7 Most Watch Horror Movies for Summerween!

Start your Summerween off on the right (severed) foot with these must watch summer horror movies!

Summer of Fear aka Stranger in Our House – Wes Craven (1978)

Linda Blair stars in an early made-for-TV Wes Craven movie based on a Lois Duncan novel about a teenager who may or may not be a witch… need I say more? Okay: Lee Purcell.

Fun fact: This premiered on October 31, so it’s really the perfect Summerween movie.

No One Will Save You – Brian Duffield (2023)

A home invasion movie where the invaders are, in fact, aliens. Mostly set in one location and featuring almost no dialogue, No One Will Save You is intense and tightly paced. It also features the classic grey alien, which is something that simply hasn’t been utilized enough in movies.

The Ruins – Carter Smith (2008)

Based on the novel of the same name, The Ruins follows a group of entitled tourists who end up on the wrong side of both the locals and an unknown threat after overstepping their boundaries. Filled with some grotesque body horror, The Ruins is criminally underrated and a must-watch this summer. I’ve written about this one previously. Click here to read my words!! 

Fall – Scott Mann (2022)

The premise is simple: two adventure-seeking women climb a 2,000-foot abandoned radio tower and climb right back down. Just kidding. They end up stranded at the top of the tower with no way to get back down. Despite its modest budget, Fall is an effective and absolutely terrifying experience, especially if you’re afraid of heights. Which I am. 

Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers – Michael A. Simpson (1988)

Let’s face it, any of the films in this series fit the bill, and as much as I adore the first movie, my heart will always belong to Unhappy Campers. It’s CAMPY (sorry), over-the-top, and features a number of fun kills. However, what really makes this one work (as well as the equally enjoyable sequel, Teenage Wasteland) is Pamela Springsteen’s hilariously fun performance.

Southbound – Radio Silence (2015)

An anthology film featuring five tales of terror, Southbound’s desert highway backdrop—which serves as a sort of intersection connecting each tale—is as hot and desolate as it is moody and atmospheric.

Just Before Dawn – Jeff Lieberman (1981)

Noted for its jaw-dropping Oregon forest locations, Just Before Dawn is more than your typical backwoods slasher. The film focuses on unsettling tension and atmosphere while featuring a terrific score that’s sure to get under your skin.

Slash Through Summer With These Horror Book Recommendations!

Summer is whack. It’s hot and hot and also hot. Three things that are… you guessed it! Whack. 

Skip all that garbage by grabbing yourself a scary horror book, specifically one set during the hot summer months, and live vicariously through the lives of people fighting for theirs with these summer horrors book recommendations to help you beat the summer heat! 

Fantasticland - Mike Bockoven

When a hurricane hits the coast of Florida, a group of employees find themselves trapped inside of a theme park, where social structure and sanity quickly deteriorate, and chaos ensues. 

Described as Lord of the Flies meets Battle Royal, Fantasticland is told through investigative interviews with the characters involved. The ones that survived, that is. 

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight - Kalynn Bayron

When the employees of an interactive, slasher-themed summer camp start turning up dead, it’s up to the “final girl” to fight for her survival while protecting her coworkers and loved ones. 

Summerside Lake Massacre - L.R.J. Allen

Following a timeline that bounces back and forth between the 1950s and current-day 1980s, this summer camp slasher weaves a tale that reveals a town's dark past in the bloodiest of fashions.

The Devil All the Time - Donald Ray Pollock

This Southern Gothic tale interconnects a number of storylines that, to put it lightly, are sleazy and completely disturbing. You can feel the sweat and grit with each page turn. There’s a film adaptation, with a terrific cast, on Netflix that might be okay if you haven’t read the book. But please, read the book instead. 

The Blonde Dies First - Joelle Wellington

In this meta-supernatural slasher, a group of lifelong friends accidentally release a demon that begins stalking them on the hot Summer streets of Brooklyn, New York. 

Home Is Where the Bodies Are - Jeneva Rose

While this one is more thriller than outright horror, the book revolves around a trio of siblings who, after being reunited to deal with their mother’s passing, discover a VHS tape that reveals a horrible family secret.

That does it for me. If you’ve read any of these books, then I’d love to hear your feedback. If you haven’t, then, well, hopefully one of these tickles your sweaty summer pickle. 

Dracula Live From Transylvania TV Spot - 1988 Halloween TV Special

Dracula Live From Transylvania is a live Halloween TV special hosted by George Hamilton. The special, which focuses on both the history and mythology of Dracula and vampires alike, aired on October 25, 1988. 

 I was lucky enough to catch it live on channel 20 WTXX-TV, an independent station out of Connecticut. I actually recorded the special and still have that tape, complete with commercials. The special is a lot of fun and really hits those nostalgic feels for me. There are copies of the special floating around on YouTube, so if you are looking to dig into something spooky, kitschy and fun during Summerween, Halloween, Springween, Christmasween, or any other ‘ween you can think of, then I definitely recommend giving Dracula Live From Transylvania a TWIST! Sorry. 

This TV spot advertising the special was taken from Dailymotion, which I actually cleaned up a bit. Please enjoy. 

P.S. Hi! It’s been a bit. Maybe I’ll post something later on so we can catch up a little. Love you.