31 Days of Terror October 2014
31 days, 31 horror movies.
With some bonus round stuff, of course. What horror fan could do JUST 31 movies in 31 days?
With some bonus round stuff, of course. What horror fan could do JUST 31 movies in 31 days?
List activity
5.1K views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
38 titles
- DirectorBen SamuelsStarsRobert EnglundDiane CaryDaniel GadiA group of actors and actresses gather in a remote Northeastern town to rehearse for a mysterious stage production, only to be plunged into a hellish world where their real lives mirror the grisly story of the play.Day 1: Halfway decent movie really only notable for a great performance by Robert Englund as the hero(!) and a so-so plot. It does earn some points for being fairly subdued. Unfortunately it runs for another unearned downer ending -a cliched and tired device- to wrap things up, not to mention a bunch of inconsistencies created to make such a device work all but completely undermining what came before it. 2.5 out of 5, mostly due to Englund.
- DirectorLeigh JaniakStarsRose LeslieHarry TreadawayBen HuberA newlywed couple finds their lake-country honeymoon descend into chaos after Paul finds Bea wandering and disoriented in the middle of the night.Day 2: One wants to like this mostly mediocre and plodding psych-horror flick but just can't must much enthusiasm. There are some so-so body horror moments in the last act (along with a somewhat underwhelming reveal) and the film as a whole has some mildly unsettling lunacy. Ultimately, it feels very mundane.
But, hey, it has Ygritte from "Game of Thrones" in it. So there's that. 2.5/5 - DirectorJohn R. LeonettiStarsWard HortonAnnabelle WallisAlfre WoodardA couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists.Day 3: There are some excellent scares in this thing (including some solid compound and misdirect scares), along with some good set design and use of color and sound to create contrast. Unfortunately, they knew how to scare people but didn't know how to make an engaging film. Most of the film shambles along in a daze until it's time to say "boo," and half of the cast is mostly wasted. That said, it IS a pretty entertaining viewing- it's just unfortunate that it didn't have more style and substance to go along with it. 3/5
- DirectorZach LipovskyStarsDylan PostlStephanie BennettAndrew DunbarNot related to the previous Leprechaun films. Two young couples backpacking through Ireland discover that one of Ireland's most famous legends is a terrifying reality.Day 4: If there was ever anything good about the Leprechaun franchise, it was it's sense of humor. This ill-advised reboot by WWE films scoops out all of that in favor of more generic horror fare. It's really a remake in name only, considering it has nothing in common whatsoever with the original franchise. The Leprechaun itself is not really a character as much as he is a basic, run of the mill monster hunting a group of basic, run of the mill college kids.. The whole thing is dull, cliche and takes itself way too seriously. 1.5/5
- DirectorDallas Richard HallamPatrick HorvathStarsCamilla LuddingtonPatrick FischlerAmy PietzA woman who is plagued by nightmares involving a serial killer learns her dreams have a horrifying connection to the real world.Day 5: Much like its predecessor, there's not much to recommend but not much to truly hate on, either. The central mystery as well as the actual ghost stuff(stronger in the first one) doesn't track very well and the lead actress isn't very good, though she isn't really bad either. It's very much a middle of the road effort. 2.5/5
- DirectorCharles B. PierceStarsBen JohnsonAndrew PrineDawn WellsThe story of a hooded, berserk killer who terrorized the border town of Texarkana, Arkansas in 1946--leaving no fewer than five murder victims in his wake. He was never caught. Based on one of America's most baffling murder cases.Day 6: Not sure what to make of this '76 "classic"- some of the kill scenes are well done but has a weird sense of humor(not to mention the "true crime" voiceovers that grate on the nerves) that really doesn't feel right. But, it's to be expected from the director of "The Legend of Boggy Creek 2." Is it a classic or just another seventies movie? Dunno. Slapping a 2.5/5 on it anyway.
