Search Results

This year we’re putting together a list of 31 Retro Horror games. Games that have come from dead console generations, back to haunt us. Sadly, not all of these games will be available for you to play due to the complicated nature of video game preservation. However, we’re going to note if it’s possible to play them on modern hardware. We’re going to be covering games from the Seventh Generation (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) and earlier. So basically anything before 2006. Day 12 Nightmare Creatures Nightmare Creatures is a bit of an obscure title these days. Taking place in the early 1800s, in Nightmare Creatures , you take control of two distinct monster hunters as you do battle against (surprise) nightmarish creatures in London. Your goal is to put an end to Adam Crowley’s (based on real life Allister Crowley) devious machinations that have unleashed these monsters.  While it was pretty well reviewed on its release, Nightmare Creatures, as a series,   never lasted beyond a single sequel. And that’s too bad, because the closest I’ve seen a game come to Nightmare Creatures thematically and gameplay-wise is Bloodborne . I’m not saying that Nightmare Creatures is comparable to Fromsoftware’s ultra tight style combat–as Nightmare Creatures has very arcade brawler-y combat–but no game has quite the same combination of gaslight and night fright. Nightmare Creatures does have a few things that might make it annoying to modern audiences, and one of those things is its adrenaline system. If you spend too long between fights, your adrenaline can run down which makes you lose health rapidly until you die. It’s a bit of a bummer that mars an otherwise fantastic title–but with patience and gumption it’s something that can be overcome. In fact, I didn't even remember the adrenaline system until I did research for this article–and I know I played through Nightmare Creatures a few times. If you want a chance to try out Nightmare Creatures for yourself you’re going to have some trouble. Unless you have access to retro hardware, like an original PlayStation or Nintendo 64, there just isn’t a way to play this retro horror classic. That might be because, despite its success, Nightmare Creatures failed to launch into a franchise, and is currently destined to sit in old media limbo.

This year we’re putting together a list of 31 Retro Horror games. Games that have come from dead console generations, back to haunt us. Sadly, not all of these games will be available for you to play due to the complicated nature of video game preservation. However, we’re going to note if it’s possible to play them on modern hardware. We'll be covering games from the Seventh Generation (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) and earlier. So basically anything before 2006. Day 11 Doom 3 Okay, so this series ended up having a ton of id Software developed games. I’m obviously a fan–but id Software was on the cutting edge of graphics and gameplay for a significant chunk of my youth. And that was still true for Doom 3 . I vividly remember the first tech demo showing off the first look at the engine running Doom 3 , and realizing I would need a much better computer. The lighting and character animations looked even better than big budget computer animated TV shows from a decade earlier. It was truly groundbreaking stuff. And it was all going to be used in a game designed to scare the crap out of you. Doom 3 adopted a slower pace that is almost antithetical to what Doom stands for today. In fact, Doom 3 isn’t even considered canon while others like Doom 64  have a place in the story, but wasn’t considered a main line game by fans of the time. That makes Doom 3 a strange outlier in the Doom franchise. So you’re playing as a marine, but not the  Doomguy. That means you don’t casually run around at 30 mph while ripping and tearing. Instead, action is slower paced with jump scares aplenty, and enemies lurking in shadowy darkness. The original game even made it impossible to have your gun out at the same time as your flashlight, so you had to stay in the dark if you wanted to keep your defenses up. Mods, and later remasters of Doom 3 would change this–but those of us who were there originally remember. To this day I fondly remember Doom 3 . It was almost like a prototype to Dead Space . The atmosphere and deliberate slow pace really gave Doom 3 a sense of dread and horror that no other id Software game managed. Even while you’re mowing through hordes of demons, you still feel vulnerable–a far cry from the tanklike DoomSlayer. Doom 3 even did enemies well, though you never really encounter more than 2 or three at a time. But id Software did a good job utilizing the shadows the game’s engine was capable of producing to create some truly dreadful encounters. If you want to play Doom 3 today, it’s not as hard as other games on this list–in fact, it just barely makes the cut off to be considered a retro game based on the criteria at the start of this article. But even so, Bethesda has been really taking care of the Doom IP, and has released Doom 3 as the BFG Edition available on modern consoles.

