Cinema Scholars Recommends: 31 Horror Films For 31 Days Of October

Introduction

For horror fans, the 31 for 31 challenge is a beloved tradition in October. It’s a celebratory indulgence as well as a personal challenge to genre-loving cinephiles. So, what are the rules? It depends on you! The 31 Horror Films for 31 Days of October is all about how you want to play it.

Purists claim that you must watch one horror movie on each day of the month to meet the challenge. You can even create a stricter approach and decide to only watch 31 films from a subgenre, such as zombie movies or post-apocalyptic films.  Most take a more casual approach and just try to make it to 31 films within the month. That’s how I play.

Do TV Shows Count?

For this article, I’ve only included feature-length films but I don’t think it’s cheating to include horror television series as part of the challenge. Some of the horror series out there are phenomenal.  In my home, two episodes of a series, or one episode of a mini-series counts as a day’s worth of horror. For die-hards who disagree, some of us have kids, long work hours, or share a tv with a sensitive partner who can’t hang. We’re making it work. TV shows are in!

Choosing the 31 for 31 Films:

First, the selections are contemporary. The newer the better, but also these films are (currently) available to stream. That means that very recent or current theatrical releases such as Alien: Romulus or The Substance are not included. If you are a busy person and making it out to a theater is a chore, no worries.

Second, these movies all have strong merit. There are many plot devices associated with horror that feel tired. The movies on this list offer a unique approach, or at least they do a good job with a familiar trope. And most importantly, this selection revels in genre, without being shlocky, brain-dead gore fests with no substance. And if shlocky, brain-dead gore fest is your preferred flavor, respect, my friend.  Gore is good. No judgment here.

Scary is the Name of the Game:

But scary is better than gore. Much better. I included a fright-level score. It’s based on concept as much as startle scares or atmosphere. A high rating means the film goes to dark places with disturbing themes and imagery. The lower the rating the less intense, the more approachable the subject matter. Check your headspace before the higher-rated films and there’s no shame in having a Hocus Pocus day when you need it.

Here’s my 31 for 31 recommendations, in no particular order:

When Evil Lurks (2023)  Subgenre: Indie Folk Horror                                 

Director: Demián Rugna       

Scene from When Evil Lurks
“When Evil Lurks” (2023) does not pull its punches. Photo courtesy of IFC Films.

This Argentinian festival darling and brutal horror film is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard to explain and can only be experienced.  This movie will stay with you because it is not only searingly disturbing but also a fantastic film. Parents beware, you won’t like some scenes.

Fright Level: 10/10

Talk To Me (2022)  Subgenre: Supernatural Thriller                                 

Director: Danny & Michael Philippou   

Talk To Me is a refreshing take on the supernatural horror genre. Enjoy some exciting séance sequences and intense creepiness with an updated feel. The violence here is more subtle, but the psychological terror is not.

Fright Level: 9/10

Black Phone (2021)  Subgenre: Serial Killer/Supernatural                             

Director: Scott Derrickson

A surprisingly poignant and clever film about a boy who is held captive in a basement. This film is polished horror and a supremely satisfying watch.

Fright Level: 6

Late Night with the Devil (2023)  Subgenre: Descent Into Madness                     

Director: Cameron Cairnes 

This stylized and atmospheric television parody has a found footage flavor. It’s a little arthouse, and a little absurd, in just the right amounts. Have fun with it and just enjoy the ride.

Fright Level: 6

It Lives Inside (2023)  Subgenre: Boogeyman                                           

Director: Bishal Dutta 

This Indian American coming-of-age film revitalizes the boogeyman genre with wonderful performances and cultural depth. Grab your bestie and watch it together.

Fright Level: 6

What Keeps You Alive (2018)  Subgenre: Survival Horror/LGBTQA+                   

Director: Colin Minihan 

Bloody, violent, and intense, this film leaves you breathless as you root for the protagonist. Maybe it’s not the best film to watch if you’re angry at your partner…or maybe it’s the PERFECT film to watch if you’re angry at your partner. I’ll leave that up to you.

Fright Level: 8

Border (2018)  Subgenre: Fantasy/Drama                                                 

Director: Ali Abbasi

Tina (Eva Melander) has doubts about this traveler in “Border” (2018). Photo courtesy of TriArt Film.

As bizarre as it is impressive, this modern-day fable is a true genre-bender. You’ve never seen anything like it and it’s excellent.

Fright Level: 5

Malignant (2021)  Subgenre: Boogeyman/Thriller                                                 

Director: James Wan

A splashy horror thriller dripping with homage to the classics. It also has several delightfully choreographed action sequences and police procedural plot lines. A lot is going on and it works tremendously well.

Fright Level: 9

The Host (2006)  Subgenre: Creature Feature Comedy                                         

Director: Bong Joon Ho

Arguably one of the best films on this list, this Korean masterpiece is a must-see once a year, if not more often. Hilarious, poignant, and thrilling, it kicks so much ass!

Fright Level: 4

Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)  Subgenre: Psychological Horror                         

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

A doctor’s family falls victim to intense psychological manipulation by a teenage boy in this story. This movie sinks in its teeth with stunning performances and leaves you feeling unsettled for long after the credits run.

Fright Level: 9

Humane (2024) Subgenre: Horror/Thriller                                                 

Director: Caitlin Cronenberg

To avoid a mass extinction, the human population must be reduced by 20% ASAP. The patriarch of an influential family volunteers to give up his life and inadvertently throws his family into murderous chaos.

Fright Level: 4

Errementari: The Devil and the Blacksmith (2017)  Subgenre: Dark Fantasy 

Director: Paul Urkijo Alijo

Horror
Sartael the demon (Eneko Sagardoy) is up to no good in “Errementari” (2017). Photo courtesy of Filmax.

