Will I succeed in breaking my previous best? Likely not as during COVID when I had nothing else to do I watched an impressively stupid SEVENTY FIVE flicks in a single month! I doubt I can equal that but I'm going to try. What may be easier to do is drop a new horror movie review every day. I can't believe that I've been doing this for seven years now. Time just flies by.
In case you are interested in my previous October marathons I've linked them below. Below that is the running total for how well I'm doing on this year's marathon. I love this time of year and can't wait to revisit some old favorites and maybe find a couple new ones.
Movie Review Marathon - New reviews!
*click on the titles for the full review link
October 1st - Evil Dead Rise (2023) - Never let it be said that I don't watch new horror flicks. That said I was very worried in checking out this new entry into the Evil Dead franchise.
October 2nd - Mark of the Dead Man (1961) - I'm always looking for Mexican Horror/Mad Scientist fun.
October 3rd - A Werewolf in England (2020) - Low budget werewolf horror/comedy that works well!
October 4th - The Alien Within (1995) - Roger Corman produced "homage" to much better creature features that stars a lot of familiar "B" movie actors including my personal favorite Roddy McDowall.
October 5th - Deadly Manor (1990) - Never watched this one before and won't ever do so again. This is the first real stinker of the month. You can read my review for more details but really don't bother.
October 6th - Night of Terror (1933) - This is one of those "Old Dark House" movies that could fit equally in either the horror or mystery genre. But since this one has Bela Lugosi in a supporting role I thought it fit nicely in with this marathon.
October 7th - Dark Places (1974) - I had never heard of this one before but when I saw that Christopher Lee and Joan Collins had supporting roles I added it to my must watch list. I wasn't disappointed.
October 8th - Curse of the Screaming Dead (1982) - This one, also called The Curse of the Cannibal Confederates, is a real stinker of a zombie flick. Sometimes when you go digging for new stuff you end up watching some real crap.
October 9th - Unwelcome (2022) - This dropped on Shudder a while ago but I wanted to save it for the marathon. It looked like something I was going to dig and I wasn't disappointed. This is a fun one!
October 10th - Pooka! (2018) - I've been meaning to check this one out since it hit Hulu a few years ago. Finally got around to it for this year's marathon.
October 11th - Zombies of the Living Dead (2015) - I keep swearing off low or in this case no budget zombie flicks only to watch more. This one is miserable and I had many "regerts" just a few minutes in.
October 12th - Huge Shark (2021) - This always happens to me. I go digging deep for new stuff to talk about and I go too far. This made for Chinese television flick is a poorly executed copy of much better movies.
October 13th - Frostbitten (2006) - I had to toss a new vampire flick into the mix. Well okay this was new to me... regardless I was surprised at how much fun I had with this low budget vampire horror comedy.
October 14th - Blood Bath (1966) - I think that I've seen this one ages ago maybe on one of my local horror hosted shows. That said I didn't remember anything about it. Cobbled together from another project that Roger Corman made with some added footage from Jack Hill this one is a mess.
October 15th - Return of the Killer Shrews (2012) - This is a sequel that I've been waiting to watch for quite a while now. I've actually had a copy for a while but forgot about it.
October 16th - The Last Matinee (2020) - I've been seeing this one pop up on Shudder but I've been ignoring it. I mean the idea of a Giallo/Slasher style flick is right up my alley but there always seemed to be something else to watch. Finally watched it for the marathon and it was damn good!
October 17th - Girls with Balls (2018) - This movie has been on my radar for a while having been on my Netflix queue. This marathon seemed to be a perfect excuse to finally check it out.
October 18th - Slotherhouse (2023) - What happens when you swap out the killer in a slasher movie with a homicidal sloth? You get a movie that is a complete blast! Really Slotherhouse might be my favorite movie of the year!
October 19th - Killer Book Club (2023) - I've been having great luck this year with new or new to me horror flicks. This one has an old school slasher movie vibe with a killer in a creepy clown mask. Toss in a solid if not unfamiliar twist for a bit of fun.
October 20th - Totally Killer (2023) - Another new horror flick that I loved! How long can I keep this positive vibe going? Spoilers it is going to end soon. This one can be found on Amazon Prime and is worth taking a look at.
