As the leaves in the mountains start to turn beautiful oranges and yellows and the air grows a little crisper, it's time to make a cup of cider and put on a good scary movie—or a super cheesy one. This October, I will be watching 31 horror movies, including rewatching some old favorites and discovering new frights.

Butcher Baker Nightmare Maker, dir. William Asher (1981)

This 80s slasher has fallen under my radar for a while. The film follows Billy Lynch, played by Jimmy McNichol who was probably more famous for his singing career than acting, and his deranged "aunt" who has taken in him after the suspicious death of his parents. It deals with topics of sexuality, parental abuse, and the corrupt police force. It's a horror coming-of-age story with some fun gorey moments. It also has a brief appearance from a baby-faced Bill Paxton. It's currently streaming on Tubi for free.

Simon, King of The Witches, dir. Bruce Kessler (1971)

I haven't fallen in love with a movie so quickly in a long time. It's cheesy in the best way possible and I have always had a soft spot for witch movies. It flips the narrative by having a male witch in the main role. Andrew Prime stars as Simon Sinestrari, a warlock who lives in sewers and performs at parties for the wealthy and high class. It's drenched in 70s b-movie charm and appeal and stands out from the very British Hammer Horror exploitation movies of the same era.

Cat People, dir. Val Lewton (1942)

It was a chilly day when I put on Cat People. I originally saw this in college while studying Val Lewton's films. Many more of his movies have gotten special treatment in recent years. Still, this eerie picture has always been considered a classic, even sparking a sequel (which is surprisingly decent). Simone Simon plays the role of Irena, a woman who turns into a panther when confronted with desire, leading to a difficult romantic life.

Peeping Tom, dir. Michael Powell (1960)

Released just two months before Alfred Hitchcock's classic Psycho, Peeping Tom plays with similar ideas. Mark Lewis, played by German actor Karlheinz Bohm, works through his childhood trauma by killing women and filming their final moments. It was a progressive (although frightening) look at mental health and the study of fear. It has been recently restored and has become one of my favorites since I first watched it earlier this year. It's also streaming on Tubi and The Criterion Channel.

Phantom of The Opera, dir. Arthur Lubin (1943)

This is one of many adaptations of the original --- novel, and like many of them, it takes plenty of creative liberties. It condenses the story of Erique to fit within the screen time and changes a few names. The performance by Claude Rains as the titular phantom certainly is the stand-out quality of the film. His acting in addition to the costumes and sets presented in vivid technicolor makes this film seem more romantic than horror but it was one of the Universal Monster Movies I plan to cross off my watchlist this October.