Perhaps the most notable discovery I made compiling 2025’s list of favorite horror flicks was that my top film of the year was a horror film, but not my top horror film of the year.

I know, I got lost in that sentence, too.

At any rate, I thought Sinners was a masterpiece that more than earned its 16 Oscar nominations. It has vampires, so it belongs in the genre, for sure. But it’s also a musical with 22 distinct musical tracks (hello, Golden Globes? Bugonia in the Comedy or Musical category and Sinners in Drama? Why do you do this every year?), an action thriller, and a comedy. It had it all.

That said, Bring Her Back has that scene (<– spoiler), and those 20 seconds alone is enough to give it the top spot. Out of pure, unadulterated fear, mostly.

Here’s the rest of the list, to kick-start what I hope is the beginning of your personal Blogtober viewing:

1. Bring Her Back–9

To add: Maddening. Graphic. Well-written. Sally Hawkins. Cantaloupe.

2. 28 Years Later–8.5

I feel like I waited 28 literal years for this movie (and it was 18, so still a little while). It’s an excellent continuation of the core series that also functions as a taut family drama, marred only by the last 10 stupid minutes. The Bone Temple continued the camp, but in contrast delivered an amazing final 10 minutes that I wish had been appended to 28 Years somehow instead.

3. Sinners–8

See thoughts above. The film deserved all of its noms, and Miles Caton and Jack O’Connell (also stupid Jimmy in 28 Years Later/The Bone Temple) were snubbed during awards season.

4. The Ugly Stepsister–8

Ew, this movie! It’s actually also an Oscar nominee, for Makeup and Hairstyling, and it has a few of “those scenes.” Parents should be careful to avoid this one like a rotting pumpkin (or corpse) when searching for Disney distractions for any kids under the age of 32.

5. K-pop Demon Hunters–8

Ok, I know this is a stretch for horror, but I feel like it falls into the blogtober category pretty solidly—what with its demon hunting and all. K-pop-animation fan or not, this movie has a solid plot and an objectively good soundtrack.

6. Final Destination: Bloodlines–8

Exactly what we wanted from a new addition to the franchise: creative kills, over-the-top acting, and a legitimately poignant final bow from the great Tony Todd.

This movie is great, I just felt like it didn’t rise quite as high in my eyes as its predecessors on this list. What a great year for horror at the Academy Awards, though, honoring Amy Madigan with the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as the unhinged Gladys. I’ll be back for the sequel; the bright red bob is too hard to resist.

I get what Bugonia is doing with satire here but I still think it reads a little uneven. With all of this Oscar talk, I am compelled to note however that Jesse Plemons was robbed of a nomination. Not snubbed, straight up burgled.

9. Frankenstein–7.5

Another perfectly good film that just didn’t quite hit the mark in terms of plot, or maybe it was the edit. Jacob Elordi gives an Oscar-worthy performance. Mia Goth is her usual ethereal self. The cinematography is gorgeous, and I like that it’s more faithful to the original storyline than most adaptations of Frank. It gets a little slow in the middle, and Oscar Isaac leaves something to be desired, though I’m not quite sure what that is.

10. Together–7.5

I like the concept, and it’s a solid film that gets a little clunky in places. I would be interested in seeing another installment.

11. Companion–7

I went into this blind, so I think I liked it a little more than others. It took me a minute to see what, specifically, was going on. It was quick enough, kind of fun, and a little showcase of young Hollywood (Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lucas Gage).

Not that great, but not a bust either. In whole, it’s not very horror-centric, as Megan works on being a kinder, better android. She’s an iconic character, so the sequel was inevitable. It looks like spin-offs are in the works, if not a mainline Megan 3.0.

13. The Woman in the Yard–6.5

Just slow. An interesting concept that takes the art of sitting a little too far.

14. The Woman in Cabin 10–6

Horror adjacent at best as a thriller on a boat, but it has enough mystery and near-drownings to fit the bill. A little implausible, with not-the-best dialogue. Hannah Waddingham is a bright spot, and it wraps up in a fairly satisfying way.

15. Him–5

Sorry, produced-by-Jordan-Peele horror movie. You tried. And I’d like you to try again, just not like this.