Happy Halloween! Here's 18 Short Horror Films You Need To See! (2024 edition)

 October Challenge Day 31:

Happy Halloween everyone!! Here is 18 brilliant short horror films to spook up your day.

Why 18 you ask? Because this is the 8th month of the old Roman calendar and the 10th month of the current calendar. BRAINS!

So without further ado, below is my pick of some of the best out there. With a review of 18 words or less, and in no particular order, please enjoy Horror Habit's 2024 Short Horror Film Festival.

How Olin Lost His Eye: A curious young boy goes exploring around an abandoned house. Excellent!

Riparian: A strikingly effect body horror short! 

Meet Jimmy: True crime podcast, supernatural, living in our ear phones -  this captures a zeitgeist!

Deer Head Valley: Peak quirk and gruesome, and almost tangible - so terribly gross. 

The Woods: Yikes! This is a simple, sweet, and sinister story. Excellent sound effects. 

Central Dental: This just isn't this guy's night. Beware those alleyway dental clinics.

Mainstream: Little cerebral, and takes a sharp look at "being plugged in". Or unplugged, for that matter. 

Rest My Bones: A cheeky little Irish short about making a deal with the devil.

 

Written: Absolutely stunning! Watch in the dark and with headphones on. 

Woodland Heights: Exquisite! This 1950's prom night is not going to go as planned.

MK Ultra Violence: Oh dear. This one is rough, on multiple levels.

The Rejected: Extremely graphic! So gory, and ... I'm not entirely sure of the message [raised eyebrow].

I'm Not Jessica: Hahahahaha. Silly, goofy fun. 

The Chute: I don't care what you say, laundry chutes are always going to be scary!

Horrorscope: HAHAHAHAHAHA. BRILLIANT!

Ansigtet (The Face): Well.... that got sad FAST.

Me Time: A masterclass in humor, thrills, chills, and - frankly, overall wit!

The Springfield Three: A paranormal take, sorta, on a true crime story. It's an interesting take!

The Candy Snatchers (1973)

October Challenge Day 30

Check out this mighty excellent '70s exploitation film! What more fitting a film for right before Halloween. Let's check out:

The Candy Snatchers

On second thought. No, it's actually about child abuse and kidnapping....

Here we have sweet teenage Candy, who's family has a lot of jewels. Three pieces of shit kidnap Candy for ransom. 

Uh Oh, though. I mute child accidentally stumbled across the crime scene! They have a witness who can't speak!

Bumbling commences. Bumbling, graphic interactions, yelling, screaming, and everything that comes from a classic late night exploitation film.

I would certainly call this movie a classic. It's gritty, raw, hilariously overdramatic, and just overall fun gross.

Absolutely watch with friends and it really should be a late night showing. Perfect for  midnight +. Maybe watch while you're eating Halloween candy. 

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side to see where else you can find this masterpiece of absurdity.

Flesh and Fantasy (1943)

October Challenge Day 29

Looking for a spooky little black and white trilogy? Looking for something a little cute, quaint, and fun for just about everyone? Let's take a look at:

Flesh and Fantasy

I didn't see as much flesh or fantasy as I was expecting, but overall it was delight!

Here we have the story opening with a man who is frightened of some omens and signs he's been seeing. Another man says "See here, good fellow" and opens up some books about why he shouldn't be afraid of those things ... or should he...

These are three strange tales about a supernatural mask (with a loud moral lesson at the end), and then we have a man who is very good - wouldn't hurt a fly, suddenly be warned that he'll kill someone... and finally we have a romance that revolves around a circus performer, ear rings, and possible jail time. 

This is a fun film for just about everyone (bring the whole family), particular folks who don't like the really scary stuff. 

This was an absolutely perfect Saturday morning watch for me. Pairs with tea, little sunshine while you're dusting your witchy sh*t.

I rented this film from Scarecrow Video, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this cozy feature.

The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting (2003)

October Challenge Day 28

Well, we're coming to an end soon with this daily challenge. I'm going to miss you, October!

I'm not going to miss you, much:

The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting

I have not been waiting for you, it seems.... 

My brother sent this to me as some sort of challenge. When he handed over the DVD he had rented, I detected a smirk on his face. 

About 5 minutes into the film I burst out laughing. Yep, we siblings know each other well!

Here's the story about a couple who are traveling down rural Texas and pick up a hitch-hiker. 

Everything goes wrong from there!

Uh. This is not a good film. It's accidentally funny and wildly chaotic though, and that makes it Entertaining!

With not a whole lot of good things to say about it, I did enjoy goofy bedlam. It feels like if a movie spent the afternoon day drinking in the sun. It looked like a made-for-TV movie that was shown on a big screen. In all: this film is certainly something.

This movie was rented from Scarecrow Video, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this visual explosion.

I Am Not a Monster: The Lois Riess Murders (2024)

October Challenge Day 27

Well, normally I wait until November until I dive into a TON of true crime documentaries, but I'm all willy nilly this year. Let's check out: 

I'm Not A Monster: The Lois Riess Murders

Gurl. You sure about that?

Also, the tag line is HILARIOUS. Who did that? WHO DID THAT? ... there's something wrong with grandma.... OMG

I remember hearing about this story when it first came out. Wild. A husband is found dead, wife is missing and a suspect in his murder, and then things continue to get f*cking wild. 

Ma'am. You might not see yourself as a monster but there's certainly some monster in there! Seriously. 

We're taken down her paths of abuse, mental illness (and there's a lot in that family), her quirkiness, her addiction, and the lengths she took to avoid taking accountability. She's a frustrating one - with plenty of truths in there to account for her behavior. 

She's a murderer. Plain and simple. How she became that way and what she did is a compelling story, however. This is a true horror story, for so many. And a reminder that monsters are in fact real and they come in all forms - be it as a human or the things in life that help create monsters.  

Best watched with a bestie who will help you bury the body. Pairs with apples pies. I watched this film on HBO Max, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this moderately thrilling documentary.