For the past couple of years I’ve dedicated a week or two in October to write about my new appreciation for horror films. After a lifetime of mostly avoiding scary movies, taking the plunge has been one of my most rewarding experiences as a cinephile.

This year my movie-watching project has focused on the work of Vincente Minnelli (covered here) and Judy Garland (still to come), so I haven’t had the time to do another horror deep dive. I’m sure some of my regular readers are just fine with that!

But on this Halloween day, I did want to shout out what has been a solid year for horror on the big screen. In fact, 25% of the new 2025 releases I’ve seen so far have been horror movies.

This year especially, horror is helping to keep the film industry afloat. Through this month, the genre has already grossed more than $1.2 billion, its largest annual haul in history.

Horror is having a moment with the critics as well. Last year, The Substance was a surprise multiple nominee at the Oscars. And the likely Best Picture nomination of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (and possibly Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein) would mark the first time in Academy Award history that horror films were up for the big prize two years in a row.

Sinners is by far the best horror movie I’ve seen this year, and will sit very near the top of my eventual top ten list. I also loved Zach Cregger’s Weapons, his clever follow-up to 2022’s excellent Barbarian.

I’ll also happily recommend 28 Years Later, Companion, and Final Destination: Bloodlines, three very different but equally enjoyable visions.

These films are lower on my list but all are worth seeing: Heart Eyes, The Long Walk, Presence, The Monkey, Bring Her Back, Together, and Death of a Unicorn.

Frankenstein is high on my to-see list, and I’m curious about Good Boy, the first horror movie told from the perspective of a dog. I’ve also been meaning to catch up with the Conjuring franchise, including the massively successful latest installment.

Happy Halloween, everyone! Embrace the season and treat yourself to a new or classic horror movie tonight.

[Note: Today’s SOTD appeared in the film Heart Eyes]