Our 2nd Annual “31 Nights of Horror” takes us around the world in an International Extravaganza!
October 1: Noroi: The Curse (2005, Japan)
Starting off strong, Noroi: The Curse is one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen. Done in faux documentary style, Noroi follows filmmaker Kobayashi as he works to solve the mystery of a cult that is linked to child psychics, disappearances, and a flooded city. It feels very long, but all of the segments match up perfectly by the end. And it’s so convincing that I found myself researching a fake demon and pretty much anything else that may have an ounce of truth to it. Noroi is the precedent for how mockumentaries should be done. Haunting, alluring, perfect. *chef’s kiss*
October 2: Curse of Mae Nak (2005, Thailand)
An ancient Thai legend about a protective ghost comes to life as married couple-to-be Mak and Nak must free the spirit of Mae Nak, lest she keep Mak’s soul captive. Sigh, I really wanted to like Mae Nak, especially after all the good things I hear about Thai horror. Unfortunately the ghost story falls short and is more akin to a melodrama involving a vengeful spirit. Perhaps it would mean more if I was familiar with or had a tie to the actual legend? The acting is not the best and the story leaves a lot to be desired, almost like they took a simple ghost story and stretched it out too far to fit the “feature length” runtime.
October 3: Phone (2002, South Korea)
Just like K-dramas, a lot of K-horror involves spicy love affairs and the restless spirits that result from them. An affair, a baby, and an accidental death all come together and haunt a family through a cell phone. It’s an entire mess, with a lot of the issues likely to be solved if people would just stop being assholes. Jealousy is the real evil here, as it results in murder and distrust. Although it’s one of the movies I distinctly remember when thinking of K-horror, you’d probably be OK missing it. Nothing new is brought to the table here. If you’ve seen one long-haired ghost, you’ve seen them all.
October 4: Temple (2017, Japan)
This one honestly hurt a little bit. Here we go again with some American tourists going to a foreign country, disrespecting sacred ground by not following directions, and paying for it with their lives. For a movie coming from Japan, I feel like it doesn’t quite get the culture, particularly with ghosts, demons, temples, and the like. It does nothing new for the genre, and the things we’ve seen before aren’t even done well. Miss this movie, especially if you like Japanese horror.
October 5: White: Melody of the Curse (2011, South Korea)
Here in the US, K-Pop is just starting to become über popular; but singing idols have always been a huge part of South Korean culture, and White: Melody of the Curse shows us how pop sensations can quickly turn deadly. A cursed song makes its way through an aspiring girl group, first helping them rise through the charts, then ending their careers (and lives) one by one. I’ve had this main song stuck in my head since 2011, along with the story. Though the characters can sometimes be annoying and the story a little far-fetched, it is still a thrill ride for any music enthusiast. K-pop has never been so horrifying!
October 6: Stitches (2012, Ireland)
Over the years, clowns have grown scarier and less funny, but Stitches manages to retain that comedic vibe while dishing out the spooks. Stitches the Clown is about as good at being a funny friend as he is remaining sober and out of women’s crotches, leading him to an untimely, but accidental, death at a children’s birthday party. Years later, Stitches comes back with the power of clown magic to seek revenge on the birthday boy all those years back. Hilarious gags and great zombie effects make Stitches watchable over and over. Gives clowns a somewhat better name in horror.
October 7: Dumplings (2004, Hong Kong)
Expanded from a short in an earlier film, Three… Extremes, Dumplings tells the story of the price women will pay for eternal beauty. Trigger warning: this is about abortions, cannibalism, sex, and incest. Bai Ling and Miriam Yeung reprise their roles as dumpling maker and aging actress. Through raunchy subplots and disgusting revelations, Dumplings makes me want to gag… but not stop watching. I’d suggest watching Three… Extremes if you want the gist of the story, but Dumplings has more for your depraved viewing pleasure!
October 8: Dead Snow (2009, Norway)
Nazi Zombies living out a Norwegian legend’s dream of protecting hidden treasures. A group of friends vacationing in the mountains must survive the terrifying Nazi Zombies in search of the plundered valuables buried under their cabin. The zombies feel a little Fido-ish, but no worries. The violence, blood, and funny situations make up for it. Actually, you’ll be laughing a lot in this film. This, and its sequels, are definitely worth a watch with friends!
October 9: Eyes Without a Face (1960, France)
A doctor kidnaps women and removes their faces. Why? He is looking for a way to help his daughter, whose face was disfigured in an accident. Being made more than 60 years ago, it’s surprising how some of these gore scenes hold up today, mainly the surgery scene and the images of a newly-transplanted face becoming necrotic. It is in that dramatic 60s style, and it isn’t in color, but that honestly adds to the horror of the whole situation. A classic.
October 10: The Similars (2015, Mexico)
This Mexican Twilight Zone-esque film is one I’ve been thinking about since first seeing it years ago. Passengers awaiting rides at a bus station begin to suspect each other of foul play when violence erupts, causing mass psychosis and paranoia. I really don’t want to ruin the twist at the end, but I do want to emphasize how utterly amazing it is! There is never a dull moment, and the whole situation is acted out perfectly. Like I stated before, it gives major Twilight Zone vibes, so if you’re into that, you’ll love it. Really, you’ll love it regardless.
