31 Horror Movies in 31 Days 2023 the Conclusion

Happy Halloween, folks! We made it. We've watched 31 horror movies in 31 days. Or at least I have. Here's the final batch. Hope you've enjoyed it.

28. Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (1988, Tubi) – If you haven’t seen the first Sleepaway Camp, don’t worry, this movie catches you up in the first five minutes. But you’d also be doing yourself a disservice, so go watch the first Sleepaway Camp. I’ll wait. Watch it? Wasn’t that ending crazy? The sequel serves up more tongue-in-cheek-wink-wink-at-the-camera moments and equally brutal kills. It also has a lot more sleaze, but that’s kinda the point. This movie dismantles conservative hypocrisy; Angela is equal-parts moral compass and murderer. She wants the best for her happy campers, but the punishment for even the slightest misstep is death. You can’t help but *kinda* be on her side, as other non-murdering camp counselors endorse panty raids, peeping Toms and casual sex among teens. This is a worthy follow-up to an all-time classic.

29. The Haunted Strangler (1958, Criterion) – Nobody in horror did it like Boris Karloff, amiright? What a gem. The man switches between a crazed killer and civilized gentleman at the drop of a hat just by contorting his face.. And you believe him! Acting. What a concept. Karloff carries this one, which is otherwise kind of a slog. Notwithstanding, it’s nuts to see some of the violence and sleaze they allowed in 1958. And if you just sit back and watch Karloff do his thing, you’ll be satisfied; you’re watching a master of his craft put on an exhibition. This was 10ish years before Karloff died but he still had the juice.

30. Trick r’ Treat (2007, HBO/Max)– Trick r’ Treat holds a special place in my mind because of its mid-2000’s cynicism. It’s a somewhat innocent cynicism, unspoiled by years’ worth of internet-fueled memery, hyperconnection and hyperrealism. It’s the type of cynicism that made South Park a hit, built more on real-life contrarianism and calling out bullshit instead of the edgelord nihilism nonsense it eventually spawned. It reminds me of teen movies that were popular when I was growing up, sporting a similar wit and humor. It’s also flawed in that way, reverting to male-centered sexual tropes, straight-centric narratives and racial norms we’ve all come to find at least a little problematic. The good news is it’s really fun, treating viewers to a smorgasbord of Halloween mythos that has a little bit of everything from the horror genre—it’s equally a creature feature, a supernatural thriller and a slasher. The fact that it’s actually well-made, tongue-in-cheek and a quick watch is just icing on the cake. Pitch perfect setting, pacing and acting. Funny and scary. A likely classic for every Halloween/horror head and an absolute must-watch this time of year.

31. Pumpkinhead (1988, Rented) - “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” – Deuteronomy 32:35

There’s lots of jaws flappin’ lately about vengeance, retribution and retaliation, so I figured it was only appropriate to remind myself (and you all) about the sheer *horrors* (ayooo) of revenge. And how Lance Henrikson whips ass. Ol’ Henrikson’s son is killed by a wild bunch of young adults on dirt bikes, so he does what most of us would do: seek out an old crone in the woods for the cruelest and most unusual punishment imaginable. She refers him to the ritual of Pumpkinhead and, together, they resurrect the most badass-effects-driven-praying-mantis-demon you’ve ever seen. Pumpkinhead carries out the deeds expeditiously while Henrikson seems to realize revenge does not belong to us mortals, but instead to the divine beyond.

This is one of my favorite Halloween movies ever. It has that ‘80s sheen that I’ve been clamoring about all month. It’s preachy. It’s creepy. It’s cheesy. It has the perfect vibe for this time of year. It has scares. It has one-liners galore. It has awesome sound effects. It has Lance Henrikson (Lance Henrikson!). It’s also directed by Stan Winston, the Oscar-winning special effects master responsible for bringing to life (among other legendary things) the iconic Jurassic Park dinosaurs, the Aliens, the Terminator, the Predator, some of The Thing and Danny DeVito’s Penguin. He.. also followed up this movie with A Gnome Named Gnorm. So watch Pumpkinhead. Cherish it. It’s a gem.

See what other movies I've watched this month here and  here and here and here. Or check out my posts for 2022 or 2021.