The 2024 Horror-Thon
Every year, for over a decade, I dedicate a special part of Spooky Season to dive deep into the spine-tingling world of horror with my annual Horror-thon. There is something uniquely thrilling about gathering a lineup of terrifying, suspensful, and eerie films that create the perfect blend of fear, excitement, and even adrenaline. But my love for horror movies goes beyond the jump scares and gory visuals. And if you know me, you know jump scares are a different story. Horror movies have the inate ability to tape into something primal within us, testing our fears while keeping us safely immersed in fiction.
Horror movies are a genre that refuses to fade. From cult classics to modern psychological thrillers, their stying power in the marketplace is undeniable. They’ve carved out a dedicated fanbase and evolved to reflect cultural fears and anxieties, making them as relevant today as ever. Whether it’s supernatural hauntings, slasher flicks, or stylish giallo myseries, horror’s versatility continues to draw audiences of all types, In a market often dominated by superhero blockbusters or lighthearted rom coms, horror offers something different - a visceral, often cathartic experience that says with you long after the credits role.
For this year’s horror-thon, I’ve curated a mix of genera-defining classics, underrated gems, and stylish thrillers that show the true range of horror. From psychological dread to campy, blood-splattered fun, each film in the lineup brings its own flavor of fear, making this a celebration of everything I love about the horror genre (and spooky season!)
If you’re interested, reviews are up in the Horror-Thon Instagram highlight
Evil Eye
1963, Mario Bava
Evil Eye, also known as The Girl Who Knew Too Much, is a giallo film following an American tourist in Rome who witnesses a murder and becomes convinced she’s uncovered a serial killer targeting women. As she digs deeper, the lines between reality and imagination blur, leading to a tense and suspenseful mystery.
Why I Chose It
Evil Eye is often credited as the first giallo film and was part of the Criterion Channel’s giallo Halloween collection. It is a stylish blend of suspense, murder mystery, and psychological thrills. It features stunning black and white cinematography and a plot that keeps you guessing. With its Hitchcokian flair and twisty narrative, it’s a must watch for fans of Italian horror and film noir. It laid the groundwork for the giallo genre, making it essential viewing for anyone interested in the evolution of horror cinema.
The Love Witch
2016, Anna Biller
A beautiful witch names Elaine uses spells and potions to find love but leaves a trail of bodies behind as her lovers can’t handle the intensity of her magic. Set in a stylized, retro world, the film explores themes of love, desire, and power through a feminist lens.
Why I Chose It
A stunning homage to 1960s Technicolor, the Love Witch follows a modern-day witch who uses magic to make men fall in love with her - with deadly consequences. It is a fascinating mix of feminism, horror, and camp that explores female desire, set against a lush vintage backdrop.
Jack Torrance, a writer, becomes the winter caretaker of the isolated Overlook Hotel, where he slowly descends into madness. His psychic son, Danny, experiences terrifying visions of the hotel’s dark past, as Jack becomes increasingly violent, threatening his family’s survival.
Why I Chose It
Kubrick’s iconic adaptation of Stephen King’s novel remains one of the most psychologically intense horror films of all time. Jack Nicholson’s descent into madness as he terrorizes his family at the haunted Overlook Hotel is chilling, with surreal visuals and a haunting scrope that makes the Shining a timeless classic.
The Shining
1980, Stanley Kubrick
Death Walks At Midnight
1972, Luciano Ercoli
While under the influence of hallucinogens, a fashion model witnesses a brutal murder. When the police find not evidence of the crime, she embarks on her own investigation, leading her into a maze deception, danger, and madness.
Why I Chose It
A stylish, surreal giallo with an unforgettable heroine. Death Walks at Midnight follows a fashion model who witnesses a brutal murder while under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs. Reality and madness blur in this twist-filled thriller, making it exhilarating and unpredictable ride from start to finish.