October 11: Martyrs (2008, France and Canada)
I am only just now watching this, but I’m sad I hadn’t earlier. Martyrs is a movie that always makes the list for most terrifying horror films, and for good reason. It’s known as being extremely violent and hard to watch, but honestly, after seeing A Serbian Film, nothing really makes me feel as gross anymore. Still the messaging and story are ones you’ll likely remember forever, making Martyrs still one of the greats.
October 12: Impetigore (2019, Indonesia)
I feel like Indonesia is really making headway into horror lately. Impetigore follows a woman on a journey to stop a village curse of skinless newborns and death. A classic ghost story, spirits, shamans, and deals with the devil are the way to go. It’s beautifully set, and you feel for the main character and villagers while still being scared. Plus, there’s room for a sequel!
October 13: The House by the Cemetery (1981, Italy)
Coming out of Italy, The House by the Cemetery involves a murder and haunted house… by a cemetery, of course. It’s only just into the 80s, so we still have a very 70s feel with wobbly camera shots and sometimes hilarious gags. The blood and kills are top notch though! What I found especially cool is the POV-style shots taken and the old house itself — spooky, just as a haunted estate should be! I’d watch it more for the aesthetic, rather than the plain-Jane story.
October 14: Under the Shadow (2016, UK, Jordan, Qatar, Iran)
A woman and her daughter work to outlast the oppressive Iranian Revolution while dealing with another oppressive, ghostly force in their war-torn home. I didn’t quite know what to expect from this, but I was pleasantly surprised and entranced by how beautifully horrifying this movie is. The spirit in question is of the drapey sheet sort, very apropos considering the veils Iranian women were required to wear after the revolution (and today). It’s almost as if there is some sort of bigger idea hidden behind this film…
October 15: Verónica (2017, Spain)
I hate when movies do the whole “Scariest Film Ever” thing. That said, there are some pretty spooky parts. Based on a real Spanish murder investigation, Veronica is a school girl who unwittingly brings a malevolent spirit into her life via spirit board. Done during an eclipse, an evil force terrorizes the teen and her younger siblings, eventually leading to her death and the aforementioned very real investigation. At the time of release, it garnered mega attention and great reviews, but now, I see it more as a slightly better Conjuring-type movie. Better, but certainly not the scariest thing ever (unless you’re Catholic or highly religious).
October 16: Dogtooth (2009, Greece)
Dogtooth made me very uncomfortable. A Greek family lives in relative isolation, where the parents convinced their three adult children never to leave the property lest they want to be killed by monsters. Awkward relationships. Abuse. Incest. And an ending that came entirely too soon (I want to see what happens next!). It’s slow and some probably wouldn’t even consider it horror, but it’s too weird not to be.
October 17: The Babadook (2014, Australia, Canada)
Years after its release, The Babadook still has people talking about its portrayal of mental health/illness and dealing with grief… along with its hilarious tie to the LGBTQ+ community. A troubled mother and son begin to bond over a mysterious book that brings a deadly monster into their home. I can understand why people wouldn’t like it; today it does have a bit of an on-the-nose comparison to depression and grief management. But it still carries an enormous amount of respect for storytelling as well as monster design. The Babadook is a character that everyone knows, regardless of if they’ve seen the movie or not.
October 18: Goodnight Mommy (2014, Austria)
Yet another “scariest ever” from 2014, a golden year in horror. Twin brothers believe their mother, recovering from cosmetic surgery, is not really their mother, but a monster or imposter. They work their way from harmless pranks to dangerous tests to confront her. With a twist ending that you can see a mile away, Goodnight Mommy was a slow burn that could have been half the runtime with little changes. Instead, we sit through these little shits torturing their mother and all we get is an unsatisfying ending. It’s not a bad watch, but once is certainly enough.
October 19: Baskin (2015, Turkey)
I have to look at a plot summary every time I see this movie, and the best I can come up with is this: a group of Turkish policemen investigate some cult activity and get stuck in a bloody, messy, horrific time loop. Even though I can’t tell you exactly how this all works out, I can safely say that I love this movie. Because I don’t quite get it, there’s always something new to focus on, something new to see, and a new realization. It’s like watching a new movie every time!
October 20: The Ritual (2017, UK, Canada)
A group of adult friends go on a hiking trip through Sweden to honor their recently-murdered friend. Along the way, the group quickly dismantles as they fight over the accident and get lost in the woods (in search of a short-cut, no less). What they see in the woods is like Midsommar on crack. One of the scariest and well-done monsters resides there, and the locals worship it. As outsiders, the group is in big trouble. The Ritual features beautiful scenery as well as awesome effects and design for the scares. There are a few transitions between a dreamlike-world and the forest which are also incredibly cool. A definite watch!