- DirectorJoseph ZitoStarsVicky DawsonChristopher GoutmanLawrence TierneyAn unknown killer, clad in World War II U.S. Army fatigues, stalks a small California town, bent on reliving a 35 year-old double murder by focusing on a group of college kids holding an annual graduation dance.Day 7: So-so slasher flick, but still strictly by-the-numbers save for some pretty graphic murders (but that was pretty standard in '81). As cool as slashers generally are(and pitchfork kills are kinda neat...the first time, anyway), there is positively nothing terribly interesting in this film. 2/5
- DirectorJames DeMonacoStarsFrank GrilloCarmen EjogoZach GilfordThree groups of people intertwine and are left stranded in the streets on Purge Night, trying to survive the chaos and violence that occurs.Day 8: There are some solid moments of social satire amid the same stupid premise that hampers down all the proceedings: the idea that within nine(!) years the U.S. would have "murder day" as a holiday is harder to swallow than, say, a serial killer who comes back in dreams. The film itself is mostly just video game plotting: moving from set piece to set piece in a flurry of violence and shallow characters. Some of those set pieces are somewhat interesting, though, and the ending actually is pretty okay if not a little manipulative. 2.5/5
- DirectorSeth GrossmanStarsLara VosburghKevan McClellanKate WhitneyA reality television crew, whose show features stories about drug addicts, finds that their 16-year-old junkie for their latest episode might actually not be fighting addiction, but a demonic force gripping her soul.Day 9: Found Footage is a subgenre that needs to die, but it can occasionally work when given a strong enough foundation. This film has that, utilizing a somewhat clever premise of an "Intervention" style reality show attempting to film the recovery a heroin addict only to discover the heroin is the only thing keeping the literal Demon that's possessing her at bay. Unfortunately it misses its cues far more often than it hits (though it does on occasion with some suitable "scary stuff"), frequently mimics much better films and ultimately falls flat on it's face during a rushed and unnecessarily arch climax. 2.5/5
- DirectorJuno MakStarsSiu-Ho ChinKara WaiHee Ching PawA public housing tenement is plunged into a dark storm of supernatural chaos.Day 10: Incredibly good looking and, at times, very engaging Chinese outing is somewhat hampered by some silly martial arts and some plot distractions. A hackneyed twist ending doesn't help matters any. It's well performed, at any rate, with some very strong photography and effects work All things said and done, it was a very attractive (if not a little ridiculous) diversion. 3/5
- DirectorJoey StewartStarsMarc DonatoJascha WashingtonWhitney HoyAn awkward student with a deadly vendetta leads a group of outcasts who plot to avenge the years of humiliation they faced by the popular students at Hohn High School.Day 11: This film has some genuinely excellent moments when it manages to be understated and cerebral. Unfortunately, it gets too hung up on a lot of it's theatrics and flamboyant underpinnings. It's at its best when it focuses on the moral ambiguity and "columbine" references but spends a little too much time with the revenge fantasy. Close, but no cigar. 2.5/5
- DirectorTommy WirkolaStarsJeppe Beck LaursenCharlotte FrognerJenny SkavlanA ski vacation turns horrific for a group of medical students, as they find themselves confronted by an unimaginable menace: Nazi zombies.Day 12: There's a lot of fun to be had with this horror comedy that, yes internet, has nazi zombies. Besides that gimmicky premise, it's actually a pretty fun Scandanavian version of "Evil Dead" with plenty of surprises and over-the-top horror moments, mostly brought about by the surprisingly resourceful and intelligent characters. 4/5
- DirectorJustin BensonGregg BishopTodd LincolnStarsPatrick LawrieEmilia AresCelia K. MiliusA Los Angeles police chase sends a fame-obsessed man on a wild ride to save his girlfriend from a cybernetic terror.Day 13: Three very uninteresting vignettes with a confusing wrap-around story is basically the name of the game here. Each segment has all the sensationalism and brutality-along with the lack of meaningful content-of any video-gone-viral, it's just difficult to understand if the whole thing is supposed to be some sort of commentary on that idea or if it's just a mediocre movie with a lot of sound and fury but no substance whatsoever. Only the second sequence and wrap-around have any merit at all(the third, featuring idiotic skate punks fighting cultists for what seems like hours is one of the worst things I've ever seen), and even they fall short of anything truly special. Hopefully this is the end for this once somewhat clever franchise. 2/5
