Hooptober X
This is my third Hooptober :)
A devil/satan theme fits very naturally into this year so I kind of went with it. Hurting my theme a little is one of my own big stipulations that every movie must be a first watch - greatly limiting my choices because I've seen over horror 900 films.
Every year I tally a list of must watch films to save for Hooptober and I think I've got a good bunch this time. The two big movies I'm super excited for are The Devils and The Exorcist 3 (which will be my Oct 31 watch), but there are plenty others here, too.
As always I review (almost) every horror movie I see.
One new thing I'm doing this year is including all of the new releases I plan to watch this spooky season. I'm not going to lie, the Sep/Oct releases this year don't instill great confidence in me, but I'm hopeful that something good will surprise me - don't fuck up a third year in a row David Gordon Green (you probably will).
That brings my grand total to 37 films, I'm so pumped - happy Hooptober everyone!
-2 Post Apocalyptic/Natural Disaster Films-
28 Weeks Later - 2007 - Juan Carlos Frasnadillo
Isn't this one known for having one of the best intros of all time?
The Impossible - 2012 - J.A. Bayona
Never heard of this. Decided to respect the list and go for a straight disaster film.
-1 Robert Englund-
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon - 2006 - Scott Glosserman
One of the big movies this Hooptober. I've been saving this one for a whole year.
-1 Something is Underground-
Day of the Dead - 1985 - George A. Romero
I guess it takes place in a bunker? One of the last ..Of The Dead's to watch.
-3 Satan/Devil Centered Films-
The Day of the Beast - 1995 - Alex De La Iglesia
Pretty sure my old giallo horror nerd friends showed me part of this when it was new.
The Exorcist: Believer - 2023 - David Gordon Green
All signs point to suckage - despite this being maybe the most serious attempt ever in making a sequel to the original? Let me guess - history repeats and a new girl is possessed only for the legacy cast to come in and save the day
The Nun II - 2023 - Michael Chaves
I'm even more skeptical of this. I hope basement level expectations can help.
-1 Amicus FIlm + 2 Peter Cushing -
Asylum - 1972 - Roy Ward Baker
I love Amicus anthologies - saved this one for Hooptober!
How lucky it was one of the criteria films.
The Curse of Frankenstein - 1957 - Terence Fisher
I know it's a classic. Guess I need to see it. Sigh..
-1 Worst Dracula Film-
Dracula 3000 - 2004 - Darrel James Roodt
Haha this looks fun. Every list needs a Birdemic.
-1 LGBTQ+ Film + Moorehead/Benson-
Something In The Dirt - 2022 - Moorehead/Benson
Not super excited as it's not really horror, but it's the only Moorehead/Benson collab I have yet to see.
-5 Films from De Palma, Wes Crave, Ken Russell, Hitchcock and Moorehead/Benson.
Sisters - 1973 - Brian De Palma
Had this one last year but never saw it - now that De Palma is on here I take this as a sign.
The Devils - 1972 - Ken Russell
This was getting on no matter what. Glad to see Ken Russell on the list to make it easy!
Vertigo - 1958 - Alfred Hitchcock
Another year, another Hitchcock. Nothing to complain about here.
Cursed - 2005 - Wes Craven
Should I have picked The Serpent and the Rainbow? I feel I need more 2000's movies on the list so this one wins.
-1 Clive Barker Story-
Lord of Illusions - 1995 - Clive Barker
Didn't have much of a choice, still it looks decent.
-1 Film Released The Year You Turned 10-
Freaked - 1993 - Alex Winter, Tom Stern
Oof. One of the worst years in modern horror history. I'll take a horror comedy I haven't heard of with good reviews gladly.
-1 Mario Bava-
Black Sabbath - 1963 - Mario Bava
Another must have on my list going into Hooptober. Super stoked. A Bava anthology? Yes please.
-Movie With X In The TItle-
The Exorcist 3: Legion - 1990 - William Peter Blatty
The main event. I will be watching this one on Halloween night. I've heard of a particular scene that stands as one of the best in horror history.
-1 Tobe Hooper Film-
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - 1986 - Tobe Hooper
Next year onward my Tobe Hooper picks are going to go into diminishing returns territory. This will be a fun one.
-6 Countries-
One Cut Of The Dead - 2017 - Shinichiro Ueda - Japan
Another horror comedy - need these to lure my spouse in. Plus I'm going to Japan so had to include a Japanese film.
Goodnight Mommy - 2014 - Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz - Austria
This one was cut from last year so it was a shoe-in for 2023.
(The Day of the Beast - Italy)
(Black Sabbath - France)
(The Devils - UK)
(The Impossible - Spain)
-8 Decades-
20's - Haxan - 1922 - Benjamin Christensen
Mandatory viewing that embarrassingly never watched.
30's - The Black Cat - 1934 - Edgar G. Ulmer
Feels like a perfect mood-setter for the spooky seaosn.
40's - Dead of Night - 1945 - Various
One of the most famous anthologies in history. I know there's something about a doll?
50's - (The Curse of Frankenstein - 1957 - Terence Fisher)
60's - (Black Sabbath - 1963 - Mario Bava)
70's - (Sisters - 1973 - Brian De Palma)
80's - Pumpkinhead - 1988 - Stan Winston
Feels seasonally appropriate!
90's - Demon Knight - 1995 - Ernest R. Dickerson
I know I saw some of this as a young teen so this one will be fun to watch now.
00's - (Behind The Mask - 2006 - Scott Glosserman)
10's - Annabelle - 2017 - John Leonetti
20's - (V/H/S 85) - 2023 - Various
-New Films-
The Last Voyage Of The Demeter - 2023 - Andre Ovredal
Sadly missed this one in the theatres. Looks dark, dreary and probably my style.
Cobweb - 2023 - Samuel Bodin
Seems like 3 star material.
Elevator Game - 2023 - Rebekah McKendry
Looks like just the kind of horror film I will like more than most horror fans. I may be 40 but I'm not above low budget creepypasta adaptations for teens
A Haunting In Venice - 2023 - Kenneth Branagh
I'm actually excited for this. I do like Agatha Christie and Branagh. I'm down for a Halloween-themed mystery to get me in the mood.
It Lives Inside - 2023 - Bishal Dutta
Has a bit of buzz - could end up being the best of the spooky season releases.
The Exorcist: Believer - 2023 - David Gordon Green
The Nun 2 - 2023 - Michael Chaves
Saw X - 2023 - Kevin Greutert
I liked Saw Spiral so uh.. maybe? Considering the Saw franchises' history with sequels, I would be surprised if this scores higher than 2.5 stars
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines - 2023 - Lindsey Beer
Ditto for Saw X. I liked the remake more than the original which is quite heretical, but this will probably suck.
Five Nights At Freddy's - 2023 - Emma Tammi
Family night at the movies! The kids will love this - maybe I will too. At least it has Blumhouse attached to it.
Malibu Horror Story - 2023 - Scott Slone
New found footage - I'm in.
V/H/S 85 - 2023 - Various
One of my favourite horror franchises is back again. Let's hope this stays an annual thing on Shudder.