JR ❄️Spooky season is upon us… it’s time for JR’s 6th Annual October Calendar™, featuring my favourite horror films.
Includes: hidden gems, weird shit, guilty pleasures and some genuinely creepy stuff.
Oct 1st
Bring Her Back (2025)
Two siblings are assigned a foster home out in the middle of nowhere. Their new guardian is a little unstable.
It’s well shot, well acted and deeply unsettling.
It has the most frightening scene so far this year. Not for the faint of heart.
Oct 2nd
Viy (1967)
A student from a Kiev seminary must hold a vigil for 3 nights for a murdered witch in an old country chapel.
This is such a vibrant and creative film with stunning visuals.
Loved the creepy semi-serious atmosphere, the practical effects and creature design.
#viy #horror #horrorfilms #Halloween
Link to Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 3rd
Titane (2021)
A murderer has sex with car, becomes pregnant, then pretends she’s a missing boy to connect with a grieving father.
On paper this shouldn’t work.
However, this is one of the sweetest & most tender horror film I’ve ever watched. Would make Cronenberg proud.
#horror #titane #Halloween #horrorfilm #spookyseason
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 4th
The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
A mysterious figure haunts the Paris Opera House.
This film is 100 yrs old and still holds up. It’s creepier than most horror films today.
The makeup effects, massive gothic sets and otherworldly atmosphere are fantastic.
Lon Chaney’s performance is intense and unsettling af.
It can be watched here:
https://youtu.be/_dPClZCaiXc?si=5bcFKezDO_CFO1I7
#horror #Halloween #horrorfilm #spookyseason #PhantomOfTheOpera
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 5th
The Substance (2024)
What if you blended The Fly with Sunset Boulevard?
An aging tv fitness instructor is introduced to a new “rejuvenating” program.
This movie is batshit crazy. Demi Moore is unhinged and fearless in this insane performance.
It’s hyper-stylized, absurd, unsettling, darkly funny and the last act is pure nightmare fuel.
#Horror #HorrorFilms #Halloween #SpookySeason #TheSubstance
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 6th
The Tunnel (2011)
A journalist ventures into subterranean tunnels below the streets of Sydney to investigate the disappearance of homeless people.
This is an extremely tense and effective found footage film that really creeped me out.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 7th
Communion (1989)
A writer believes his family is being visited by extraterrestrials at his remote cabin.
This is Christopher Walken’s most insane performance. He’s:
-mumbling
-shouting
-acting weird
-laughing & dancing (in a spaceship)
Eric Clapton’s score is WAY too sensual for an alien movie.
It’s a terrible film with amazing nightmarish sequences.
Watch it if you like really weird shit.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
#horror #horrorfilms #weird #communion #spookyseason #aliens
Oct 8th
Strange Darling (2023)
A mysterious serial killer has a very strange way to attract their prey.
This is a very enjoyable psychological thriller. It’s stylish, weird, funny and has some great unpredictable twists and turns.
The screenplay and directing are great. Both leads are very fun to watch. I highly recommend.
#horror #horrofilms #StrangeDarling #spookyseason #Slasher
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 9th
Leaving D.C. (2012)
A single middle-age man buys a house in the middle of nowhere.
Strange sounds occur in the middle of the night in the woods just outside his property.
He decides to start documenting everything on camera and on his sound recorder.
This is a great DIY found footage film made by an amateur filmmaker. It might not appeal to everyone but I found it spooky, tense and intriguing.
#horror #horrofilm #LeavingDC #spooky #spookyseason #Halloween
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 10th
Monolith (2022)
A journalist discovers a strange pattern emerging around the world; people of different backgrounds are receiving mysterious bricks at their homes.
It’s a weird minimalist thriller with a very creepy atmosphere and great performances. A few Lynchian sequences are delightfully unsettling.
#horror #horrorfilms #Monolith #spookyseason #Halloween
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 11th
The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
A retelling of the Cinderella story in the style of a Norwegian psychological body-horror film.
It’s very stylish, gothic, atmospheric and (at times) darkly funny and gruesome. Not for the faint of heart. One of my favourites from this year.
