31 Days of Carson’s Curated Horror Films
Welcome, one and all, to my THIRD annual 31 Days of HallowANDERSON! One of my new favorite traditions here at ANDERSON is curating a list of 31 horror movies I love for everyone to watch and get into the mood for spooky season. I have been passionate about film my entire life and want to share my favorite underrated and underseen movie picks throughout the entire month. So grab a blanket to hide under and dive into my 31 picks for 2026!
Day #1:
Hellraiser (1987) dir. Clive Barke
– Streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, or rental
To kick off my favorite month of the year, we’ve got Clive Barker’s iconic Hellraiser! This incredible movie spawned a campy franchise, and while other series like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street get the spotlight, I honestly think this one is far more interesting (oops). As long as you can handle a bit of gore and some PHENOMENAL practical effects and makeup, be prepared to experience one of the most underrated horror films of the 80s.
Day #2:
Signs (2002) dir. M. Night Shyamalan
– Streaming on Hulu, Disney+, or rental
You are really missing out if you have never experienced Signs, which I think is arguably one of the best alien movies ever made. I am a BIG Shyamalan defender, and while this is definitely seen more as a family thriller, there are so many homages to the horror genre and moments that are genuinely scary. Some really strong performances and amazing visuals make this more than worthy as an October watch!
Day #3:
Scream (1996) dir. Wes Craven
– Streaming on Hulu, Paramount+, or rental
Another absolutely iconic start to a franchise is Wes Craven’s Scream, which revolutionized the horror satire genre in a multitude of ways. This film is full of amazing performances from a bunch of stars right before they blew up, plus one of the best slasher villain designs of all time. This OG will always be the best one (and you reallllllly don’t need to bother with any of them from the last ten years), but the series as a whole will always be so so so fun.
Day #4:
Silent House (2011) dir. Laura Lau, Chris Kentis
– Streaming on Tubi or rental
Silent House is a SUPER underrated horror film from the early 2010s featuring an amazing performance from Elizabeth Olsen and some of the most unexpected twists ever. The whole movie is filmed in a “one-shot” style, which keeps it continuously interesting and never lets you slow down for a breath. I would REALLY recommend seeing this one for yourself and witnessing the impressive small-budget filming techniques used.
Day #5:
Us (2019) dir. Jordan Peele
– Streaming on HBO Max or rental
I firmly believe that Us is still Jordan Peele’s best film so far, and once you have seen the intense doppelganger madness of this movie, you will understand why. This film features the (two) best Lupita Nyong’o performances EVER and has the actual best final scene/needledrop of all time. STRONGLY RECOMMEND this movie from one of our modern masters of horror.
Day #6:
American Psycho (2000) dir. Mary Harron
– Streaming on Amazon Prime, Peacock, Hulu, or rental
Bret Easton Ellis has always been a divisive, controversial author, and while I do enjoy the original book, this film adaptation is FAR superior. Christian Bale is so, so, so good as the iconic and evil Patrick Bateman, and the unique perspective on this story (since a woman directed it) is incredibly fun and refreshing. Lots and lots of good memes from this movie, and it still holds up as one of the most terrifying looks into the affluent.
Day #7:
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) dir. Jonathan Demme
– Streaming on Peacock, Tubi, or rental
One of the best horror thrillers of all time is The Silence of the Lambs has the Oscars to prove it. This film has some of the most phenomenal performances in any horror movie ever (including a genuinely good dog performance). It has influenced countless movies over the last few decades. If you have never experienced this masterpiece of tension, then now is the time.
Day #8:
Perfect Blue (1997) dir. Satoshi Kon
– Streaming on HBO Max or rental
One of the most gorgeous animated horror films ever made is also one of the most disturbing because Perfect Blue will literally leave you haunted on your first watch. This film follows a pop star as she pivots into an acting career while being stalked by a terrifyingly obsessed fan, and it will have you checking your doors and windows every night. STRONGLY recommend this iconic Japanese horror masterpiece.
Day #9:
Talk to Me (2022) dir. Danny and Michael Philippou
– Streaming on HBO Max, Tubi, or rental
Who knew that one of the most visceral and haunting horror films of the last few years would come from a pair of Australian comedy YouTubers? Talk to Me is one of the most original possession-style horror films ever made and features some of the most insane sound design of modern horror. You will definitely want to keep the lights on after watching this movie.
Day #10:
Jennifer’s Body (2009) dir. Karyn Kusama
– Streaming on Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, or rental
One of the CAMPIEST horror comedies is Jennifer’s Body, which is truly the best (maybe the only good?) Megan Fox performance of all time. The entire cast is fantastic, and the story is hilarious, but it has just enough intensely good horror moments sprinkled throughout to make it a must-watch for the Halloween season. If you haven’t already seen this cult classic, then get educated on one of the most iconic ’00s movies ever made.