- DirectorScott DerricksonStarsEric BanaEdgar RamírezOlivia MunnNew York police officer Ralph Sarchie investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rites of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city.Day 14: Between an overly long running time, Eric Bana's so-called "acting"(his New York accent is atrocious) and the use of music samples of "The Doors" (for some reason), there really isn't a lot to recommend about this limp Crime-Drama/Exorcism mash-up. Joel Mchale gives a welcome performance in a rather thankless supporting role but it's not enough to distract from the really lackluster "demon" elements despite some unusual set pieces. It's beginning to look like director Scott Derrickson (who made the far superior "Exorcism of Emily Rose") is a bit of a one hit wonder. "Based on a true story" indeed. 2/5
- DirectorTommy WirkolaStarsGeir Vegar HoelØrjan GamstMartin StarrStill on the run from a group of Nazi zombies, a man seeks the aid of a group of American zombie enthusiasts, and discovers new techniques for fighting the zombies.Day 15: As a sequel, it loses a lot of its charm and novelty but that doesn't mean it isn't gloriously outrageous in its own right. Gory, envelope-pushing and very, very funny, there doesn't seem to be a limit "Dead Snow 2" isn't willing to transgress. As a result, sometimes it's a bit TOO silly-while it takes a lot of ques from "Shaun of the Dead" it IS missing that films subtlety- especially when it comes to the supporting characters. But there's enough bloody psychosis to keep viewers happy. 3.5/5
- DirectorMarc CarretéStarsAlbert BaróMarta BelmontePepo BlascoFour days in the lives of an exorcist (Eloy Palma) and his granddaughter (Alba), working in the Barcelona area.Day 16: Spanish language import about demonic possession and ancient conspiracies and the like. It's pretty well made but essentially hinges upon its very specific plot twist in the last act to make sense of everything, which leads to a somewhat frustrating viewing experience. The twist is a good one, however, and quite clever. Unfortunately, a lot of the possession stuff isn't particularly interesting, but it makes for a diverting enough film as a whole. 2.5/5
- DirectorChris KentisLaura LauStarsElizabeth OlsenAdam TreseEric Sheffer StevensA girl is trapped inside her family's lakeside retreat and becomes unable to contact the outside world as supernatural forces haunt the house with mysterious energy and consequences.Day 17: An unnecessary remake to a so-so horror film from Uruguay(made only two years earlier) replaces the earlier film's artistic pretensions and subtlety with crass and unpleasant directness with shoddy results. The only thing decent is that Elizabeth Olsen is a strong actress and gives a fitfully solid performance here, but that can't make up for the film's nasty showcase of sexual molestation(wisely left mostly implied in the original). The gimmick of "all one shot" is thoroughly distracting and unconvincing. 2/5
- DirectorPaul LeydenStarsJon AbrahamsAndrew BeckhamJeanette BranchSarah and Josh are married suburbanites. After a car accident, Sarah suffers blackouts. As her life spirals she hides a camera in her home and unlocks a horrific secret with far-reaching consequences.Day 18: An intriguing premise(once it gets there, anyway: for it's first half hour its a shrill exercise in patience) gets an inept and rather nasty(it's rapey) treatment that fumbles every meaningful moment. The choices made with the story are somewhat mind boggling, as if they willfully decided to go for making people uncomfortable with its misogyny then going for a real supernatural horror flair(which its premise has in spades). A particularly nasty and unearned downer ending puts the crap-flavored icing on the cake. 1.5/5
- DirectorMitchell AltieriStarsMonty GeerLeore HayonMichael HudsonWhen a group of friends come across an abandoned house in the barren desert, what follows is a terrifying tale of evil possession causing the friends to slowly turn against each other.Day 19: Because the world needed another movie that was 1)found footage and 2)about unlikable skate punks the usually moderately strong Butcher Brothers directorial team brings us this paper-thin effort. It has the same half-formed urban legend background, stupid reasons to go places and all the other usual found footage cliches. It stars nobody and features nothing. 1/5
