass monkey. Splat Factor: Yep. Blood, gore, and insides outside.
Subgenre: Stephen King Shenanigans Year Released: 2025 Remake, Sequel or OG (Original Ghoul)?: Based on the Stephen King story of the same name.
Trick or Treat?: Osgood Perkins is a strange fish. And I mean that in the very best way. His filmography is filled with odd films that sit with you long after the end credits have rolled. And this one fits nicely between Longlegs, I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, and Gretel & Hansel.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
“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!
“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.
“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.
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.
Atomic Fangirl 