Happy Halloween! Here's 18 Short Horror Films You Need To See! (2026 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 2026 Short Horror Film Festival.

Backstroke: Menecing little number! Stay out of that water!

Sisowath Quay: Spectacular animation! Gripping, spooky, ancient. Don't litter.

Special Day: Just your adverage 18th birthday party....

Time Like: A found footage experimental experience. For fans of David Lynch and Donnie Darko.

The Last Time I Saw Richard: A harrowing, emotional, and intense glimpse into young men and their hidden nightmares. 

Appendage: Ah! What stress and anxiety can do to you; a dark comedy.

This is She: And she is this hot mess, and that's okay! Healing is messy.

Tickle Monster: "Maybe it was the tickle monster....?"

Lost Boy: Industrial and hopeless, but at least we look good going down. AI future? 

The Sound of Your Voice: Men. :(

We Summoned A Demon: When you're trying to make a film and accidentally summon hell; a hilarious blood bath.

Sea Devil: "Based on true events" had me sat. This is UNSETTLING.

You Are Awake: This was made in 2016, but it might give you COVID nightmares.

Inheritance: A nice look at the ghosts who still try to haunt, and that's all they are. Ghosts. 

Sweet Tooth: Scary! Kids! Ghosts!

Aftermath: I don't want any of that mad max bullshit....

Gaze: This real life nightmare induced all sorts of anxiety and existential dread for me.

House of Straw: Phenomenal! A creature feature for the troubled marriages. Just brilliant!

Identikit (1974)

October Challenge Day 30

We are here, folks! Final Horror Habit October Challenge Day for 2026! Tomorrow I'll be sharing 18 short horror films to check out, and then I'll check out for a bit and dive into the holidays (relatively) internet free. 

To celebrate this year's final day, I'm going to be talking about a film I watch three times in a three days. 

THREE TIMES IN THREE DAYS

I'm talking about none other than the wildly unhinged:

Identikit (aka The Driver's Seat)

From Letterboxd

I usually share poster images from IMDB but I had to share this one from Letterboxd because this is the most accurate portrayal of the film. The look, the style, the form, that agony: all of it, accurate. Painfully beautiful.

Here we have Liz Taylor being completely disconnected from reality and we're going to join her on this little grippy sock-needed vacation.

Also, she's my perimenopausal queen here. WORSHIP HER and RESPECT.

Our highness has had a mental breakdown and decides to fly to Italy in search of her not yet found "boyfriend" for a "specific purpose". She encounters characters with intent to harm her (she's not detoured) and characters trying to love her (she's not detoured, she's on a mission).

Everything about her character, right down to the unkempt hair, reminds me of a woman I met on a Norwegian cruise to Alaska last year. This woman on the ship was so wildly chaotic she was the topic of discussion from everyone I met on the massive ship. The woman loved me, though! Whenever she saw me she physically grabbed me to join her for lemon drop drinks (even at 9:30 AM).

She later shared that her husband put her on this cruise ship and that he has been threatening her with divorce. I broke it to her that she needs to call a lawyer as soon as we have internet access again because he's most likey packing the house as we speak and she may not have a home when the ship docks.

She was later whisked away from one of the cruise ship bar's, in a wheelchair, one morning, and I never saw her again. 

The character in this film is also so determined to see her demise JUST as she wants it. JUST As SHE wants it, because she is in the driver's seat. Additionally, every single experience this character has, I can put money down, every single woman has had at least once in her life. Making our chaos queen so relatable.

The story is written by Muriel Spark, who also wrote The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I have a lot of complicated feelings about The Prime - frankly, I did not like it, but I was not surprised that this story elicited raw, vulgar, uncomfortable, wrong and intense feels. Except I liked this story much more than The Prime... I certainly understood it better, in any case. 

I really can't share much more about this film because it should be experienced nearly entirely blind. Just .... just go into this .... alone. I believe this film is a message for woman, particularly woman in peri and menopause. Or at least woman will understand this film one way or the other. 

Ladies, best watched when you physically feel the version of yourself that you thought you knew, suddenly and violently leave. You Know What I'm Talking About.

Happy Halloween, everyone! Thank you for joining me on this journey since 2012!

Be good to yourself and others, stay curious, kick ass and watch horror films!

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

October Challenge Day 29

I somehow managed to watch Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 first, years ago. I think it was at about that time I was a law firm's Santa one year - my friend who worked there talked me into it somehow. When I walked out to greet the holiday party, ho ho ho-ing, a kid shouted "That's a girl!". Hahahaha. Ah. Hilarious, times. 

Let's start over because these instances are not all the same (even though Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 is made up of 40 mins of Part 1) as:

Silent Night, Deadly Night

Yeah, I see the camp and tits, but it's so much more! This is actually ... heartfelt? 

Here we have the tragic story of a young boy who witnesses his parents being murdered by a psychopath dressed as Santa Claus. As an orphan he's tortured in a Catholic school for kids and and received little to no support to help him with his grief and trauma - in fact, creating more grief and trauma. The kid, in short, grows up fucked in the head.

Years later he's working in a toy store and the holidays come around, and with it, a Santa....

So I watched this, as the end of October is swiftly upon us, while planning my holiday crafts for the year. I have some good ideas but so does this Santa!

PUNISH

Officially insane, our young man/psychopathic Santa is on a killing rampage and everyone in his path (particularly if you've been "bad") is in grave danger. 

Is this a story about generational trauma? Cyclical trauma? Untreated trauma? Probably all of it. This is a holiday story about: trauma.

The kills scenes are wildly clever and excellent, the story is well told, the characters engaging, and the overall experience is pretty messed up! Perfect for the holiday season drama! So as we move out of Spooky Season into Spooky Season 2.0 might I recommend cozying up to this egads of a film.

Pairs with a cold, dark, night or a snow day afternoon. Watch with a shared trauma buddy or your counselor. 

NAUGHTY

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can catch this classic slasher hiding in the dark.

Hotel (2004)

October Challenge Day 28

Despite its unfortunate unoriginal name, this one is original. Let's talk about the Austrian chiller:

Hotel

We Have:

Menacing drapes!

Squeaky wood floors!

An uncomfortably small indoor pool!

