Late Night Horror: October 2025 Horror Fest

I hadn't realised it was that time of year again. 1st of October which means my 31 days of Horror has just begun. Like last year, I'll be posting a rcapsule eview each day of this month's horror movies. Unlike before, a few of these reviews will be based on films I've watched prior to October, with a couple I just feel the need to talk (rant) about.

So, with that, the first out of the bag will be:

1. Lamberto Bava's Demons

I had saw this maybe 25-30 years ago, where I purchased a sub standard dvd from Blockbuster. I can't say I was overly impressed at the time, although I did love the soundtrack.

My revisit was due to it forming part of The All Night Horror 18 in Edinburgh at the weekend. Maybe due to me lowering my expectations, but I must say I really enjoyed it this time. Maybe because I'm older, or maybe because most modern horror is pish, but I really dug this mixture of bat shit crazy horror, gore and shite acting. There's some awesome visuals and the special effects ts mostly look great.

Lamberton Bava may not have the same talent as his dad Mario, but he gets the job done, keeping things at a good pace. The now past it horror icon Dario Argento is on board as writer and producer, and if you've seen any of his 80s output you know what to expect. Well, mostly. At least he's naw put his insufferable daughter in this one. He kept that for the sequel.

The following horror "epic" was another movie I caught at all Night Horror 18. Unlike Lamberto Bava's Demons, I never had managed to see this one until now.

2. The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue.

Jorge Grau's Zombie Horror is certainly a strange beast. Made by a Spanish Director, with a mostly Italian crew and filmed primarily in the Lake District. That is correct, the Lake District, and not Manchester like the title suggests. In fact, other than an opening montage, none of the film actually takes place in Manchester which raises an all important question. Why the fuck is this called The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue. Actually, there's not even a Morgue, as its called a mortuary in the film.

In the filmmakers defense, the film has multiple titles, albeit all shite. Still, some do suit the film better than what its best known under. For the film, it's a mixed bag. Being dubbed, it's difficult to really judge the performances, we'll other than Arthur Kennedy who plays possibly cinema's worst (or best) policeman. Inexplicably walking about like a New York Cop with gun in hand, someone maybe should have told the director UK polis don't really do that kind of thing.

Watching it I found myself wondering how did an actor of Kennedy's calibre, a man who acted alongside the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra and Glenn Ford to name a few, found himself acting alongside shiters like Ray Lovelock.

As ridiculous as the film is, it is actually quite well made with some great visuals. Even the portrayal of the Zombies seem quite before their time. The stand out sequence is an excellent set piece in and around an old church where arsehole hero Ray Lovelock and his companions fight off a horde of Zombies. When I say arsehole, I really mean it. Lovelock's character has very little in the way of redeeming features. Also, someone should have told the actor back in the day his name made him sound like a porn star. Fuckin Lovelock.

However, I digress. This isn't a terrific film but it is certainly an enjoyable one, with it also working as an interesting time capsule for days gone by.

While the last two Horrors I wrote about were more Cult classics than genuinely good films, they are miles above this movie, an absolute shiter of the highest order.

3. I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025).

Now Jim Gillespie's original I Know What You Did Last Summer may not have set through world alight the way the Scre franchise, it was still an effective wee horror that done enough.right to build up a dedicated following. It was followed by an inferior sequel from Young Americans Director Danny Cannon, a film that everyone shat on as they compared it to the original.

Cut to 2025 and we now have an official sequel to those films. There was a straight to DVD sequel previously but it had nothing to do with the first two movies, with this 2025 entry bringing back the franchises original characters. To be brutaly honest, they shouldn't have fuckin bothered.

I can't remember the last time I saw a sequel that seemed to go out of its way to say "fuck you" to its fans and shit on anything that was good about the original.

The new characters are infuriating, so much you will be rooting for the killer to not only end their suffering but maybe your own. Both Freddie Prinze Jr and Jennifer Love Hewitt are back but are seriously underused, with what they do with Prinze Jr's character being unforgivable. Then there's a pointless cameo from Sarah Michelle Geller that adds nothing to the film other than the knowledge that you must still age in the afterlife.

It would be better if the entire film wasn't shot without one spark of imagination. I can't remember such a bland looking studio film in years. No wonder this was rushed out to VOD in the matter of weeks. There's hints of a sequel during the closing moments but considering how much this died on its arse, I can't see it happening. Thank fuck.

I love it when a great film comes to your attention that you knew very little about. Tonight's horror was one such film, with my pal Dale  recommending it.

4. Night of the Reaper

Made for Shudder, Night of the Reaper cones with very little fanfare, with the synopsis making it sound like a typical slasher. Thankfully it's so much more than that, with it not actually being a slasher at all. It's smarter than that, mixing horror elements with a Detective plot that's filled with twists and turns.

Director Brandon Christensen has created an atmospheric cracker, a clear example that a massive budget isn't required to make an effective horror. It helps that you have a smart script and excellent performances. One of the main things that interested me with Night of the Reaper was one if the main characters was played by the underatted Ryan Robbins. Bit of a fan of this fella due to his role in the Sniper series. He doesn't dissapoint here, giving an emotionally nuanced performance that really raises the film up even further than it already had been doing with its build up of tension.

Young Jessica Clement also shouldn't be Overlooked, being more intelligent than your typical horror heroine. While she may put herself in harms way, there's a valid reason.

The 80s setting and homages to the era are just another aspect that sets this apart. Shot in Canada, the small town setting is the perfect backdrop to the on screen horror, with Christensen never stretching the film beyond belief. The inclusion of some excellent songs from the likes of Pat Benetar and Blue Oyster Cult are just icing on the cake.

Honestly, this is one that shouldn't be missed. Don't let the fact it was made for Shudder with a little known cast put you off. This is Heads and shoulders above something like the shit fest that is I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025).

Back to the 60s for the next horror, with a revisit to a bona-fide classic, a film that further stamped director Mario Bava as a master of horror.

5. Black Sunday

With striking Black and white photography, Bava's atmospheric horror still holds up beautifully, with the entire film dripping with atmosphere. The American Cut was inexplicably cut by American Internationals Samuel Z Arkoff, but to be honest if it wasn't for the US release, Black Sunday may have went unnoticed. It didn't do particularly well when released in its native Italy.

