31 Nights, 31 Screams: Stream One Perfect Horror Pick Every Day This October

October’s Halloween season is here, and Polygon has returned with its annual 31-day Halloween Countdown: a daily stream-friendly pick that covers movies, TV episodes, shorts, and internet oddities. The project runs every day in October, and each recommendation includes where to find it and a short explanation of why it matters.

1. Doctor X and Mad Love (Oct. 1)
2. This House Has People In It (Oct. 2)
3. The Collector (Oct. 3)
4. The White Reindeer (Oct. 4)
5. Heck (Oct. 5)
6. Re-Animator (Oct. 6)
7. Lamb (Oct. 7)
8. Frankenweenie (Oct. 8)
9. The First Omen (Oct. 9)
10. Night of the Demons (Oct. 10)
11. The Thing From Another World (Oct. 11)
12. Community, “Epidemiology” (Oct. 12)
13. The Old Dark House (Oct. 13)
14. Hannibal, “Sakizuke” (Oct. 16)

Doctor X and Mad Love (Oct. 1)

Two early-1930s non-Universal pictures — Doctor X (1932) and Mad Love (1935) — are recommended as a paired viewing for fans of mad-scientist stories. Both films explore a theme common to early gothic adaptations: sometimes the real threat is the scientist, not the monster. In particular, these titles link back to the era that helped popularize classic movie monsters.

For context about the era’s influence, see a series of now-iconic monsters.

This House Has People In It (Oct. 2)

This House Has People In It is a 2015 short presented in the style of CCTV footage. It was released as part of Adult Swim’s Infomercials series and is structured as found footage from inside a suburban home. The short focuses on a family and includes lingering, unsettling details that build paranoia rather than explicit gore.

For series background, see Adult Swim’s ongoing Infomercials series.

The Collector (Oct. 3)

The Collector (2009) follows a former convict who finds a home rigged with traps and a family already being tortured by a masked aggressor. The movie stars Josh Stewart as Arkin O’Brien and centers on survival in a booby-trapped house.

At one point, the script for this film (originally titled The Midnight Man) was being considered as a spin-off prequel for the Saw franchise, though that specific connection did not move forward.

The White Reindeer (Oct. 4)

The White Reindeer (1952) is a Finnish folk-horror film that won festival prizes in its time and was later restored in 4K for modern circulation. The plot follows a Sámi woman who becomes a vampiric shape-shifter after a shamanic ritual goes wrong. The film is noted for its stark Arctic setting and its folkloric take on vampirism.

The restored print helped the film reach new audiences in the 2010s.

Heck (Oct. 5)

Heck is a roughly 30-minute YouTube short by Kyle Edward Ball, presented on his Bitesized Nightmares channel. The piece uses lo-fi visuals, static shots of liminal spaces, and a deep-voiced narration to recreate dreamlike horror. It influenced later low-budget, experimental horror works.

https://www.youtube.com/c/BitesizedNightmares

Re-Animator (Oct. 6)

Re-Animator (1985) is Stuart Gordon’s directorial debut adapted from H.P. Lovecraft’s “Herbert West — Reanimator.” The film stars Jeffrey Combs as Herbert West and centers on a serum that reanimates corpses, often with violent results. The movie became a cult favorite for its practical effects and dark humor.

At the time of its release, Re-Animator was known for its B-movie aesthetic and remains widely cited in discussions of 1980s cult horror.

Lamb (Oct. 7)

Lamb (2021) is an Icelandic dark fable about a childless couple who encounter and raise a non-human child. The film draws on global fairy-tale tropes about bargains with the supernatural and examines parental loyalty in an uncanny context.

The film is often discussed alongside folklore motifs; for further reading on similar tales, see articles about Momotarō, Grimm’s “Hans the Hedgehog”, and material on folk motifs in Into the Woods.

Frankenweenie (Oct. 8)

Frankenweenie (2012) is Tim Burton’s stop-motion feature that expands his 1984 live-action short of the same name. The film is shot in black and white and retells a child-focused Spielbergian Frankenstein story about a boy who revives his dog.

For the original short reference, see the film’s listing on Disney+.

The First Omen (Oct. 9)

The First Omen (2024) is a period prequel in the Omen franchise set in late-1960s Italy. The film follows a young woman who works at a Catholic orphanage in Rome and encounters a growing conspiracy tied to demonic themes. Nell Tiger Free stars in the lead role.

The film has been noted as a stand-alone possession thriller and was released as part of the franchise’s expansion.

Night of the Demons (Oct. 10)

Night of the Demons (1988) is a cult teen-horror film that blends gore and party-set scares. The plot features a Halloween party that turns deadly, and the movie is a representative example of late-1980s polished schlock that combines youth culture with supernatural terror.

The title remains in circulation and is cited by genre fans when discussing high-energy practical effects and party-horror tropes.

The Thing From Another World (Oct. 11)

The Thing From Another World (1951) is a Cold War-era creature feature adapted from John W. Campbell Jr.’s novella Who Goes There? The film deals with Antarctic scientists who discover a crashed UFO and a hostile alien presence, and it differs in tone from John Carpenter’s 1982 adaptation by emphasizing an external menace rather than shapeshifting paranoia.

The film is considered an influence on later Arctic-set horror and science-fiction cinema.

Community, “Epidemiology” (Oct. 12)

“Epidemiology” is the Halloween episode from Season 2 of the sitcom Community. The show staged a college Halloween party that turns into a zombie-like scenario after attendees eat contaminated tacos. The episode is frequently cited as a successful blend of genre parody and effective storytelling.

Fans and critics often point to this episode when noting comedy that doubles as a solid genre entry.

The Old Dark House (Oct. 13)

The Old Dark House (1932) was directed by James Whale, who also directed Frankenstein and The Invisible Man during the same period. For decades the film was less available, but restorations and re-circulation have made it accessible again. The plot centers on travelers who take shelter in a strange country house during a storm, encountering odd inhabitants and unsettling noises.

The film is notable for mixing macabre humor with gothic atmosphere.

Hannibal, “Sakizuke” (Oct. 16)

“Sakizuke” is the second episode of Season 2 of Bryan Fuller’s TV adaptation Hannibal. The series aired on NBC from 2013 to 2015 and is known for its stylized visuals and detailed exploration of the relationship between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter. The episode “Sakizuke” is often described as both visually striking and thematically intense.

Fans of psychological and culinary-themed horror frequently include this series in October re-watches.

How to use the countdown

Each day in October, a new recommendation drops with a short description and where to stream or find the title. Therefore, check daily for updates, and plan a simple viewing schedule: classics, new releases, short-form internet picks, and selected TV episodes are all part of the calendar.

Where we sourced contextual links

Where appropriate, factual background here points to archival pages, fandom documentation, platform listings, and contemporary reporting. For example, you can read more about Adult Swim Infomercials on that fandom page or consult archived coverage such as this report about production history for The Collector.

Check back throughout October for the rest of the 31-day list, and use these daily entries to plan a mix of long films, bite-sized scares, and a few TV episodes for variety.