A Ghost in the Magazine, 31 Days of Horror: Week 4, I totally love reading movies

We’re back with another October of horror movie picks. Our fourth episode is out now wherever you listen to podcasts, but if you don’t have time for the full episode, here’s a quick breakdown of our opinions.

23 Impetigore

Poor people doing crazy shit to survive, old lady for the fellas, Indonesian folk horror

As trailer trash, I’d be immediately suspicious if any dead relatives had a house for me to inherit. I’m good, I’ll live in my (van down by the river). — L

Ratings

Stef: 2.5 C.H.U.D.s
L: 3.5 C.H.U.D.s
Average: 3 C.H.U.D.s

24 Exhuma

Rich folk horror storytelling, philia over eros, a perfect combination of history + folklore + horror

Exhuma is exactly what I’m looking for in a horror movie. It has elements of history, culture, folklore, & a cast of flawed but relatable characters that become irrevocably bonded as they navigate a rich and complex plot. This was my The Wailing, my Train to Busan, my Noroi the Curse for this year’s 31 days. I don’t even have a quip for you, it was a fucking great movie. — L

Ratings

Stef: 2
L: 4.75 C.H.U.D.s
Average: 3.5 C.H.U.D.s (or 3.375 if you’re a nerd)

25 MadS

What French people be getting up to, ambiguous drug/rage virus story, hot people doing hot shit

These people are operating way above my pay grade, fucking around with drugs I’m way too old to find out about. It was sharp & well plotted & I’m not mad about it. But it just wasn’t for me. — L

Ratings

Stef: 2.5 C.H.U.D.s
L: 2.75 C.H.U.D.s
Average: 2.75 C.H.U.D.s (or 2.652 if you’re a nerd)

26 Terrified

I’m not even sure what’s going on here (complimentary), interdimensional corpse haunters, let the science bitches deal with it

I tried paying close attention to Terrified as I did with all the subtitled films this week, but I still must have missed something. The pacing is great, the scenes are tense, and the stakes are high for everyone involved. But I could not figure out what was going on, there are reanimated corpses, cursed housing, & interdimensional cracks in the wall — I was super interested but missed the cohesion of the lore. — L

Ratings

Stef: 3 C.H.U.D.s
L: 3.25 C.H.U.D.s
Average: 3.25 C.H.U.D.s (or 3.125 if you’re a nerd)

27 Devil’s Stay

Lore convolution, paced like a real life exorcism, the priest may be a vampire

This is the first movie I’ve watched that creates an actual basis for a possession/exorcist story & that went a long way with me. The underlying mechanism of a ritual, performed by a demonolater, binding a demon to a heart that later becomes a transplant organ is fascinating & just great writing. The characters of the father and the priest were written & acted flawlessly but at one point the convolution around the rules of the possession & the process of the exorcism just kinda lost me. — L

Ratings

Stef: 2.75 C.H.U.D.s
L: 2.75 C.H.U.D.s
Average: 2.75 C.H.U.D.s

28 Solvent

Elite political & cultural commentary, dick-based body horror, so. much. dong

If you can get past the constant hanging of dong, there’s a lot to really like about this grotesque, found-footage style body horror story. This movie has Possession-level I see what artsty shit you did there vibes but less screaming, more dick. — L

Ratings

Stef: 1 C.H.U.D.
L: 3 C.H.U.D.s
Average: 2 C.H.U.D.s

29 Hex

Not-a-ghost ghost story, yes all men & some women too, secret twin trope

Ya girl has watched a number of Chinese films from the 70s-90s & this one was really mid. It was kind of a let down tbh. It didn’t really do anything wrong aside from absolutely milking the runtime of the naked chick grinding scene, but the twist was just not that twisty. But tbf, I’m watching with modern eyes that have read & watched a whole lot of this type of film. — L

Ratings

Stef: 0.5 C.H.U.D.
L: 3 C.H.U.D.s
Average: 1.75 C.H.U.D.s