Day #11:
Monster House (2006) dir. Gil Kenan
– Streaming on Peacock, Tubi, or rental
I feel like this movie is a foundational horror story for many people of my generation. You all know I’m a firm believer that kids deserve good horror movies too, and this one has permanently shaped who I am today. Monster House is such a fun, ridiculous movie that as long as you can look past the shoddy animation that hasn’t aged very well (still better than Polar Express), you will have a great time. And it’s got Steve Buscemi! There’s nothing better than that.
Day #12:
Zombieland (2009) dir. Ruben Fleischer
– Streaming on HBO Max or rental
Zombieland is hands down one of the best satires of the zombie genre ever made, and casting four Academy Award-winning and nominated actors is the best thing that could have happened. This horror-comedy (which is incredibly hilarious and genuinely super heartwarming) will have you dying laughing, and that is a promise.
Day #13:
Spree (2020) dir. Eugene Kotlyarenko
– Streaming on AMC+, MUBI, or rental
Thank GOD one of the main cast members from Stranger Things has done something interesting in the last few years (oops). Spree follows a rideshare driver who is desperate to go viral and will stop at nothing to get famous. Joe Keery is the PERFECT insane choice for this character, and this hilariously creepy movie is a great watch for this month.
Day #14:
Saint Maud (2019) dir. Rose Glass
– Streaming on Amazon Prime, MGM+, or rental
The Exorcist will always be the pinnacle of religiously fueled horror, but Rose Glass’ Saint Maud takes a similar approach in a much more modern way. This film is one of the most gorgeously shot and unique horror films of the 2010s, and it packs so much terror into such a short runtime. Religious zealots beware because this movie is not for you LOL.
Day #15:
The Others (2001) dir. Alejandro Amenábar
– Streaming on AMC+ or rental
One of the most subtly spooky ghost stories of the 21st century is The Others, which has probably my favorite Nicole Kidman performance of all time. This film has immaculately creepy vibes and some plot twists that will realllllllly mess with you. The Others is truly one of the most unique ghost stories ever. Still, people walking around beautifully designed houses at night while hearing noises has gotta be one of my favorite genres, so I might be biased.
Day #16:
It (2017) dir. Andy Muschietti
– Streaming on HBO Max or rental
It’s one of the most popular and widely referenced Stephen King adaptations of all time, and it truly lives up to its reputation every time I watch it. This film is completely creepy, genuinely hilarious, and stands on its own as a really good 80s time capsule. The miniseries with Tim Curry will always be goated, but Bill Skarsgård holds his own as an AMAZINGLY terrifying Pennywise. The casting is great, the scares are plentiful, and this movie is just right for an October watch.
Day #17:
Werewolves Within (2021) dir. Josh Ruben
– Streaming on AMC+, Tubi, or rental
One of the most underrated and underseen horror comedies of the last few years is Werewolves Within, a hilarious, snowy horror film based on an indie video game. Starring Sam Richardson (my BOY) and Milana Vayntrub (yes, that’s the AT&T girl), this film does an amazing job of tackling the classic horror creature of werewolves in a more interesting way than I think I have ever experienced. Definitely come for the laughs and good seasonal vibes because this movie has it all.
Day #18:
House of Wax (2005) dir. Jaume Collet-Serra
– Streaming on AMC+ or rental
Loosely based on the 1953 film of the same name, House of Wax is a MUCH creepier and gorier horror film than the original carnival-esque story (and that is definitely for the better). This is a fun, unique horror movie featuring some BIG-name stars right before they all blew up and got famous. Director Jaume Collet-Serra has such a good eye for camp in his films, knows how to make his narratives feel timeless, and this one is no different. A fun, waxy time to be had for all!
Day #19:
The Invitation (2015) dir. Karyn Kusama
– Streaming on Peacock, Tubi, or rental
Our second Karyn Kusama film this month is The Invitation, which is one of the most underrated and tense thrillers of the 21st century. This film has some unforgettable performances and utilizes its one-location setting SO well. Going into this movie completely blind is the best possible way to experience it because you will NOT guess some of the twists and turns of this fantastic film.
Day #20:
The Lost Boys (1987) dir. Joel Schumacher
– Streaming on AMC+ or rental
One of the best vampire movies of all time is ALSO one of the best coming-of-age movies of the 80s. The Lost Boys is a phenomenal film featuring some really great young actors as little babies right before they all became iconic. This campy movie is such a fun watch, and was even featured this year at Harkins Theatres as an October Tuesday Night Classic!