#horror #horrorfilms #TheUglyStepsister #Halloween #spookyseason
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 12th
The Haunting of Julia (1977)
A grieving mother moves into an old haunted house in London, unsure if the presence she senses is of her late daughter.
This is a quiet atmospheric 70s horror film that doesn’t have jumpscares or scary-looking ghosts.
Instead we feel persistent dread and tension, and a sadness for our main character. Mia Farrow plays this role perfectly.
I highly recommend it if you liked ‘Don’t Look Now’.
It’s free on Tubi, here:
https://link.tubi.tv/ttEFbGEZpXb
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
#horror #horrorfilm #Halloween #spookyseason #TheHauntingOfJulia
Oct 13th
Presence (2025)
A family moves into an old house inhabited by a mysterious ghost.
The whole film is from the POV of this curious, protective spirit.
I found it intriguing, unique and spooky (although not particularly scary, except for the last scene).
Loved the camera work and that family’s fucked-up drama.
#horror #horrorfilm #presence #ghost #Halloween #spookyseason
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 14th
The White Reindeer (1952)
In a snowy Finnish landscape, a woman visits a shaman and turns into a shape-shifting vampire/reindeer.
Loved the beautiful and desolate images of northern Finland and Mirjami Kuosmanen’s creepy performance. The b&w cinematography is gorgeous.
It’s by no means a scary film, but I love old witchy folk horror.
Film can be watched here for free (at least in Canada): https://link.tubi.tv/eVZIowHhtXb
#horror #Halloween #spookyseason #horrorfilm #TheWhiteReindeer
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 15th
The ‘Burbs (1989)
A strange new family moves into a suburb inhabited by paranoid, nosy residents.
This movie freaked me out when I was a kid.
That house (and the score) really spooked me. Brother Theodore’s intense vibe haunted my dreams.
Watching this as an adult still creeps me out, but it’s funny as hell. Tom Hanks should have kept making weird absurd films like this one.
#horror #horrorfilms #TheBurbs #Halloween #spookyseason
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 16th
Wolf Creek (2005)
A trio of young adults crossing the Australian outback run into an odd gentleman while having car trouble.
This nightmarish cult movie feels so very real.
The main lead (John Jarratt) is one of the alltime best horror villains; he pivots effortlessly between menacing and charming.
It’s a brutally wild ride that would surely satisfy any slasher fans.
#horror #horrorfilms #spooky #Slasher#Halloween #WolfCreek
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 17th
Heretic (2024)
Two Mormon girls knock on the wrong door during a thunderstorm. A strange mysterious man won’t let them leave.
This is a fantastic performance by Hugh Grant, who shouldn’t have waited this long to play in a horror film. He’s a bit too good at this.
#horror #horrorfilms #Halloween #heretic #spookyseason
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 18th
Wolf’s Hole (1987)
A group of teenagers are invited to a skiing workshop high up in the snowy mountains. Strange things start occurring in their remote cabin.
It’s a Czechoslovakian science fiction horror film directed Vera Chytilova.
It’s very weird and creepy. The vibe is eerie and otherworldly. The score is unnerving and ethereal.
Worth checking out if you want to experience something a little unusual.
The film can be found here:
https://youtu.be/1nmv0Uolu_s?si=R_u_5YZoC4EXPZ2h
Oct 19th
Dead Mail (2025)
A deranged psycho kidnaps a man and locks him in his basement. The victim manages to drop a message in a nearby mailbox.
The film takes place in the 80s (and it certainly feels like it); I loved the dreamy synth score and stylish old-school direction.
The best part is watching the postal worker’s investigative process when dealing with lost letters.
It’s on Shudder.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 20th
The First Omen (2024)
A young American nun arrives at an orphanage in Italy and uncovers a fucked up conspiracy.
This was my biggest surprise last year; did not expect a prequel to The Omen to be THIS good.
It has its share of very creepy terrifying moments that gave me actual goosebumps (a feat that unfortunately doesn’t happen too often).
Loved the direction and dark atmosphere. The main actress (Nell Tiger Free) is absolutely fantastic in this. At times she reminded me of Isabelle Adjani in Possession.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 21st
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
Holmes and Watson travel to Baskerville Hall to investigate the legend of a mysterious Hell hound who roams the nearby moor and supposedly frightened a man to death.