As well as putting Bava on the map, it propelled the lovely Barbara Steele into becoming a horror icon. She has great fun playing the duel role of Evil witch Princess Vajda and the young girl she's looking to possess. The English dubbing may not be the best but Steele manages to overcome this. John Richardson is a bit "wet" as the main hero, although he did have a habit of getting to act alongside beautiful woman. He'd follow this up by co-starring alongside a scantily clad Ursulla Andress in She then do one even better by working with Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C. Lucky bastard.

Another element that shouldn't be Overlooked is the fantastic set design. Considering that Black Sunday would have been made on a relatively low budget, the sets look fantastic, with them being a perfect backdrop for the spooky goings on.

Some may find Black Sunday somewhat dated, but it still has the ability to shock and seems years ahead of its time, even if it is set centuries ago. Its almost embarrassing that a film that is now 65 years old is able to put most modern horrors to shame. The inspiration that it has had on the likes of Francis Ford Coppola shouldn't be underestimated, with some scenes being extremely similar to what Coppola included in his version of Dracula.

Bava would go onto make further Horrors, some that are even on par with Black Sunday. As he begun to use colour his films certainly got bolder, with his visuals being as good as anything Hammer was putting out.

The next film is one I saw relatively young, going with my Granda to watch it in the cinema. Back then, even what we now would class as poor CGI looked amazing,mainly because we had never saw it before.

A fresh viewing shows how much opinion can change when getting older. I must say, I did have a niggling feeling that tonight's movie would be shit, but I hoped to be proved wrong. I wasn't.

6. Spawn

To be fair, there are some things Spawn gets right. The casting of Michael Jai White in the lead is spot on, as well as the make up effects being great. They make both Jai White and John Leguizamo almost unrecognisable. Even the set design stands out, with a distinct Crow like feel. It's just a shame the remainder of the film can't match it.

Instead of leaning into the horror more, director Mark Dippe tries to make it a PG-13 action adventure with horror elements. Anyone who's read the comics knows the potential it has, with Todd McFarlane creating quite a number of horrific stories in its run. For a real taste of Spawn, I'd maybe suggest the HBO series, which now dated, is a better adaptation than this.

Dippe's background in special effects actually seems more of a hindrance than a blessing, with the now shoddy CGI work jarring with the solid practical effects.

Also, no offence to Jai White, but he really shouldn't be out acting screen Legend Martin Sheen, who seems to have forgotten he was in some of the most memorable films ever made. Lucky for him The West Wing was just round the corner.

At least Sheen is bearable, which can't be said for Leguizamo, who anyone will find challenging. Fair play to him though, he does give it his all, and it's some prosthetic work,but his character will get on your tits.

Then there's "thespian" Nicol Williamson, whose final film this was. Its kind of sad to see this being his last role. I say thespian someway ironically, for as wonderful an actor he was, he was a total arsehole, hence why he found himself acting in pish like Spawn.

There's potential.for a great Spawn film, and although there's some good stuff here, this sadly isn't it. There's been talk of a new reboot starring Jamie Foxx, but this has been going around so long I doubt it will now happen.

Back to the classics for the next film (thank christ), starring one of Hollywood's finest Vincent Price.

7. House of Wax

Not to be confused with its frankly shite remake, House of Wax is classic Hollywood horror. Although it was itself a remake of the earlier Mystery of the Wax Museum, it doesnt sully what came before like Jaume Collet Serra's awful "reamigining". While it is slightly gimmicky being shot for 3D, the fantastic photography, set design and performances overcome any drawbacks. HD does make it obvious when a stuntman replaces the leads, but I've noticed this in modern films so it is hard to judge.

Of course, anything starring Vincent Price is worth a viewing in my book, with him giving the production a serious touch of class it may not have had otherwise. Sure, veteran director Andre De Toth does well behind the camera, but it's Price that will keep you watching.

Like the best horror creations, Price's "villain" is actually quite a tragic figure, and although he is a killer, some of those bastards were just asking for it. Like the best eps of Scooby Doo, he would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for these pesky kids. Or to be more precise, if it wasn't for Phyllis Kirk's heroine growing suspicious where Price's models really come from.

Film fans should keep a look out for Charles Bronson, playing Price's deaf-mute assistant Igor. Less than a decade on he would start making a name for himself, with co-starring roles in the likes of the Magnificent Seven and the Great Escape, before moving on to Kill random muggers in Death Wish.

Obviously, being made back in 1953, the film is somewhat dated. Younger viewers could be put off by the leisurely pace, with De Toth more interested in plot and atmosphere rather than outright scares. However thete is still some horrific imagery here which considering when the film was made is all the more impressive.

Whilst this isn't prime Vincent Price, it is an important film in his filmography, essentially propelling him to become an icon of Horror.

Back to Italy for the next feature. Unfortunately it doesn't share the same quality as the earlier Black Friday. Instead we're in Sharksploitation territory.

8. The Last Shark

Made in the wake of Jaws popularity, Enzo G. Castellari's The Last Shark is just one of many movies to appear at the time. The Last Shark is definately one of the most shameless, liberally copying full sections from Spielbergs classic. This resulted in it finally being pulled from release when Universal.and Spielberg decided to file a lawsuit. To be honest, I don't know why they bothered as no one would mistake Jaws with this shit show.

Castellari has made some crackers in his career, with his collaborations with leading man Franco Nero being some of the best crime thrillers and Westerns to come from Italy. However, like so many Italian Directors his career started to go downhill, with The Last Shark being a perfect example of this. Terrible plotting, hilarious special effects and poor acting are just a few if the highlights on offer.

Poor James Franciscus valiantly tries valantly to give a decent performance but it's difficult when surrounded by such mediocrity. Vic Morrow fares even worse, who for some inexplicable reason plays his character with a Scottish accent. With his character clearly emulated on Robert Shaw's Quint in Jaws, my only reasoning must be that the Italians (or Morrow) thought Shaw was somehow Scottish. Dumb fucks.

As poor as The Last Shark is, there is still fun to be had. You will be pissing yourself at people trying to act terrified as a piece of rubber attacks them. If anything, The Last Shark works better as a comedy than it does as a horror. All that said, the new blu ray from Treasured films looks fantastic.

It wouldn't be the Halloween Season if I didn't watch a Stephen King adaptation. Now any King fan will know that adaptations of King's novels can be hit or miss. For every Misery there's a Graveyard Shift. Luckily, this is one of the good ones. Maybe not top tier, but great fun nonetheless.

