October Horror Movie Challenge 2026

Often — too often, arguably — I grow negative when ushering in the October Horror Movie Challenge. A common theme to these introductory posts is how much I hate this time of year, despite being a lifelong horror fan. The reason is mainly one of climate. I am a transplant from the tropics, and while I’ve been living in the UK for more than half my life, I have yet to adapt to the weather here. October is when autumn truly arrives, bringing cold, darkness, and the susurration of dead leaves. The long nights depress me, no matter how many horror films I fill them with.

This year, however, October still feels like late summer. I’ve yet to huddle over my heater or place an extra duvet on the bed. There has been precious little rain either. If it weren’t for the shortening days, it might seem like time has stopped. This is all more frightening than any film I’m likely to watch this month. Droughts and crop failures are far scarier than ghosts.

But let us try to forget the real horrors for now and spend the month lost in imaginary ones!

What is the October Horror Movie Challenge?

Simply, the October Horror Movie Challenge asks us to watch a horror film every day throughout the month. People have developed all sorts of variations, as people are wont to do. You might try picking films from various countries, subgenres and eras, or seek out those made by creators underrepresented in horror cinema. Some try to pack in as many films as their eyes will allow, while others watch whatever they can, knowing they’ll never make it to 31. Honestly, any approach is valid. The important part is watching horror films and, ideally, talking about them.

The only rule I set myself is to select films I’ve not seen before. I also aim to post a full review of each one on this site, along with a post mortem at the end, in which I pick the best, worst and weirdest films of the month.

After the more freeform approach of the past couple of years, I’ve gone back to planning my month out in advance, trying to ensure a good mix of eras and countries. From previous experience, however, I am likely to change this as films become unavailable on streaming platforms, new options pop up, or my mood simply changes. I am fickle.

Once again, I’m watching most of my films via streaming services, with the occasional dip into my DVD archive. While this is mainly for my own convenience, it may also help anyone playing along at home.

For personal reasons, I had to miss the October Horror Movie Challenge for a few years. I did take part in 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, however, and you can find my reviews from these years on this site. Maybe they’ll help you find some choice films for your own challenge.

An Open Challenge

My favourite part of the October Horror Movie Challenge is that it invites conversation with other fans, comparing the films we’ve been watching and discussing our thoughts about them. If you fancy joining in, I would love to hear from you. And if you have any suggestions of films I should be watching, that would also be lovely.

The main hub of discussion is The Good Friends of Jackson Elias Discord server, where we have a channel dedicated to the October Horror Movie Challenge. Alternatively, you can contact me on Bluesky or Reddit, or by whispering into the vents in your bedroom.

Here is my provisional selection. I’ll update the list with links as I post reviews.

Messiah of Evil (USA, 1974)
Milk & Serial (USA, 2024)
Why Don’t You Just Die! (Russia, 2018)
The Visitor (Italy, 1979)
Lake Michigan Monster (USA, 2018)
Save the Green Planet (Korea, 2003)
Daniel Isn’t Real (USA, 2020)
New Religion (Japan, 2022)
The Driller Killer (USA, 1979)
Saccharine (Australia, 2026)
Evil Cat (Hong Kong, 1987)
Stéphane (France, 2023)
Send Help (USA, 2026)
Vampire Clay (Japan, 2017)
Hokum (Ireland, 2026)
Jack Be Nimble (New Zealand, 1993)
Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (Japan, 2007)
Undertone (Canada, 2025)
Blind Beast (Japan, 1969)
The Appointment (UK, 1982)
Vampyr (German, 1932)
The Fake Ghost Catchers (Hong Kong, 1982)
The Last Horror Film (USA, 1982)
Fréwaka (Ireland, 2024)
Angst (Germany, 1983)
Toys Are Not For Children (USA, 1972)
The Cycle (USA, 2026)
The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (Italy, 1971)
Meanwhile on Earth (France, 2024)
The Ambulance (USA, 1990)
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (USA, 2026)

A Final Note

If you have been drawn here by these posts, please do look around at some of our other film reviews. We also have a podcast, called The Good Friends of Jackson Elias, which occasionally covers horror films. You might find the following episodes interesting.