PICK YOUR POISON CHALLENGE 2025 by Aubra_
 
💀 REVIEWS 🍷 LISTS 💀
 
The Pick Your Poison Challenge is simple. Each day for the month of October, there is a horror theme, and each day there is a choice of 20 movies to watch based on the day’s theme. 
 
Simply pick the movie that interests you the most out of the 20 each day, watch, and review. That’s it! 
 
October 31st actually has 40. Watch one, watch two, however the spirit moves ya. This certainly goes for other days too - you can watch more than one film if you’ve got the time and motivation.
 
The rules are simple (and also flexible - do what works for you, even if it’s just doing weekends, starting early, etc). You can also combine this with other challenges that you might be partaking in, like Hooptober, if you’re so inclined. Definitely doesn’t have to be an either or situation, many of us relish the chance to load up on horror, especially in October! 
 
TO PLAY:
1. Day 1 starts on October 1st, 2025. There are 31 days total for the challenge. 
2. Pick your movie for the day from the listed options. You can also watch a different version or entry in a franchise of any of the films listed, if you prefer. 
3. Watch and review, include the day’s theme so we know you’re playing along. You’re also welcome to tag lists and reviews with the “PYP2025” tag.
 
DAILY THEMES:
 
☠️ Day 1: Something Old 👵🏽

To kick things off, dive into some oldies but goodies. Enjoy a film that had its theatrical release before Aubra_ was born!

Day 2: Ladies’ Night 👠

Show some love to the ladies of the genre and watch a woman-directed horror film. 

☠️ Day 3: When You’re Evil 😈

Today, go to hell - watch a film featuring hell, devils, demons, fallen angels, the antichrist, or satanists. 

☠️ Day 4: All You Need is Love 💋

Today, we sample from films in which love conquers all. sort of. maybe. Okay, maybe not. But it’s the thought that counts. 

☠️ Day 5: Dream a Little Dream 🛌

Grab your favorite blanket and a stack of pillows - today we watch films that feature sleep, dreams, or nightmares. 

Day 6: Sliced and Diced 🔪

Check your closets, and don’t forget to look under the bed. Today, we’re visiting slasher territory! I’ll be right back! 

Day 7: Wake me up Inside 🧟

Zombies, people mysteriously coming back from the dead, havok being wreaked by folks that may or may not have a pulse. Check to make sure both of your ears are still firmly attached and get ready for a day of reanimated corpses and returning from the grave. 

Day 8: Hidden Gems 💎

Please return your tray tables to their upright positions and deploy the secret handshake as we visit some lesser watched hidden gems - films with fewer than 25k views on Letterboxd that deserve your attention and will make you feel like you’re part of a secret cool horror club. 

Day 9: Snakes, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails 🐌

What’s your favorite nursery rhyme? Your favorite fairytale? Your favorite fantasy creature? We’ve got everything from lab constructed men, to Peter Pan, to werewolves, to Cinderella, to mermaids, to mysterious places in Mexico, India, Japan, Ireland, and China, and then some as we explore some dark fantasy horror. 

☠️ Day 10: Central and South American Horror 🗺️

Pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for fun as we jet set down South to sample horror films directed by folks from Central or South American countries. 

Day 11: Glitz and Glamour 🎆

Prepare to have your eyeballs and brains  wowed as we explore the world of visually-striking horror. This is one of my favorite days of the challenge! 

Day 12: The End of the World as we Know it 💣

You bunker or mine? Today we venture out into the wasteland with films centered on apocalypse horror. 

Day 13: Trapped like a Rat 🐀

Get fenced in, boxed in, locked in, and sharked in with some single location horror. 

☠️ Day 14: Family Ties 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Prepare to reevaluate your life decisions as we watch horror focused on children and families! It’s not just a phase, mom! 

Day 15: Hello, Dolly! 🪆

Children’s toys, mannequins, wooden creatures and more shock and scandalize as we select a movie focused on doll horror.  Beware the stare of Mary Shaw, kids. 

Day 16: Disability Horror 🩼

Characters facing physical challenges rise to the occasion to take on all sorts of foe as we sample from films with disability representation. 

Day 17: On the Road Again 🚘

Snacks? Check. Playlist? Check. Full tank? Check. Maniac with implements of torture? Double check. Get ready to play passenger princess as we hit the dusty trail with some road trip horror. 

Day 18: Let’s Get It On 🍆 

A friend once told me that he thought all human behavior stemmed from a drive toward sex or survival. Today, we ask ‘why not both?’ Horny horror incoming. 

Day 19: Candyman, Candyman, Candyman 🐝 

Strap in and stare down your favorite region-specific lore as we become our own worst enemy by chasing after some urban legend horror. Hold onto your heads! 

Day 20: Stay Out of the Woods 🌲

Witches, killers, creatures, cults, oh my. Probably best to just stay home, based on today’s selection of forest and wilderness horror. We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore. 

👼 Day 21: She Blinded me with Science (Fiction) 🧬

If you like body transformations, and stan giant brains. If you’re not into yoga but want to see reality change. If you like hiding out from creatures, from some distant place. This is the day that you’re looking for - watch sci-fi horror and escape. 

Day 22: Tentacle Tales 🐙

Cosmic and Lovecraftian horror are on the menu for today friends! Tuck in your bib, and get your fork and knife ready to cut into all the weirdness this theme has to offer. Literal tentacles may or may not be included!

Day 23: Do you Hear the Lambs Screaming? 🐑

Today we’re on the prowl to view some serial killer horror, with dastardly individuals from different countries and decades. Choose wisely, and don’t get caught in their traps. Dun dun dunnn. 

Day 24: Story Time 📖

Kick back and prepare for the best kind of tales - those of the spooky variety - as we dive into today’s theme of anthology horror. 

☠️ Day 25: Fangs for the Memories 🧛🏻‍♀️

These guys and gals really suck - they’ll keep you up all night, try to nibble, and may even want you to join their club. Prepare your necks for some vampire horror. 

☠️ Day 26: I See Dead People 💥

Open your hearts, minds, and your third eye as we check out films films featuring psychics, clairvoyants, mediums, or telepathy. 

Day 27: An Unquiet Mind 🧠

The insides of our heads can be quite the uncertain place. Take a few slow, deep breaths and prepare to experience some psychological horror. 

Day 28: Now Screening 🖥️

Click like and subscribe and log in for today’s theme - screen-life, computer, streaming, vlogging, and influencer horror. 

Day 29: When You’re Strange 🫠

The goal of today is to keep it strange. Embrace your inner oddball and dive head first into some weird horror. 

Day 30: Filled With the Spirit 👹

Say a little prayer and get that holy water ready - today, we’re watching possession horror!

☠️ Day 31: A Haunting We Will Go 🏚️

Creaky floorboards, spooky specters, and strange sightings abound as we go on today’s field trip to haunted and/or spiritually infested houses and buildings. 

☠️ Bonus Round 1: Spooky Substances 💊

Prepare for a unique sort of trip as we hone in on horror featuring drugs and chemicals. 

☠️ Bonus Round 2: The Deep Dark 🧗🏻‍♀️

Pray for daylight as we descend to explore horror set underground, in caves, in tunnels, or in basements. 

Bonus Round 3: Behind the Screams 🎥

Learn yourself something with one of these 20 captivating horror documentaries, based on your favorite flicks, folks, facts, abd/or folklore.