9. The Monkey

Osgood Perkins follow up to the cracking Longlegs may stay in the horror genre, but it couldn't be more tonally different to his prior film if he tried. Filled to the brim with black humour, Perkins has great fun staging a series of violent, albeit, hilarious setpieces. Think Final Destination but with more laughs.

Actually, as much as that is a valid comparison, if I was to compare it to another King adaptation I would put it alongside Tom Holland's Thinner. Like that film, it straddles the line between the comedic and the horrific with aplomb. The film is ultimately proof that Perkins is one of the best Directors currently working in horror today.

It helps that he has Theo James who has great fun in a dual role as twin brothers, owners of the titular Monkey. Their sibling rivalry leaves a bloody trail in its wake. What I particularly liked was that both brothers are kinda arseholes, just in different ways. It's not like ones good and one's bad, just that one's more likeable than the other.

Having never read the short story this is based on I can't really compare it.I'm judging it solely as a movie and as that it's terrific fun. I know King sung it's praises, although I'm naw sure how good a recommendation that is. Love ye Stevie but yer taste in films is shite. So if you can't trust Stephen King, trust me. This is a good one.

Horrors these days don't seem to garner the wide attention that they once did, which makes me all the happier that the next film done so well in the cinema. Now, that doesn't mean that I think it's the classic that it's been heralded as, but even so, this was an extremely enjoyable movie.

10. Weapons

Zach Cregger's follow up to Barbarian is a major improvement on that movie. However I think it's advertising done it a disservice. Weapons isn't a full on horror movie as the trailers suggest. Sure, it certainly qualifies due to the amount of horror elements that Cregger includes, but if I really had to define Weapons, I'd say its more like Robert Altmans Short Cuts, taking a multi character approach, where each part of the film focuses on seperate plot strands.

Cregger does a great job of holding the audiences attention by taking a simple plot but instead of telling it in a linear fashion he cuts it up into different threads, jumping back and forward in time, slowly revealing different pieces of the puzzle as the film progresses. It actually makes the film appear to be more intelligent than it actually is, something the quality performances can also lay claim to.

Admittedly Julia Garner can come across as a bit of greeting faced cow, but tbf, if I had to deal with what she did in the film I'd be whinging like fuck an all. She is essentially the main character for the first 30 minutes until Cregger switches his attention to Josh Brolin, who as expected does typically great work, being a gruff auld bastard.

Tbh, no one gives a poor performance, with fan favourite Benedict Wong being as likeable as ever, but real recognition should go to Amy Madigan who is creepy as fuck, playing what is essentially the films villain. Sorry, spoilers.

While it is rated 18, there's not a lot here that I would say is shocking. Sure there's some gore, but I've saw more bloody 15 rated movies. It would appear the 18 is mostly there to raise expectations. Either way, still enjoyable stuff and much better than a lot of modern horrors.

More Mario Bava goodness next, a film that could perhaps lay claim to being the first "giallo".

11. The Girl Who Knew Too Much

To those not in the know, Giallo is essentially an Italian murder mystery/horror film, with the term deriving from a series of popular pulp Italian novels with the name giallo coming from trademark yellow covers.

While you could argue that The Girl Who Knew Too Much is thematically a giallo, it is less like the later films popularised by Dario Argento and Bava himself, instead being more in line with a Hitchockian thriller. What it does have in common with those Argento films, at least his early films, is how well made it is. Sure the plot is somewhat schizophrenic, the skills both in front and behind the camera can't be faulted.

Although later Bava films would be marked by their exceptional colour photography, this is beautifully shot in striking black and white, which just adds to the films atmosphere. The Rome locations certainly help with this aspect as well, with Leticia Roman's American tourist being as unsure of the locale as she is of the people. Luckily she has genre fave John Saxon assisting her in her investigation. Or does she.

Bava would follow this up with the even better Black Sabbath, a terrific portmanteu that easily ranks with what Amicus would later build their reputation upon. There will be further Bava to follow in this countdown to Halloween. This isn't only down to how good a filmmaker he is but also because a lot of modern horror is shite.

With remakes, reboots and re-imaginings being all the rage in Hollywood, it can be extremely difficult to bring something fresh to a tired industry. Doing so whilst remaking one of the most iconic horror movies ever made is even more remarkable, but that's exactly what director Robert Eggers has done with tonight's cracker.

12. Nosferatu (2024)

Eggers isn't the first director to attempt remaking FW Murnau's horror masterpiece. At the tale end of the 70's, visionary director Werner Herzog directed his own, hallucinatory take on the classic, creating a horror movie that is one percent Herzog. Now, that version of the story was certainly decisive, but I personally that it was a unique horror movie, with a vibe that is fully its own.

Coming to Eggers take on the material, I was certainly apprehensive. As talented a director as he us, his previous films have been hit or miss for me. Luckily, Nosferatu is the first of his films where I felt that everything came together perfectly to create something distinctively unique. Sure, it may take inspiration from Murnau's film, but Eggers brings his own style to proceedings with this take on the Vampire legend being a modern classic.

Everything, ranging from the acting,, special effects to the set design all combine to make Nosferatu one of the finest horror films of the year. Bill Skarsgard's Count Orlock is a horrific creation, with he and Eggers being smart not to just copy Max Schrecks incarnation. What I especially appreciated is having the Vampire returning to its monster roots instead of all the soppy, romantic versions that show up in pish like Twilight.

Solid support is provided by Lily Rose Depp as the haunted Ellen, who Count Orlock.has set his sights on. Then there's Nicholas Hoult who is driven to the point of insanity after his confrontation with Orlock. Aaron Taylor Johnson is somewhat wasted but the always excellent Willem Dafoe makes up for this by putting in his usual great work as an expert of the occult who our leads have to turn to in order to defeat Count Orlock.

Nosferatu isn't for everyone. It takes its time to tell its story, but it's never boring. Its a fully adult take on the Dracula mythos, and can almost stand shoulder to shoulder with my personal favourite, Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula. Like that film it is visually inventive and shows a director working at the top of his game.

Tonight's horror comes with a great pedigree. Not only is it based on the legendary H.P. Lovecrafts work it features two horror icons in the shape of Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee. You could say three if you include a cameoing Barbara Steele. With all that going for it, you'd expect a horror classic. Wellllllll.