October 21: Ojuju (2015, Nigeria)
There are consequences to pollution, and Ojuju tells a supernatural story about those consequences in a modern-day Nigerian slum. It’s a zombie movie from an African perspective. I can’t tell if I think this is shot well or not, because some scenes look really nice, while others show a definite budget (a low one). Zombie movies have never been my favorite, but I appreciate “infected” films a little more, which Ojuju is. But really, the only thing that makes this stand out from others is the setting.
October 22: The Silent House (2010, Uruguay)
I actually saw the 2011 American remake first and didn’t realize it was a remake — so I had to watch this and compare! A woman and her father, whilst repairing a house for sale, try to escape when they hear a noise coming from the upper floors getting louder and louder. Shot in such a way to mimic one continuous take, this film unfortunately doesn’t make the cut for cool effects and story. I was bored most of the time (hopefully not because I had seen the remake first). The story also was a bit confusing, with a small twist that didn’t really hit the mark. You should probably watch this before the remake, but I do like the remake better.
October 23: Dracula 3000 (2004, US and South Africa)
Eventually, all horror villains go to space. This is exactly what happened with Dracula (really, Count Orlock), where the famous story of a vampire’s travels to find new victims is played out on a spaceship. Futuristic forms bearing names of the original characters (Van Helsing, Mina, etc.) discover an abandoned ship that steals away the lives of the crew as they explore and battle the vampire. Maybe it’s just me, but I think Dracula is probably not one you’d want in space — his gothic aesthetic doesn’t go at all with the metallic, early 00s aesthetic that is this terribly-CGI’d spaceship. It’s not super terrible, but perhaps better fit for a bad movie night, or a mid-day “I’ll take a nap to this” movie.
October 24: Baba Yaga: Terror of the Dark Forest (2020, Russia)
I love folk tales, especially from ones we don’t normally see, like Slavic tales of a forest witch: Baba Yaga. Though the setting is newer, the story is reminiscent of an Omen-type plot; a family moves to the outskirts of the city, and their nanny is showing signs she might be evil. It’s filmed really well and is beautiful to look at. There are small things I wish weren’t there, like the baby monitor scene, but in all I enjoyed the eerie feeling I got watching. Folk horror is really the best right now!
October 25: 122 (2019, Egypt)
I got more and more excited from first reading a short plotline, then seeing the trailer, to finally watching the film. 122 has some serious action going on, all to the tune of a shady hospital. You really feel for these characters, which is good when you have to read subtitles. It’s filmed wonderfully and I remained interested in the story the entire time. Not what I was expecting coming out of Egypt, so pleasantly surprised!
October 26: Koko-di, Koko-da (2019, Sweden and Denmark)
Couple lose their young daughter. Couple goes on a camping trip to try and mend their failing relationship. Couple falls prey to a sadistic sideshow man and his entourage. It’s all metaphors, which at times can be overplayed and daunting but works well with the cast of characters. Even just watching the trailer, the titular song gets stuck in your head, a time loop seen in the movie. Would I watch again? Yeah, probably.
October 27: I Saw the Devil (2010, South Korea)
A serial killer brutally murders the fiancée of a government agent who vows to take revenge, no matter the cost. What follows is the fiancée’s pursuit and days-long torture of the man who took his pregnant love’s life. People say Old Boy is the pinnacle of South Korean horror, but I’d give props to this piece too. Savage and emotional, there is always gruesome action going on, from terrifying kidnappings to well-deserved beatings. This is how revenge films should be done!
October 28: Black Sunday (1960, Italy)
A supposed witch is tortured and put to death (via face-only iron maiden) by her own brother; she vows to exact revenge on his descendants, which does indeed happen many years later. This Bava film wreaks of Hammer, with its gothic castles and creepy crypts. The famous face-maiden scene is truly one of the best! The rest is unfortunately nothing new. Doesn’t mean it’s bad, though.
October 29: The Eye (2002, Hong Kong and Singapore)
Obligatory “saw the American remake first.” Can you imagine being blind and receiving new eyes, only for the eyes to be haunted and now you’re seeing ghosts? We get a happy ending here, which I don’t know how to feel about. It feels short, which is a shame for an interesting idea. Almost has Knowing vibes, which could be good or bad depending on how you feel about that movie.
October 30: [Rec] (2007, Spain)
Of course, I saw the American remake, Quarantine, first, and liked it. I did go back years later and watch this original as well. Sometimes, I find the remakes a little better, but this was actually the opposite. A news reporter and cameraman shooting a story visit an apartment complex where firefighters tend to a sickness spreading and turning the occupants into zombies (really, infected). Raw, fast-paced, and madness in movie-form, REC is a front-runner of zombie/infected films, and a definite watch for fans and non-fans alike.
October 31: Juju Stories (2021, Nigeria)
Well hello, modern take on folk tales! A three-story anthology, Juju Stories talks people turning into yams, a witch, and love potions. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this took me by surprise liking it as much as I did. I’m a sucker for using pretty imagery and folk tales to teach lessons long forgotten, and this does just that. It fits right in with the folk-type horror we’re seeing today, but with a culture not too many people are used to seeing. Love it!