31 Days of Carson’s Specially Curated Spooky Movies
Welcome to 31 Days of HallowANDERSON! I’m Carson Schilling, your resident video editor and film enthusiast, here to recommend 31 of my all-time favorite horror movies—one for each day of October. I’ve curated this list to help educate you on horror movies, from animated family films to gnarly slashers and everything in between. Consider this your official guide on what to watch during Spooky Season.
Grab your blanket, popcorn, and someone to hide behind, then buckle up for 31 incredible films!
Day #1:
Halloween (1978) directed by John Carpenter
– Streaming on AMC+, Shudder, or rental
I had to pick this one to kick off the month since it’s one of the best Halloween movies ever made (it’s in the title, duh). If you haven’t already seen Halloween and the iconic origins of Michael Myers, then do yourself a favor and get educated on one of the best slashers ever made.
Day #2:
Psycho (1960) directed by Alfred Hitchcock
– Streaming on Netflix or rental
Yet another iconic classic to help kick off this month! I’m sure everyone knows at least something about Psycho, but if you don’t, this is a must because of how intense and unsettling it is. Psycho still holds up incredibly well after 64 years, and it’s even set in Arizona, so it’s basically made just for us.
Day #3:
The Loved Ones (2009) directed by Sean Byrne
– Streaming on Paramount+ or rental
This incredible Australian horror film is about a girl who, after getting rejected by a guy for prom, embarks on a gruesome quest that I won’t give away—you’ll just have to watch and find out for yourself. This one isn’t for the faint of heart.
Day #4:
Saw (2004) directed by James Wan
– Streaming on Max, Peacock, or rental
Of course, I have to include my favorite horror franchise of all time. Saw is a groundbreaking (and leg-breaking) horror movie saga that essentially functions as a 20-year-long soap opera. This first film is an actual masterpiece, and the whole series absolutely rocks, so as long as you’re okay with a little bit of blood, you’ll join the ranks of fun sickos like me.
Day #5:
Coraline (2009) directed by Henry Selick
– Streaming on Roku Channel, Tubi, or rental
For everyone here who absolutely refuses to watch horror (you babies), then Coraline is at least a good starting point for Spooky Season! This stop-motion movie is a gorgeous and incredibly well-made family story that can still be very creepy, with awesome creature designs and fantastic voice work. (And for all of you fans of Nightmare Before Christmas, this is from the same director!)
Day #6:
It Follows (2014) directed by David Robert Mitchell
– Streaming on Netflix, Peacock, or rental
It Follows is a fantastic, eerie horror movie that uses silence and quiet environments in an incredible way. This has some of the best horror movie cinematography I have ever seen, and certain scenes will fill you with dread. So basically, it’s my perfect type of movie!
Day #7:
The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014) directed by Adam Robitel
– Streaming on Prime, AMC+, or rental
This is one of my favorite underseen found footage movies and definitely takes the cake for the creepiest old lady in a horror movie so if that isn’t your thing, then maybe pass on this one (but you shouldn’t because it’s fantastic and very scary).
Day #8:
The Lighthouse (2019) directed by Robert Eggers
– Streaming on Max or rental
Hear ye, hear ye landlubbers! This is an incredibly surreal, strange, and hilarious horror movie with some fantastic, dedicated performances from Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. This one isn’t nearly as scary as it is experimental, but it has some scenes I guarantee you will never forget.
Day #9:
Creep (2014) directed by Patrick Brice
– Streaming on Netflix or rental
You might know Mark Duplass from one of his many incredible indie comedies, but him as a terrifying weirdo is even better. Creep is incredibly funny and tense and has some of the most unique low-budget filmmaking techniques ever. It’s also only 77 minutes long, so it (and its sequel) are definitely worth the watch.
Day #10:
Hereditary (2018) directed by Ari Aster
– Streaming on Hulu (with Cinemax) or rental
Hereditary is a wild ride. This is genuinely one of the most haunting modern horror films ever made. While it’s not necessarily underrated, this movie earns its place in the horror hall of fame for having some incredible performances, gorgeous cinematography, and a twist not even halfway through that will leave your mouth open for hours (if you know you know).
