Halloween Horror Movie Countdown: Experience the Spooky Season for Less with Shudder

October is finally here! That means you can finally enjoy some classic movies to ring in the season. You can even partake in the Horror Movie Countdown Challenge, where horror fans watch one scary movie a day for the entire month of October - and it’s all leading up to Halloween! This is the perfect way to get into the spooky spirit this year. Below you will find a list of 31 horror movies that are sure to keep the scares coming.

If you want to partake in this pastime or if you’re just searching for a quality horror movie, Shudder has everything you could ever want. This streaming service has hours of amazing scary movies that you can enjoy long after the spooky season is over. Not to mention, memberships start at just $3.99 a month, meaning you can get hours of killer content for the price of pocket change!

1. Mayhem

Photo Credit: Rogerebert

What better way is there to start off your Halloween marathon than with the horror/comedy masterpiece known as Mayhem. This film is only available through Shudder and stars Steven Yeun, of Walking Dead fame, and Samara Weaving. Mayhem follows the struggles of Derek Cho, who was just fired from his job when he discovers that the office building is under quarantine due to a mysterious virus. Derek, along with a former client, must fight to get to the top floor to finally get revenge. This film combines comedy, gore, fight scenes, and psychological elements - making it a must-see masterpiece this October.

2. Monsters

What's a horror movie marathon without a monster movie? While Monsters is light on jumpscares and gore, but big on aliens and psychological thrills. The events in the film unfold after a NASA probe carrying alien life crashes over Central America. Following the crash, strange and horrifying new life begins to appear there. As the military rushes to contain the monsters, a photojournalist and tourist struggle to find their way out of Mexico. During their journey, the two protagonists try to come to grips with what is happening and how to stay alive.

3. The Host

This Korean film follows the story of one family that is pushed to the limit when a giant, mutant sea monster begins to terrorize Seoul. But this isn't your average monster movie, as the create carefully selects who it takes and drags them into its dark hideout under the sea. When their daughter is taken by the creature, this ordinary family needs to find a way to get her back, before it is too late.

4. A Quiet Earth

While this is definitely an older film on this list, it's definitely worth checking out this month. A Quiet Earth features a scientist who wakes one morning to find that he is seemingly the last person on Earth. This protagonist wanders through a deserted city in search of survivors and he slowly disintegrates into madness. This is a very obscure, classic sci-fi film that is perfect for anyone who wants to trade jumpscares with a deep feeling of dread.

5. Escape from Tomorrow

Photo Credit: Wicked Horror

We're starting this list of easy with this one-of-a-kind movie. This film tells the story of an unemployed father who has increasingly strange and disturbing visions on the last day of his family vacation at Disney World. This film first gained notoriety when it was revealed that it was shot on location at Walt Disney World and Disneyland without permission from The Walt Disney Company. During filming, the actors and crew used guerrilla filmmaking techniques to avoid attracting attention within the park. The film was shot almost entirely on handheld video cameras that are similar to those used by ordinary park visitors. While the plot itself is disturbing and odd, Escape from Tomorrow delivers on its tagline that bad things can happen everywhere.

6. Cube

So far the movies on this list haven't featured that much gore or violence, but that definitely isn't true for this film. Cube follows seven complete strangers who wake to find themselves inside an endless maze of deadly traps. Will the strangers be able to pull together and solve the secrets of the maze - or will the stress of isolation and certain death pull them apart?

7. Operation Avalanche

If you're a fan of mysteries and conspiracy theories, you're going to love Operation Avalanche. This film tackles one of the oldest conspiracies in the book - the Apollo moon landing. Operation Avalanche follows two CIA agents who are apart of the agencies AV Department, who infiltrate NASA to expose a potential mole. Along the way, the agents uncover evidence leading to one of the biggest conspiracies in American history. While this film is technically more of a thriller than a horror flick, it builds an amazing sense of dread and paranoia throughout the film that horror fans are sure to love. Secret, government cover-ups, conspiracies, and plenty of dread - there’s a reason that this film made the list.

8. Battle Royale

Are you looking for something that's a little more old school? Check out Battle Royale - a grisly film that has acted as inspiration for pop culture icons like The Hunger Games. This 2000 Japanese thriller follows a group of junior high students who are forced to fight to the death by the Japanese government. But be warned, this film contains material that is so violent and disturbing that it was banned from distribution in several countries.