October 21st - 13 Eerie (2013) - I thought I'd take a shot at another indy zombie movie. This one isn't as bad as the last one I looked at but it also isn't great.
October 22nd - Plaga Zombies: American Invasion (2023) - Well shit. I did it again I watched an indie zombie flick. IT ended up about who you would expect it to have. I really need to stop doing this.
October 23rd - Ready or Not (2018) - This is one of the best movies I've seen in the last five years. I caught it at the drive-in, which was a perfect place for a first watch. If you haven't seen this one before you need to give it a chance.
October 24th - My Best Friend is a Vampire (1987) - I remember this movie from the theater as well as my early rental days. I think that the last time I checked it out was when I rented it from Blockbuster Video (how is that for a blast from the past?) in the early '90s.
October 25th - Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023) - If you were interested in checking this one out don't. It totally wastes the twisted idea of using a beloved children's icon recently dropped into public domain in a horror movie and basically puts a Pooh mask overtop of a generic backwoods hillbilly killing city folk movie. Terrible idea and an even worse flick.
October 26th - Blood Beast from Outer Space (1965) - Dug up an old science fiction flick I had never seen before. Stars John Saxon and is about an alien come to London to kidnap ladies to take home to repopulate. It is pretty bad.
October 27th - Night of the Hunted (2023) - This is another new horror movie. It popped up on Shudder and the plot synopsis read about a woman seemingly targeted at random by a sniper at a lonely gas station in the middle of the night. It seems relatable and that always makes for a scary horror flick.
October 28th - Spasmo (1974) - I thought I should switch things up and drop a Giallo on you. There is a murderer, a body count, and a few scares along the way. This is a decent movie and might be a fun change of pace if you are looking to add some variety to your own spooky movie marathon.
October 29th - Dead Meat (1960) - I watched this flick many years ago but haven't ever covered it for the site. I remember sort of liking it so despite being an independent zombie flick I'm sure it will be fine. Plus it is Irish so that is different.
October 30th - Zombie Town (2023) - I was never a Goosebumps kid as I was a bit too old for it so I don't have any nostalgia when it comes to the work of R.L. Stine. That said I have dug some of the adaptations of his work as well as some of the old Saturday morning shows that I've seen. When this popped up on Hulu I thought I'd give it a watch.
October 31st - Mammoth (2006) - I thought I'd finish up the review marathon by covering my favorite Sci-Fi channel original. I honestly thought I had covered this a long time ago but didn't. This one is just the right combination of silly and serious.
Wrap up of the Review Marathon
Thirty one days and thirty one reviews. I'd call that a success. I checked out some new movies that were good like Evil Dead Rise and others that weren't so good (I'm looking at you Blood and Honey!). I checked all the horror boxes with Slashers, Zombies, Vampires, Aliens, and even found a solid Werewolf flick! This year I even snuck in some Giallo goodness. I hope you guys enjoyed seeing what I did for this most festive of holiday seasons... seriously Hallmark dump the Christmas bullshit and make some horror! Until next year keep it spooky.
What I've Watched
Movie 1 (October 1st) - Frostbitten (2006) - random vampire flick from Sweden. New to me. update: I posted the review here.
Movie 2 (October 1st) - Blood Bath (1966) - Been a while since I've watched this Jack Hill flick. update: review posted.
Movie 3 (October 1st) - Return of the Killer Shrews (2012) - The sequel to a favorite of mine. Forgot that I bought a copy five or six years ago. Time to check it out. update: here is the review.
Movie 4 (October 1st) - Willy's Wonderland (2021) - Nic Cage has been making some awesome flicks over the last few years. This is one of my favorites. Click here for my review from a couple of years ago.
Movie 5 (October 2nd) - The Legend of Hell House (1973) - This is my favorite haunted house movie. Not only is it spooky as hell but we also get Roddy McDowall as one of our protagonists. Click here for the review I did five years ago. Damn has it been that long?
Movie 6 (October 2nd) - The Last Matinee (2020) - I bought this movie a couple of years ago and just now am getting around to watching it. This is a new to me flick and is new horror rom Uruguay which is a first for me. I'm excited. update: finally posted the review.