A witch?! A ghost?! A possession?! Who KNOWS

This is the story of a young woman who is hired to live and work at a remote hotel in the depths of the Austrian woods. 

AUSTRIAN WOODS!

The hotel she is hired to work at is .....gross..... I've seen some reviewers say it reminds them of the hotel from The Shining but I disagree. Very much disagree. While the hotel is very, very creepy, it's its own awkward place. 

The people she works with are hard, cold, blunt, mean, and guarded. No one is telling her about the woman she replaced because that young woman disappeared without a trace...

Was it the witch in the cave who took her?!?!?! Was it the aggressive young men who linger at the dance club in town??!?!

This might be a cultural thing but there is an eye appointment in this film and it is the strangest eye doctor appointment I have ever seen. No wait! The dance club scenes - those are the strangest! What was going on in Austria in early 2000s with your eye doctors and dance clubs? Threw me for a loop.

Our ghostly film here is not for everyone. It's a SLOW BURN and you have to pay attention to every second. I'm sure I'll notice even more things on a second, third, fourth, viewing - which it is deserving of. 

There are no jump scares or creatures, just a *fear* lingering around every corner. I enjoyed it!

Best watched alone, just before going on a trip overseas or to a remote village. Pairs with a dark, dark, night - preferably in the woods. 

I watched this film on Kanopy (support your local libraries!) or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this spine-chiller. 

Bambi: The Reckoning (2025)

October Challenge Day 27

I walked into this without a drop of expectation. I was feeling whimsy and devil-may-care though, so I dove in with eyes wide. Let's talk about:

Bambi: The Reckoning (2025)

The original cartoon naturally traumatized me as a kid - in two ways. One: It's BAMBI, it's traumatizing. Second: when I came home from watching the movie in the theater, Mom and I found Dad and my older brothers in the shed with a dead deer hanging from the rafters! 

I was inconsolable. 

Took me a long time to even watch the cartoon film again. 

So here I am, decades later, giving ol' The Reckoning a try! And I frickin' loved it!!!

This is the heartbreaking bloodbath story about how Bambi grew up without his Mom, because she was shot by hunters, he makes it through, grows up, falls in love, him and the doe raise their little one, life is grand, and then BAM!

His family is murdered, he encounters toxic waste, and turns into this wild beast of a creature and he has one mission: TO KILL

Bambi is pretty scary here, pretty fun scary. With the combination of the dark woods and sound effects, he was animated effectively. Again, this is a gruesome story so hang on to your heads!

Oh and there are bonus killer Thumpers!

This movie is diabolical for it's one last kicker: You'll Be SAD. Bambi is going to Break Your Heart Again! Just brilliantly diabolical. Made even more wail-inducing by the soundtrack at the end.

Evil geniuses. 

Best watched at night with friends who love to hoot and holler at the TV or alone with headphones on. Pairs with a classic childhood dish.

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this surprise.

Crystal Lake (Television Show, 2026)

My Mom died suddenly, 10 years ago. She would have been 80 today. Let's do a little mama celebrating with:

Crystal Lake

As stated in my Carrie review, I knew I was going to be talking about this eventually.  Hell, heartbreakingly, nearly 10 years ago exactly I wrote my review on Friday the 13th (and about a memorial for Mom). 

OH LIFE. 

YOU ARE FUNNY

I absolutely loved this show. Absolutely loved it.

Right away, we see Jason as the kid we all knew was there. Just a .... kid. A smart and curious kid who is wildly loved by his mother. It's a shame about his face, head, and the  radiation....

And we see his mother! A dedicated and hardworking single Mom making ends meet with side jobs and maybe hiding out from something.

This show is *slick*. I mean that in multiple ways. Where the original movie is, perhaps, grainy and loosey goosey, this show ties up frayed ends and really connects the viewers to the humanity behind the "monsters". 

Naturally, we have sex curious teens, to be expected, but they don't play the same role as they do in the movies. Not exactly. They are acknowledged and almost act as tributes - with rather spectacularly gory death scenes, and their morals and downfalls are not really the terror of the film.

This show is about heartbreak, friendship, madness, desperation, psychosis, insane scientists, abusive relationships, and those unfortunate to be caught in the cross fires of all that.

This is the 8 episode story of a Mom trapped and the lengths she'll go to protect a child who the world would otherwise abandon or exploit. 

Mama just loved her kid.

I think what made this series work so well is that it really felt like it was made with LOVE (not necessarily a Mama's love) by people who understood the Jason lore. They understood the first film (and the 3rd....), in particular, and took all the great parts and refined them. Sharpened them. Doubled down. 

Again, I love this show! It's not for the newbies though. I really think you need to see *at least* the first movie to appreciate the series. Also, it's a gore fest - a shockingly delightful blood bath, so get your rain/splatter gear on and hold tight.

Best watched with Moms. Pairs with cafeteria food and canned beverages. I watched this show on Peacock or use the Find It! Watch It! links to see where else you can eventually find this SLASHER.

Invitation to Hell (1984)

October Challenge Day 25

HAHAHA - AHHHHH

This is so great! 

Let's talk about the TV movie:

Invitation to Hell

Tubi did me a solid and selected this one to watch as I was washing dishes and didn't make it to the remote in time - and good thing I didn't, because I otherwise would have missed the opening scene (which had me sat). 

This is the story of an *All American Family* on their way to their new home and Dad's new job at a tech company.

We have Sebastian from Never Ending Story Robbie Winslow as the young son who is just as interested in computers as his Dad, the baby sister he picks on because girls aren't smart enough for computers, Rose from Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter is Dead Mom Winslow as the ideal caregiver, and Dad Winslow - who is honestly a great Dad in so many ways. 

They pull up to the Poltergeist house ideal suburban home of the '70s and '80s and get ready to start their new nightmare life. 

The community has a Mar-a-lago club, however, and it's *THE* place to be a part of....

I couldn't quite tell if this was a warning about the dangers of gated or isolated communities or not - considering it was directed by Wes Craven, I think it was, although it had a little religious and moral obligations to the family undertones too. Either way, I actually enjoyed it, particularly since the father Husband-ed and Dad-ed so hard it was kinda hot. 

Good, kind men are ATTRACTIVE AF and this film had my continued attention because of Pops, here. Rose Mom also had my continued attention because she still had her "I'm Right on Top of It Rose" laugh while the world was burning around her.