9. Splinter

Splinter is the ultimate creature feature that will haunt you long after the credits stop rolling. In this horror flick, a young couple ventures into the wilderness for a romantic getaway - but things soon go array when they are carjacked by an escaped convict and his girlfriend. As the four travel through backroads, a spikey parasitic monster begins silently stalking them. This unique, blood-crazed creature stops at nothing to get its victims, but will they be able to fight back and last through the night?

10. Night of the Living Dead

Photo Credit: Mental Floss

You can't call yourself a horror fan unless you've experienced the zombie classic: Night of the Living Dead This is the first film that introduced zombies into the realm of pop culture over 50 years ago, and the undead craze shows no signs of slowing down. The zombie film genre is still expanding and growing to this day. Even though Night of The Living Dead was released in 1968, it still gives an important commentary on racism.

11. Channel Zero - Candle Cove

Ok, you caught us. This isn't a horror movie, but a tv series that is so disturbing that it deserves a special mention on this list. This series can only be found on Shudder and was inspired by a Creepypasta that recently went viral. This series follows the story of a man who returns to his hometown, where old memories begin to resurface of an unsolved murder case. When a new child goes missing, the protagonist decides to look into a creepy children's puppet show that has connections to the previous disappearances.

12. The Wicker Man

Released in 1975, this is another older movie that has stood the test of time. This film follows a naive police officer who is sent to investigate the disappearance of a young girl on a secluded island. While on the island, the officer begins to realize that the locals are not what they seem to be. This film explores oddities, pagan cults, human sacrifice, and even more horrifying aspects that the horror genre is known for.

13. Black Death

Sick of all those modern remakes and endless sequels? Then you need to watch Black Death, which will transport you back in time to a plague-riddled 14th-century England. This film follows the story of survivors who are looking for refuge from the plague. Led by a fearsome knight, the group hears rumors of a village that the black death cannot reach. But they soon things take a terrifying turn and their journey to the village will lead them right into the heart of darkness. While this film deals with darker themes, it's slightly lighter on gore and jumpscares.

14. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

To this day, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the most shocking and terrifying films ever made. And that's saying something, considering that this film was first released in 1974 (that's over 40 years ago!). If you have never seen this film - stop whatever you're doing, log on to Shudder, and watch this iconic horror movie ASAP. This film shows the harrowing tale of a group of friends who stumble upon a cannibalistic family. Inspired by the actions of an infamous serial killer - this film is not one to be taken lightly.

15. Let the Right One In

Photo Credit: EMPIRE

Forget everything you think you know about Vampires (including the Twilight series) and watch Let the Right One In! This film will give you an entirely new perspective on vampires and their undeniable place within the genre of scary movies. Let the Right One In focuses on a bullied boy, Oskar, who befriends and falls in love with a girl named Eli. Once Oskar figures out his love is a vampire, a romance begins to bloom. This modern horror movie classic mixes themes of romance with plenty of gore and horror that you can expect from a film about vampires.

16. The Sacrament

The Sacrament follows the story of two journalists who set out to document their friend's journey to reunite with his estranged sister - but they soon find themselves in the remote world of Eden Parish. But all is not as it seems in this religious haven, as this parish harbors a dark secret. This film is based on the shocking real-life events of the Jonestown Massacre and is definitely not for the faint of heart.

17. Big Bad Wolves

Big Bad Wolves deals with the idea of revenge and familial love. This film follows fathers who search for a killer that has been kidnapping little girls in their community. But, when a police mishap causes the suspected killer to go free, the fathers take revenge into their own hands. Gore, violence, and more are waiting within this movie - so be sure to watch only if you have a strong stomach.

18. Among the Living

This film follows three young boys who skip school one day and wander through an abandoned film studio. But while there, they stumble upon a horrific scene and witness something that they were not meant to see. That night, someone breaks into their homes in order to eliminate them one-by-one. This Shudder exclusive is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!

19. Sweet, Sweet Lonely Girl

As yet another Shudder exclusive movie, this film creates a brilliantly haunting atmosphere. This film tells the story of Adele, who moves in with her aging and agoraphobic aunt. But Adele soon meets Beth, who sends her spiraling down a psychologically unstable path. As they spend more time together, Adele adopts Beth's behaviors and mannerisms, which leads to dark and twisted events.

20. Lake Bodom

Photo Credit: Bloody-Disgusting

This film pays homage to the camp-slasher-movie that is considered a tradition in this genre. Every camper's worst nightmare came true at Lake Bodom in the year 1960 - that was the year when four teenagers were stabbed to death while sleeping in their tent. This film follows a group of teenagers who are looking to do a reconstruction of the 1960 murders. This film shows respect for the original slasher movies and serial killer flicks that the horror genre takes so much pride in.