Day #11:
The Thing (1982) directed by John Carpenter
– Streaming on Prime, Peacock, AMC+, or rental
If there is one horror movie from my entire 31 Days of HallowANDERSON that I beg of you all to watch, it’s this one. I could go on about this movie because The Thing is not only my favorite horror film of all time but also one of the most influential body horror movies ever made. The incredible practical effects in this movie alone are worth watching, but even if you’re just thirst-watching for a young Kurt Russell, you must see this one.
Day #12:
Deadstream (2022) directed by Joseph and Vanessa Winter
– Streaming on AMC+, Shudder, or rental
I love found footage, and this one might be the most low-budget, underseen movie on my list. Deadstream is about a disgraced influencer streaming himself inside a haunted house when very nasty things start to happen. This movie is also hilarious and has one of the best jump scares I have seen in years.
Day #13:
Cloverfield (2008) directed by Matt Reeves
– Streaming on Paramount+ or rental
Cloverfield is my favorite monster movie ever and was super influential in the history of modern film marketing (the story behind this film’s ARG is really great). This movie is a short but very fun adventure thriller, and I’m in love with the design of the Clover monster himself (c’mon, he’s adorable).
Day #14:
Alien (1979) directed by Ridley Scott
– Streaming on Hulu, Disney+, or rental
“In space, no one can hear you scream” for how iconic this movie is. Alien is undoubtedly the best space-set horror film ever made, with an unbeatable performance from Sigourney Weaver (and has also spawned incredible sequels by my guys James Cameron and David Fincher).
Day #15:
Malignant (2021) directed by James Wan
– Streaming on Max, Peacock, or rental
James Wan is responsible for some of the most iconic modern horror movies, but none of them have been truly as camp as Malignant. This movie has the most insane third-act plot twist, and the story makes some bizarre, unique choices, but please trust me when I say this movie is so much fun.
Day #16:
Over the Garden Wall (2014) directed by Nate Cash
– Streaming on Hulu or rental
Over the Garden Wall is by far the least scary entry this month, but that doesn’t detract from how incredible it is. This animated miniseries follows two brothers trying to find their way home as they encounter many creepy and eccentric characters. It’s incredibly cute, hilarious, and the perfect watch for autumn vibes. There are only ten short episodes, and the whole series can be watched in about two hours, so it’s essentially a movie.
Day #17:
REC (2007) directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza
– Streaming on Tubi or rental
REC is a phenomenal Spanish zombie movie with some of the coolest filming techniques for something of its time and budget. This one is just classic found footage fun and can get a bit gory for all of you with weak stomachs. Also, please do yourself a favor and do not watch the English remake called Quarantine, which came out the following year, because it’s truly hot garbage.
Day #18:
The Cabin in the Woods (2011) directed by Drew Goddard
– Streaming on Peacock or rental
If you have seen any horror movies at all, then you are the target audience for The Cabin in the Woods. This one is a fantastically clever satire on the horror genre and is equally terrifying and hilarious (with one of the best and bleakest endings ever). Drew Goddard is an underrated writer/director, and Chris Hemsworth is in this if that motivates any of you to watch.
Day #19:
Possession (1981) directed by Andrzej Zulawski
– Streaming on Shudder, AMC+, or rental
Possession is one of the most influential arthouse horror films of its time (very underground to the point that it was not available anywhere in the US for years). It stars a young Sam Neill and an iconic performance from Isabelle Adjani. You’ve probably seen the memorable subway scene somewhere, but you might not have noticed how crazy weird the ending of this film is. I strongly recommend this all around!
Day #20:
I See You (2019) directed by Adam Randall
– Streaming on Prime, Pluto TV, or rental
This movie is a completely unexpected horror banger that I hadn’t seen until pretty recently. The first half starts out as a fairly standard crime drama but the halfway point takes a complete twist that turns the rest of the movie into an utter nightmare. Please watch this underrated masterpiece; you will not look at your home the same way again.
Day #21:
What We Do in the Shadows (2014) directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi
– Not streaming anywhere (which is a crime) but available for rental
For anyone needing a straight-up comedy movie for this Halloween season, What We Do in the Shadows is your perfect antidote. This movie is an absolutely hilarious story about a group of vampire roommates living in New Zealand just trying to get along with their everyday lives. This one became such a cult classic that it spawned a TV show (which is also phenomenal, and I strongly recommend it)!