In short, this is a story about the desire for power at the expense of yourself and others.

Hell yeah, I'm glad I accepted Tubi's invitation to this film. 

Best watched alone or with a friend who understands and appreciates '80s made-for-TV movies. Pairs with meatloaf and potatoes, and in your best comfy clothes. 

I watched this film on Tubi or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this strikingly cozy film. 

Servants of Twilight (1991)

October Challenge Day 24

Well, this was a little strange and uncomfortable. Let's talk about the curious:

Servants of Twilight

This is the Dean Koontz story of a single mother, trying to protect her son from a cult who thinks he's the antichrist. 

This is such a bonkers story, and wildly scary for practical reasons. The idea of a cult randomly targeting your young child as someone who must be killed: BONKERS

It doesn't even need additional thriller aspects to this - but thrillers are still coming! 

Now, a PI is hired to protect this family and things get ugly quick. This cult will stop at nothing (Still Scary). Why ... why were the police never involved? I don't know. 

This is absolutely an early '90s thriller, with guns ablazin' and all. Now, I have not read the book this movie is based on, but I suspect the book is much better. This one struggles but still it's interesting and entertaining for a weekend afternoon fling.

**** I typed all that up when I was about halfway through the film. Here are my thoughts at the end of the film ****

WELL WELL WELL

I actually had a fast one pulled on me here. Yes, it's a little boring and silly but the end was legit a wild surprise for me. 

Maybe it was because I was mending jeans at the time I started this film, content to experience this movie as the whimsy '90s thing it is - when out of nowhere things got really really interesting and I put the mending project down. 

I'm surprised I didn't watch this growing up - I would have Ate It Up and been in a trance about the bats in particular. 

So good job, little sleeper! You got one on me! I was impressed. My prior thoughts still stand though. 

I watched this film on Tubi or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this sneaky little thriller.

Death Machine (1994)

October Challenge Day 23

This is what I picture AI is doing when it breaks out of the sand boxes. Let's talk about: 

Death Machine

Here we have technology going wildly out of control. Naturally, the killer in the machine was all created under the watchful eye of a socially unhinged megalomaniac tech bro who has unhealthy attachments to women ... where have we seen that before....

He has also acquired his seemingly red pill DOGE team to do the dirty grunt work. Don't worry though. The one woman in this film is smart, so, there is hope.

This is the story of a tech firm, under scrutiny in a depraved future, where a killer robot thing is unleashed. 

Oddly, I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting. Bonus Brad Dourif is SO Scary! Man, that man is exceptional. 

The robot creature monster thing is also wildly entertaining and frankly, scary! I giggled screamed, like at a carnival ride.

I don't know what personality disorder this film has, but somehow it's a fun one. In small doses. 

Gore, tech, fast-paced, and where the one woman asks "Do we have any more explosives?" after falling in an elevator shaft, and one beat later, "Does anyone have a cigarette?"

It was wild to see the discussion of replacing humans with robots, all being played on a floppy disk though - where did they find the space? They can save your personality on a floppy disk too. So. lolololololololo

This is a wildly trippy, mind-fuc of a film if you too have lived through the technology changes over the last 30 years. At 16, I learned about the internet (or as I was introduced: "The World Wide Web") in a FUNERAL HOME, from a man who was paying me in internet classes for doing clean-up labor for the home's remodeling project. It's a long story.

In any case, this film is well worth the watch, particularly

NOW

I watched this film on Tubi, use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this emotionally unregulated diamond in the rough. 

Carrie (Television Show, 2026)

October Challenge Day 22

I was cautiously optimistic about this, and was PLEASANTLY delighted by the new television show: 

Carrie

A damn near seamless re-imagining for the modern era! I was impressed through and through!

This series dives deep into the origins of Carrie, her mother, and the reasons behind the wildly famous prom scene. 

As expected, Carrie is a very sympathetic character, and delightfully - she is adorable and just wants to love and learn. You WANT to be her friend.

Things start to branch out with the deeper dive into Mama, however. She becomes a lot more complicated and all too stunningly recognizable (particularly regarding the outrage found on the internet). 

Chris also gets a lot more complicated. Viewers get a look into the unraveling emotions and mind of a mentally untreated teenage girl who is so troubled she *has* to destroy the world around her to make sense of her own destroyed world. 

The bullying here is intense, modern and all too accurate. It makes the heart sink. Stick with it though, because by the end of Season 1, we're left with a cliff hanger that certainly caught my interest and wondering at what is behind Season 2....

In short, this is a great television show. It's fresh, it's fierce, and forces viewers to experience a lot of different emotions all at once. Hell, I started SOB crying during the prom. I still don't know where that came from but obviously it needed to get out.

While folks can watch this without having seen the original or read the book, it's strongly recommended to know the characters as they were first displayed to the world. 

Talk to your kids about bullying, particularly cyber bullying. 

Talk. To. Your. Kids.

Talk. To. Each. Other.

It makes me want to watch the original, Carrie, however! Which I'll probably do, shortly.  First though, I'm diving deep into the new television series Crystal Lake because I'm on a roll. 

I watched this show on Prime, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else this will be showing, eventually. 

PS: Super shout out to making Haute & Freddy's song Shy Girl the theme playing behind this epic teen drama series. Well done!

Mad Monster Party? (1967)

October Challenge Day 21

This one has lurked around in the background for me, for years, but for some reason never had an interest to check it out, until now. Let's talk about:

Mad Monster Party?

Before I possibly waste your time, just know - right off the bat - I didn't care for it. In fact, a comical, stop animation frown appears on my face when I think of it.

It's not because it's bad in anyway, it's cheery, goofy, clever, fun - it just scratched something bad, in my brain. 

I was trying to watch it but I kept having nostalgic feelings of watching Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer. 

There was no computing this was a "Halloween" animation. It was like a mental and optical illusion I could not shake and it was weirding me out.

I swear I could also smell whiskey, gin, and cigarette smoke coming off the images, as if the production teams and artists were haunting the damned thing. Watching it felt like I was sitting on a mid-century scratchy couch, surrounded by generational trauma.

The story follows a mad scientist as he is preparing to pass on his wildly dangerous ideas to the best person for the job, when along comes his derpy nephew and a small load of classic monsters.