The Velvet Vampire
1971, Stephanie Rothman
A doctor and a woman investigate a mask manufacturer’s sinister plan to use deadly Halloween masks to kill children across America. The masks, activated by a hypnotic TV commercial, are part of a larger conspiracy tied to ancient Celtic rituals.
Why I Chose It
This cult classic boldly steps away from Michael Myers, offering a standalone story about a sinister mask company planning to sacrifice children on Halloween night. With a surreal, almost more sci-fi horror vibe, it’s both eerie and divisive. Plus, the hypnotic Silver Shamrock jingle will linger long after the credits roll.
A couple is invited to the remote desert home of a mysterious woman, Diane, who reveals herself to be a vampire. As Diane seduces the couple, they become trapped in a surreal, deadly game of desire and survival.
Why I Chose It
A seductive mix of desert landscapes and vampiric allure, The Velvet Vampire is an overlooked 70s gem. It follows a couple lured into the home of a mysterious woman who may not be what she seems. Psychedelic and atmospheric, its perfect for fans of trippy, sensual horror.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
1982, Tommy Lee Wallace
Deep Red
1975, Dario Argento
A jazz musician witnesses a brutal murder of a psychic and teams up with a journalist to solve the crime. As thy investigate, more murders occur, leading to a shocking revelation about the killer’s identity.
Why I Chose It
Dario Argento’s Deep Red is another giallo thriller known for its gripping murder mystery and gory set pieces. The story follows a jazz pianest and a journalist investigating a series of gruesome murders. The vibrant cinematography, iconic score, and never-shredding suspense are Argento at his best.
Teenagers at a summer camp are terrorized by a series of grisly murders. The film follows shy Angela and her cousin Ricky as the body count rises, culminating in one of the most shocking and disturbing twists in horror history.
Why I Chose It
A summer camp slasher with a shocking twist ending that has cemented its place in horror history. Sleepaway Camp delivers all of the genre staples - awkward teen drama, gruesome kills, and a mystery masked killer - but the final scene is where it leaves its unforgettable mark.
Blood and black Lace
1964, Mario Bava
Sleepaway Camp
1983, Robert Hiltzik
At a high-end fashion house, models are being murdered by a masked killer. As the bodies pile up, a complex web of deceit and jealousy is uncovered, revealing that beauty and danger often go hand in hand.
Why I Chose It
Another giallo gem, Blood and Black Lace is a stylish, brutal whodunit set in a glamorous fashion house. This film is often credited for shaping the slasher genre with its colorful, dreamlike aesthetic and shocking violence. Its impact on horror and fashion are still felt today.
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage
1970, Dario Argento
An American writer in Rome witnesses an attempted murder and becomes entangled in the investigation of a serial killer. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he discovers a web of secrets, leading to a tense and terrifying showdown.
Why I Chose It
Dario Argento’s debut film is a giallo masterpiece, blending murder mystery with high art cinematography. An American writer in Rom becomes entangled in a series of gruesome murders. With vivid visuals and haunting score, it’s a must watch for fans of Italian Horror.
While house-sitting in New York, a woman begins experiencing strange occurrences that blur the line between supernatural forces and her own unraveling mind. She uncovers disturbing secrets about the apartment’s history and its previous tenants.
Why I Chose It
Apartment 7A is a recent psychological horror movie with an atmosphere thick with paranoia. Following a young woman’s descent into madness while house-sitting for a mysterious neighbor, Apartment 7A explores themes of isolation, trust, and supernatural threats. The suspense builds slowly but hits with visceral intensity.
Apartment 7A
2024, Natalie Erika James
Witches
1990, Nicolas Roeg
A young boy stumbles upon a witches convention where he learns of their plan to turn all children into mice. With the help of his grandmother, he must find a way to stop the tiches before it’s too late.
Why I Chose It
Roald Dahl’s The Witches may seem like a children’s film, but its dark, grotesque undertones make it unsettling even for adults. Anjelica Huston shines as the Grand High Witch, whose evil plans to turn children into mice are equal parts horrifying and darkly humorous.