13. Curse of the Crimson Altar

There's some great stuff here, with Striking colour photography, a nice atmosphere and some solid performances, but unfortunately director Vernon Sewell doesn't bring everything together as well as he could, with the finished film feeling quite disjointed.

The initial mystery elements work the best, with the film having a prototype Wicker Man feel to it, with the lead character being totally in the dark when it comes to the strange going ons of village life. If the film kept building on this I think it could have been more effective but instead it includes some embarrassingly poor dream sequences that are at odds with the rest of the film. It would seem their only reason for being was to include the aforementioned Steele.

Boris Karloff may get top billing, but the poor auld bigger is hardly in the film,, and when he is he's confined to a wheelchair. This was due to Karloff's declining health rather than anything to do with his character or the plot. Still, he is still Boris Karloff and its wonderful to have him lend a bit of class to the production.

Christopher Lee is similarily underused, but as expected brings his usual gravitas. His role is quite similar to that which he played in the Wicker Man. Apparently Lee regarded this as the poorest film he ever worked on. (As much as I love ye Chris. Don't talk pish. You've starred in worse shite than this). Lee commented that his only reasoning behind making the film was for the opportunity to work with Karloff one more time.

Typically for a lot of British horror films of the time, Curse of the Crimson Altar sells itself as starring horror legends where in reality the lead is played by a lesser known actor. Here it's actor Mark Eden that plays the main character, an inquisitive antiques dealer on the hunt for his missing brother. Eden is a solid enough actor although it is a stretch to believe he is the supposed ladies man the film portrays him to be.

Eden is probably best known for the campaign of terror he unleashed in the 80s, which culminated in him tracking his girlfriend Rita to Blackpool only to be killed by a tram as he chased her. Thankfully after his villainy was brought to an end Rita could return to Coronation Street.

Director Vernon Sewell only had one other film after this one, ending a prolific if somewhat unremarkable career. There is the odd cracker in his filmography but unfortunately this isn't one of them.

Tonight's horror is something of a departure from the more serious horror movies I had watched up till now. This horror classic will tickle your funny bone as much as it will horrify you, but this isn't just some simple spoof, with everything coming together to make this one of the most enjoyable horrors of the 1980's.

14. Return of the Living Dead

Whilst the title alludes to this being something of a sequel to George A Romero's Night of the Living Dead, tonally this couldn't be more different. Director Dan O Bannon, who up until that point was known better as the writer of Alien, directs proceedings with a sure hand, with all but one of the performances being pitch perfect. Standouts are screen veterans Clu Gulager and James Karen who both have a great time gurning and chewing the scenery. Karen especially is hilarious as the careless workman who has a hand in bringing the dead back to life.

It's great to see practical effects once again, especially ones that were clearly created by people with a love for the genre. No shitty CGI here. There's enough of a variety of Zombies here that the effects team get a lot to sink their teeth into.

Refreshingly, the zombie's are far removed from those made popular in Romero's Night of the Living Dead. These aren't the Slow movers made famous by Romero. Instead these Zombies are generally fast moving and can also talk when required.

Further sequels would follow this one, with the Zombie of Michael Jackson featuring in the second movie. A fun sequel if not up to the standards of O Bannons work here. The third I can't judge, although I do know that celebrity nonse and all round Dirty bastard Brian Peck reappears, being the only "actor" to appear in multiple Return movies. However, don't let the fact that a scumbag appears in these films put you off watching. You can at least revel in him getting violently killed which is a good laugh.

15. Sinners

I thought it would be remiss on this countdown to Halloween if I didn't include what was my favourite film of the year. Not just a simple horror film, this one's so much more than that, a historical drama, action movie, fantasy and even a musical.

I won't go into great detail here, instead I'll just re-post the review I wrote at the time for M.A.A.C. which can be found by clicking here.

A wee trip to Venice for tonight's horror, where former Bond George Lazenby looks into former Bond villain Adolfo Celi to find out who killed his annoying wean.

16. Who Saw Her Die

This was only the second film Lazenby made after his Bond departure, playing a character far removed from the gentleman spy. To be Frank, initially Lazenby's character is a bit of a prick, with the murder if his daughter being something of a wake up call.

Lazenby is actually quite good here, although the dubbing leaves something to be desired, with the film inexplicably using another actors voice rather than Lazenby's. Another notable distraction is how awful Lazenby looks. Apparently made at a dark time in his life, he looks emaciated to fuck. Thank christ he got back into fighting shape a few years later for The Man From Hong Kong.

Not as violent as your typical Giallo, director Aldo Lado seems more interested in the mystery and the suspense it brings. Oh aye, and shagging. There's a fair bit of that going around in the film.

There are certainly better Giallo's out there, but the Venice setting and terrific Ennio Morricone definately make this one stand out. It's somewhat similar to Nic Roeg's classic Dont Look Now, although nowhere close to being its equal. Interestingly, this came first, although I very much doubt it had much influence on Roeg, with any similarities being coincidental. It doesn't hold the attention the same way that film does, with its leisurely approach being detrimental to the overall flow of the film. Still, an interesting if not perfect watch.

Something a bit more romantic for tonight, this horror came out earlier in the year, just in time for Valentine's Day.

17. Heart Eyes

Josh Ruben's slasher movie contains all the tropes you'd expect in the genre, but it's how much fun Ruben has with them that makes Heart Eyes stand out. Honestly, I went into this film with no expectations and found myself enjoying this much more than recent, better known slasher like Scream 6 or the woeful I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025).

Ruben already proved his credentials a few years prior with the enjoyable Werewolves Within, which like Heart Eyes perfectly combined Comedy with its horror.

Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding make a winning pair, having to face off against a crazed serial killer who really hates Valentine's Day, killing as many couples as he can fit into the night. Mistaking Holt and Gooding as a couple, the both end up in multiple violent scrapes as they try to survive the night.

Ruben ramps up the violence and humour as the film progresses, with him also managing to keep the identity of the Killer a secret. I suspect that a good deal of the humour could be down to co-writer Christopher Landon, who most horror fans should know from his work on Happy Death Day. Any fans of that one should be more than entertained, with Heart Eyes having the same kinda vibe.

While it may not go down as a classic, Heart Eyes is great fun, with all the cast pitching their performances at just the right tone. However, if you are a big Jessie Wallops and turned off by gore, give this one a miss.

It wouldn't be the Halloween Season without a visit from Jason Vorhees. Now, I have my favourite movies in the franchise, but just now I've opted for one of the lesser entries.