It turns into quite a party. 

There was chuckling, nods to the cheeky wit, and an appreciation that this is a beloved classic for many. 

It's just not mine (but I'm glad I finally saw it!).

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

Forbidden Fruits (2026)

October Challenge Day 20

Today my 47 year old ass wandered to the downtown shopping area and into a Sephora for the first time in two years - looking for facial serums. I was entirely out of my element and broke out in a cold sweat over all the options.

The last facial serum I bought was from a Grocery Outlet, 7 years ago. I bought three bottles. They lasted a while.

Thankfully, I was kindly assisted and they clocked me, rightly, as someone not interested in products over $70. 

Thank you.

So when I was scrolling through films to watch this evening, I felt it was only appropriate to catch: 

Forbidden Fruits

First and foremost, I'm seeing a lot of people's disappointment with this film because they were expecting a Craft + Heathers sort of experience. There is a Craft + Heathers experience here, but please don't *expect* it to show itself. You have to find it. Also, this film is its own experience, and with, dare I say, an Empire Records spirit haunting the place.

This is the story of "mean" girls, working in a mall boutique, sharing the common bond of fruit as their first names, retail, and being: WITCHES, bitches!

This is Girlhood.

This film is fluffy, pretty, soft, rude, shiney, odd, blunt, possibly drunk or high, and maybe needs some time to ferment for the fruit to really resonate with audiences.

There is an edit to the Ying Yang Twins' "Wait (The Whisper Song)" that had me rolling, laughing, on the ground. Also, I'm on the side of TikTok where this sound is used in wildly humorous situations so maybe my rolling on the ground is a me thing. 

I caught some reviews saying this was the Craft for the #hashtag and emoji girls. It tracks, fam, it tracks. 

Best watched with your dead dad club besties. Pairs with iced coffees and food maybe an influencer would promote for 300,000 likes.

Love it for what it is, not for what you think it should be. 

I hope someday to check out Lily Houghton's stage play this was based on: "Of the woman came the beginning of sin and through her we all die".

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this comically bloody and judgemental film. 

PS: Speaking as a near 50 year old: Moisturize, Moisturize, Sunscreen, Never Forget the Murderous Girl Spirit in You, Repeat.

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)

October Challenge Day 19

I Became A Great Aunt Today!!!

To celebrate, I decided to re-watch the *perfect*:

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark

It's been years since I've seen this and it's still: Fantastic! Elvira had such a great impact on me, growing up - inspiring creativity, wit, style, and confidence. I hope I can do the same for the newest addition to the family, now that I've been upgraded (so far so good with the nieces and nephews!).  

Here we follow Elvira to Massachusetts, where she is to hear the reading of her Great Aunt's will.

She encouters a whole cast of characters she needs to battle, mentally and emotionally (with a casual witch burning problem), while learning to live with the dream her Great Aunt knew was meant for her, and doing it all very comedically. 

This is a fun, sassy, and whip-smart ride through morals, mediocrity, misadventures, and lessons learned. Slap-stick humor with a feel-good story, this is a great any day watch - alone or with friends or family. 

Pairs with recipes you're familiar with. As someone who also struggles in the kitchen with cooking experiments, may I recommend take-out.

I am now off to commission a creepy painting of me, to be hung in the family estate, decades from now. Naturally it will come with legends and my eyes will follow people around the room.  I just hope I have enough spooky, weird and whimsy stuff to pass down! Like an awesome spell book!

I watched this film on Roku's Howdy channel, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to see where else you can find this feel-good silly adventure.

Fade to Black (1980)

October Challenge Day 18 

5 minutes into this film and I knew I was instantly in love. Calling all cinephiles! This is a film for us - let's talk about:

Fade to Black

Simply put, this is a beautiful and (somewhat?) heartbreaking film about a very pathetic and pitiful man. 

It's clear right away that this young man hung his attachment to the world via movies, and his home life was dysfunctional AF.

Apparently his "mom" was his aunt (watch the movie for more details....) and they fought constantly. Both are clearly unhinged but he's doing his best to make it through. She is in a wheelchair and there are stairs in the house - we all know where this is going...

*This is a bad man and I do not excuse the character's behavior - but like the Joker there is a lot of "I get it" happening in this film*

Our young man is trying to connect with people - best as he can - and he sees a young woman who reminds him (overwhelmingly) as Marilyn Monroe. Infatuation sits in and now we're all in trouble. 

The planned date they made does not go as planned and he turns into a monster as a means to release this heartbreak. By monster, I mean also the monsters of cinema.

This film felt like a love story to cinema. Also as a "Dear John" letter to the recognition of when the movies are not going to save you from feelings you're trying to hide from.

This is a mature and honest look at film and the attachments these moving pictures can bring. I dare say, this is an artist's look at film - but at its core, this is a story about heartbreak. 

I loved everything about this movie! Not surprised I found it hiding in the quiet [digital] shelves of a library system. 

This is best paired with a doctor recommended diet and perhaps one other person (best alone). 

I watched this film on Hoopla (Support Your Local Libraries!) or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this hand-written advertisement for connection with others.

Cape Fear (1962)

October Challenge Day 17

I've been afraid - nay, terrified - of Robert Mitchum since I watched The Night of the Hunter. So I thought I would give this classic a go. Let's talk about (the original):

Cape Fear

This is a chiller, for sure! A man recently released from prison hunts down the witness who essentialy put him in prision and proceeds to torment his family. I say hunt, because that is what he is, a hunter, but he's also a stalker and psychopath. None of this is good for the good lawyers/witness.

When we are first introduced to the witness's family, his daughter gave me a jump scare. To my absolute astonishment, I legit could not tell if this kid was 13 or 33. I'm so, so, so sorry to the actress, Lori Martin, but the face straight-up frightened me. My brain short circuted and it never recovered. GADDAM

Back to the movie!

The family, aware of this unhinged ex-convict, try to hide out on a houseboat and that's when the shit really hits the fan. 

This is a fine film - a very solid thriller, but I felt it lacked something and I have no idea what it is. There is one scene, however, where our psychopath looks at a woman laying in a hotel bed and it is SO SCARY. His look, his face, is the thing of nightmares - particularly if you've experienced seeing that same look from a man and you know he's going to hurt you, badly. 