I'll be the first to admit, I haven't been too keen on many of Tim Burton's recent outings. They've all felt a little bereft of the true Burton touch. That's not to say there haven't been one or two that I genuinely liked, but rather that they've felt Like Burton going through the typical dash of gothicness, monstrosity, or otherwise grossness. This can not really be said of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (well, not entirely, I mean). Beetlejuice Beetlejuice picks up decades after the first. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) is a paranormal TV show host whose life seems to be in shambles: her daughter Astrid Deetz (Jenna Ortega) avoids her like the plague, her boyfriend (Justin Theroux) is the sleazeball TV producer of her show, her mother Delia Deetz (Catherine O'Hara) has somehow found success as an artist (ignoring her past failures), and her father is killed off early in the film (due to obvious real life crimes) which is what gets everyone back to the old Deetz house... Oh, and Lydia is having visions of Betelgeuse. Beyond that main thread, there's a myriad of subplots going on that are often left dangling, never explained, or just simply thrown aside. Like why is Betelguese showing up in Lydia's visions? Why is Betelguese's ex wife (Monica Bellucci) suddenly a character that is looking for him? Why is Astrid's storyline a weird rehash of the first film? Why are the Maitlands written off so haphazardly? Despite these usual narrative killers, the film somehow works. The entertainment factor supersedes all the warranted nitpicks. While it may seem weird to point out that this film looks, feels, and sounds exactly like a Tim Burton film, I assure you it's not. There are so many elements beyond the signatures of his that really imbue the film in his aura. The film's third act features an elongated dance sequence (described by the titular character as a dream sequence) to the tune of "MacArthur Park" sung by Richard Harris. In a world where song placements are often integral to a movie's money making plans, there's no way that anyone other than Burton would make a choice like that. Add on the two Soul Train references (that weren't short either), a black and white Italian language flashback, and a really fucking creepy baby Betelguese wreaking havoc a few times in the movie. There are however some concessions that have been made throughout. The certainly harder edge the original film had has been softened for the sequel. Beetlejuice's vulgar persona is not as upsetting this time around, with his taste for a younger bride ignored and sexual proclivities pushed even farther off-screen than before. Many of the just-under-the-surface ideas from the first are ret-conned out of existence, like suicides living out the afterlife as public servants and Lydia's mother is no longer dead (although this may be from the musical and never explicitly said in the original). The third act kinda falls apart and the film doesn't really have an ending, but once again, the charm and genuine fun vibes take precedent. While not an explicitly horrifying, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is a great movie to add to your Halloween season! Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice is still in theaters and streaming now! I'd suggest seeing it on the big screen and supporting your local movieplex, but if staying home's your vibe, you have options!

This year we’re putting together a list of 31 Retro Horror games. Games that have come from dead console generations, back to haunt us. Sadly, not all of these games will be available for you to play due to the complicated nature of video game preservation. However, we’re going to note if it’s possible to play them on modern hardware. We’ll be covering games from the Seventh Generation (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) and earlier. So basically anything before 2006. Day 10 Ghosts ‘N Goblins Ghosts ‘N Goblins was one of those games that existed for as long as I can remember. There are two things I can remember for sure about it: Just hearing Ghosts ‘N Goblins or Ghouls ‘N Ghosts makes the level 1 and 2 theme play in my head.  The series has you play as the stalwart looking Sir Arthur. One hit breaks his armor and sees Arthur fighting in only his boxers, and the second hit turns him to bones. It was just another difficult arcade game (later ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System and more) that demanded more quarters for you to keep playing.  While Ghosts ‘N Goblins and its well-known sequel Ghouls ‘N Ghosts have persisted, it isn’t as popular these days, with Sir Arthur and his exploits relegated mostly to video game history. There was even a fantastic Capcom developed Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection released in 2021 that had Arthur on another hard as hell quest to save his beloved, but beyond a few best of lists it mostly went unnoticed. If you want to play Ghosts ‘N Goblins or Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts you can do so on the Nintendo Switch through its online service. Otherwise you’ll have to get a hold on an NES Classic Edition, or find an old cartridge and NES–or SNES when it comes to Super Ghouls ‘N Ghosts . They are arcade classics, so you might be able to find one of them at arcades that feature retro games. If you want to play a modern sequel, you can find Ghost ‘N Goblins Resurrection on Steam, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One.

