To quote my favorite final girl Sidney PrescottI’ve seen one too many movies — and thanks to my diligent use of the Letterboxd diary feature, I know exactly how many.

So far this year, I’ve logged 320 films, over a third of which are horror. Knowing this, I could spend the final months of 2025 touching less remotes and more grass, but where’s the fun in that? I’d much rather share the fruits of my screen time to help others craft the perfect Halloween viewing lineup — but not before a crash course on my movie tastes, for some much-needed context.

I think Wild at Heart — David Lynch’s gritty, gory, sexy masterpiece starring Laura Dern and Nicolas Cage — is perhaps the greatest movie ever put to screen. I am a sucker for body horror, beauty juxtaposed with the grotesque and weird-girl protagonists. (Think Jennifer’s Body, The Craft and the original Hellraiser.)

And while I keep up with most new releases — if you haven’t seen Sinners, Weapons or Bring Her Back yet, please tap in — my true passion lies in the camp and cult horror canons, with an intense bias toward the ‘90s and early 2000s. Oh, and I like to laugh. Horror-comedy haters, I see you and I hear you, but be warned: This list is not for you.

Now let’s dive into 10 horror movies I suggest you add to your Halloween watchlist. Immediately.

Cherry Falls

After the success of Screamone of the greatest horror movies — nay, movies — ever made, everybody wanted a slice of the teen slasher-comedy pie and, from Jawbreaker to The FacultyI’ve seen a lot of them. Only very recently, however, did I discover the absolute gem that is 1999’s Cherry Fallsstarring the one and only Brittany Murphy.

Cherry Falls follows a serial killer targeting virgins in the titular small town (Get it? Cherry Falls?) and showcases Murphy’s undeniable scream queen chops — something I never knew I needed until viewing.

It’s dark, twisty and hilarious — and if you love Murphy like I do, I promise you will have a great time.

Idle Hands

The same year we were blessed with Murphy’s turn in Cherry Fallswe were also given Idle Hands. Just a year before he solidified his scream-king status in the original 2001 Final Destination, Devon Sawa fronted a stoner comedy-slasher featuring the talents of Jessica Alba, Seth Green and Elden Henson, an unsung hero of the ‘90s teen flick.

The catalyst for the events of Idle Handsthe loss of control of the titular appendage, is a classic horror trope. Clive Barker wrote about it in his Books of BloodAsh famously grapples with it in one of the most iconic scenes from Evil Dead II … the list goes on. But Idle Hands’ take on the concept is just plain fun.

It’s absurd, endlessly quotable and laugh-out-loud hilarious, with kill scenes that rival (if not surpass) Final Destination in both creativity and fun.

Stopmotion

A recent-ish release that I somehow overlooked until kicking off my lengthy October watchlist is 2023’s Stopmotion. The feature-length debut from British filmmaker Robert Morgan is a gorgeous and criminally under-watched blend of psychological thriller, body horror and — as you may have guessed — stop motion animation. It’s sickening, and it’s absolutely stunning.

Ella, have obsessed artist to the Natalie Portman in Black Swan. After her mom, a trailblazer in the field of stop motion, becomes sick, Ella takes on her dying wish of completing one last movie — which slowly consumes her, blurring the lines between artist and art.

Much like the technique itself, Stopmotion requires some patience, but it is so worth it to lose yourself in Franciosi’s haunting turn as an unraveling artist.

The Ugly Stepsister

It’s been a great year for horror — and particularly, body horror — but for me, The Ugly Stepsister takes the cake. Another directorial debut, this time from Emilie Blichfeldt, the Norwegian film offers a new spin on the story of Cinderella, turning the spotlight to her stepsister Elvira as she goes to disturbing lengths to alter her physical appearance in hopes of nabbing a prince.

The Ugly Stepsister is a singular and delicious blend of dreamy, fairytale-like imagery and the flat-out disgusting. Lea Myren gives an unforgettable performance and adds undeniable depth in the titular role, giving a masterclass in yearning as she undergoes gruesome, 19th-century-era plastic surgery.

I have not shut up about this movie since watching it, and if you think you have the stomach for it, I cannot recommend it enough — especially for fans of films like The Substance and Possession.

May

Maybe I’m cheating a bit, because this one’s technically a rewatch, but it’s my list, so I make the rules — and May rules.

Angela Bettis (Girl, Interrupted) stars as May, a socially-awkward young woman who suffered an ultra-lonely childhood thanks to her lazy eye, which her mother made her cover with an eyepatch. Her mom also gifted her a doll, which she was not allowed to remove from its glass case, paired with a piece of wisdom that doubles as the film’s tagline: “If you can’t find a friend, make one.”

