Hooptober is back! This is my third year participating in this challenge and, given that this year marks the 10th anniversary of its inception, allow me to get sappy here for a moment. Between the incredibly fun and well thought out criteria that somehow aways manages to nudge me out of my comfort zone even as a horror fan, the surprising "extra credit" movies, and, most importantly, the incredibly kind and supportive community of fellow horror-loving weirdos that's built up around this challenge, it's become one of my favorite ways to celebrate all things scary, and I don't think I'm alone in that. I can't imagine the Halloween season without it now. Huge thanks to our fearless leader Cinemonster for putting Hooptober together year after year. If you're reading this, you should be proud of what you've built here.

Okay, enough of that. Let's talk movies! This year I really wanted to push my limits a bit, which is why I included a few more "extreme" horror movies here than what I typically watch like The Descent, Three Extremes, and (ugh) Martyrs. Martyrs especially has me nervous given its reputation as arguably the most disturbing film to come out of the French Extremity movement... so wish me luck with that! I'm also excited to cross a ton of other movies off my watchlist that have been sitting on there for years like The Exorcist III and Scream. I know it's wild that I haven't seen that latter one yet considering how big into horror I am, but I'm glad I finally have an excuse to fill in such a massively iconic blind spot that I really should have caught up with a long time ago.

Here's this year's criteria, which can be found on Cinemonster's original list here: boxd.it/n6or6

QUICK EASY RULES:

There must be 31 films
6 countries
8 decades
2 post apocalyptic or natural disaster related films
1 film with Robert Englund
1 something is underground film
3 Satan/Devil centered films
1 Amicus film.
The worst Dracula film (by Letterboxd rating) that you haven't seen and can access.
1 LGBTQ+ connected film
5 Films from De Palma, Wes Craven, Ken Russell, Hitchcock and/or Morehead & Benson.
2 Peter Cushing films
1 film based on a work of or invoking the name Bram Stoker
1 film based on a Clive Barker story
1 film that was released the year that you turned 10
1 Mario Bava film.
1 film with an 'x' in the title

And 1 Tobe Hooper Film (There must ALWAYS be a Hooper film)

***FOR THOSE THAT LIKE TO DO EXTRA WORK: WATCH The Zodiac Killer and 10 Rillington Place. Like last year, there is a third film: Shaky Shivers.

Happy Hooptober everyone! I'm looking forward to seeing all of your lists and reading your reviews! 🎃