Day #22:
The Blair Witch Project (1999) directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez
– Streaming on Peacock or rental
Here’s another horror classic that I’m sure you have all seen or at least heard of (and if you haven’t, shame on you). The Blair Witch Project is expertly crafted and thrives on the audience’s paranoia more than anything. Contrary to popular belief, this movie was not the beginning of the found footage genre, but it definitely reinvigorated it into pop culture. This film also has many incredibly wild stories about its production that are as creepy as the movie itself so do yourself a favor and check out this unbeatable masterpiece.
Day #23:
Ready or Not (2019) directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
– Streaming on Hulu, Disney+, or rental
In a time when class satire films are so prevalent, Ready or Not is one of the most gruesome and hilarious offerings—with an iconic performance from Samara Weaving. The entire cast is stacked, and if you want to have a super fun and bloody time with a ridiculous premise, this is the movie for you!
Day #24:
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) directed by Jung Bum-shik
– Streaming on Prime, Peacock, or rental
Here’s the one I’ve waited all month for! Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is a South Korean horror film that is the scariest, most unnerving movie I have ever seen. It’s based on—and actually shot in—an abandoned psychiatric hospital and will rattle you to your core. I don’t wanna give anything away, but I can still hear the sound design in some of the scenes from this movie, and they give me absolute chills. I already know most of you won’t bother to watch this, but if you’re feeling brave, you may need a therapy session afterward.
Day #25:
Coherence (2013) directed by James Ward Byrkit
– Streaming on Prime, Peacock, or rental
Coherence is one of my favorite recent thrillers, and it will melt your brain. While more sci-fi than horror, it and won’t leave you spooked as much as it will have you scratching your head (and Googling the ending). But I promise this incredibly fun, twisty movie is more than worth a watch.
Day #26:
House (1977) directed by Nobuhiko Ôbayashi
– Streaming on Max or rental
House is probably the wackiest movie on my list and is essential in the underground horror realm. This experimental Japanese horror movie from the 70s features some of the craziest effects and weirdest scares I guarantee you will ever see. It may be easy to laugh this movie off because it definitely comes across as a comedy—but the insane choices these filmmakers made truly need to be seen to be believed.
Day #27:
Night of the Living Dead (1968) directed by George Romero
– Streaming on Max, Peacock, AMC+, or rental
George Romero is the father of the modern zombie movie, and his legendary status begins with Night of the Living Dead. This one is definitely not very scary compared to how intense a lot of modern horror can be. Still, it practically created the physical interpretation of what we now know as zombies and its iconic status will never be diminished. Please give this classic a watch if you haven’t already seen it, and educate yourself on one of the masters of horror filmmaking.
Day #28:
Grave Encounters (2011) directed by Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz
– Streaming on Prime (with ads) or rental
Our final found footage entry into this year’s 31 Days of HallowANDERSON is Grave Encounters, a fun and silly horror movie. Before it was released, this movie dominated the festival circuit and has some of the scariest monster designs in a modern horror film. The CGI and visual effects have not held up compared to 2024 standards, but considering the low budget and dedicated cast, it’s incredibly charming and absolutely worth a watch for Spooky Season.
Day #29:
Shaun of the Dead (2004) directed by Edgar Wright
– Streaming on Peacock or rental
If you’re not familiar with the eccentric works of Edgar Wright, then Shaun of the Dead is an incredible place to start. This zombie comedy is hilariously quick-witted and creepy, featuring some of the craziest camera shots and unique editing of any modern director.
Day #30:
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) directed by Tobe Hooper
– Streaming on Peacock, Prime (with ads), or rental
Leatherface is one of the most recognizable, terrifying figures in horror history, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is genuinely one of the best American films ever made. This iconic movie is as frightening today as it was to audiences in the 70s, and it’s still scary to think about the real-life murders that inspired this story. There are many reasons why Tobe Hooper has been cemented as one of the best horror filmmakers ever, and this movie is the number one reason.
Day #31:
Trick ‘r Treat (2007) directed by Michael Dougherty
– Streaming on Max or rental
It’s the final day of October, the spookiest night of the year, and you better be playing a movie from this list tonight. Last up is Trick ‘r Treat, a modern classic that has the absolute best fall vibes of any Halloween movie ever. This anthology film follows a cast of different characters during the final night in October as creepy things start to unfold, including unsolved murders, werewolves, and the tiniest, cutest killer ever. Trick ‘r Treat is the best way to end this month, so enjoy my final entry into 31 Days of HallowANDERSON!