Not a scary film by any means, but still very spooky and atmospheric. It’s comfort horror.
Loved the gothic/foggy vibes and Peter Cushing’s cold and calculating performance as Holmes.
#horror #horrorfilm #TheHoundOfTheBaskervilles
#spookyseason #Halloween
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 22nd
Infinity Pool (2023)
A vacationing couple at a fancy resort run into problems with local law enforcement.
What follows feels like watching a literal nightmare.
This movie is absurd, unpredictable, extremely weird, fucked-up and completely batshit crazy.
(Not surprising since it was directed by David Cronenberg’s son)
Mia Goth gives an insane performance; her character is more than a little terrifying.
You have to be slightly twisted to enjoy this.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 23rd
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1977)
A young girl living alone in a country house is stalked by an older man on Halloween.
I don’t know if this can be considered horror but it definitely got my skin crawling. There’s an eerie quiet vibe throughout this film.
Martin Sheen’s character is creepy af while Jodie Foster’s character is mysterious and very clever.
#horror #horrorfilms #TheLitttleGirlWhoLivesDownTheLane #Halloween #spookyseason
Oct 24th
Companion (2025)
A woman discovers she’s a robot during a weekend retreat at an isolated house.
It’s a bit deeper and more existential than most slashers. The tone alternates seamlessly between quirky comedy and serious horror.
Sophie Thatcher plays this role so well. Like the best robot actors (Brent Spiner, Peter Weller and RD2D) she brings out a lot of humanity in her performance.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 25th
Ghostkeeper (1981)
Three travellers find themselves snowbound at a deserted Mountain hotel.
This movie is a bit of a mess. The dialogue is terrible. But there’s something special about it. It’s incredibly atmospheric, beautiful, cold, snowy and creepy.
Loved the location (shot around Lake Louise, Alberta). You certainly feel a spooky sense of isolation. And I’ve never seen so much snow in a film before.
You can watch it here for free:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9n3yrs
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
Oct 26th
The Damned (2025)
A 19th century Icelandic fishing community is faced with a difficult decision after a shipwreck occurs nearby.
It’s a slow burn with lots of creepy unnerving sequences. It’s spooky af. Loved the beautiful and eerie wintery location and cinematography.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
#horror #horrorfilm #Halloween#spookyseason #TheDamned
Oct 27th
A Haunting in Venice (2023)
Detective Poirot attends a party on Halloween night in Venice, and (surprise surprise) someone gets murdered.
I love the whole Halloween ambiance of this film. There’s a seance, spooky Eyes Wide Shut masks, a creepy old building and a (possible) ghost. Really love the old school haunted house vibe more than the actual murder mystery.
Definitely one of those comfort horror films.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
#horror #horrorfilm #Halloween #AHauntingInVenice #spooky #spookyseason
Oct 28th
Oddity (2024)
A woman is murdered in an old country house after opening the door to a stranger at night. A year later her twin sister moves in to investigate what happened.
This is a (very) spooky story with some great nightmarish visuals and a creepy adult size wooden puppet. It uses our fear of the dark very efficiently.
It’a unsettling and dreadful, just how I like it.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
#horror #horrorfilm #Halloween #spooky #spookyseason #Oddity
Oct 29th
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023)
The movie title pretty much explains the whole story (and I like that).
A young pacifist vampire who refuses to kill befriends a shy suicidal boy who is ready to give his life for her.
This Québec horror gem reminds of early Tim Burton films. It’s gothic, disturbing existential and darkly funny. Loved all of these actors. I highly recommend.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
#horror #horrorfilms #spookyseason #Halloween #horrorfilm #vampire #humanistvampireseekingconsentingsuicidalperson
Oct 31st
Weapons (2025)
Seventeen children from the same classroom mysteriously run away on the same night at 2:17am and are never seen again.
Arguably the most praised and enjoyable horror film of the 2020s?
There’s a lot to love about this creepy movie. The story structure, the bonechilling horror sequences, the characters and its weird memorable villain.
It pulls off one of the best endings in recent memory. It’s batshit crazy and very satisfying.
Link to my Oct horror calendar:
https://mstdn.ca/@JRDRD/115301654857165934
