Not so long ago, I put my heart and soul into a comprehensive watch list for those who want to watch a few scary movies on Halloween. Yet time has marched on. New movies have been released. I have watched even MORE movies.
That means there are more gems to be discovered should you want to get into the festive spirit. Despite absolutely nobody asking for this, today I give you an updated run-down of even more titles you can add to your list.
š„£ Weapons (2025)
My best horror of 2025 so far is Zach Creggerās follow up to Barbarian. We unravel the mystery of how a class of local school children - bar one boy- disappear into the night without a trace. As the paranoia mounts, nothing will prepare you for the plot twist. Memeād to death, Weapons is already gathering cult status and the conclusion is incredibly satisfying on what feels like a fresh, original horror.
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The Monkey (2025) - Wonderfully weird films about creepy toys seem to be very en vogue right now. Based on a Stephen King short story, a family are terrorised by a series of horrifying deaths, seemingly caused by a family heirloom toy.
Cuckoo (2024) - Euphoriaās Hunter Shafer stars as troubled teen Gretchen, who encounters strange goings-on during a family trip to the Bavarian Alps.
LongLegs (2024) - I didnāt rate this thriller which follows a serial killer and their connections to the occult. However itās definitely worth a watch if A24 branded horror is your thing.
Together (2025) - Alison Brie and Dave Franco star as a couple on the verge of a break-up. When they accidentally uncover a strange underground temple, silly, fun, and stomach churning body horror ensues.
š§Ŗ The Substance (2024)
Straight out the gate, letās talk about the horror film thatās been hot topic of conversation in the last 2 years. The Substance by Coralie Fargeat is now the first film that comes to mind when the words ābody horrorā are mentioned. It wasnāt always this way, but this deliberately graphic, sexed-up and salacious āmale gazeā tale of ageing starlet Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) has had the intended impact. Part sci-fi, part dark comedy, Elizabeth seeks extreme measures to preserve her youth. What many have identified as a commentary on beauty culture fails to deliver on such promises but if gore and shock value is what youāre into, youāre on the right track.
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Maxxxine (2024) - The third instalment of Ti Westās X series sees Mia Goth return in the role of adult filmstar Maxine Minx. Having survived the massacre of the first film, a mysterious source threatens to expose her past.
The Ugly Stepsister (2025) - Far superior to The Substance is this Norwegian black comedy which is a twisted take on Cinderella. Elvira competes with her beautiful step-sister for the hand of Prince Julian and is forced to take grim and extreme physical measures to win his heart.
Immaculate (2024) - Sydney Sweeney runs into trouble as a nun in a convent when she appears to have an immaculate conception - with some sinister implications.
Fresh (2022) - Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan star in this romantic dark comedy-come-nightmare. Noa canāt believe her luck when she meets the wealthy, successful, and handsome Steve - but much like your average Tinder date, heās harbouring a gruesome secret.
ā¢ļø The Toxic Avenger (2023)
Starring Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, and Kevin Bacon, this remake of the 1984 Troma classic combines superhero lore with high camp gore and gross out gags. For the unfamiliar, the story follows downtrodden janitor Winston Gooze, who transforms into the toxic avenger after falling into a vat of toxic waste. Equipped with superpowers and a deadly mop, this horror comedy stays true to the tone of the original (think splatter-tastic deaths, boobs, and childish humour), this is perfect for people who donāt like scary movies but want to watch a fun horror.
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The Toxic Avenger (1984) - The OG cult classic is wildly over the top and politically incorrect. Not for the faint hearted, thereās also at least four sequels should you wish to make a marathon of it.
Class of NukeāEm High (1986) - Directorās were big into nuclear waste in the ā80s. The self-explanatory title explores what happens when the students at a local high school are exposed to radioactive fallout.
Destroy All Neighbours (2024) - Crafted in the vein of Evil Dead 2 meets (niche Ryan Reynolds movie) The Voices, hapless prog-rock musician is tormented by the nightmare neighbour he accidentally kills.
Psycho Goreman (2020) - This eccentric horror comedy takes inspiration from H.P.Lovecraft and Clive Barkerās Rawhead Rex. āI do not care for hunky boysā may be the best line in a movie. Period.
š©øMads (2024)
I initially didnāt like the look of this French āone-shotā horror but it turned out to be a surprise gem that refreshed the (in my opinion) tired zombie genre. Promising more of what made REC great, and delivering on what 28 Years Later could not, we follow three friends during an evolving zombie pandemic; the source (and reality) of which is unclear. Created with a cast of first-time actors, this film is ideal if youāre looking for tense, anxiety-inducing horror with a decent payoff.
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Host (2020) - Despite being made in the pandemic on a shoestring budget, this meta-reality horror set entirely over a Zoom call hits all the right notes. Things go very wrong when a group of friends hold a virtual seance.
One Cut of the Dead (2017) - This Japanese zombie horror breaks the fourth wall in the most astounding ways. Part comedy, part-documentary, part masterclass in film-making, if you like Inside No.9 or The Studio, youāll love the surprising places this will take you.
