Halloween horror marathon
Halloween is the perfect time to immerse yourself in blood-curdling tales. Whether it's Western horror or Eastern legends, these films promise scares, suspense, and thrills to celebrate the darkest night of the year… or for any movie marathon whenever you feel like it.
The Exorcist (1973, USA)
A young girl is possessed by a demon, and her mother, along with two priests, attempts to save her through an exorcism. The saga consists of five films: three original movies and two prequels.
The Shining (1980, USA)
A man and his family move to an isolated hotel where supernatural forces lead him into a spiral of violence and madness.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984, USA)
Freddy Krueger, a supernatural killer, attacks teenagers in their dreams, causing real deaths. This is just the first of many installments.
Ringu (1998, Japan)
The original "Ring" movie. A cursed videotape kills anyone who watches it within seven days, while a journalist investigates its origin. The franchise includes nine films, including originals, remakes, and spin-offs/crossovers.
Whispering Corridors (1998, South Korea)
In an all-girls school, secrets from the past and the spirits of deceased students haunt the current students.
The Ring Virus (1999, South Korea)
South Korean version of “Ringu”: a cursed tape unleashes a race against time to discover its origin before dying.
Kairo (2001, Japan)
Several stories intertwine when people suddenly begin to disappear, leaving behind an eerie black silhouette where they stood.
Dark Water (2002, Japan)
A single mother and her daughter move into a leaky apartment; they soon discover a ghostly presence. It has an American remake.
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003, South Korea)
Two sisters return from the hospital and face their cruel stepmother and supernatural presences in the family mansion.
One Missed Call (Chakushin ari) (2003, Japan)
Several people receive voice messages announcing their impending death. A young woman tries to unravel the cause before death claims her.
Ju-on: The Grudge (2002, Japan)
A house marked by death and rage generates a curse that haunts all who visit it.
Ju-on: The Grudge 2 (2003, Japan)
The curse continues to spread to new victims as survivors try to escape their fate.
The Grudge (2004, USA/Japan)
American remake of “Ju-on: The Grudge”: the curse of a deadly house is passed on to anyone who crosses its threshold.
The Grudge 2 (2006, USA/Japan)
Sequel to the remake: the curse continues to claim victims and spread beyond the original house.
Shutter (2004, Thailand)
A photographer and his girlfriend discover strange figures in their photos after an accident, revealing a vengeful spirit.
Three… Extremes (2004, Japan/Hong Kong/South Korea)
Anthology of three extreme horror stories: revenge, spirits and human depravity at its most disturbing.
The Doll Master (2004, South Korea)
A group of guests arrives at a doll museum where toys seem to come to life and reveal dark secrets.
Dark Water 2: Ring (2005, Japan)
A sequel to “Dark Water” that blends the mystery of water with supernatural presences that haunt the protagonist.
Noroi: The Curse (2005, Japan)
A journalist investigates paranormal phenomena connected to an ancient curse and discovers a demonic entity.
Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman (2007, Japan)
A disfigured and vengeful woman stalks children and young people, fueling a terrifying urban legend.
Epitaph (2007, South Korea)
During the Japanese occupation, patients and doctors at a hospital face deadly secrets and restless spirits.
Tale of the Haunted (2009, China)
Several stories of houses and people haunted by spirits seeking revenge or justice.
Insidious (2010, USA)
A boy falls into a mysterious coma, and his family discovers his soul is trapped in a dark realm. The saga consists of five films: two that continue the Lambert family's story and three prequels focused on Elise Rainier.
Laddaland (2011, Thailand)
A family moves to a new neighborhood where paranormal events and tragedies threaten their everyday life.
Sinister (2012, USA)
A writer discovers home videos of real murders and attracts the attention of a demonic entity. It consists of two films.
The Conjuring (2013, USA)
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren help a family terrorized by a demonic presence. There are more installments in the series.
Annabelle (2014, USA)
A possessed doll terrorizes a young couple, unleashing increasingly dangerous events.
The Babadook (2014, Australia)
A mother and her son are haunted by an entity that emerged from a children's book and embodies their fears and traumas.
The Witch (2015, USA)
A 17th-century family is haunted by evil forces in the nearby forest, testing their faith and sanity.
The Tag-Along (2015, Taiwan)
A young woman disappears, and her friend discovers an evil spirit linked to a local legend. It belongs to a saga with three films and a prequel.
The Wailing (2016, South Korea)
After the arrival of a stranger, a town suffers deaths and illnesses; a policeman investigates the source of the curse.
Train to Busan (2016, South Korea)
A zombie outbreak erupts during a train journey; passengers fight to survive on the way to Busan.
It (2017, USA)
A group of children in Derry confront Pennywise, a clown who feeds on their fears.
Veronica (2017, Spain)
After playing with a Ouija board, a teenager unleashes paranormal phenomena that threaten her family.
Hereditary (2018, USA)
After the matriarch's death, dark secrets and supernatural forces haunt the family.
Midsommar (2019, USA)
A group of friends attends a seemingly idyllic festival in Sweden that hides deadly pagan rituals.
DreadOut (2019, Indonesia)
A student uses her phone to capture spirits and confront evil forces in her hometown.
Final note and opinion
Each story blends fear, mystery, and supernatural surprises: confront the unknown, explore the macabre, and enjoy terror from the safety of your home. Many also belong to sagas: if you get hooked on one, there will be more to discover. Get the popcorn ready, turn off the lights, and let yourself be swept away by these films that frighten and fascinate in equal measure.
This list is based on statistics and public opinion; it is not in any specific order nor does it reflect a personal assessment. Even so, if you ask me, Eastern horror stands out for its psychological approach, suspense, and tension without grand displays: works like Kairo create an atmosphere that keeps you on edge until the very last second.
