It's October! I always find the fall a little bittersweet because while I'm a big fan of cooler weather and the many foods and drinks that are in season (a local coffee shop makes a riff on a London fog using apple-flavored syrup and it's a delight) I also have seasonal affective disorder that hits around now, so I end up having to actively claw together the joy I know I want to be feeling.

I thought I'd assemble a list of some of my favorite horror movies/shows though, each covering a different mood. This is far from a specific best-of-all-time list (something I always cringe away from regardless), it's just a list of stuff I think is neat for different reasons. So here we go!

For The Really Tense Arthouse Mood: SKINAMARINK (2022)

On top of my other lowgrade problems I have anticipatory generalized anxiety. This is relevant because the reason that SKINAMARINK has me riveted every time I've watched it is because almost nothing happens the entire movie. Wouldn't that make for a bad, boring movie? Maybe! I encourage anyone at least slightly intrigued by the concept of a claustrophobic, grainy movie filmed entirely in odd angles, about two mostly-offscreen young children becoming trapped in their own house as the doors and windows suddenly vanish to give it a shot! You'll know in the first 10-15 minutes if it's working for you because besides a few brief 'scares' (in the more traditional sense) the rest of the movie won't be suddenly different.

For The Chilly, Historically Based but Also Supernatural Polar Disaster Mood: THE TERROR (2018, season one only)

If you've seen my bookshelf section dedicated to polar disasters ahd shipwrecks it's easy to discern that I've got an interest in the doomed Franklin expedition. This tight 10-episode season adapting the novel of the same name (changing several aspects for the better) is a finely produced piece of television. Thanks to the rediscovery of the wrecks of the Erebus and the Terror just before filming, they were able to add some etremely gratifying touches of accuracy which, imo, is just one of the many ways you can see the thought and care that went into the production. Genuinely a comfort watch for me especially in the winter.

For The Sorta Experimental But Also Just Good Fun Mood: ONE CUT OF THE DEAD (2017)

This one is tough since I'm trying to reccommend it, but I'll say the best way to watch this Japanese-made zombie horror comedy is to do as little research as possible about the plot before watching it. Without spoilers, I'll say this is just a wildly endearing and impressive movie and more people need to see it. It's not quite a normal horror comedy but just trust me and give it a shot.

For The 'OK To Watch With Kids But Still Good For Adults' Mood: OVER THE GARDEN WALL (2014)

Another single television season, OTGW is charming and spooky and genuinely punches above its weight artistically. It's been over ten years since it premiered and other than, I believe, a handful of comic books there hasn't been a lot else done in a similar vein. This is fine since, once you get to the end of the series, there's no reason at all to continue the story. It's wrapped up! It's a complete work! That said, I would love to see more spooky children's media that holds itself to this standard. I'm sorry but you'll have the Potatoes and Molasses song stuck in your head if you don't already.

For The 'I Don't Want Spooky, I Want it To Be Winter But Not Christmas' Mood: HUNDREDS OF BEAVERS (2022)

This is a straight up comedy set vaguely in the 1800s upper midwest and it's about a former applejack brewer trying to piece his life back together by taking up fur trapping his distillery explodes. Except the entire movie is nearly dialog-free, and it's in black and white, and it was shot on a shoestring budget (but they make the most of every fiber of those shoestrings). This is slapstick comedy with intricate layers of Loony Tunes-style gags that keep compounding through the runtime. It's probably one of the smartest stupid (complimentary) movies you'll ever watch. And it's set in winter!

That's all for now, and I hope you have a good one.

-Verdigristle 10.4.25