18. Jason Goes to Hell

Adam Marcus' 9th film in the series is quite the departure, playing more like Jack Sholder's The Hidden than any of the previous Friday 13th movies. Anyone tuning in to see Jason on screen will be woefully dissapointed, with the character only appearing during the opening and closing segments. The rest of the film he instead possesses other people to carry out his evil deeds.

Years back I remember being underwhelmed by Jason Goes to Hell, but with lowered expectations I ended up having a good bit of fun with it. It helps that I viewed the unrated version which has a good deal more gore involved. What makes the film standout is its reliance on practical effects, with the FX teams work putting this way above more modern horrors and their prevalence for CGI.

It's great to see Kane Hodder back as Jason for the short time he appears and I also appreciated the filmmakers including several elements that tie this to other horror franchises, with the Evil Dead's Necronomicon showing up and even a cameo from Freddy Krueger before the end credits. Obviously this would be revisited years later with Freddy vs Jason.

While it's not the best Friday the 13th movie (not sure it would even appear in the top 5), it's by no means the worse, with time doing the film a great service, with the amount of sheer garbage that has come since making this appear like an unheralded masterpiece.

Tonight's horror presumably brings to an end a franchise that has now been going on for well over a decade. I wish I could say it goes out on a high note, but at least it's nowhere near the worse the series had to offer.

19. The Conjuring Last Rites

To fully enjoy the Conjuring movies you really need to seperate fact from fiction. The version of Ed and Lorrraine Warren that lead the Conjuring films are far removed from their real life counterparts. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga portray two heroic individuals, facing off against the forces of darkness. In reality, Ed and Lorraine Warren were charlatans, preying on people's insecurities and religious beliefs.

Sugar coating real life figures is something Hollywood is great at, and its in full force with The Conjuring Last Rites, which is probably the most unrealistic the series has become in its portrayal of the Warren's. Fake, hallmark style emotional scenes don't exactly help matters but luckily for director Michael Chaves, he's got two complete pros in Farmiga and Wilson who give proceedings a sense of authority, making you overlook how ridiculously twee some of it is.

The horror aspect is handled well enough although there is an over reliance on CGI. It seems the sequels idea is to go bigger. For the most part this approach actually works, with this entry being more satisfactory than the 3rd. Still, it's a far cry from the first two movies in the series.

I will give props for the period detail, which is terrific. For once it resembles the 80's I remember rather than the day-glo, neon filled one Hollywood tries to wish into existence. Obviously the majority of the film was helmed in the UK even though its set in the U.S.

There are several recognisable buildings as well as most of the cast hailing from the UK.

The Conjuring Last Rites could have been better, but it also could have been a lot worse. At least it takes an adult approach, with a fair bit of violence as the film progresses. Its also something of a pleasure when a film focuses on adults rather than arsehole teenagers.

Tonight brings a revisit to a modern classic, a western/horror hybrid that mixes everything that's great about the western genre with unique horror elements.

20. Bone Tomahawk

S Craig Zahler's film is like a 21st century take on John Ford's The Searchers, with an assortment of Western heroes brought together to rescue a group of people who were kidnapped. Rather than Native Americans like The Searchers, instead the kidnappers are a bunch of cave dwelling Cannibals, or Troglodytes as the film calls them.

Zahler had already built up a reputation as an author before entering into director. Clearly this was a passion project for him, and considering this is his directorial debut, he's made a near perfect movie. The only slight drawbacks is the somewhat digital look of the visuals and the odd bit of effects work that fails to convince, although the fact that the effects are all practical should be commended. And while there is some slight issues, one particularly striking piece of prosthetics in the final 3rd that is outstanding, and will certainly stay in your memory.

As great as Zahler's work is behind the camera, it would be for nothing if he hadn't brought together such a fantastic cast. Screen Legend Kurt Russell leads the charge giving a suitably grizzled performance as a small town sherriff. Accompanying him is a particularly cold blooded Matthew Fox as a dangerous gunfighter. Then there's the always great Patrick Wilson as the town Doctor, giving his character a real grit and determination. Although Wilson has had quite the career, it still bewilders me how he's not a bigger star.

However, as great as these three are, it's Richard Jenkins that gives the film its heart, playing Russell's Deputy. Seemingly slow witted, Jenkins packs his character with emotion, giving a performance that really should have garnered him an awards. Unfortunately, the arseholes that call themselves the Academy, don't think genre films such as this are Oscar worthy.

I know Westerns aren't everyone's cup of tea, but this is one film that shouldn't be missed.

It's embarrassing to think that a 70's TV movie is better than many modern horrors. But coming from producer Dan Curtis and the pen of Richard Matheson, that's exactly what you get. To be honest, many a great horror tale could be found on television throughout the 70's. It just so happens tonight's feature is one of the best.

21. The Night Stalker

Introducing determined reporter Carl Kolchak, The Night Stalker proved so succesful that a sequel quickly followed before evolving into a short lived television series. Whilst Richard Matheson's excellent story telling is part of the films success, it would be for nowt without Darren McGavin in the lead, bringing an immense likeability to the role of Kolchak. He grounds proceedings with a sense of reality, no matter how fantastical the plot becomes.

His investigation into a series of grisly murders around Las Vegas is the central focus of the film, but it's the assortment of characters that truly bring The Night Stalker to life, with them being portrayed by such actors like Claude Akins, Ralph Meeker and Elisha Cook Jr to name just a few. Filming on location in Las Vegas also helps matters, separating this from typical studio bound TV productions of the era.

Obviously being made for terrestrial television, there is no blood or swearing here. Still, director John Llewellyn Moxey injects a fair bit of energy into the film with a few well placed action scenes, featuring some quality stunt work. The only real.drawbacks of the film is the reveal of our Night Stalker/Vampire. Barry Atwater doesn't exactly look threatening and you'll wonder why an immortal vampire needs to wear a wig.

The other isn't really a drawback, as it is required to propell the plot, but you may find it laughable how everyone seems to treat Kolchak with extreme disdain, even when he's clearly the only person speaking sense.

If you liked this one I would definately check out The Night Strangler which came the following year. The series is also great fun even if it doesn't live up to the two movies. However, do not, I repeat, do not watch the abysmal remake starring charisma vacuum Stuart Townsend. Whit a crock of shit.