- DirectorAlexandre AjaStarsDaniel RadcliffeJuno TempleMax MinghellaIn the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, a young man awakens to find strange horns sprouting from his forehead.Day 20: Interesting but mostly predictable horror/comedy that ranges from very humorous to very, very dark, usually without warning. The cast is solid, and everything looks good, but there's an amateurish quality to the story(a child could see the plot twists and plot elements coming a mile away) overall that leaves something of a bad taste in ones mouth. Its finale is also really awkwardly staged and doesn't make a lot of sense(more like none. Why did this all this happen?)...in the end, all of its issues really stem from amateurish writing(almost certainly present from its origins as a Joe Hill novel), even though everyone gives their absolute best in presenting it to screen. It's okay for the most part, but it's no "Odd Thomas." 3/5
- DirectorAlfonso Gomez-RejonStarsAddison TimlinVeronica CartwrightAnthony Anderson65 years after a masked serial killer terrorized the small town of Texarkana, the so-called "moonlight murders" begin again. Is it a copycat or something even more sinister? A lonely high-school girl may be the key to catching him.Day 21: Surprisingly well-made post-modern/retro pastiche that isn't really a remake at all: it incorporates the original '79 cult-classic into its mythology. The camerawork is tight and energetic and features a lot of really fascinating visual flare. The performances and murder sequences are really solid and entertaining. Its final moments feel like a bit of a letdown and there's a disappointingly awkward scene involving homosexuals(which could have been really excellent and more or less redeems itself, but its staging is really flubbed). As a whole, it was really a pleasant surprise. 3.5/5
- DirectorCorey NormanStarsBrian ChamberlainCasey TurnerAnne BobbyReturning from his father's funeral, Robert Foster is faced with the unimaginable; he hits a young girl with his car. In a desperate attempt to save her life, he seeks help at a nearby farmhouse.Day 22: Went to the local theater(The Nickelodeon in Portland, Maine) to see this locally produced indy horror film and was pleasantly surprised. While there are some problems with script and pacing, this film manages to hold itself together well and mostly hide its low-budget origins. The actors do a solid job, especially the lead(who seems to have a knack for channeling the look and personality of multiple big budget stars), and there is some really good motifs and style choices made throughout. Quite a nice surprise. 3/5
- DirectorBobby RoeStarsBrandy SchaeferZack AndrewsBobby RoeFive friends are stalked by a group of mysterious and disturbed individuals while on a road trip looking for the ultimate haunted house attraction.Day 23: Yet-another-found-footage-movie. This one has a few solid moments, mostly creating scary moments perpetrated by people who are outright trying to be scary. These DO manage to trigger the heebie-jeebies by invoking moments that almost anyone can remember if they've ever walked alone at night. That being said, all the same usual cliches are represented(including the obvious stupidity inherent in found-footage), and a soap box about the "increasing violence of scary houses in america" is stood upon for most of its running time. 2.5/5
- DirectorStiles WhiteStarsOlivia CookeAna CotoDaren KagasoffA group of friends must confront their most terrifying fears when they awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit board.Day 24: Garbage. Shallow characters, limp scares and the worst kind of contrived plot twists. Lacking any sort of sense, the movie(both literally and figuratively) meanders along doing nothing of any note. 1/5
- DirectorJim McCullough Sr.StarsBill ThurmanAnna ChappellWill MitchellA mentally-unstable elderly woman recently released from a mental asylum proceeds to slaughter all the guests staying at her motel.Day 25: Very strange little film that takes awhile to ramp up and then just gets...stranger. It's a hard movie to encapsulate, mostly in that the line between "deliberately ethereal" and "strange due to being inept" is a hard one to define. Leaning towards somewhere in the middle. Slow, but more fun than it really should be. 2.5/5