Three cheers for 5 years! Can’t believe this is my already FIFTH year of Hoopin'. As is my tradition, all main picks are first-time watches. Recommend me something for next year! Horror has become my favorite movie genre thanks to this annual tradition and community, so thanks for being part of it!

For David Lynch. For Ozzy. For Tony Todd. For Ed Gale, Priscilla Pointer, Lorna Raver, and Terrence Stamp. For the ghosts past and present. For the magic of Fall and the ritual of it all.

Watching with Emily, Dyl, Rachael, Erik, Jon, and a bunch of nice strangers on this app. Looking forward to seeing your lists and discovering new hidden gems for the watchlist.

Special thanks to Cinemonster for putting this together. Here’s how it all began. Wanna join? Pick and watch 31 horror movies based on the below criteria between 9/15 and 10/31. There must be 31 horror films. Though viewing *officially* starts on 9/15, I’m starting early to make sure I finish on-time + sneak in a few extra, even if that means not doing Cinemonster’s extra credit this year.

Powered by Bebop Forever, MovieAss™, AMC A-List, The Independent Picture House in Charlotte NC, day-old iced coffee, and peanut M&Ms.

My previous Hooptobers: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021

Challenge Status: 31/31 watched
Bonus Status: 6 watched

2025 RULES
Total: 31 horror films

Countries: 6 countries (other than Italy or US)
[✅] Sweden - The Phantom Carriage (1921)
[✅] Austria - Funny Games (1997)
[✅] Canada - Ginger Snaps (2000)
[✅] South Korea - A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
[✅] Australia - Lake Mungo (2008)
[✅] Japan - One Cut of the Dead (2017)

Decade Checklist (9 total)
[✅] 1920s - The Phantom Carriage (1921)
[✅] 1930s - Dracula (1931)
[✅] 1940s - Cat People (1942)
[✅] 1960s - Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
[✅] 1970s - Phantasm (1979)
[✅] 1980s - Day of the Dead (1985)
[✅] 1990s - Misery (1990)
[✅] 2000s - Ginger Snaps (2000)
[✅] 2010s - Suspiria (2018)

Category Requirements
Zombie Films:
[✅] Day of the Dead (1985)
[✅] Return of the Living Dead (1985)
[✅] Queens of the Dead (2025)
[✅] One Cut of the Dead (2017)
[✅] The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

Cult or Conspiracy Horror:
[✅] Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
[✅] Savageland (2015)
[✅] Suspiria (2018)

Black Director & Lead:
[✅] Tales from the Hood (1995)

Mexican or Central American Director:
[✅] Huesera: The Bone Woman (2022)

Canadian Film:
[✅] Red Rooms (2023)

Russian or Former Soviet State Film:
[✅] Viy (1967)

1940s Pick:
[✅] Cat People (1942)

Post-Apocalyptic Horror:
[✅] The Last Man on Earth (1964)
[✅] The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

Dreams in the Plot:
[✅] Before I Wake (2016)

"Animals Are Pissed at Us" Film:
[✅] Tremors (1990)

Silent Film:
[✅] The Phantom Carriage (1921)

Based on Novels:
[✅] Dracula (1931)
[✅] Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
[✅] Misery (1990)
[✅] The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

Wildcard:
[✅] Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Ernesto Gastaldi Script:
[✅] All the Colors of the Dark (1972)

1932 Release:
[✅] Vampyr (1932)

Special Inclusion:
[✅] The Wizard of Oz (1939)

1 Tobe Hooper Film:
[✅] Invaders from Mars (1986)

Bonus Watches
[✅] Frankenstein (2025)  
[✅] Bugonia (2025)
[✅] The Wolf Man (1941)
[✅] The People Under the Stairs (1991)
[✅] Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
[✅] WNUF Halloween Special (2013)
[✅] Stoker (2013)
[✅] Trick or Treat (1986)