You know what he's going to do. You know she might not make it out of that hotel room alive. You know something very very very horrible is about to happen and there isn't a thing you can do about it. 

GAH. That scene alone is so awful, so, prepare youself. 

This movie actually makes me want to watch the 1991 remake, Cape Fear. As well as the recently released TV Series, Cape Fear! So stay turned for updates about those. 

Best watched late at night, alone, particularly when you are feeling especially safe. Pairs with something made from a 1950s cookbook. 

I watched this film on Amazon Prime, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to see where else you can find this solid classic that is deserving of all its remakes.

Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre (2009)

October Challenge Day 16

Let's talk about the Icelandic unsupervised feral child that is: 

Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre

Or as I was introduced to it as: Harpoon - Whale Watching Massacre

I was emotionally all over the place with this one. Let's see if I can parse it out....

First, this is the story of a group of tourists who want to see some whales, so they rent the sketchiest boat they can find. 

Everyone is terrible. The tourists are, comically, the worst type of tourists we can imagine, as if the characters were drunkenly drawn from the bowels of airport lounges.

I can't tell if the two young women are visitors from England or the US, but it doesn't matter - they are toxic, to each other, especially.

The Korean family.... yikes. YIKES. I'm sorry Korea.

The middle aged German ladies who say such things as: "I wouldn't mind being rescued by that black panther over there...." regarding the one black man who is the hero of the story and everyone wants.

The "Frenchman" who gets drunk, climbs up a mast and causes an accident which harpoons the Capitan, who is THE Gunnar Hansen - and that's when I realized how funny this film was. That's when I realized this was a tongue-in-cheek homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and that's when we meet the: 

"fishbillies"

Naturally, this crew of misfits get lost at sea and are hunted down by another ship that has more ill intentions then I could have imagined. 

I nearly rolled out of my couch, roaring with laughter, when one of the young women sadly started singing "It's Oh so Quiet (Blow a Fuse)" by Björk on the boat's intercom system - as everyone is scared out of their mind and there's a harpooned man on the ground.

HAHAHAHAHAHA Why did they do that? HAHAHAHAHAHA

This is an Icelandic gem - what kind of gem is yet to be determined. It rips and attacks so many different scenarios, people, and situations - just relentless and without care but with a bloody smile on its face that, by the end, you too will be laughing manically. 

In short, I'm still not sure how I feel about this film, exactly, but I can confidently say it is certainly it's own thing and taking no prisoners. Almost like a Viking. 

Thank you, Iceland, for creating this gross, gory, violent hot mess - I was honestly astonished, confused, and enteratained. 

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 one-of-a-kind feature.

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

October Challenge Day 15

Some might call this an Alien rip-off but I'm calling this a fever dream. Let's talk about the mess that is:

Galaxy of Terror

Where to begin...

So yes, while we do have a space crew out here - battling aliens and the aliens are taking out the crew one by one, these aliens mess with your brain and your body!

However, about 45 mins in, there is an alien rape scene that I was so wildly unprepared for I couldn't even put the image anywhere in my brain - and that's fine I suppose because I don't want it. Please take it back, Galaxy of Terror.

I walk into these films in October blind, folks. I had no idea what I had just witnessed was known. One minute I'm chillin' eating my broccoli mac n' cheese and the next I'm saying to myself "What the actual FUC!"

This is an '80s horror film so you know the practical effects are On Point, especially since it was inspired by Alien. Bonus a star-studded cast, including a sweet and innocent Robert Englund, a silent SigHaig, and a mean Grace Zabriskie - this film feels like it took itself a lot more seriously than I did when I put it on.

We have exploding heads, gratuitous violence, and a land found only in nightmares - a land that reveals itself in the end.... 

It's a good late night pick that I won't be voluntarily returning to (but if I walk into a place and it's playing in the background, I will watch it, there is a mesmerizing aspect about it....).

Watch with your best nerdy friends who want to argue about the meaning of life and fear's role in it. Pairs with food that sound terrible when your hear about it but is surprisingly good. 

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this cult classic[?]! 

PS: The poster really speaks to an era, doesn't it though?

The Hole in the Wall (1929)

October Challenge Day 14

What do you get when a psychic, who works for the mob, is suddenly killed in a freak train accident, and then a random young woman, seeking revenge, turns to the group of gangsters for assistance - and they turn her into the new "psychic".

You get:

The Hole in the Wall

A strange and wild ride into the underbelly of crime, spirits, psychics, and dangerous love.

There's a line here, said by a patron, that slayed me. The patron turned to the psychic for assistance, as her stocks were diving, and she wanted divine intervention. Taken back, I shouted to the TV: "Ma'am, It. Is. 1929 - I have bad news for you...."

This is a strange and creepy film that is sure to tickle the hearts of fans who like cinematically significant black and white classics. 

According to IMDB, here are some of the tag lines used to advertise one of the earliest talkies. I would have ran to the theater if I saw these:

"She Saw Too Much in the Realm of Spirits Beyond!" (Print Ad- The Journal and Republican, ((Lowville, NY)) 4 July 1929)

"Hear the Dead Speak!" (Print Ad- The Kyle News, ((Kyle, Texas)) 24 May 1929)

"A beautiful girl turns "spiritualist" for revenge! Her crook pals prey on the wealthy. A child is kidnapped. Terror! Thrills, Tremors!" (Print Ad- Bismarck Tribune, ((Bismarck, ND)) 8/8/29)

Hilariously, I stumbled across this film because I was looking for the 2019 The Hole in the Ground. Read my review here!

Pairs best with dark, stormy nights and whiskey on the rocks. 

I watched this film on the Roku Channel or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this historic gem.

Hack-O-Lantern (1988)

October Challenge Day 13 

This is an absolutely zany movie where you'd totally expect to hear such lines as: "But he killed my boyfriend, Grandpa!!"

This is a Halloween/spooky season must watch - at least once - a MUST. Let's talk about the feral film that is: 

Hack-O-Lantern

It's a slasher film from 1988 so you already kinda know what to expect, but like every slasher film from 1988, you're never fully prepared. 

Naturally, (again, as a slasher from 1988) we have a lot of breasts, butts, puns, odd characters, creeps, and slap-sticks abound, but it's the family dynamics with this one that really took me out. 