Well over a decade ago director Joseph Kahn brought us the weird and wonderful Detention, a hard to categorise horror movie that combined multiple elements to create something quite original. Something that isn’t always expected in Hollywood. I had sat on Detention for years due to the fact that Khan had directed the extremely silly Torque, a sub standard Fast and the Furious rip off, that in hindsight is actually a great pastiche of the action genre. This year Kahn returns to the horror genre, which like Detention has gone past mostly unnoticed.

22. Ick.

Clearly inspired by the Blob, especially Chuck Russell’s 80’s remake, Ick is delightfully silly, filled with weird & wonderful characters, gore and some surprisingly good special effects. The tone of the film may put some off, with the film clearly being tongue in cheek. Anyone who would take a film like Ick seriously have tuned into the wrong movie. However, even though the film is quite silly, it isn’t a stupid film. Kahn does have some important things to say about small town life, education and the government which he subtlety filters throughout his horror tale. It’s especially interesting to see how many people in the film ignore the problem until it’s far too late.

Considering this was a low budget production, most of the effects work are solid. There is one particularly poor shot towards the opening of the film. What's ironic about this is that it is a shot that could have been done practically. It’s a basic shot of people standing against a building. Looking past this, the production values are solid.

Brandon Routh is suitably reliable as the reluctant hero, a former footballer now stuck into humdrum, small town life where he’s going through the motions as the school's science teacher. The former Superman proves once again that he should have been a bigger star, with him having an amiable likeability. Thankfully a director like Kahn saw these values in him to cast him as the lead.

Mena Suvari of American Pie fame also shows up as Routh’s former flame, playing into the airhead stereotype she portrayed years earlier. Her character is a total bitch that you may find it hard to care about when the titular Ick is after her.

The Ick may not be for everyone, but it’s a fun horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I’m sure it will find an audience with lovers of 80’s horror. It isn’t on par with Kahn’s earlier Detention but it has the same type of irreverent humour which makes for a winning combination when mixed with the blood and gore.

With Scott Derrickson's newest movie Black Phone 2 currently screening in cinema's, I thought it would be a good time to revisit his other movie of 2025, a cracking fantasy/horror that easily fits into my favourite of the year list.

23. The Gorge

Made for Apple, The Gorge is mostly a two hander between Miles Teller and Anya Taylor Joy's Snipers, both stationed on different sides of a mysterious Gorge. To begin, both communicate through written boards until temptation gets too much with Teller sneaking over to Joy's side of the Gorge. In amongst this we begin to find what is inside the Gorge, and it isn't nice.

Derrickson initially focuses on the relationship between his two leads with Teller being his usual charming self and Joy being, well a joy. The film has some added gravitas with a third act appearance from the legendary Sigourney Weaver.

Derrickson doesn't forget his horror roots though, with several memorable set pieces, with the final third being especially noteworthy, with him mixing his horror sensibilities with the blockbuster ones he'd built up on Doctor Strange. Visually the film is stunning, so stunning in fact that it's a downright shame that the film was made for streaming.

While it was a shame Derrickson didn't return to direct the Doctor Strange sequel, in hindsight its something of a blessing as he has gone on to direct two of the best fantasy/horror films of the year. I'll get to the Black Phone 2 in due course during this countdown.

Before delving into the Black Phone 2, I thought a revisit to another Scott Derrickson film was due. This one was made well before he made it big with Doctor Strange, but is every bit as good, if not better. To be honest, at this point I can't think of Derrickson making a bad film. Even his DTV Hellraiser movie has a lot to recommend.

24. Deliver Us From Evil

Like The Conjuring films, this one's supposedly based on a real paranormal investigator. Thankfully, they don't make the main characters all saintly like the Cunts, sorry the Warren's. Taking the frankly bullshit idea that any of this is true, Deliver US From Evil is a terrific horror thriller, with Derrickson already at the top of his game.

Surprisingly, this is a Jerry Bruckheimer production, but compared to the likes of The Rock or Con Air, it is relatively small scale. Instead, Derrickson opts for something more akin to Seven mixed with the Exorcist, with Eric Bana's Cop forced to team up with Edgar Ramirez' priest to stop a serial killer, a killer who may just be possessed by a demon.

Extremely atmospheric with some truly horrific imagery, Deliver Us From Evil is certainly one of the better horror films to emerge from a studio. It helps that its bolstered by gripping performances from two actors I honestly thought would be bigger Stars. Ramirez and Bana make for a fine duo, facing off against the forces of darkness. Solid support is provided by an against type Joel McHale who is great fun as Bana's Wild card partner.

Best of all is the extremely underatted Sean Harris as the unfortunate soul who finds himself Possessed by a murderous force. Anyone aware of Harris' work won't be surprised how good he is, as I honestly don't think he's ever given a poor performance. Here he ramps up the creepy factor whilst at the sane time garnering sympathy for his plight.

An absolute must see.

After speaking about Scott Derrickson movies over my last two Halloween posts, a third won’t hurt. After all, I have been speaking about his latest throughout these mini capsule reviews, with it easily being not only one of the best horror films of the year but just best films period.

25. Black Phone 2

Picking up 4 years after the original, Black Phone 2 takes the original concept of the first movie but twists it enough for this film to feel different. Sure, the comparisons to Nightmare on Elm Street are warranted, but Derrickson makes sure that this isn’t just some carbon copy. Visually stunning, with terrific production design evocative of the time period, Derrickson has given us that rare treat, a sequel that is equally if not better than the original.

Derrickson doesn’t waste any time in making you realise why the sequel has been rated 18 (the first was a 15), with some extremely brutal child murders. These aren’t exactly exploitative, rather showing the brutality of Ethan Hawke’s depraved Grabber. Speaking of Hawke, he is used sparingly but certainly makes an impression when he appears. It’s not the kind of role you would expect from Hawke but he seems to relish playing such a dark character.

Mason Thames once again does great work in the lead role as Finn, although he does take something of a backseat in this one, with a lot of the screen time going to Madeleine McGraw, who finely straddles the line of toughness and being a typical annoying teenager. Miguel Mora also does great, returning from the first movie, albeit as a different character. This time he plays the brother of his Black Phone character, with his overall change in appearance and demeanour making me fully buy into him being a different person.

Of the adult cast, the always dependable Jeremy Davies is back as our lead character's father, a man who has to deal with his battle against both kinds of spirits. Then there's Demián Bichir as a camp supervisor, who brings just the right amount of humour and pathos to his character.