Movie 7 (October 2nd) - Blood Fest (2018) - Been a while since I've watched this one but I like it. Check out my full review here.
Movie 8 (October 3rd) - Dawn of the Dead (2004) - The original Dawn of the Dead is my favorite movie ever. You will be seeing it on this list before the month is over. While I wish they had called this one Wisconsin Zombie Mall instead of Dawn of the Dead it is one of the better remakes. Check out my full review here.
Movie 9 (October 3rd) - The Mad (2007) - Billy Zane in a zombie flick that is being played for laughs. Trust me it is way better than it sounds. This has become a yearly tradition for me. Check out my full review at this link.
Movie 10 (October 4th) - Girls with Balls (2018) - In an effort to find some hidden gems I thought I should check out this one. It has been floating around Netflix for a while so why not. update: the review is live now.
Movie 11 (October 4th) - House on Haunted Hill (1959) - This is a true classic. Not as spooky as The Legend of Hell House but special in it's own cheesy way. Plus Vincent Price! Check out my full review here.
Movie 12 (October 5th) - The Evil Dead (1981) - I watch this every October and have since I was fourteen... which was a long damn time ago! Not sure that I need to say much more about this genuine horror classic. I did a review of it a few years ago that you can check out here.
Movie 13 (October 5th) - The Fog (1980) - I figured why not make tonight a classic horror movie double feature. This is my favorite ghost story not called The Legend of Hell House. It is also one of my favorite Carpenter flick, maybe second only to Halloween. You can check out my review here.
Movie 14 (October 6th) - Slotherhouse (2023) - I've been very excited about this movie since teh trailer dropped. Not sure how well the admittedly silly premise will hold up over the duration of a feature film. Fingers crossed it is as awesome as I hope. update: the review is live.
Movie 15 (October 6th) - Cooties (2014) - Bad chicken nuggets turn kids into homicidal killers... Sign me up. We also get an appearance from an Assistant to the Regional Manager as well as a Hobbit! Enough laughs and mayhem to make it a perfect fit this time of year. My full review is here.
Movie 16 (October 6th) - V/H/S/85 (2023) - I liked the last installment of this series so I thought I'd check out this new one that just hit Shudder. Not a huge found footage fan but these have been mostly okay.
Movie 17 (October 7th) - I Drink Your Blood (1971) - Rabid Hippies terrorizing an almost abandoned town. This is one of my personal favorites that I always watch this time of year. If you want to read more then check out the review.
Movie 18 (October 7th) - Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things (1972) - I think that today might turn into watching some old favorites of mine and this falls squarely into that category. I love this Bob Clark flick. Check out my full review here.
Movie 19 (October 7th) - Killer Book Club (2023) - I changed my mind. Instead of grabbing a familar flick from the shelves I decided to check out this one on Netflix. This Spanish production looks to be a new take on a slasher/giallo flick. update: Finally got the review live.
Movie 20 (October 7th) - Haunted Mansion (2023) - I know that this one had some bad reviews but I love the ride at Disney so I have to watch this one. As an added bonus my wife, who normally doesn't participate in the spooky stuff, wants to watch it with me. Can't pass up a movie with my Boo... see what I did there?
Movie 21 (October 7th) - Hubie Halloween (2020) - This has been an annual tradition of mine since the movie came out three years ago. I know that some folks aren't Adam Sandler movies, but when they are funny they are funny. This one is funny.
Movie 22 (October 8th) - Terror Train (1980) - I'm a sucker for slasher movies as well as flicks set on a train. Terror Train is both! You can check out my full review here.
Movie 23 (October 9th) - The Thing (1982) - I seriously can't have a spooky October without watching this classic John Carpenter flick. Great cast, cool special effects, and an awesome sense of isolation and paranoia. Perfect movie. In the unlikely event you haven't seen this one before you can check out my full review here.
Movie 24 (October 9th) - Tremors (1990) - This is one of my favorite monster movies and one that spawned some decent sequels. I'll never forget looking up at the marquee at the theater in the mall and convincing my friends to check it out. Speaking of checking things out here is my review from a few years ago.