21. The Interior

This micro-budget indie film is a must-see for anyone who is afraid of deep, dark forests. When it first premiered in 2015, The Interior did not get the attention that it deserved, but fans of methodical horror will want to see it immediately. The film starts out on a lighter note before moving the action to the woods, where it delivers the most frightening forest scenes in recent history. This film follows the story of a listless young man who, after learning he is ill, leaves his job, city, and girlfriend to venture into the woods.

22. Them

This 2008 French film features a couple who is terrorized in their rural home by uninvited guests. A similar film, The Strangers, stole this films thunder but it still deserves to be seen in it's own right. The antagonists within Them feel human, which makes them all the more frightening in their lack of empathy. While this film is only 77 minutes long, you're going to want to watch it again and again.

23. Willow Creek

Yes, this is another found footage film - but hear us out! This film delivers on some serious scares and a deeply unsettling feeling. Set in Humboldt County, California, this film follows a couple who venture into the Six Rivers National Forest. They choose this location in an attempt to capture Bigfoot on tape within the forest, but they might just end up getting a little more than they bargained for.

24. Audition

This film follows the story of a man who begins a relationship with a mysterious and interesting woman - but all of her acquaintances have either gone missing or are missing limbs. Our protagonist soon realizes that his new girlfriend is a deadly killer - and will he be next? This chilling movie is the film that led to the J-horror genre to become a worldwide, horror phenomenon. If you haven't seen it yet, you should be warned about the needles scene. This foreign film comes with English subtitles and is sure to keep audiences engaged and on the edge of their seats.

25. They Look Like People

Photo Credit: PopSugar

This 2015 psychological horror film follows a protagonist who believes that humanity is secretly being taken over by demonic creatures. Following a double date, two friends begin receiving phone calls where muffled voices reveal they must leave the city and prepare for a demonic invasion. The phone calls continue and reveal how the demons possess people and alert the friends to signs of the apocalypse. This indie film poses bigger questions on whether you can trust your own senses or those around you.

26. I Saw The Devil

In I Saw The Devil, an elite special agent vows revenge when his wife becomes the latest victim of a brutal serial killer. In this revenge story, the lines between hunter and hunted become blurred as traditional avenues begin to fall away. This Korean film is truly a hidden gem that will have horror fans coming back for more. And remember - there's a reason that it's rated 5/5 skulls on Shudder.

27. Kill List

Inspired by another horror classic, The Wicker Man, this film follows the story of two former soldiers who have become hitmen. This film presents itself as a thriller more than a traditional horror movie. This film follows the story of a hitman who takes a new assignment of killing three people in exchange for a huge payoff. But things soon start to unravel, sending the killer onto a much darker path.

28. [REC]

The movie [REC] is a found-footage film that came out in 2007. This film had far-reaching effects and has been hailed as the best film in the found-footage genre. This Spanish film follows a news crew as they sneak inside a quarantined building that is experiencing a breakout of a strange, new kind of illness. With an incredibly low budget, this film was excellently choreographed, paced and contains plenty of scares. While other entries in this genre tend to feel forced, this films gives an excellent sense of what it might be like to be an average person locked in a huge apartment filled with zombies.

29. A Tale of Two Sisters

Strange and horrifying things begin happening after two sisters are reunited in this epic, Korean horror classic. The bond between Su-mi and Su-yeon is so strong, even a stay at a mental hospital couldn’t break it. When they return to live in their country home, the girls’ father has remarried and strange events soon lead to dark revelations. This film evokes a sense of wonder at all the terrible things people can do to themselves and each other. Little do they know, these hauntings just might be connected to a dark secret in the family's history.

30. Fright Night

Photo Credit: BerkReviews

It's fitting to end the marathon with the original Fright Night, which will always stand as a fun horror movie of the 80s. This film has a ton of cheesy, 80's flair, which is apart of the reason it has a big place in our hearts. This film follows the story of a horror-obsessed teenager who discovered that his next door neighbor is a murderous vampire. After trying to convince his friends, family, and the police to no avail - he must take things into his own hands.

31. Hellraiser

Everyone has heard about Hellraiser - the classic horror film that has made a lasting mark on the industry. This 1987 film follows a mysterious box that reveals a realm of sadistic monsters who are led by a monster named Pinhead. This essential 80s classic offers a film that combines horror, fantasy, and gore - so be sure to prepare yourself.