Also, seemingly just to keep me and my pal Martin happy, there’s a nice wee cameo from Derrickson regular James Ransone, briefly reprising his character from the first film.

Amazingly, Derrickson made the film on a 30 million dollar budget, a considerably low figure in today’s climate. To put this in perspective, the recent Conjuring movie costs almost double this but is not even close to matching it in style, performance or overall enjoyment. Derrickson’s interesting use of Super 8 footage during the dream sequences also sets the film apart from other horrors, with it giving the film an eerie, old school quality.

What also makes these scenes stand out is a terrific score from Derrickson’s son Atticus. Very early in his career, he has already composed a score that would put many veterans in the business to shame.

I can see The Black Phone 2 not being for everyone. Movie critic and all round arsehole Mark Kermode said he didn’t find that it scared him. Honest, whit fucking grown up man gets scared at a film. What an absolute bell-end of a man. So don’t be a Kermode and give this film a chance.

Tonight’s horror comes from the mind of Gregory Widen, creator of the Highlander franchise. Unlike Highlander, Widen finds himself in the director's chair, telling a tale about heaven and hell. It may not have the budget to go full apocalyptic, but Widen fills the film with an assortment of terrific performances and genuine horror/fantasy elements that put much larger budgeted films to shame.

26. The Prophecy

Headlined by a magnetic Christopher Walken, The Prophecy tells the story of Walken’s search for an evil soul on earth and the merry hell he causes during said search. It is left to cop Elias Koteas to stop him before Gabreil brings about an angelic civil war.

The plot is somewhat convoluted, but it's the performances that really sell the film. As mentioned, Walken is terrific, but what else is new. The perpetually underrated Elias Koteas makes for a dependable lead, with him bringing a world weariness to his character, with his partnership with the lovely Virginia Madsen being the real heart of the film.

Quality support is provided by the likes of Eric Stoltz and Amanda Plummer who show up in smaller roles, but the real standout is Viggo Mortensen as an especially charismatic Lucifer.

Widen doesn’t exactly direct the film with a particularly stylish hand, but he does a professional job, not letting himself get bogged down in how ultimately ridiculous his film is. There's some decent set pieces, with Widen’s film looking a lot more professional than its low budget would suggest.

The Prophecy would end up being Widen’s last stint at directing, with him only having an episode of Tales of the Crypt prior to this. However, like Highlander, The Prophecy series would continue with a further 4 sequels, two of which feature Walken reprising his archangel Gabriel role. None of the sequels come close to the first although part 3 is definitely worth your time, with it marking the directorial debut of Patrick Lussier who would go on to direct a couple of cracking horror movies himself, with My Bloody Valentine 3D and Drive Angry being a ton of fun.

A wee trip to Hong Kong for this horror entry. Anyone with a knowledge of Hong Kong cinema should know that their “horror” films aren’t exactly the same as Hollywood's. Sure, like their American counterparts, now and again you’ll get a right classy feature, but mostly you’ll get something absolutely insane, such as this absolute classic.

27. The Cat

Anyone who has seen director Lam Ngai Kai’s The Seventh Curse should have a fair idea of what to expect, with over the top action, terrific low-fi special effects and some extreme gore. Like the Seventh Curse, this is based on another Wisely novel, a popular series from author Ni Kuang. Several attempts have been made to transition the character to the screen through the years, with Kai’s versions certainly being the most memorable.

Waise Lee takes over where Chow Yun Fat left off, and while he may not be as iconic he makes for a suitable replacement. This time he is investigating an extraterrestrial threat, where he comes into contact with an evil alien that is able to possess other humans.

Unfortunately one such human turns out to be his friend Wang played by Philip Kwok. This leads to several fantastic action scenes mixing gunplay, martial arts and old school special effects. Now the effects work isn’t Hollywood standards, but they have a charm of their own that raises this film above the CGI filled shiters were currently being bombarded with.

Luckily for our hero he is assisted by two friendly aliens, one of whom is in the form of a young girl and the other in the shape of a cat. The Cat, named the General, proves to be a complete badass, leading to some of the film's most outrageous scenes. If superpowers cat kung fu is what you're looking for, you’ve come to the right place.

Admittedly, the horror aspect makes way for the more over the top action/fantasy elements, but The Cat is nonetheless great fun and a perfect example of the dont give a fuck attituve of Hong Kong cinema.

Further Wisely films have followed this but none have reached the same level of enjoyment. A big budget (for Hong Kong standards) movie was made in 2002, but even though it was directed by the talented Andrew Lau and starred superstar Andy Lau, it is a relative trainwreck, albeit an enjoyable one. Like many Wong Jing productions, it's shit, but it's enjoyable shit.

Some may be surprised, but it took me decades to watch this horror film in its entirety. To be fair, I had seen the whole film but never from beginning to end, it was always from either the midpoint onwards or seeing the first half and having to leave. I understand that it is meant to be a Horror classic but I can’t say I agree. As much as I enjoyed the watch I would seriously have to argue its validity as a “Horror” film. Because a film may have horrific images or deal with horrific subject matter does not primarily make it a horror. If this is the case, Zodiac is a horror movie. Seven is a horror movie. However, most people would think of these as thrillers, a genre this film fits perfectly under.

28. Silence of the Lambs

Considering how highly regarded Jonathan Demme’s thriller is, you would expect it to be one of the finest to ever come from Hollywood. Now, I am not knocking the film, as it is a finely constructed thriller, but I feel viewers willingly overlook how overblown it is as a film, with Anthony Hopkins' take on Hannibal Lector bordering on the pantomime. He is great fun in the role, but never once does he come across as a believable psychopath. In fact, I felt that his level of performance suited Ridley Scott’s sequel better than the somewhat grounded level that Demme was affecting here.

At least Jodie Foster’s performance tries to stay on the right side of realistic, even though I never truly bought her as being this tough FBI agent. It may be controversial, but I much preferred Julianne Moore’s version of the character in the sequel.

Personally, I feel that all the attention should be given to the underrated Ted Levine who is chilling as serial killer Buffalo Bill. With limited screentime he is totally convincing as a deranged Psychopath. I bet no one listens to Goodbye Horses in the same way again.

