Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

https://i.imgur.com/uj7VgRV.png


A small sampling of suggestions taken from OHMC 21 or otherwise. As always, apologies if any were overlooked.

Fire Away.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Here are some theme day ideas, I'll try to edit or find better links in time:

• Horror Movie Bar Crawl: Clubs, Dives, & Discos Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4
• 'Mother, This Cloth Smells of Death' Child Welfare: Orphans, Protective Services, Adult Kids, & The Evil Young Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4
• Closets Literal & Metaphorical: Hiding Spaces, Lurking Monsters, Repressed Sexuality, Portals, & Hidden Passages Link 1 Link 2 Link 3 Link 4 Link 5
• Recreational Vehicles Link 1
• 'Everything's Under Control' Horror of Police & Government Types Link 1 Link 2 Link 3

Here are some suggestions for personalities...
Special Effects
Kevin Yagher
Carlos Henriques

Actors
Danela Giordano
Janet Tracey Keijser

Producer
Chris Lamartina

Director
Riccardo Freda

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I just want to thank everyone that contributed to the subset discussions in the Review Section of the forum.

Looking at old subset threads from a decade ago, we may not have as many views in those threads we once had, but it seems we definitely had more discussions for each film in the subset list nowadays.

The discussions are my favorite part of the Challenge, so I just wanted to thank each and every one that commented in those threads.

And a big thank you to alyxstarr for making the discussions possible!

Thanks Chad! You are awesome!

And final thanks to GoldenWheels for the crazy awesome prize packs. I was sad I didn't win one of those awesome sets this year but was very happy for those that did.

Also, thank you to Toddarino and Gobear for going above and beyond and adding in even more prizes! Very cool of you!

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I really enjoy the checklist, but it's getting overwhelming. I didn't come close to finishing it this year. Maybe next year we can slim it down a bit.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

It HAS gotten a bit unwieldy, hasn't it? I was still able to finish it off, but I can't even begin to imagine how those who strive to complete every option on the checklist manage it. I think that it's gotten better in some respects as it continues to evolve; I still think that it focuses too heavily on current actors and directors, but I'm more than thankful that there are enough of the old-timers in the choices that I didn't have to watch a film by Gigi Saul Guerrero or Steven Kostanski. As long as we can keep a fairly equal balance between the old and the new, I'll be content.

My biggest complaint this year was having multiple films per theme day as the subset pick. I could be entirely wrong about this, but it seemed to me that having three subset picks on October 27th (Weapons, The Black Cat, and Calvaire) and four on the 17th (Anna and the Apocalypse, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Godzilla Minus One, and Necronomicon: Book of the Dead), just to give two examples, diluted the discussions on those days a bit. And, again, if you're trying to watch ALL of the subset films, you've got a much greater time sink to manage. I think that knocking it back to one subset film per theme day will both keep the discussions more focused and make the picking of the subset films more egalitarian. There were at least a half-dozen members who were able to get in three or more subset picks, which doesn't seem quite fair.

On the positive side, I have to give major props to Chad for pulling off yet another successful Challenge this year. I know that it was a tough thing for him to do, and I appreciate it a lot. I was also particularly impressed by the prize packages from Golden Wheels, Toddarino, and Gobear. Congrats to the winners; I am mighty jealous of y'all! And thanks again to Alyxstarr for helping us out with the subset films--she's been a life-saver many times over. I think that, my pick excluded, this year's subset films were of a uniformly higher quality than ever before, which is great.

I think that the stuff that I see as negative was probably just a by-product of Chad's trying to get everything done in less time than usual due to his personal loss. It might help Chad out if he were to pick some co-captains to help with the big game--perhaps if he had a go-to member for each major part of the Challenge (theme nights, subset list, checklist) to help him with collecting suggestions and tallying votes, it wouldn't be so stressful for him. And, Chad, although I love all the posters and links that you put for each of the subset discussion threads, I don't think that there's any need to go to so much trouble for each film's thread. Of course, if we knock it back to one subset film per theme day, that'll save a lot of time and effort right there.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts. I had a good time this year, especially since it was my first year to participate since retiring. I didn't feel nearly as sleep-deprived this year as I usually do!

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I make every effort to complete the subset every year and thanks to Alyxstarr I’ve been able to. However having multiples on a weekday can be a tad difficult sometimes.
I also like the balance of new and old options on the checklist. I don’t watch a lot of modern horror so this lets me get out of my box on occasion.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I just picked one theme movie a day and went from there. I watched every single theme day film, just not on that specific day. I found it a good thing, but I could also see it challenging my OCD. My overall goal was to watch 100 films from the newest TSZDT list. Having over half the roster already filled had both positive and negative aspects. If you have an agenda to clear out the unwatched DVD pile, then having 60 movies already filling slots worked against that. It worked for me this time around, but I'm already planning how to tackle this next year. This is an interesting discussion and I'm curious how others approached it. The one thing I didn't do was look at the this years checklist. I just remember it adding more stress to try and complete. I had a much better time this year ignoring it.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I agree that the checklist has become too long. I didn't even attempt it this year. Ditto the subsets, they need to be limited to one per day.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Suggestions

Kids watching kids or kids home alone
ex. The Gate, Deck the Halls.

Awards show or Variety show
ex. Chainsaw Awards

Watch a trailer comp, and 3 films from comp

Pregnancy horror
Ex. prevenge, Inside, Rosemarys Baby

Prank phone call, second time someone they know
ex. Scream, Halloween

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

On the checklist being 'too long,' I don't think I agree - I feel like a challenging checklist adds 'value.' I've enjoyed picking through it to diversify my viewing (I can't ever seem to get the rape / revenge one; but rape / revenge being a checklist item has dramatically increased my knowledge of sex revenge films more than might be natural).