A beautiful folk story about a devil, a blacksmith, and a little girl living in a culture of religious abuse in the 1800s in Basque, Spain. This movie is pure poetry with outstanding performances!

Fright Level: 5

The Wailing (2016)  Subgenre: Supernatural Folk Horror                                       

Director: Na Hong-jin

A cop and a shaman race against time to save a little girl from an evil force in this fantastic movie. Exciting and atmospheric, it’s extremely rewatchable!

Fright Level: 6

Fresh (2022)  Subgenre: Psychological Terror                                         

Director: Mimi Cave

This tale of dating woe takes a hard turn one-third of the way through. It’s brilliant, terrifying, and on point with modern feminist themes.

Fright Level: 8

Dashcam (2021)  Subgenre: Found Footage/Livestream                                       

Director: Rob Savage

Want a completely different perspective on horror? Check this amazing film out. It’s wild, it’s weird, and it’s scary, but most of all, it’s fun!

Fright Level: 8

The Innocents (2022)  Subgenre: Supernatural Thriller                                 

Director: Eskil Vogt

Have an unfounded fear of children? This movie will justify those feelings! When young children develop amazing powers, things get dark.

Fright Level: 8

No One Will Save You (2023)  Subgenre: Science Fiction/Survival                     

Director: Brian Duffield 

A reclusive lady must fight for her life in this action-packed alien home invasion flick. It’s a fun romp with very little dialogue…human dialogue, that is.

Fright Level: 6

Slash/Back (2022)  Subgenre: Science Fiction/Horror/Comedy

Director: Nyla Innuksuk       

Want to watch an Inuit horror teen comedy? Look no further than Slash/Back. It’s whimsical and delightful, plus it has aliens. What else are you looking for?

Fright Level: 4

The Empty Man (2020)  Subgenre: Occult Mystery/Urban Legend                       

Director: David Prior

This elevated concept of horror wallows in high strangeness. It’s artsy and powerful, with a super creepy atmosphere.

Fright Level: 6

Smile (2022)  Subgenre: Supernatural Mystery                                         

Director: Parker Finn

Horror
Caitlin Stasey gives us a creepy grin in “Smile” (2022). Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

In this terrifying tale, a young psychiatrist faces off with an evil force. The film is beautifully shot, and paced and levels up the fear factor as it moves through the story.

Fright Level: 8

Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)  Subgenre: Survival/Whodunit                   

Director: Halina Reijn

Need a break from the really scary stuff? This movie is about a group of privileged twenty-somethings who party in a mansion to wait out a hurricane. Things go wrong during a party game and then the real festivities begin! It’s not too scary, but it’s a lot of fun.

Fright Level: 4

Prey (2022)  Subgenre: Science Fiction/Period Piece                                       

Director: Dan Trachtenberg

A Native American spin on the Predator Saga with a female lead who kicks some serious ass. It’s action-packed, and it can be streamed in the Comanche language on Hulu!

Fright Level: 4

A Quiet Place (2018)  Subgenre: Post-Apocalypse/Family Drama                         

Director: John Krasinski

This feature is the first of three in the “Quiet Place Universe” and is the best of them. It’s an intimate story about a loving family and their fight for survival against invading creatures.

Fright Level: 8

A Quiet Place 2 (2020)  Subgenre: Post Apocalypse/Survival Horror                   

Director: John Krasinski

A thrilling sequel that picks up immediately from where the original finishes. Home destroyed; our scrappy family goes on a quest across the country to find a safe haven.

Fright Level: 7

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)  Subgenre: Apocalyptic/Survival Horror   

Director: Michael Sarnoski

The origin story of the alien invasion is told through the plight of a dying woman in New York City. It’s a little sappy and not as scary as its predecessors, but still a good film.

Fright Level: 5

We Are Still Here (2015)  Subgenre: Haunted House                               

Director: Ted Geoghegan

This haunted house movie gives the genre a terrifying reboot and the serious treatment it deserves. It’s got all the usual tropes, New England house, old curses, spiritualists, and a recent death in the family, but it plays like a fresh wound. Well done.

Fright Level: 8

Back Country (2014)  Subgenre: Wilderness Survival                             

Director: Adam Macdonald

A city couple goes into the woods for an advanced backpacking adventure, what could go wrong? A lot, as it turns out, a bloody lot.

Fright Level: 7

Barbarian (2022)  Subgenre: Genre-Bender                                               

Director: Zach Cregger

Horror
Justin Long is having a bad day in a scene from “Barbarian” (2022). Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

This movie portrays a lot of fears experienced by women traveling alone. Then it takes a hard turn, and then another. It’s weird, it’s scary and it’s unpredictable. Good stuff!

Fright Level: 8

Deadstream (2022)  Subgenre: Found Footage Horror                             

Director: Joseph and Vanessa Winter

This quirky horror movie packs in a lot of humor and has a funhouse-of-horror feel to it. Clever in execution and loaded with jump scares, you won’t be able to relax as it ramps up!

Fright Level: 7

The Medium (2021)  Subgenre: Found Footage/Folk Horror                         

Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun

This is a spine-tingling story about a shaman matriarch and her efforts to unseat an evil spirit tormenting her family. The film becomes more unsettling as it goes, and the scares are punchy!

Fright Level: 9

Blood Red Sky (2021)  Subgenre: Gender-Bender                                   

Director: Peter Thorwarth

Strap in for a bloody romp in the sky! With fun twists and turns, this airplane adventure will knock your socks off. Don’t watch the trailer, it has major spoilers, but even if you know going in, it’s great!

Fright Level: 6

Can you make it to 31?

So there you have it, 31 horror films to knock out this month. Let us know what you think of this recommended selection and if you make it to 31!

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