Hover over the days to see short reviews about the films.
(Look, don't come at me for starting on September 30th. The film was expiring on mubi that day, it's my Spooktober challenge and I'll cheat if I want to 💀)
There's Nothing Out There (1991)
★★★☆☆
Pulpy fun! Some really bad acting but the initial sequence in the video shop is great. Watched the companion Copycat documentary which makes a good case for Wes Craven cribbing from this for Scream...
Alison's Birthday (1989)
★★★★☆
Some very 70s australian folk horror. Sincere, which I liked, and Peter and Alison are genuinely likeable. Not a lot of scares but that ending really hits.
Late Night with the Devil (2023)
★★★★☆
Great concept, three star execution, although a lot of stuff about this was really cool it fell a bit flat for me - would have loved to see the host revealed as truely into his satanic cult stuff and getting his comeuppance.
The Omen (1976)
★★★★☆
I'd seen several of the iconic death scenes from this in Mark Gatiss's History of Horror already, but I still had a very good time. Gregory Peck lends gravitas to this film and it's great (even if sometimes he feels like he's from a different film). Not that scary - more about the existential horror of an evil child / child murder.
Mad God (2021)
★★★★☆
Maybe I admire the vision and commitment more than I loved the film, but there's still a lot to like here - so disgusting and bleak.
Hellbender (2021)
★★★☆☆
Very indie, and very charming actually! Creepy rather than scary, and the music in the band scenes was pretty good.
AvP: Requiem (2021)
★★☆☆☆
It's bad. Hard to see, suffers from some very annoying 00's character stereotypes. Still has some brutal moments though (even if you can't see them very well). "That's crazy, the government doesn't lie to people."
They Live (2018)
★★★★★
Watched at Sidney and Eden - incredible.
Hereditary (2018)
★★★★☆
Watched with Bethany. I liked this a lot, although I imagine it would be more effective seen in the theatre with no idea of the plot. Love some cultists though.
The Blair Witch Project (2018)
★★★☆☆
Watched after midnight on the 8th. Liked this more than I thought, the found footage was done really well although my dvd brightness settings ruined the ending.
Creep (2004)
★★★☆☆
Creature / slasher set on the London underground. This wasn't great but the creature was good, and I enjoyed the setting. Frustratingly dangles some lore in front of you it doesn't resolve. Features a cute dog I was very worried about during the film.
Sin Eater (2004)
★★☆☆☆
Very dull religious horror/thriller. It's got Heath Ledger in it and the idea of a sin-eater (a priest who can absrob all the sins from dying people) is kind of cool, but this film is just slow, badly written and again you can't see anything.
Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2024)
★★★☆☆
It's a cute coming of age film.
Immaculate (2024)
★★★☆☆
It's an ok film which only really gets going towards the end - but I thought the ending was pretty great! Aside from that it's a bit of a slowburn which reheats Rosemary's Baby/other religious horror themes without adding much.
Society (1989)
★★★★☆
Absolutely insane.
Prevenge (2016)
★★★★☆
I loved this film more on the rewatch - in an interview, Alice Lowe said she wanted to explore loss of identity as a pregnant person, and I think it does that really well. Some great black comedy and brutal kills.
Carnival of Souls (1962)
★★★★☆
Really unnerving and sad.
The Fog (1980)
At Grindhouse cinema club
Candyman (1992)
★★★★★
I bought this on dvd from the Big Scream festival. It's got such a good plot, really differs from the usual horror film tropes.
Friday the 13th (1980)
★★★☆☆
First time watching this! I read it was meant to be a pulpier Halloween knock-off, really ratcheting up the kills. I knew the twist going in but it still works, pulled off by the performance at the end.
Trouble every day (2001)
★★★☆☆
A tough watch - Clare Denis has such a unique style, this was bleak and pared down.
Stoker (2013) at Little Theatre Picturehouse
Escape from NY (1981)
At Grindhouse cinema club
Messiah of Evil (1974)
Hellfire video club at the Cube Cinema