...But to offer a solution maybe it makes sense to take off some of the 'easy' ones to that way it presents more of a streamlined challenge; a lot of the checklist items are simple items we know anyone watching a few dozen horror movies will see.

• We could reduce it 20% (out of ~103 core checklist items) by removing some of these easy items that might be somewhat filler anyway. Remove: 'aerial camera shot,' 'anthology film,' 'based on a true story,' 'based on a novel,' 'comedy / spoof,' 'euro horror,' 'fog,' 'folk horror,' 'found footage,' 'ghost/haunting,' 'horror-adjacent,' 'home invasion,' 'j-horror,' 'killer / evil animal,' 'phobias,' 'psychological,' 'voice over narrations,' 'vampire,' 'werewolf,' 'wilhelm scream,' 'zombie,' etc. [I assume everyone will automatically get most of theses and them maybe the challenging items are simplified since it takes more effort to find 'cannibalism' or 'cryptikid' films]
• I have noticed, and appreciated, the effort to cross reference the checklist and subset films so if people watch the subset films they have an advantage on the checklist; but this might be duplication that makes the checklist look longer than it need be.

If we need to change out checklist items;

• An idea is to rotate the theme days last year or the last 2+ years into a checklist format to ensure some fresh items each rotation - items like 'Visual Effects,' 'Made for TV,' 'Dark & Stormy Night,' 'Soundtracks,' 'Fanaticism,' 'Giallo,' 'Textploitation' would go from the theme days onto the checklist since they are unlikely to be recycled as themes. A benefit here is that links and references are already at the ready.
• I don't know that anyone wants to maintain too many changes to the checklist each cycle but alternatively we could toss the whole list then ask each participant to offer 5 checklist suggestions then just go with whatever ~60ish unique items we might get.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I don't keep up with the checklist or theme stuff, but I want to throw my hat into the comment ring regarding the subset list since it is my favorite part of the challenge, and I enjoy all the discussions around each film chosen.

I personally think the subset list has gotten way too big. The subset list for this year was 51 films which is getting near 2 films a day. That is just too many for max participation for people with limited time. I enjoy the randomness of the subset list and watching films that I have never heard of before, but I also want to have time to watch films that I personally choose to watch. I found myself tiring of the subset list near the end and just wanting to pick something that I choose. But I wanted to support the picks and also be able to discuss them.

So, my vote is to limit the subset picks to just one film a day with a max of 33 films, which include the crossover challenge picks for the beginning and end of October.

Hopefully that would help include a little more participation in the subset list, and it not feel impossible to complete, as it almost feels like now.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Add Udo Kier to the I See Dead People list.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Bumping this up in both threads in case one gets overlooked.

Legacy Of Horror 2026 Discussion Thread @ DVD Talk

Please check it out and join us!

‎Legacy of Horror 2026, a list of films by Darkgod • Letterboxd

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Subset:
Is it a proto-slasher? - 5 Card Stud (1968)

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

2026 is Now the Final year of The Last Drive In.

By Darcy and JBB's own words, next year they'll be coming from a new platform hopefully

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I personally stopped doing the subset list because of the availability of some of the titles. I do NOT spend money on a movie-watching challenge as I think that's preposterous. It's supposed to be fun. Some of the titles couldn't even be pirated and I don't like watching a movie on my laptop screen. Maybe titles could be chosen based on availability or drop the rule where it can only be used once and then never again. In recent years, the choices have left a lot to be desired anyway.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Just a reminder that alyxstarr always posts some accessible links of those movies so if you have access to an app on your smart TV that can open a browser, you can watch them on a normal TV and the quality is solid. Plus, she always includes some really cool extras in recent years like various commentaries, documentaries, etc. I always end up watching the hard-to-find ones that way through a browser on my Xbox.

I 100% agree that it would be nice if some of the titles were easier to find and not spend any money, but with the way streaming and physical is nowadays, I think that may be near impossible to not have to sink any money in the subset if you want to watch them all. Shit gets spread so far across various services that you either have to be willing to watch it through the alyxstarr link for free or pay to rent, subscribe to a service to stream or buy a physical copy.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Most recent episode from RedLetterMedia (about Whistle) talks about Shudder in trouble. I know there are several subscribers on here, does it seem to be running down?

I have intended to subscribe several times over the years but could never justify it verse my outrageous “to watch” pile.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I am a subscriber (well, actually to AMC+ which includes all of Shudder).

What do you mean by "running down"?

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Cutting staff, canceling originals, pre shut down stuff.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Maybe unrelated but I feel like Shudder/IFC has only increased it's theatrical footprint; maybe that's a pivot (unrelated to streaming subscriptions) but I appreciate them seeming to bring more indie horror to the big screen.
Forbidden Fruit, Dolly, The Mortuary Assistance, Good Boy, Dangerous Animals, Hell House LLC: Lineage, etc etc

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

I have a question thats a little off topic but worth mentioning for this Fall's horror Challenge. I just watched The Crow with Brandon Lee for the very first time and I cant believe I waited this long to finally watch it. With the events of the movie taking place on "Devil's Night" October 30th has anyone included it on their Challenge list and would it count as an actual entry or would it be a Wild Card?

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

IMDB has tags such as "serial killer" and "supernatural horror" on The Crow, so I think that more than qualifies it for the Challenge.

Re: Comments, Suggestions & Feedback for the 2026 Horror Challenge
 

Supernatural horror definitely fits since Eric Draven came back from the dead for revenge. Good movie and it will be a yearly watch on October 30th now.