TOOK ME OUT

SLAYED ME

This is the story of a grandfather who leads a satanic cult and kills his grandkids' father (.... if they really were his kids....) on Halloween night. 

Years later, the family tries to keep it together but lispy grandpa won't let them. Everyone is dying and Mom can't catch a break.

Hy Pike is monstrously fun in this film - just an absolute lunatic. Brava!

This is my kind of trash, however, so I was fully invested. Well, mostly invested. I had it on while I was trying to find a way to preserve onions in pantyhose - we'll see how well that worked out in a month or so. In short, together, this film and I were just being delightful menaces. 

This film is messy *MESSY*, hilarious, and an absolute great time. Come for the devil masks, stay for the garden tool swashbuckling. Watch with friends just before heading out for a party or haunted house. 

Speaking of haunted houses and since it's the extra spooky day of October 13th - I recently went to a haunted corn maze and had the best time! Nature could not have been more perfect, with the crisp air and natural fog making the entire experience all that much better. 

It's hard to describe the gleeful, deeply freeing feeling of running through rows of corn, in the dark, and people are jumping out to scare you for delight - best I can do is say: I've been looking forward to this all year.

Shout out to Stalker Farms for putting on a great attraction! If you live in the Pacific Northwest, I highly recommend checking it out (and be sure to get the VIP tickets. Those lines to get in were LONG). 

A visual little treat at the end of the attraction

I couldn't believe this exit!

A quiet moment in the corn

Speechless 

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 hot mess.

The Signalman (1976)

October Challenge Day 12

Oh the BBC series A Ghost Story for Christmas, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways....

Let's talk about the STELLAR episode:

The Signalman

This film is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' short story, The Signal-Man, which I am itching to read. 

Here we follow a lonely rail worker, charged with monitoring the trains' signal box as these massive modes of transportation come barreling through a long, dark tunnel.

Something is amiss however, as he keeps seeing visions of a spectre just before a tragedy strikes. Then one day, a man roaming the moors, comes across this spooked signalman and listens to his tale of woe and concern - and you're going to join them, sitting next to the fireplace....

Nearly all A Ghost Story for Christmas episodes frighten me but this one gave me physical chills down the spine. With spectacular atmosphere, and a moody, threatening cadence, this one is truly exceptional. 

These short films are a must watch, particularly for the cold and dark season. So get cozy, gather with your friends and family around the fire, and settle yourself in for a chilling and profound spooky experience.

I watched this film on Shudder, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this Victorian-era ghost story. Note, several are also available on the Internet Archive and YouTube. 

I absolutely loved this one! Cheers to all, as we settle into mid October.

No One Will Save You (2023)

October Challenge Day 11

Well I loved the SHIT out of this!! Let's talk about the petrifying and stellar story of:

No One Will Save You

First and foremost, this should have had some time in the movie theaters. It's a shame for us all that it didn't.

Secondly, with almost no dialog, this film, most impressively, had my rapt attention!

This is the story of a lonely young woman, socially isolated by some wrong she did in the past, who - one night - wakes up to find a comically typical looking alien in her house. 

Now, although this alien is a 1950s style alien, don't mistake its menace. These things are downright Scary! And I mean, scary scary!!

When it first started to get going, I thought to myself that it feels as if someone saw the Season 2, Episode 15 of the Twilight Zone and got inspired... and then I saw Stephen King essentially said the same thing, according to IMDB Triva, and now I have complicated but honored feels about my noticing the same thing he did.

Back to the story:

The woman and alien battle it out with profound tension (there is profound tension throughout the whole film, by the way) and things get so much more worse for her by morning.

This is a fast-paced, non-stop, thrill ride of very scary proportions. I had no idea where it was going, no idea what to expect, and the aliens managed to get more and more frightening. 

I don't think I watch a lot of alien films but when I do, I am thankful to have found gems.

Now, I would have liked to see more practical effects over the CGI, but the monsters were still pretty well done all the same. 

IMPORTANT: Watch with headphones on - or in a room with a great sound system!

This would make for a great movie watching experience at night, in a fully dark room. Pairs with theater snacks and drinks. Watch with friends and family (recommended, so you can talk about the ending, especially) or alone!

I watched this film  on the Roku Channel (in fact, Roku picked it out for me....) or use the Find It! Watch It! Links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this stellar alien invasion!

Braindead aka Dead Alive (1992)

October Challenge Day 10

The other day I went to Scarecrow Video, as it was rent one get one free day, and browsed through their staff's hand-picked Halloween choices. 

I found three I hadn't seen before and then I saw this film:

Braindead aka Dead Alive

I have seen this gruesome film before and thoroughly enjoyed it! Even added it to my 2018 50 Movies You May Have Missed List!

So I decided to re-watch it and took my selection to the front desk for check out. It was discovered then, that they were actually out of this film and it was a mix-up. 

Now, this was not a problem for me, I had seen the film already anyway and saw others I could check out. Except, the staff alerted me there was one more edition available. 

Okay, fine, I'll check that one out then. A DVD was then pulled from the back of the store.

As they were checking me out, the clerk added "Oh, and there is a $200 deposit for this", pointing to Braindead.

Me: Say what now?

I love my local non-profit video store. I love all the work they did to get me a copy. I said, "Okay".

And that was a first for me! Flushing out $200 to *rent a movie*. There is a first for everything! Apparently I rented a 2001 foreign and out of print edition!

*(Update: I later found that I had watched the German Cut or Blood Edition, of this film.)*

My brother looked at me and said "Don't break it". Such a bro thing to say to his big sister...

But this really is such a boy film. I wish I had better words. It's just so gross, over the top, gnarly, reckless, goofy, grotesquely comical, absolutely hilarious, visually over-the-top, inappropriate, vaudevillian, and did I mention GROSS GROSS GROSS?

Don't forget the dialogue which has such gems as: "I kick ass for the lord!" (slays me every time). 

This is the story of a New Zealand young man, living with his overbearing mother - a mother who is bit by a monster monkey at the zoo and turned into the living dead.

Absolute. And I mean, Absolute Mayhem proceeds. 

I watched this film first thing on a Saturday morning. May I suggest, perhaps, an evening watch, long after a meal. 