Any time you open on a mangy fox, a single raven, a snake in the grass (literally) and a lone owl, you know there's gonna be trouble. Not to be outdone by last week's walk through the fire, episode 5 opens with a dire warning from Lillia as the coven once again regroups to journey forward. "They're coming." Who, exactly? Well, remember that bit about Agatha having murdered her entire coven in cold blood? Well, that's come back to haunt her. Quite literally. See, though Agatha's rather ruthless, she spared the children of the women in the coven. In doing so, she created what Rio refers to as a 'feral, hive-minded coven bent on revenge.' Uh oh. Even if the others think Rio's a "creepy lurker" and sniffing out some clues that she might be more than she seems, she's not wrong. The Salem Seven are out to get Agatha, and by extension her new coven, and it's not as though Agatha's famous for protecting anyone but herself. After all, she traded her son for the Darkhold. Allegedly. Even worse, since the Seven are on the trail, they'll have to take brooms. Teen suggests it, and everyone else is vehemently opposed. Why? Stereotyping, image of females as domestic, take your pick. But the Seven are surrounding them and the only way out is up (though, I'm not exactly sure why up works, since at least two of seven fly...) After some quibbling and drama about the making of the brooms, they're up up and away, and safe, at least for now. Or so they think, in a moment of brief levity before the Road takes them straight back down to Earth and luckily, heading straight for the house that contains the next trial. Unfortunately, that path also directly converges with one of the most terrifying of the Seven, a bee lady. Fantastic. They escape, rushing in the door to... a very '90s slumber party. Which it turns out, is host to Agatha's trial. There's a blood moon, and it's time to talk to the dead. This one's easier for everyone to figure out, and soon they're on their way to the answer - with a simple task. Use a Ouija board and listen to the spirits on the other side. Teen reads a list of rules for the group. Listening is key to the task, but the coven shows a remarkable inability to not talk over each other and to just listen, which Teen may have included in the existing rules, which also include not talking about death, curiously. But they figure it out, settle down and start to commune. Mrs. Hart is the first to arrive, and when Lillia loses her hold on the planchett, she in turn possesses Agatha. Or does she? As it turns out, Agatha's running a con again. Once the group's had time for their eye-rolling, they sit back down and get to work. So who is it really? As it turns out, it's Death. No surprise, this amuses the hell out of Rio. They ask what Death wants, and the answer is 'Punish Agatha.' This time we know Agatha's not in on it because she's just as terrified as the others as the lights start flickering and a horrible shrieking begins. After all the obnoxious shenanigans, the coven's all too eager to punish her, with everything from simply being tied up to actually slitting her throat. True to form, Teen's against it, urging the group to recall that there was unity, but he's quickly shot down. "Familiars don't get a vote." Before they go all vigilante justice on her, the trial takes over. Agatha appears on the ceiling in corpse form, sickly skin, black veins and all. She drops down and begins writhing inhumanly, but at least at first, nobody's buying it. Rio queries "Sweetheart, are you okay?" seemingly not even a little alarmed. Agatha lunges at Teen first, and Rio calls it like a soccer match while Agatha chokes out Jen. Meanwhile, Lillia hits the lights, stopping the attack in its tracks. And then? A ghost appears. Agatha's mother, Evanora Harkness of the Salemites, who it turns out had just been possessing her daughter. Mom's not happy the coven's banded together with Agatha. Meanwhile, and perhaps more importantly, Rio's not happy about the entire situation. "I hate ghosts" she complains. It becomes clear this trial is about punishing Agatha, and that it's to be at the hands of her mother, who wants to keep her captive for what seems like eternal torture, given that her mother thinks she was born evil and, ultimately, shouldn't have been born at all. The trial is to finish the Road without Agatha. Rio's adamantly against this, screaming at the ghost that she can't