Movie 25 (October 10th) - The Deadly Mantis (1957) - I can't celebrate Halloween without some fifties giant bug goodness. I've always loved the ending of this one in the fog, it is spooky. You can read more here.
Movie 26 (October 10th) - Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988) - I've always enjoyed this sequel. Not as good as the original but I enjoy the zombies, humor, and generally just find this to be a fun time. Check out my review at this link.
Movie 27 (October 11th) - Totally Killer (2023) - This one was pitched as a Ground Hogs day/Slasher movie mashup. I'm getting some Happy Death Day vibes but I dig that movie so I figured I'd give this a chance. update: The review is live.
Movie 28 (October 11th) - 13 Eerie (2013) - I've had this movie in my Amazon watch later list for a while. It looks like an interesting folks go into the woods and bad things happen movie. I'm always down for one of them. This is another new to me flick. update: The review is live.
Movie 29 (October 12th) - Prince of Darkness (1987) - Time to get back to some old favorites after checking out some new flicks. I watch a lot of John Carpenter flicks this time of year and this is a great one. Check out my full review at this link.
Movie 30 (October 12th) - Night of the Creeps (1986) - This is another old favorite of mine that I need to watch every October. This was a tradition when all I could get was a bootleg, but thankfully that changed many years ago when it finally hit DVD and Blu-Ray. Check out my full review here.
Movie 31 (October 12th) - My Name is Bruce (2007) - I love Bruce Campbell and how he is the first one to goof on himself. Between that and being in awesome movies is why he is loved so much by fans. If you haven't seen this flick you need to check it out. I always watch it around Halloween.
Movie 32 (October 13th) - Friday the 13th (1980) - Well it is Friday the 13th and it happens to be October. I can't remember the last time that happened. Check out my full review here if you don't know already how awesome this flick is.
Movie 33 (October 13th) - Jason X (2001) - Well it is still Friday the 13th and I haven't watched this one in a long time. Thought I might as well revisit it. Plus I've never reviewed it for the site so two birds one stone.
Movie 34 (October 14th) - Intruder (1989) - If you haven't seen this gem of a slasher you are missing out. Created by some of the folks responsible for the Evil Dead franchise you will see many familiar faces in this one. I always watch this one in October. Check out my full review here.
Movie 35 (October 14th) - The Midnight Hour (1985) - This is another Halloween tradition. This made for television flick has stars a lot of familiar faces and is family friendly. My full review is here.
Movie 36 (October 15th) - Mutant (1984) - This flick from stuntman/director/actor John "Bud" Cardos is one of his better directorial efforts. It feels a bit like a zombie flick but has a fun chemical spill subplot. Regardless it is a good time and something I like to revisit every year. You can find my full review here.
Movie 37 (October 15th) - Plaga Zombie: American Invasion (2021) - This is a new to me movie. It is also an independent low budget zombie flick. Yeah I know I just said I needed to stop doing this to myself but I can't help it. update: The review is live.
Movie 38 (October 16th) - The Prowler (1981) - Had to work another slasher into the mix. This one has great kills and a killer that looks awesome. I get that it isn't everyone's cup of tea but I dig it. Check out my full review here.
Movie 39 (October 16th) - Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein (1948) - I need some comedy in my horror marathon. This is one of my favorites with the comic duo of Abbott and Costello meeting up with Bela Lugosi as Dracula and Lon Chaney as the Wolfman. This movie is a real classic.
Movie 40 (October 17th) - Ready or Not (2018) - I first saw this at my local drive-in during the initial release. I loved it and the drive-in was the perfect place to see it. Not sure if I've watched it in previous marathons but it does deserve a spot this year. update: Just uploaded the review.
Movie 41 (October 17th) - Little Monsters (2019) - Time for a legit funny zombie comedy from Australia. This flick made me sort of tolerate Josh Gad. He is gleefully funny. You can check out my full review here.
Movie 42 (October 18th) - My Best Friend is a Vampire (1987) - I honestly haven't watched this movie in maybe thirty years! I picked a copy up at the local big box store. I always like adding at least one movie to my collection every October. update: Here is the review link.