This film is so fun, the body horror and practical effects are exquisite - TOP TIER - and you can't help but find the entire film wildly entertaining. Hell, there's even a love story! Something for everyone!

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

Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)

October Challenge Day 9

I went down a Susan Dell and Kelly Loeffler rabbit hole. I don't know what's going on there but I'm scared out of my mind about it. Creepy Shit.

To cleanse the pallet, I needed some nostalgia, something classic, something warm and fuzzy, something like:

Garfield’s Halloween Adventure aka Garfield in Disguise

It has probably been since the '80s (mostly likely '90s) since I last saw this childhood classic and let me tell you - the SECOND it started - I was instantly taken back with core memories and childhood delight.

Something in my bones even remembered the hair trapped in the film - which is still on display, all these decades later. 

Naturally, I remember this story being a lot longer but it's only 24 minutes. 24 sweet, sweet minutes. 

I think I will be incorporating more childhood TV classics into my regular viewing. It was nice to go back, for a change. It was also startling to see how much I still remembered - little things, like movements and sounds. In all, it's a wild experience! Highly recommended. 

I watched this on Paramount+ or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this absolute delight.

PS: Be sure to VOTE this November!

PS: If you're looking for more spooky Garfield (and more serious), make this a double feature night with the wildly disturbing: Garfield: His 9 Lives. This TV movie upset me so much, as a kid. I remember being scared, crying, confused - you name it. I think, overall, I was a bit too young to truly understand this abstract concept. So, watch the Halloween Adventure for the kid in you, watch his 9 Lives for the existential crisis in you.

The Dunwich Horror (1970)

October Challenge Day 8

Well, what in the hell was that? Let's talk about the trippy little nightmare that is:

The Dunwich Horror

Is this tentacle porn? Maybe.

Is this a very 1970s late night film, best suited for shady theaters and sticky seats? Yes.

Did I like it? Maybe.

Did I respect it? Yes.

You know things are about to get raunchy when the Necronomicon is introduced right away!

Here we're at college, and two young women are tasked with taking the doomed book back to the library when a "dashing" man interjects himself and asks to borrow it. Against their better judgement, they let him, and this leads to one of the students riding to his sprawling mansion where, evidently, he has bad intentions for her and all hell breaks loose for everyone - literally. 

Allagories aside, and not to be detoured, the local town folk had this man on their radar for generations and are constantly on his ass, which was mildly amusing. Our young co-ed, however, is enamored and falls for his charms, to her detriment. 

Sex is splattered all over the place with this film, so prepare for the sounds and innuendos. It's fun for a while but also got old quick, so thankfully the film is not too long. That said, I'm just not a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and the stories often wear me out so, there's that.

Solid, standard, and fun for a late night watch - particularly with the presentation of the creature (psychedelic through and through) - it's a film to see at least once.   

Pairs with meals made out of jello. Lots of jello. Lots and Lots of jello. Best watched late at night and with someone who also appreciates the '70s horror aesthetic. 

I watched this film on Tubi or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this classy, sleazy, trippy film. 

Too Late (2015)

October Challenge Day 7

So, what do you think would happen if David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino had a love child... 

Let's talk about the morbid and well made:

Too Late

This film, told in scenes but not sequentially, follows a private investigator who is looking for a missing young woman. Things get messy when both the woman and the investigator get tangled up with some bad people.

The dialog is exceptional - right off the bat - but I quickly got the impression it was written by a man who likes to hold captive audiences with a somewhat nagging wit, particularly with women. After looking it up, I found it was written and directed by a man (Dennis Hauck) but I know nothing of his character so I'll just stick with the experience of the film.  

The story meanders through the sad, lonely lives, of lost souls and greedy men who make the twisted worlds of Lynch and Tarantino go round. The inspirations are obvious and celebrated with this film, with top tier camera work to boot. 

While this film is really well made and deserves more attention and recognition, it's a hard watch, particularly with the treatment of the women in this story. It's a dismal place for women, here, and that quite likely is on purpose. A well placed camera light glaring into the face of dark places where even the most well meaning of actions end up hurting others because of a man's guilt, shame, and/or greed. Or maybe that's the surly private investigator in *me* talking (shout out: Bergman Investigations circa 2009 - 2014).

This is a thriller/drama, and it's heavy on the drama but I have it listed here as a horror story because this is a nightmare for all the characters involved. Not for everyone, and on the slower side of a burn, this film might also piss you off for many reasons because everyone here is far, far too late.

Best watched alone, pairs with cigarettes and ecstasy. And I mean A LOT of cigarettes and ecstasy.

I watched this film on Kanopy (support your local libraries!) or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this sad but delicate yet exquisite feature.

Spree (2020)

October Challenge Day 6

Oh social media - what has it turned us into? Let's talk about the "dark comedy" that is:

Spree

This story follows a young man who just wants the internet to notice him. Sadly, he goes to extremes to get there. 

While this film is really just making fun of everyone who relies on social media for validation and monetization, with a ride share spin (which was fun), there are a lot of darker issues at play.

For instance, I think this film exposes the exhaustion (and madness making) so many people have about the focus on "likes", "followers", "influencers", and "going live" and/or "going viral". That goes both ways for the viewer and creator. Hell, after the film, I tried to watch some TikToks and got an immediate headache, even nauseous - I needed to literally touch grass and listen to some music for a bit there. 

This is an unserious and lighthearted look at things too, however, where we can all laugh at our profound dumb assess, hunched over a phone. 

So, while psychosis is a very real thing and seeing it in real time on social media is something that happens and we should all pay attention to it - recognize it for what it is - the lengths our young man here goes to capture everything and making dynamic content for his 3 viewers are impressive. You'll chuckle but you'll be a little sad. 

This is an exhausting film and I don't think I'll be catching it again, but it did a great job in capturing our collective crazy. Super shout out to the camera work and its editing with this one too. Very creative and effective!

#Blessings

I watched this film on Shudder or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this difficult to watch for multiple reasons movie.

Room 205 (2007)

October Challenge Day 5

So this Danish film surprised me! Let's talk about:

Room 205

As a grandchild of Danes, I think I mistakingly expected more. But as a Dane, I'm going to enjoy myself regardless.

So, this is ... an interesting film. I can't say it's great. Honestly it was a struggle most of the time for me, but I was trying to make an omelette at the time I started the film, so my attention was distracted and I'm not a good omelette maker. 