have her- but how will the trial be won? "Her mother can't have her." It's hard not to feel bad for her in this scene, at least until the moment she proves that Jen's right when she says "The only danger to us in this trial is Agatha Harkness." Agatha pleads to be saved, begging to not be left behind, as she's again being taken hold of by her mother. Alice uses her powers of protection to try to help, but just as soon as she does, Agatha's released from her mom's grip, and starts absorbing her powers, mercilessly, as Alice begins to wither away right in front of them. Everyone watches in horror, seemingly unable to do anything, until Nicholas Scratch reaches out from the Ouija, his voice pleading for his mama to stop. It's too late though, and Alice is nothing but a dried out corpse. "I didn't" she protests, but no one's having any of it. Teen is frantic, angry, and unwilling to let Alice go, begging the group to use the panacea. But it's too late. Agatha crawls away and retreats to the Road. Teen follows, in a rage. Agatha says she couldn't control it, but Teen is having none of it, and neither are Jen and Lilia. All the unity and togetherness seemingly means nothing, and he's absolutely rage-drunk. Of course Agatha only pokes the bear, taunting him by saying he's 'so much like your mother' and beckoning him as her pet. Teen's entire demeanor changes and a bright blue energy emanates from him as Jen and Lilia hold her back, but ultimately, the earth swallows them all. and all that's left is Teen himself, now wearing Wiccan's crown. Cue Billy Eilish. As per usual, we couldn't have remotely predicted the episode going like this. Not only is there more and more proof that our suspicions that Rio's death are accurate, it's also revealing that Teen is as central to the story as we suspected. More importantly though - everyone's dead, or at least looks to be. Where could this go from here? Unfortunately, it'll be another week til we see what's left.

This year we’re putting together a list of 31 Retro Horror games. Games that have come from dead console generations, back to haunt us. Sadly, not all of these games will be available for you to play due to the complicated nature of video game preservation. However, we’re going to note if it’s possible to play them on modern hardware. We’re going to be covering games from the Seventh Generation (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) and earlier. So basically anything before 2006. Day 9 Resident Evil What would a horror game list be without Resident Evil ? Alongside the Silent Hill  series, it’s probably one of the most important horror video games ever. Of course, without games like Sweet Home or Alone in the Dark , Resident Evil probably wouldn’t exist. In fact, Resident Evil started out as a remake of Sweet Home –a game only released for the Famicom in Japan. But that remake evolved into something that would become a cultural phenomenon. The Resident Evil series is a monolith. But it started with a game released in 1996 featuring Chris Redfield and Jill (the master of unlocking) Valentine. Known for both its unprecedentedly gory content and cryptically incongruous puzzles. Despite how important the first Resident Evil game is, the very original game gets little love these days. Most people play the Resident Evil remake. Originally released on GameCube, the remake has been ported to modern consoles and has filled in for the first game in the series for longer than the original Resident Evil had the chance to. It’s a bummer, because the low fidelity look of Resident Evil is fantastic, and there have been few games that have attempted to recreate the look and feel of the original Resident Evil . That isn't to say that the Resident Evil remake is bad–far from it. In fact, the remake is a fantastic version of Resident Evil , and one I’ve probably spent the most time in. If you want to play the very original Resident Evil  you’re going to have some trouble finding it as it would require you to find retro hardware and a copy of the old game. However, the Resident Evil remake is available to modern audiences. Still, it’s too bad that the original is so hard to play. Your best bet to play the original is to download it from a website like myabandonware.com . And one more note: The PC version of the original Resident Evil actually does away with a lot of the censorship the NA PlayStation release suffered from.

