Spooky Season Watchlist 2026
Hello, friends! I’ve been really shitty at updating the site the last few weeks, but I promise I have been using that time to prepare my upcoming watchlist for this year’s Spooky Season (I consider it to begin on September 1 and run through Halloween, but you do you). This will culminate in my posting daily films of 31 Days of Horror in October.
I’ve been doing this “challenge” for years. The first couple years I stole my list from the friend who got me started and tried to watch 31 films in October. By 2025, I had expanded my Spooky Season through September and was watching something like 150-170 films throughout the two months. I have a masterlist of films I want to get to, and sometimes I will pick something at random on one of the streamers (Tubi always has some great dogshit found footage stuff when you need it), but every year I make a definitive list of 31 films that I MUST get to during Spooky Season. That’s what I’ll be sharing today, so if you want to follow along feel free! Making your own list is fun, and might be easier for someone who hasn’t seen so many.
Most of these are first time watches for me, but not all of them. There are a handful of films I haven’t seen in years that I feel need a revisit. I try to mix up the subgenres, the eras and always aim to add in some foreign frights as well.
In no particular order, here’s my 2026 Spooky Season Watch List!
Strangeland (1998)
An early “horrors-of-the-internet” film, this one was written by Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider, who also stars as the film’s villain.
Innocent Blood (1992)
Vampires versus mobsters, baby!
Other Mommy (2026)
The trailer that shook the hell out of everyone before The Odyssey. Based on a super creepy novel and starring Jessica Chastain back where she thrives, in the horror genre.
Xtro (1982)
It’s got aliens knocking up human ladies who are havin’ alien babies! I dunno, but it sounds like a fun time!
The Legend of Hell House (1973)
Based on a Richard Matheson novel, it’s about scientists looking to debunk a haunted house. Groovy.
Frankenhooker (1990)
When your girlfriend loses her head, you do what every grieving boyfriend does: rebuild her with body parts from Manhattan prostitutes.
The First Power (1990)
Lou Diamond Phillips as a cop chasing a killer who may or may not be Satanic? Love a good devilish detective movie.
Repo: The Genetic Opera (2008)
A horror musical that I have somehow never seen, despite it having a pretty gnarly cult following.
Cat’s Eye (1985)
An anthology film of Stephen King stories. I’ve probably seen the whole thing on TV back in the day, but never all the way through.
Shock (1977)
Gotta have some Italian horror represented on the list every year, and Mario Bava fits the bill.
Night of the Living Dead (1990)
Remake of the OG classic directed by makeup legend Tom Savini…I won’t lie, I will likely marathon all of the Romero Dead movies and their remakes this year.
Of Unknown Origins (1983)
Robocop goes to war with a fucking rat!
Beast of War (2025)
I am a sucker of a shark horror movie, and I do not need the quality to be there (you will see a post coming up on this very subject).
Child’s Play 2 (1990)
One of the only horror franchises I still haven’t made my way through, mostly because I haven’t really liked any of the ones I’ve seen. However, I’m told this is the best one, so we’re gonna find out!
The Shining (1997)
Stephen King’s much preferred adaptation of his own classic. I am a skeptic but I’m open to it.
Demon Knight (1995)
A Tales From the Crypt film that is absolutely insane, but I barely remember it. Thankfully, this means I get to watch it fresh.
Cure (1997)
More detective horror, this time out of Japan, who have made one or two horror classics in their time.
VHS Mixtape (2026)
The newest installment in the uneven as hell but very fun found footage anthology franchise, this year with an interesting group of directors.
The Vampire Lovers (1970)
Horny ol’ Hammer Studios bringing a loose (and I hear it’s flimsy as hell) adaptation of one of my favorite horror novels. If nothing else, we get Peter Cushing!
Def By Temptation (1990)
An early Sam Jackson role in a tale about an evil Succubus preying on black men in New York City. I can thank the recent In Search of Darkness documentary series for spiking my interest in this one.
Shocker (1989)
A forgotten Wes Craven gem I’ve been meaning to revisit for ages. Mulder & Scully’s boss from The X-Files is a zombie serial killer with electro-power!
Night of the Reaper (2025)
One of last year’s talked-about slasher hits, I somehow missed it then. Fixing that now.
The Oracle (1985)
Supernatural murder mystery from a woman better known for directing adult and exploitation stuff. Color me intrigued.
Link (1986)
Murderous chimp movies made a comeback with Primate recently (okay, one movie isn’t a comeback), but this one is the OG.
Exit 8 (2026)
Japanese film about a man stuck in a neverending subway station. It sounds a bit like Backrooms, but I’m hoping for a better experience with this one.
Cemetery Man (1994)
Rupert Everett stars a cemetery caretaker who is stuck executing the recently buried when they return as zombies, and that is just a hilarious setup.
Night of the Demon (1957)
Also known as Curse of the Demon, I’ve seen this one ages ago. It’s a B-horror of its era that exceeds expectations in every way, and I’m looking forward to a second watch.
Found Footage 3D (2016)
Meta horror movie about folks making a found footage horror movie that becomes a found footage horror movie, and so on and so on and so on and—
Faces of Death (2026)
Slasher flick based on the infamous video nasty claiming to show “THE GRAPHIC REALITY OF DEATH”, my interest in this one is mostly from the coverage that podcaster Katie Afraidy had on it. If you’re unfamiliar with her: https://www.instagram.com/katieafraidy?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Roar (1981)
An absolutely ill conceived flick in which the lions are all real and so are, apparently, most of the attacks you see in the film. Should be nuts!
Resident Evil (2026)
One of the best new minds in horror offering up his own take on the Resident Evil franchise. Can Zach Cregger make the first GREAT Resident Evil movie?
That’s the list! 31 films I will definitely be watching. You’ll be seeing a lot more updates as we get into Spooky Season…can’t wait!
