We’ve officially made it through Week 1 of our 31 Days of Halloween horror movie marathon, and what a start it’s been. Honestly, I’d call it relatively easy watching—classic chills, a few modern jolts, and enough suspense to keep us all on edge without hiding under the doona. Week 1 was a gentle introduction, a way to ease into the season and remind ourselves why we keep coming back to horror every year.
We kicked the week off with Karen Black in Trilogy of Terror, a masterclass in tension. Black delivered three unforgettable tales of terror in one evening, paired with the infamous Zuni doll. Her performances are as magnetic as they are unsettling, and it was a perfect start to the marathon.
Next, we moved into a double feature of gothic horror with Barbara Steele in Castle of Blood and The Long Hair of Death. Steele’s presence alone is enough to command attention, but these films are full of atmospheric cinematography, moody castles, and eerie, slow-building dread. From haunted corridors to unsettling deaths, they reminded us that horror doesn’t need to be fast or flashy to stick in your mind.
We then paid homage to our slasher mum Pamela Voorhees, with the original Friday the 13th. Classic, gory, and iconic, it’s the film that defined a generation of slasher horror. The suspense, the inventive kills, and that unforgettable summer camp setting made it a thrill to watch and a nice counterpoint to the gothic chills we’d seen earlier.
After that, we returned to modern horror with Anya Taylor-Joy in The Witch and Last Night in Soho. The Witch is slow, meticulous, and psychologically unnerving—Taylor-Joy’s performance captures isolation and paranoia with breathtaking subtlety. Last Night in Soho, meanwhile, juxtaposes glamour and horror, pulling you into a world that’s stylish yet disturbingly eerie. Both films prove that horror in the modern age can be cerebral, stylish, and deeply unsettling all at once.
To round off the week, we delved into a lesser-known classic with Vincent Price in The Haunted Palace. Price’s presence is always a highlight, and this film offered gothic atmosphere, twisted plots, and enough supernatural intrigue to end the week on a perfectly eerie note.
But here’s the thing: Week 1 was just the warm-up. Tonight, Week 2 kicks off, and the ride gets wilder. The next movies that I have lined up are like a rollercoaster: slow-burn tension, sudden jolts, and unexpected tonal shifts that keep you guessing. We’ll be going up and down in tempo, mixing intensity with relief and dread with a little bit of wicked fun.
This week’s films are carefully chosen to strike a balance. Some are perfect for the casual viewer—easy to follow, entertaining, and accessible. Others are geared toward seasoned horror fans, packed with innovative scares, experimental cinematography, and layered storytelling that will keep you analysing every shadow, every flicker of the camera, and every note of the score. And on some nights, we’ll blend the two, delivering movies that are both fun and unnerving, familiar yet unpredictable.
I also want to make something clear: I’m not including movies that are purely sickening or excessively gory just to shock you. I don’t consider that horror—it’s just the kind of thing that makes you want to hug the porcelain bus. Real horror (in my mind) comes from story, atmosphere, cinematography, score, and the way the camera moves. It’s the tension that lingers, the subtle discomfort that grows, and the moments that make your heart pound long after the credits roll. That’s what I’m aiming for in this marathon.
Week 2 is about contrasts: tension and relief, darkness and fun, scares and laughter, casual chills and spine-tingling terror. If Week 1 was a gentle walk through a haunted house, Week 2 is the full rollercoaster—with loops, twists, and sudden drops that will leave your pulse racing. By the end of the week, you’ll have experienced a full spectrum of horror, from experimental, artful storytelling to the playful, the familiar, and the downright terrifying.
So tonight, steel yourself. The lights will dim, the shadows will feel a little heavier, and every creak and whisper in the corners of your room will demand your attention. Week 2 isn’t about comfort—it’s about being pulled into worlds that unsettle, surprise, and linger. I promise, you’ll feel it in every nerve.
The marathon isn’t just continuing—it’s evolving, and tonight, the ride officially begins.
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