This year we’re putting together a list of 31 Retro Horror games. Games that have come from dead console generations, back to haunt us. Sadly, not all of these games will be available for you to play due to the complicated nature of video game preservation. However, we’re going to note if it’s possible to play them on modern hardware. We’ll be covering games from the Seventh Generation (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) and earlier. So basically anything before 2006. Day 8 Quake I mentioned Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem as one of my first introductions into a game that fully embraced Lovecraftian lore, but it wasn’t my first game that exposed me to the Lovecraft mythos. That would probably be Quake . Not that I was unaware of Lovecraft–afterall, I was a well read kid. But seeing Quake’s Shub-Niggurath–a name taken directly from Lovecraft’s work–the gothic horror of Quake was completely recontextualized.  I don’t know why throwing Lovecraft into the mix makes Quake gel for me thematically, but something about ancient evil meets gunpowder makes sense. For someone who played Quake on its release (yeah, I’m old) I expected more id Software genius. And that means fast moving, fast shooting, and lots of enemies and projectiles to evade. I wasn’t wrong, but Quake also had lighting and transparency effects that were mindblowing.  It’s probably hard to think of it now, but Quake was the absolute pinnacle of 3D video game graphics at the time. And id Software used that ‘fidelity’ to add a grungy, stone and rusted metal aesthetic that managed to blend what looked like medieval with modernized weaponry. And it totally worked. Quake is such a benchmark for shooters that most “boomer shooters” are games that are really just trying to recreate Quake-engine games, and most of them are trying to ape Quake directly. Strafe (awful) and Dusk (fantastic) immediately come to mind–but the market is littered with what are ostensibly Quake clones.  And while Doom holds up today, Quake is one of the absolute best “boomer shooters” you can buy right now.  One of the things that really helps Quake stand out is its enemy designs. All of the enemies have a niche to feel–there’s no wasted space. They all have very specific sounds they make, so you can know what you’re up against usually by the moans and shrieks coming from the next room. But not only are the enemies represented by great sound design, they’re also interesting to fight. Some ‘boomer shooters’ think all enemies should beeline toward the player, but Quake’s enemies use varied tactics that require you to respond dynamically based on the room you’re in and the enemies you’re facing. Quake also spawned a few sequels, but none of them followed a linear path. Quake 2 and Quake 4  are basically games that exist in the same universe as the other, and really lean into the machine-meets-flesh body horror that Doom did, but instead of demons you’re fighting an alien race. Quake 3 and Quake 3: Arena were anomalies, though they were one of the very first multiplayer-centered arena style shooting games–a subgenre of shooter that was popular for decades, but now suffers from waning popularity.  If you want to play Quake today, you are in luck: Bethesda owns the rights, and has rereleased Quake to modern consoles. You can even download it and play it right through Steam. If you’re a fan of ‘boomer shooters’ but never played Quake , you’re missing out on one of the very best.

This year we’re putting together a list of 31 Retro Horror games. Games that have come from dead console generations, back to haunt us. Sadly, not all of these games will be available for you to play due to the complicated nature of video game preservation. However, we’re going to note if it’s possible to play them on modern hardware. We’ll be covering games from the Seventh Generation (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) and earlier. So basically anything before 2006. Day 7 Zombies Ate My Neighbors Growing up, I was a huge fan of computer games developed by LucasArts. But before I even knew who they were, I was playing Zombies Ate My Neighbors on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.  Themed around 50’s horror monster movies, Zombies Ate My Neighbors is more arcade shooter than it is a spooky time. However, it has some great character and sound design. It also did strange weapons well before Dead Rising did with items like Weed Whackers, Soda Cans and other unconventional weaponry you can use against the evils you face. The goal of Zombies Ate My Neighbors is to save at least one civilian on each level. As long as you did that, it doesn’t matter how many of them die to the various ghouls wandering around. The only thing you have to do is survive long enough to find them all and make it to the exit of the next level. This is easier said than done, as Zombies Ate My Neighbors does get pretty difficult. Zombies Ate My Neighbors is also great fun if you’re playing couch co-op. You can choose between the appropriately 90’s rad Zeke or Julie. While they’re both identical in terms of gameplay, it gives you the chance to argue over who you get to play as. If you’re looking to play Zombies Ate My Neighbors today, you can actually find it bundled with its sequel Ghoul Patrol , released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

