October Scary Movie Challenge - 2015 Edition

It's October and that means it's time again for the Scary Movie Challenge. Last October, I blogged about how it had been a few years since taking part in the Home Theater Forum's annual challenge and had decided to give it another go.  Not only did I meet the Ultimate Splatter Challenge goal of 31 but I surpassed my previous high of 35 by watching 43 horror movies.

Here are the rules again which are basically just 2 guidelines:

1. Watch 13 scary, horror or Halloween themed films from midnight October 1, 2015 through October 31, 2015.  For this, 2 of the 13 films must be new discoveries, movies you've never seen before.
2. Or go for the Ultimate Splatter Challenge. In this challenge, 31 horror, scary or Halloween themed movies must be viewed during the same timeframe mentioned above.  For this, 10 new discoveries are recommended. 

As always, October for me is a very busy month when it comes to consuming media.  Many new and returning shows to watch, playoff baseball gets under way and Comic Con eats up 4 days of the month for me.  But that didn't stop me from watching 43 horror movies last year so let's see how many I can watch this year.

While it's always fun to revisit some of my favorite horror movies of all time, the goal is also to be introduced to as many horror movies that I've never gotten around to seeing.  This year, I also want to honor the late Wes Craven in watching as many of his films as I can during this challenge.

Like last year, I'll be using this blog page to keep track of the movies I watch.  As always, the new discoveries will be underlined.  If you can throw some recommendations my way, please do so on this blog, on my Facebook timeline or on LCVG.  Just keep the recommendations different from what I viewed last year.  Thanks.

2015 October Scary Movie Challenge

1. It Follows (2015) - Watched on Blu-ray - Recommended by Romier
2. Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995) - Watched on HBO GO
3. Unfriended (2014) - Watched on Blu-ray - Recommended by Romier
4. The Lazarus Effect (2015) - Watched on Blu-ray
5. Area 51 (2015) - Watched on DVD - Rented from Redbox
6. Shocker (1989) - Watched on HBO GO
7. Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood (1996) - Watched on HBO GO
8. Reaper (2014) - Watched on DVD - Rented from Redbox
9. The Babadook (2014) - Watched on Netflix - Recommended by Romier
10. Nosferatu (1922) - Watched on Amazon Prime - Recommended by Jonathan
11. Maniac (2012) - Watched on Netflix - Recommended by Romier
12. A Nightmate on Elm Street (1984) - Watched on Blu-ray
13. Creep (2014) - Watched on Netflix - Recommended by Rosa
14. Dracula (1931) - Watched on DVD - Borrowed from Boureima
15. Frankenstein (1931) - Watched on DVD - Borrowed from Boureima
16. The Mummy (1932) - Watched on DVD - Borrowed from Boureima
17. The Invisible Man (1922) - Watched on DVD - Borrowed from Boureima
18. The Pact (2014) - Watched on Netflix - Recommended by Rosa
19. The Canal (2014) - Watched on Netflix - Recommended by Romier
20. Bride of Frankenstein (1935) - Watched on DVD - Borrowed from Boureima
21. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) - Watched on Amazon Video
22. The Wolf Man (1946) - Watched on DVD - Borrowed from Boureima
23. Saw IV (2007) - Watched on Netflix
24. Phantom of the Opera (1943) - Watched on DVD - Borrowed from Boureima
25. Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) - Watched on DVD - Borrowed from Boureima
26. Trick 'r Treat (2007) - Watched on HBO GO - Mentioned by Steven
27. Carnival of Souls (1962) - Watched on YouTube - Recommended by Jeannie
28. The House on Sorority Row (1983) - Watched on Amazon Prime
29. Sorority Row (2009) - Watched on Netflix
30. Insidious Chapter 2 (2013) - Watched on Apple TV
31. Insidious Chapter 3 (2015) - Rented from Redbox
32. As Above, So Below (2014) - Rented from Redbox - Recommended by Romier
33. The Shining (1980) - Watched on Apple TV - Recommended by Amy
34. The Thing (1982) - Watched on Blu-ray
35. The Thing (2011) - Watched on Apple TV
36. Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994) - Watched on Netflix
37. Poltergeist (2015) - Watched on Blu-ray - Rented from Redbox
38. The Evil Dead (1981) - Watched on Blu-ray
39. The Exorcist (1973) - Watched on Apple TV - Mentioned by Steven
40. Halloween (1978) - Watched on Blu-ray
41. Halloween II (1981) - Watched on Blu-ray
42. Saw (2004) - Watched on Apple TV

So I ended the challenge with 42 movies, 1 less than last years record but more than the 31 required. Wanted to thank everyone for their recommendatins and/or mentions. Romier (6), Steven (2), Rosa (2), Jeannie (1), Amy (1), Jay (1) and the classic movies borrowed from Boureima (8). Obviously didn't watch all the recommendations but tried to watch at least 1 from each person. I rented some blind picks from Redbox but most were crap. My favorite new discoveries were It Follows and As Above, So Below. There's a good chance I'll add them to my yearly list of favorite horror films alongside A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcist, The Thing, Saw and Halloween. I have fun doing this every year and look forward to doing it again next October.

Thanks again.