When Evil Lurks (2023) - The Spanish horror deals with a demonic outbreak in a quaint countryside town.
Smile 2 (2024) - Much better than its predecessor, Smile 2 amps up the drama, creepiness, and emotional pressure.
ā°ļø Satanās Slaves (2017)
This Indonesian horror brings a refreshing twist on the devil worship cult trope. Four siblings are forced to reckon with the supernatural after their mother mysteriously passes away and their father leaves town for work. With shades of Insidious, Hereditary, and The Omen, this film is full of genuinely scary moments that create a palpable sense of dread while also having you root for these tortured kids as they fight to protect their home.
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Night of the Reaper (2025) - This B-movie style retro horror takes inspiration from Scream and I Saw The TV Glow. Deena takes on a babysitting job with a serial killer still on the loose.
Oddity (2024) - This Irish supernatural horror follows a blind medium as she unravels just who is responsible for the mysterious, violent death of her twin sister.
The First Omen (2024) - This surprisingly good āby the numbersā commercial horror expands the franchise with a tense prequel set in a Rome orphanage ran by nuns.
Late Night with the Devil (2024) - Found footage moves in a new direction with this possession-style chiller starring David Dastmalchian.
āļø Bring Her Back (2025)
The best horrors are usually equal parts terrifying and harrowing. Michael and Danny Phillipou follow up Talk to Me (2022) with a film that plays with the horrors of real-life as well as the supernatural. Fostered siblings Andy and Piper go to live with Laura (Sally Hawkins) after their dad passes away. Sharing a home with Lauraās mute son Oliver, Lauraās disturbing mistreatment of Andy shrouds an even darker truth. This could easily be set in the same universe as Talk to Me, as it explores themes of life after death and the sense of longing created when those we love pass away. However, the intense, graphic violence pulls you back to reality and youāll find that your empathy for each character switches at almost breakneck speed.
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Talk to Me (2022) - A group of teenagers contact the dead and discover the dangers of playing with the unknown.
The Rule of Jenny Penn (2024) - If youāre looking for horror rooted in the grimness of reality, look no further. John Lithgow plays an elderly psychopath terrorising his co-residents in a care home.
Speak No Evil (2024) - James McAvoy leads in this remake of the 2022 Dutch film. A family go to stay with friends they met on holiday and realise theyāre not quite who they say they are.
Heretic (2024) - Hugh Grant takes a near-perfect turn as a villain trying to teach two Mormon girls the value of religion. Best described as Martyrs-lite.
šNight of the Demons (1988)
Thereās been a lot of revisiting of Troma movies in our house of late, but Night of the Demons certainly earns its ā80s cult status. Gore, nudity, questionable fashion choices, and tongue-and-cheek humour are part of the charm of any ā80s horror but Night of the Demons holds up to the test of time. A group of teens head to an abandoned house on Halloween and accidentally awaken something demonic from the crematorium below. Itās easy to see the influences from the Evil Dead franchise, and perhaps even parallels in shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but NOTD is the perfect all-rounder for any scary movie night.
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Night of the Demons 2 (1994) - This camp sequel sees a group of Catholic school-friends accidentally unleash the same evil that fuels local legend.
Return of the Living Dead (1985) - This cheesy comedy horror has a lot of inexplicable scenes but is great if youāre searching for something that toes the line of spooky and silly.
Society (1989) - The original Beverly Hills body horror that reached cult status for itās gruesome and gooey scenes. Billy discovers the awful truth about a secretive society lead by the towns cultural elite.
Demons (1985) - Lamberto Bavaās cult classic is heavily influenced by producer and co-writer Dario Argento. The attendees of a mysterious film screening held in the beautiful Metropol cinema find themselves wrestling with hellish forces.
š¦Nosferatu (2024)
In a league of its own, this is *the* arthouse vampire movie to see, directed by Robert Eggers. Featuring an all-star cast including Willem Dafoe, Bill Skarsgard, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Nicholas Hoult, this remake of the 1922 Symphony of Horror is visually spectacular and chock-full of dread. While itās probably not great if youāre looking for jump scares, Nosferatu is the hipster thinking-manās horror. Donāt listen to the idiots online who took all the wrong lessons from this classically Gothic horror (Count Orlock being an abuser should be an interpretation, not an active condemnation of the source material - have you EVER even read a vampire novel??) - itās haunting and brilliant and, in many places, unintentionally funny.
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Bram Stokerās Dracula (1992) - Francis Ford-Coppolaās highly stylised adaptation of the original novel is a visual feast if true horror really isnāt your thing.
Sinners (2025) - Set in Jim Crow era Mississippi, this Michael B. Jordan vampire fan fiction is equal parts action and horror, with a dash of Baz Luhrmann-style musical.
The Lighthouse (2019) - More weirdness against stunning scenery. Eggers creates the perfect claustrophobic setting to torture Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson.
AntiChrist (2009) - Lars Von Trierās shocking arthouse horror delves into the darkness of humanity.
Tell me which horrors you would add to your list - or better still, give me your recommendationsā¦
This is a great list!
The rule of jenny pen sounds so interesting!!