This year we’re putting together a list of 31 Retro Horror games. Games that have come from dead console generations, back to haunt us. Sadly, not all of these games will be available for you to play due to the complicated nature of video game preservation. However, we’re going to note if it’s possible to play them on modern hardware. We’ll be covering games from the Seventh Generation (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) and earlier. So basically anything before 2006. Day 6 System Shock 2 The System Shock remake made my 31 Days of Horror list last year for a good reason: it’s pretty darn scary. But I have to admit, the first time a video game every truly scared me was with System Shock 2 . Before that, every in game fear I had was anxiety-based - wondering if I'd be able to beat a boss with low health and no lives–stuff like that. But System Shock 2 introduced me to what video game horror could be. And it also introduced me to one of video games’ scariest (and most underrated) villains ever: Shodan. System Shock 2 is a first person shooter from a time when most first person shooters innovated only through different weapon types and enemies. Most of them were purely corridor shooters with the occasional secret or other reason to sidetrack. System Shock 2 bucked the norm by introducing RPG elements into the tried-and-true formula, much like its predecessor. This paved the way for other first person shooter x RPGs like the fantastic Deus Ex .  But System Shock 2 isn’t seminal just for its hybrid elements, it’s also a genuinely scary game. Part of the reason for that is its great atmosphere and world building. The other part is Shodan, the insane AI from the first game. Okay, mentioning Shodan is a bit of a spoiler, but I would be remiss not to mention her presence. And she’s reintroduced in a surreal but terrifying fashion that parallels Bioshock’s Atlas reveal in a few ways. The sound design in System Shock 2 really helps sell the dread and terror. As you roam the halls looking for precious items and ammunition, the infected moan and taunt you to join them.  System Shock 2 is available to play on Steam, but according to some Steam reviews, its clunkiness doesn’t hold up to modern gameplay standards. If you want a similar experience, and to start from the beginning of the story, Night Dive Studio’s fantastic System Shock remake is available on Steam and modern consoles. Hopefully Night Dive will get around to giving System Shock 2 the remake treatment, because this classic sci-fi horror game should be experienced by modern audiences.

This year we’re putting together a list of 31 Retro Horror games. Games that have come from dead console generations, back to haunt us. Sadly, not all of these games will be available for you to play due to the complicated nature of video game preservation. However, we’re going to note if it’s possible to play them on modern hardware. We’re going to be covering games from the Seventh Generation (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii) and earlier. So basically anything before 2006. Day 5 Splatterhouse Splatterhouse has had a few iterations over the years, but when I was a kid I thought of it as “the game where you played as Jason.” I was referring, of course, to Jason Voorhees, the killer in Friday the 13th Part: 2 and onwards. As an adult, I can understand how young me came to that conclusion. Playing a cleaver wielding guy wearing a white mask that resembles Jason’s signature hockey mask comes pretty close. Despite how iconic Splatterhouse was in early video game history, it’s a game that’s relatively simple: there are only seven levels, and each is filled with enemies that have easy to remember patterns. I think a lot of the lasting appeal of Splatterhouse is its art design. It has an unabashedly horror theme that doesn’t shy away from gore and religious iconography–at least not in the arcade version. Splatterhouse has been ported to home consoles a number of times–originally to the Turbografx-16. This version was heavily censored with a lot of the gore toned down, and religious iconography removed. Despite the censorship, the home console version is a pretty good recreation of the arcade version of Splatterhouse . There were two sequels, Splatterhouse 2 and Splatterhouse 3,  but those were only released on the Sega Genesis.  While the console port of Splatterhouse is a little harder to play today, you can actually play the original arcade version easily if you have a Nintendo Switch. It’s released under the Arcade Archives series that is on the Nintendo eShop. If you want to play the console port, you have to get a hold of a retro console, as even the Wii eShop version is now inaccessible.

