Every year during the month of October, I watch a horror movie. It’s a tradition that began when I was in film school. It began because I hated horror films, and a peer told me I needed to immerse myself in the genre and fully understand it before disregarding it. Every year since, I have spent my Octobers immersed in horror. 

It’s become a really fun tradition that I look forward to every year. Some years I try to write reviews and share my marathon with others, but most years I found myself too swamped with going to work, going to the gym, having a semblance of a social life, picking a movie, watching a movie, and writing a review every single day. 

This year, I’m taking a different approach. I’m picking movies ahead of time. I’m setting my schedule around doing this marathon. My work life balance is so much better this year. I have more space to make this marathon and the reviews happen. 

The last few years I haven’t prioritized this marathon. It has been a back burner project. I allowed others to influence my perception of it as a something silly. I didn’t feel like myself. This is a silly tradition that takes up a lot of time, but it is also a tradition that means a lot to me. It helps me feel connected to the artist I was in film school and the artist I hope to be again. 

I’m going to steep myself in this genre and explore it’s bizarre and terrifying corridors and hopefully you will be interested in and able to join me. 

The first week of movies is an eclectic mix of titles. There are no repeats here from previous years. I’ve also found myself at a bit of a loss. I have watched through almost all of the big name horror movies. I scrolled through the HBO Max library and realized I had seen everything they had to offer with the exception of three titles. The movies I watch this year will probably be a bit eclectic and esoteric. Hopefully they’ll also be worth watching.

I wanted to explore more Australian horror. They are often the most messed up movies around, so the first two titles from that part of the world. 

Next I chose a film that I remember hearing about when I was young and  finally decided to give it a try. 

Number four is a shark attack movie that has been bouncing around my Netflix for forever, so I finally knocked that one off. 

After that is a Swedish horror, they have such a dark sense of humor that their horror/comdies typically surprise and disgust.

Next I have another Netflix horror movie which made it to the list based on a creepy trailer and nothing else. 

Finishing off the week we have another Netflix movie that I meant to catch on its initial release, but you know how Netflix movies go, they show up for a week then get brushed into the dustbin of their algorithm. 

Here is the list, join me if you dare

1. Snowtown
2. Hounds of Love
3. White Noise
4. 47 Meters Down
5. The Conference
6. Cobweb
7. Woman of the Hour