Whilst I think Jonathan Demme has made better films, with films like Something Wild, Married to the Mob and Philadelphia being standouts, the importance of Silence of the Lambs shouldn’t be overlooked. I also think many would appreciate it more these days as films like this aren’t regularly greenlit nowadays.

If you are in the mood for a much better take on the Hannibal character I would suggest you take a look at Michael Mann’s Manhunter which frankly shites all over this. Saying that, it shites over most American thrillers of the past 40 years.

With Edgar Wright's latest retelling of The Running Man due to hit cinema screens, I realised I had never spoke of one of his previous movies, one that fits perfectly into this season of Horror.

29. Last Night in Soho

I say fits perfectly, but I mean in terms of genre rather than quality. Whilst Last Night in Soho was critically acclaimed upon its release, its quite frankly a crock of shit. I'm sure Wright's fans will disagree, exclaiming this is a masterpiece and overlooking how fuckin poorly written it is.

Honestly some of the exposition in this had me howling, with one particular scene featuring Terence Stamp and Mrs Doyle from Father Ted being one of the poorest pieces of writing to appear in a mainstream feature. How anyone could think this is intelligent horror is beyond me. You have one character divulging someone's entire backstory to a complete stranger just in order to progress the already convoluted plot. The end twist just adds to the overall ridiculousness.

It doesn't help that Wright's approach to character hasn't improved since Baby Driver, with everyone acting like their either autistic, bipolar or psychotic. There's not one person to root for here. Well, I'm lying because I was willing for Matt Smith (the one bright spark) to fuckin kill them all.

Typically for Wright, at least the film looks nice, but all those saying how original it is haven't saw enough horrors, with his film being a total rip off of Mario Bava and early Argento.

I'm sure plenty will disagree, with them fawning over one of the most overatted Directors currently working today. Personally I think he's only made two really good movies, and I can't see the generic as fuck looking Running Man changing my mind. Lastly, this was poor Terence Stamp's last film. He deserved better than this pish.

Re-released by Arrow just in time for Halloween, tonight's horror is woefully underatted, with it showing a true master at work. It's eerie atmosphere and Lovecraftian themes and imagery easily makes it one of the better horrors of the 90s. Unfortunately it came at a time when wallopers would rather see carbon copy slasher movies, with Scream following this only 2 years later. While this movie pretty much fell into obscurity, Scream has gone on to have six sequels Fuckin six. Really?

30. In the Mouth of Madness

Another cracker from the legendary John Carpenter, making up for his slightly lacklustre Memoirs of an Invisible two years prior.

Like he masterfly done in the likes of The Thing, Carpenter slowly ramps up the mystery with it not exactly being clear what the hell is going on for at least the first half of the film. It involves Insurance Investigator Sam Neill trying to find missing writer Jurgen Prochnow in a small town whilst the lines between reality and fantasy begin to merge, sending Neill into a spiral of insanity.

This one's all.about the atmosphere, with the film having a feeling of Dread from the get go. This mood is escalated by a typically awesome score from Carpenter himself.

Neill is as reliable as ever while Prochnow excels at playing the mysterious author Sutter Cane. Smaller appearances from legends like David Warner and Charlton Heston just add to the overall quality.

Unfortunately, it would appear that this was the start of Carpenter's own downward spiral. He would follow this with the dissapointing Village of the Damned before delivering us a sequel to his Cult classic Escape From New York. Although it is great fun, it's essentially a poorer retelling of the first movie. However, it does have one of Carpenter's best even endings.

Vampires was a definite up-turn in quality and something Carpenter could have built upon but instead he followed it with his worst film by a country mile, Ghosts of my arse, sorry, Mars.

It's now been 15 years since his last movie The Ward. At this stage in his career I seriously doubt we'll get another film, but I would never rule him out. Even if we don't, the list of absolute quality he has created will never be overlooked.

It's very apt that my final film on this Halloween countdown is actually set on Halloween night. It hard to believe this film is almost 20 years old, with it being unceremoniously released straight to DVD back in the day. Well time has done the film a great service, with its reputation building since its release to become something of a Cult classic.

31. Trick R Treat

Writer/Director Michael Dougherty has gone on to direct more famous fare since Trick R Treat's release, but I don't think he's bettered it.

An anthology horror is something of a genre staple, but it's more how Dougherty combines the stories, with each story strand overlapping with the other.

You know what kind of film your in for when you already have a boy getting murdered within the first 10 minutes. In the murderers defence, the boy was a wee prick. The film does get slightly darker after but Dougherty gives proceedings a sense of fun.

Performances are all on point, with everyone understanding the tone. Stand outs are Dylan Baker and Brian Cox who both excel at playing complete arseholes. Tbh, the majority of the characters could be classed as arseholes. Thankfully everyone gets what they truly deserve.

Halloween Roundup

Whilst Halloween was over, I felt there were still a fair few films worthy of mention that I didn't include in my countdown. This was partly due to watching too much through the month or having previously written about them before.

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Basket Case, Videodrome and Lady Terminator were the other three movies I saw at the All Night Horror in Edinburgh. Now Videodrome is an out and our classic, starring one of my favourite ever a tired, James Woods. Basket Case on the other hand isn't a classic, but still great fun with its grimy visuals and cheapo fx. However, the real surprise of the night was Lady Terminator. Think of the original Terminator but instead of Arnie's Cyborg we instead have a poor lassie getting turned into an Unstoppable killer when a snake wriggles up inside her.

Halloween wouldn't be Halloween without a viewing of John Carpenter's classic The Fog. Further classics came in the shape of the original Wolf Man with Lon Chaney Jr. Obviously dated, it's still an excellent exercise in quality filmmaking, with terrific black and white photography and some excellent (for the time) special effects.

Also got round to watching my 4K of Stuart Gordon's From Beyond, another in his line of HP Lovecraft adaptations. It may be cheesy to some, but you have to give credit to Gordon for bringing attention to the works of Lovecraft.

Some may remember I spoke of watching a fair few Mario Bava movies, but he wasn't the only notable Italian director to get a look in. A rematch of Lucio Fulci's awesome The Beyond was a highlight, with it easily being my favourite of Fulci's work. His earlier film The Psychic was an example of when it didn't always come together for him.

Dark Places was less the sum of its parts but was worthwhile due to quality acting from Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom.and Robert Hardy.

A few Hammer and Amicus movies rounded out my viewing, with Curse of Frankenstein, The Witches and House That Dripped Blood being welcome additions to my spooky viewings throughout October.