We have arrived to the scariest month of the year! Whether you partake in the spooky movies or not, October is almost always set to be rife with them. While not officially part of the 31 Days of Horror series, you will not that some of the films featured in this round up are horror or horror adjacent! So stock up on the recommendations and get ready for some frights! The Blob - October 1 This is a re-release of the BestBuy exclusive steelbook, but with the big blue box out of the physical media game, it's t for everyone o get a crack at this. The movie is solid as solid gets with amazing visual effects, a fun script from Frank Darabond, and some pitch perfect action from the entire cast. Plus the steelbook looks great with the blob taking it's last (?) stand! Five Nights at Freddy's 4K - October 10 I'll say this right off the bat: this isn't the best horror movie by a long shot. But it's not a hot pile of trash that many would lead you to believe. It's a very dedicated ode to the videogame series that has had a strangle hold on kids for nearly a decade. If anything it should be lauded for getting a new generation of kids into horror and hopefully they'll expand into better fair. This is the 4K steelbook release, so the films been available for a bit, but why not splurge on the special packaging for the spookiest month of the year. Halloween Trilogy Steelbook 4K Ok. There's so much wrong here and I just want to get it off my chest. Technically the first Halloween (1978) is a part of this time line for this so technically it's a quadrilogy. Second, I wasn't crazy about the second Halloween (2017) but I don't hate it. I think it did its job a little haphazardly, but mostly succeeded. Halloween Kills (2019) is a misstep off a goddamn cliff, repeating past mistakes like taking place immediately after the previous installment, being set largely in a hospital, taking Michael to unwelcome territory. Plus that stupid chant (Evil. it dies tonight, y'know). Halloween Ends (2021) has masterpiece levels of idea but is crushed by the history of the series, incredibly silly writing decisions, and David Gordon Green's insanely odd direction. It borders on parody and while I did laugh, I sincerely don;'t think that was the intention. At least not entirely. Ends is bad, but somehow daring enough to maybe be ok, sort of, possibly. Trick 'r Treat 4K - October 29 WHY IS THIS COMING OUT SO LATE IN THE MONTH! Imagine a world where your guaranteed to have this for the pre-Halloween weekend and it's a part of you movie marathon. Trick 'r Treat is one of those tricky anthology films that actually gets it all pretty right. It's gory, mean, and a damn fun time. Highly recommended! MORE RELEASES TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR! Devil 4K is a silly M. Night Shyamalan penned trapped in a bottle (elevator) and while its not the best horror, it's still pretty damn fun. October 8 Dan Stevens continues being horror's (and films in general) most versatile weapon and Cuckoo is no exception October 22 Need a slow paced, violent, shot form the killers point of view film? Then In a Violent Nature is what you need October 22 Oddity is one I missed in theaters so I'm eagerly expecting this release October 22 Ghost 4K is a classic and while not entirely a horror film, the villain's comeuppance is forever sketched into my brain. October 22 Again, not exactly horror, but Zodiac 4K is creepy and utterly disturbing. October 22 Drag Me To Hell 4K  IS a horror movie and a great addition to the Sam Raimi horror library. October 29

At first, Wolf  seems like a standard issue 90s drama. . A film directed by Mike Nichols starring Jack Nicholson as Will Randall, an aging Editor in Chief who's publishing house is being taken over; Michele Phifer as Laura, the daughter of the tycoon who is doing the take over and ends up in a situationship with Will; and James Spader as Stewart, Will’s protege who is sleeping with wills wife and is taking over his position. That seems swell, but toss in a werewolf and you got yourself one if the most interesting oddities of the 90s. The film plays everything as straight as can be. Will gets bitten by a wolf after accidentally hitting it, sending his life down the path of heightened senses, enhanced endurance, and a personality change that makes him all the more savage. It plays out like you'd expect a werewolf movie to play out, but with the 90s couples drama as the backdrop.  The acting throughout is superb, Spader and Nicholson are known for chewing the scenery, but both are surprisingly subdued (until things get hairy that is). Phifer is fantastic as well, playing a realistic younger foil to Nicholson's aging publishing EiC.  Given how films about everyday adults have seemingly gone the way of the dodo, Wolf is a satisfying throwback. The whole fantastical element of the werewolf is treated with maturity that is rarely seen nowadays. Honesty, its as refreshing as the big fight in the film's third act, which gets silly but never falls over the “too much” edge.     So if you're looking for a 90s as hell movie with a fun plot, excellent acting, and just enough scares to justify being in the series, then give Wolf a try! Wolf is currently available to watch for FREE on Pluto TV!