Day #21:
Drag Me to Hell (2009) dir. Sam Raimi
– Streaming on Peacock, Paramount+, or rental
If you thought The Evil Dead was insane, you will not be prepared for how ridiculous and mean-spirited this movie is. Drag Me to Hell is Sam Raimi’s most underrated and hilarious horror movie, and as long as you can retrain your brain to accept that the awful CGI and terrible writing are part of the charm, you will have a grand ol’ time.
Day #22:
Triangle (2009) dir. Christopher Smith
– Streaming on Peacock, Tubi, or rental
The Bermuda Triangle is such an underused setting for horror films, but probably because this movie did it right the first time. Triangle is an incredibly unique slasher movie that puts its characters in a seaboard, time-loop setting and plays out in such a fun way. I’d strongly recommend taking some Dramamine before this one LOL!
Day #23:
The Empty Man (2020) dir. David Prior
– Streaming on Disney+, Hulu, or rental
The Empty Man has one of the most interesting production stories in recent film history (ask me more about it), and while it may not be the scariest film on our list by any means, it’s still definitely worth a watch. This film is a gorgeously shot, surprisingly well-acted horror thriller with some really incredible moments that will never leave your brain.
Day #24:
Silent Hill (2006) dir. Christophe Gans
– Streaming on Peacock or rental
Our SECOND video game adaptation of this month is Silent Hill, which genuinely has one of the best atmospheric settings of any horror movie in history. This film gets so much hate because it’s not completely accurate to the original game (honestly, who cares?), but the production design and quiet vibe truly make it an interesting film to experience.
Day #25:
The Lodge (2019) dir. Veronika Frana, Severin Fiala
– Streaming on Tubi or rental
From the cold open, you will be completely speechless at how intense a ride you’re about to go on. The Lodge is one of the best isolation films ever, and Riley Keough delivers an INCREDIBLE performance that carries it. This story will haunt you long after it ends. This film also technically doubles as a Christmas movie so I guess if you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit early, this could be the way to do so (but I would hope not).
Day #26:
Daddy’s Head (2024) dir. Benjamin Barfoot
– Streaming on AMC+ or rental
Apologies for including a film with a title as insane as this one but Daddy’s Head is too good of a horror movie not to include. This film follows a little boy and his stepmother after the little boy’s father passes away and when a creature resembling the father visits them, they must reckon with their own terror and grief. It’s as creepy as it sounds and with the help of some fantastic practical effect work, this film is not one that you will soon get out of your head (or daddy’s head for that matter).
Day #27:
Caveat (2020) dir. Damian McCarthy
– Streaming on AMC+ or rental
Caveat is the debut feature from Damian McCarthy (director of this year’s Hokum) and it is truly a worthy watch for this month. This movie revolves around a drifter who has partial memory loss looking after a woman on an isolated island and has some of the strongest, Irish horror vibes of anything ever made. I don’t necessarily think this movie is completely revolutionary but being able to see how McCarthy got his start and how he has evolved as a filmmaker is the coolest part.
Day #28:
The House of the Devil (2009) dir. Ti West
– Streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi, or rental
The best thing Ti West has ever done is The House of the Devil, which sadly is also his least popular movie by a wide margin. This film has some incredibly scary moments and puts its audience through the wringer with evil religious imagery. Always make sure you never take a strange babysitting job on the night of a lunar eclipse, and if you’re wondering why, this film will tell you.
Day #29:
Villains (2019) dir. Robert Olsen, Dan Berk
– Streaming on Disney+, Peacock, or rental
Right before her turn as one of our generation’s best scream queens, Maika Monroe starred in Villains with Bill Skarsgård and played off this Bonnie-and-Clyde-type story with ease. This film is such a fun horror-comedy that the leads are excellent and will have you guessing what happens next until the very end.
Day #30:
The Vanishing (1988) dir. George Sluizer
– Available for rental
The Vanishing, or known by its original Dutch title Spoorloos, is truly one of the most haunting stories ever put to film. This film follows a young woman who gets kidnapped in broad daylight while on vacation with her boyfriend and once years pass after her disappearance, the man begins to receive letters from her kidnapper. The true terror of this film comes from how icy cold and grounded in reality it feels, and the slow-burn feeling of watching this horror unfold is unlike anything else I have experienced. This film also has one of the most bone-chilling endings ever so if you’re looking for a really feel-bad time at the movies, this one is for you!
Day #31:
The Witch (2015) dir. Robert Eggers
– Streaming on Amazon Prime or rental
No one fits a period-accurate horror story better than history nerd Robert Eggers, and this film is the truest example of that. The Witch is a wonderful, already iconic horror movie about a 17th-century family whose faith is tested by the introduction of pure evil. I absolutely adore this movie, and paired with Anya Taylor-Joy’s excellent performance, it’s a must-see that feels juuuuuuuust right to close out our month.