May is dark, disturbing and suspenseful, but the scariest part is the loneliness and unrequited longing that Bettis portrays so well — that, and Jeremy Sisto as a poser film bro. Shivers. (I would also be remiss not to mention that Anna Faris plays a commitment-averse lesbian, giving a performance that only she could.)

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person

As you may have gleaned from the title, French film Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person follows a vegetarian vampire — shout-out Carlisle Cullen — forced to fend for herself after her parents cut off her blood bag supply.

Sara Montpetit’s turn as the shy and sensitive vamp, named Sasha, is understated perfection, as is Félix-Antoine Bénard’s performance as her wide-eyed human companion, Paul. The best parts of the 2024 release, which leans more spooky than frightening, are found in the body language of the vamp-human duo — namely a sweet scene in which they stand side-by-side listening to Brenda Lee’s “Emotions.”

Humanist Vampire is an eerie, moody and sweet — but not too sweet — coming of age story brimming with earnestness and despite its gloomy title, is the perfect feel-good Halloween watch.

House of Wax

“See Paris die!” was House of Wax’s viral marketing campaign slogan, a call for folks on the Paris Hilton hate train to come see her die a gruesome on-screen death. (Misogyny in horror marketing? Shocker!) Here’s the gag: After I finally watched the 2005 movie, it immediately became clear to me that it was Hilton, not those who bought tickets to see her “die,” that got the last laugh. That, and I truly cannot fathom why this movie is still so dogged-on.

While yes, the first act of House of Wax could have been an email, it is such a genuine blast from then on, with Hilton stealing the show. Turns out, she is phenomenal at fake-dying — carrying one of the most memorable scenes of the whole movie — and, much like mother Helen Shivers before her, should’ve been a final girl.

The rest of the House of Wax cast, including ‘90s and 2000s heartthrobs Jared Pastalki and Chad Michael Murrayalso give great performances. (For bonus points, watch with Queen of the Damned for the perfect nu metal-horror double feature.)

Perfect Blue

Satoshi Kon’s 1997 anime Perfect Blue was wildly ahead of its time, the themes of fandom, fame and idolization it explores more relevant now than ever. Often compared to Black Swan for similarities in visuals and plot, the film follows a Japanese pop idol who leaves the music industry to pursue a career as a serious actress — and grapples with an increasingly volatile stalker.

While blood is spilled in Perfect Blue — and plenty of it — it is first and foremost a psychological thriller and it will wreak havoc on your brain. On my first watch, it made me question my sanity. On my second, it made me question everything.

As pop star, aspiring actress and prolific Letterboxd user Charli xcx put it in her TikTok review, it “sort of felt like it was playing tricks on me.” (She gave it five stars.) (Same.)

Bones

Ernest Dickerson’s 2001 supernatural horror-comedy Bones is criminally underrated. A bloodthirsty Snoop Dogg returns from the dead to take revenge on his killers. Meanwhile, Pam Grier plays his former lover in the movie, which pays homage to the start of her legendary career in Blaxploitation films.

Bones has some arguably cheesy effects, but if that gets in the way of your ability to enjoy early 2000s horror, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s also a feast for the eyes. In fact, I was completely gagged: Every shot was compelling or unique or beautiful or, more often, some combination of all three. (Makes sense: Dickerson is best known for his collaborations with Spike Leeand did cinematography for films like Malcolm X and Do the Right Thing.)

Oh, and scream queens Bianca Lawson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps, American Mary) are in it and as always, they are amazing.

Hell of a Summer

I had high expectations for Hell of a Summerwhich had a very limited theatrical release earlier this year, and while I had a great time watching, it did not exactly meet them. Mostly, I wanted it to be gorier — it is a slasher, after all. “Why,” you may then be wondering, “did you include it in this list?”

For one thing, Hell of a Summer is a solid debut effort from writer-director duo Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk — who both, I should note, give hilarious performances. Despite its shortcomings, it is also a fun ride all the way through. But if I’m being completely honest, there is one reason why I am recommending it, and that reason is named Fred Hechinger.

Perhaps you’ve seen him as a screen-addicted teenager in The White Lotus or as the erratic Emperor Caracalla in Gladiator 2but you’ve never seen him like this — “this” being an extremely earnest camp counselor that I desperately need to queen out with.

Fred, if this ever finds its way to you somehow, please continue your scream king arc. I am begging.