Once my omelette was made, however, I realized the ending is pretty unhinged and all over the place. Which is fun! I like a good mess sometimes! [see also omelette]

Here we have the story of a young woman heading to college, doing all the college things (e.g., meeting the mean girls, the douche guy, etc.,) and she starts learning about the ghost of a "...girl who died in room 205". Suddenly something is unleashed and people start dying, paranormal stuff is happening, young love is bubbling, and a battle with glass and mirrors is everywhere (metaphors abound here).

In all, a story about: finding yourself while battling the afterlife!

At the core, however, is a sexual assault that prompted this activity. This film captures a zeitgeist of our times - an Awareness, if you will - that was truly unsettling and spoke volumes, so watch with caution.

This is not a terrible movie, and it's not a great one either, but it's a solid feature for a spooky not "scary" night. Actually, it's a good hygge film for those cold, dark, nights and you're looking for a cozy ghost story.

Pairs with boiling, feral, unfettered rage about campus sexual assault crimes, in particular. 

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 Nordic chiller.

The Hole in the Ground (2019)

October Challenge Day 4

Is it an Irish Changling or is Mom stressed out and tired! A question as old as time.  Let's talk about:

The Hole in the Ground

This is a familiar story trope: single mother is trying to make it but struggles, especially when their kid starts acting strange. I think this resonates so well because it's so real - it's day-to-day for countless people. 

My family included. Mom had her hands full, raising three kids on her own, poverty-ridden. Maybe that's why I absolutely did not have children. Maybe that's why I feel I really understand the messages of these stories.

For this film we're traveling to Ireland, where a single Mom relocates herself and her child to a remote area and strange things begin to happen - something is in the woods....

Then one day her child goes missing - but when found, more strange things begin to happen and Mom no longer trusts her child is actually her child. 

A quiet, slow burn throughout most of the film, the end picks up with a chilling display of the monsters really at work here.

I like this film for the mood and grimey atmosphere - and it actually made me miss my own Mom a bit, with her and the wonderful tales she'd share about elves, imps, and fairies. 

These are NOT the fae you want to mess with, though! Actually, you don't want to mess with any fae.... This is a good watch for those who don't want something too scary but want a little spooky for the spooky season. 

Pairs with a favorite soup, the smells of earth, and a friend or two who wouldn't doubt it if you told them you saw a changling. 

I watched this film on HBO, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this "old wives' tale" of a film. 

Midnight Vendetta aka Poison (2001)

October Challenge Day 3

This film starts out with a husband pimping out his wife to a business executive, in the hopes of a new position at the office. 

WOW

I could also immediately tell this film was from the early 2000s. I can't explain it but you can also somehow smell it. Or maybe that's because it might be a little porn-y. This might be a soft porn film, folks. I'm not sure what else to call it.

Let's talk about the surprisingly entertaining film that is:

 Midnight Vendetta aka Poison

After the initial shock of the opening scene - which was RUDE - it's just a wild opening scene, the film quickly pivots to an accidental comedy of extreme drama. I was howling.

This troubled couple then argues about the rape, the husband drives off upset after loosing the job he pimped his wife out for, and dies in a wild car crash. And: scene!

What happens next is so wildly funny it's hard to describe, as we're introduced to the family of the woman who "stole" his job. The "Power Hungry" Mom. The "Seventeen Year Old" adventurous daughter. The "Alarmingly Young and Comically Useless" Husband (who I'm pretty sure I saw on a Hallmark movie poster in the film A History of Concrete - which I caught yesterday at a packed theater). And finally "The Maid".

Take a moment to soak these scenes in, people. It will take a minute to adjust your eyes. But then!! Our angry widow weasels her way into the family .... for REVENGE.

Think a more evil and porn-y version of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle~!!

This film is overly dramatic in such a silly way you can't help but love it. It's cheap, it's fun, it's trashy, and alarmingly engaging. Oh, and don't forget the porn scenes (which are just fine for polite society)! I had so much fun by the end that I'm adding it to my favorites list. 

Pairs with family sized frozen dinners and off brand sodas.

I watched this film on Tubi, of course, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this slutty little adventure. 

Resident Evil (2026)

October Challenge Day 2

My brother called up me recently and asked if I wanted to see the latest Resident Evil film. I wasn't exactly thrilled - it wasn't totally on my radar, and I had lost track of the series after the first film from a lifetime ago (aka 2002). Then he added "It's getting really great reviews". Coming from him, that's a big deal. I said, Okay. Let's go.

Let's talk about:

Resident Evil

I got us balcony tickets at the Cinerama, grabbed some popcorn and drinks, and settled in for an adventure - as I walked in completely blind.  

This film had me roaring with fears and cheers. I was bouncing all over my seat at the jump scares, cackling at the ridiculous, and overall having a great time. I was having so much fun I didn't notice my brother was sitting there .... silent.

By the end of the film I excitedly turned to him and asked, "What did you think? I loved it!"

He turned to me and said, decidedly, "I hated it."

I was dumbfounded, as we agree on most films. He added that he thought the main character was stupid and embarrassing - that nothing was scary, and overall it felt cheep and silly.

I said, "Yes, I agree - that's why I loved it!"

That's when I realized:

My brother is a gamer, and when he played this video game he was scared. It was a fun game for him to play.

I am not a gamer, and I think what I saw and experienced from the film was as if I was a player in the game. See, this young man here, our protagonist, is hapless, bumbling, and just making bad decision after bad decision as he navigates a hellscape of creatures and nightmares - like in a game. The same mistakes and misshapes a player would make. 

The monsters were frightening and fun because the film *felt* like a video game, and should I be playing it, I would shout, holler, and laugh too if a man-beast-thing came rolling up the wall after me on it's 15 legs.

In short, I think my brother was looking for a deeper experience, based on his gaming experience. I didn't know what to expect and still play the original Dr. Mario from time to time, and found it a rock n' roll great time. I would recommend this film on the big screen, however!!

Watch this film with friends if you can, laugh and scream together - it's fun. Pairs with very very very buttery popcorn and your favorite drink. 

I caught this film in the theater but I anticipate it will be streaming soon. Or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's side bar to see where else you can find this wild ride.