Movie 43 (October 18th) - The Monster Squad (1987) - Kids movie or not this one is way too much fun to not watch every Halloween. If you haven't seen this one or just want to hear more from me you can check out my full review here.
Movie 44 (October 18th) - IT! The Terror from Beyond Space (1958) - I haven't had nearly enough fifties goodness in my marathon. This movie is one of the lesser known but decent sci-fi/horror flicks made during that most magical of decades. Check out my full review here.
Movie 45 (October 19th) - Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023) - Been doing so well with new horror I decided to press my luck. Plus I honestly wanted to see what sort of nonsense this was going to be since the first trailer hit the web. Here goes nothing... update: The review is live.
Movie 46 (October 19th) - The Burning (1981) - After the last movie I needed something to restore my faith in decent filmmaking. I guess that is a spoiler but yeah it sucked. I thought a classic slasher flick from the eighties was just the ticket. You can check out my full review for The Burning here.
Movie 47 (October 20th) - Demons 2 (1986) - This one isn't normally in my marathon but Joe Bob Briggs is showing it on his Halloween special so I'm in. Not nearly as fun as the original this one still has enough shenanigans to be fun.
Movie 48 (October 20th) - All Hallows' Eve (2013) - This is another movie that I normally wouldn't watch. But it is the second movie of the Halloween special from Joe Bob Briggs so why the hell not. Plus it is good to check out different things and expand your spooky movie horizons.
Movie 49 (October 21st) - Night of the Living Dead (1968) - I can't have Halloween without some Romero! Thought I'd start off with this true classic and where the modern zombie mythos was created. You can read my full review here.
Movie 50 (October 21st) - Zombie Town (2023) - I'm a fan of R. L. Stine so when I saw this hit Hulu as well as the relaunch of the Goosebumps I was excited. It might be a bit juvenile but I dig it. Just hoping it is as much fun as the Jack Black movies. update: Check out my full review here.
Movie 51 (October 22nd) - Evil Dead II (1987) - Time to dive into another classic horror flick. I can't have October without some Evil Dead. I checked out the original earlier this month so this was the next one up. Be sure that I'll get to Army of Darkness before the month is out. You can check out my full review here.
Movie 52 (October 22nd) - Blood Beast from Outer Space (1965) - This British sci-fi/horror flick is new to me. The only reason I even found it was that it stars John Saxon! I'm pretty excited to check it out. update: The review is live.
Movie 53 (October 23rd) - The Crazies (1973) - I always like to check this one out every October. I'm always surprised by how many professed Romero fans ignore and/or don't like this one. I've always dug it. It is a perfect bridge between Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead. Check out my full review here.
Movie 54 (October 23rd) - Super 8 (2011) - I've loved this movie since it first came out. I can't believe that was twelve years ago! This is a perfect bit of nostalgia that reminds an eighties kid like myself about all the cool shit we used to have. You can check my review here.
Movie 55 (October 24th) - Night of the Hunted (2023) - This just popped up on Shudder and looks to be a genuinely scary bit of modern horror. There is a sniper terrorizing a woman at an isolated gas station in the middle of the night. That synopsis got under my skin so I need to check it out. update: Here is the review.
Movie 56 (October 24th) - Dead Meat (2004) - An Irish indie zombie flick. Yeah I know I keep saying that I need to stop watching low budget zombie flicks... but Ireland! I think I watched this one a few years ago but don't remember a thing. That probably isn't a good sign. update: The review is available now.
Movie 57 (October 25th) - The Thing from Another World (1951) - I can't have a Halloween season without this classic sci-fi monster movie from the '50s. I love this movie. Check my full review here for more.
Movie 58 (October 25th) - Mammoth (2006) - This Sci-Fi channel movie is probably the best one they ever made. The cast is great with Sumer Glau and Tom Skerritt appearing. Plus we have aliens and a reanimated Mammoth! I end up watching this one every couple of years. update: The review is posted here.
Movie 59 (October 25th) - Night of the Living Dead (1990) - This may be the best remake I've ever seen. Overseen by Romero and directed by Tom Savini this flick is awesome. The special effects and zombies kick ass. I have to watch it every October. The full review is here.
Movie 60 (October 26th) - Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) - I though movie sixty should be something special. This one is special... know what I mean Verne? It has been a couple of years since I popped this one in so I figured it was time to rewatch it.
Movie 61 (October 27th) - Eight Legged Freaks (2002) - This is another yearly tradition for me. I consider this to be one of the better monster movies of the last couple decades. I remember watching this when it first hit theaters. Damn that was twenty one years ago... I'm old. My full review is here.
Movie 62 (October 27th) - The Night Stalker (1972) - I can't have a spooky season without some Carl Kolchak. This is the movie that kicked off the brief but awesome Kolchak franchise. If you haven't seen this or the movie and series that followed you need to check them out. My full review is here.
Movie 63 (October 28th) - The Beast Must Die (1974) - Another must have every October is a werewolf break! This is the only place you can get one of those so I had to watch The Beast Must Die. It also happens to be a good movie. You can check out my full review here.
Movie 64 (October 28th) - Gangnam Zombie (2023) - Okay another low budget zombie movie... I know what I keep saying. But this one is Korean and they tend to make good stuff regardless of budget so I have hope.
Movie 65 (October 28th) - Meg 2 The Trench (2023) - I needed some shark action in the marathon. My only hope for this flick is that Statham finally punches the shark. Oh and the Yorkie needs to be okay again. I hate it when a horror flick kills the dog. That is a total dick move.
Movie 66 (October 28th) - Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995) - This has become a must watch every October. Billy Zane gleefully chews the scenery in this over the top horror flick. Check out my full review here.
Movie 67 (October 28th) - Feast (2005) - This is another movie that I have to watch every October. This is another great monster movie with some comedic elements. You can check out my full review here. But bottom line is if you haven't watched this yet check it out.
Movie 68 (October 29th) - 13 Ghosts (1960) - I needed more William Castle goodness in my annual marathon. This one is a bit cheesier and silly than most of them but I've always dug it. You can check out my full review here.
Movie 69 (October 29th) - Maximum Overdrive (1986) - This is another favorite. It has a body count but I supposed some argument could be made that it is science fiction. But this is my marathon so its horror. You can check out my full review here.
Movie 70 (October 30th) - Dawn of the Dead (1978) - Two days left and we are now officially entering the classics portion of the marathon. This is one of my favorite movies that I always save for this time of year. If you need more check out my review here.
Movie 71 (October 30th) - Army of Darkness (1992) - I had to finish the trilogy before the month ended. This is the silliest of the Evil Dead movies and is a blast. I always check it out for Halloween. You can read my full review here.
Movie 72 (October 30th) - Slither (2006) - Funny, gross, and scary. That is the horror trifecta. I remember catching this movie in the theater on my way back from a movie convention. Since then it has been in my yearly marathon. I love this flick to read more why check out my review.
Movie 73 (October 31st) - Halloween (1978) - Saving the best for last. Well I mean Dawn of the Dead is my favorite all time movie but you can't go wrong with this Carpenter classic. I'll be watching this as well as the sequel. But I suppose that is spoilers. Here is my full review but honestly if you haven't seen this yet go do so now!
Movie 74 (October 31st) - Halloween II (1981) - I've always loved how well this and the original Halloween mesh together despite this one being more of a traditional slasher flick with kills and gore. You can check out my full review here.
Movie 75 (October 31st) - Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - Last movie of the month and of this year's marathon also completes the Tom Atkins triple feature. I already had Night of the Creeps and The Fog out of the way so why not Halloween III? You can check my full review out here.
Wrap up of Movie Marathon
Damn I managed seventy five flicks which ties my all time record. I hadn't thought I'd do that well but I suppose I just got on a roll. Managed to revisit a lot of old favorites, checked all the must watch boxes, and added a few new flicks. I think I might have added a few to the must watch every October list as well. The highlight for me was Slotherhouse.
I hope that everyone had a wonderful October, watched some spooky movies, and got their fill of candy. Until October 2024 keep it creepy. Don't forget to stop by Crappy Movie Reviews all year to get new horror movie and book reviews. Here every day is Halloween!
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