Decider’s 24-Hour Netflix Halloween Horror Marathon

Halloween is supposed to be the one time of the year filled with frights, fun, and festivities. But this year it’s lining up to be one big Milk Dud. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, lots of parents and kids alike are skipping trick or treating to stay at home where it’s safe. And forget about bar hopping in a topical costume. Halloween bar crawls are packed with germs and drunk people making bad choices in the best of times. Attempting one now would be like begging for the zombie apocalypse to start.

With all of your haunted Halloween options blocked, you do have one avenue of fun left: Netflix.

This isn’t a trick at all but one big treat. Thanks to Netflix’s large library of spooky movies and horror comedies, you already have everything you need for a DIY horror movie marathon. Whether your terror of choice is witches or ghosts, serial killer or social media stalkers, there’s something on Netflix to haunt your nightmares. And this Halloween we’re setting you up with everything you need.

Do you think you have what it takes to survive a 24-hour horror movie marathon? Then game on. Introducing Decider’s Horrothon. We’re talking 24 hours, 14 movies, and one truly memorable night of frights. From which Netflix movies are worth your time to when you should watch them and how you should use your breaks, we have you covered. We’ve even included in a special food or drink pairing for each chilling installment as we’ve planned out each minute of your Halloween. Start streaming and screaming on midnight this Saturday, October 31. But be warned. This horrorthon is not for the faint of heart.

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TIME: 12:00am – 1:57am
TITLE: The Evil Dead (1981)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Demonic possession, gory mayhem, and Bruce Campbell
RATIONALE: Look, you’re going to be watching scary movies for 24 hours straight, so you need to start with a banger. Sam Raimi’s classic supernatural fright fest has everything you need to pump you up. There are some great scares, amazing prosthetics, and some truly memorable WTF moments. The Evil Dead is high energy enough to wake you up while still being funny enough to make you think this insane venture is actually a good idea.
PAIRING: Pumpkin spiced coffee. It’s midnight after all. Put on a pot of coffee and throw some seasonal pumpkin creamer into that bad boy. It’ll be the first cup of many.

Watch The Evil Dead on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 1:57am – 2:02am
It’s time for some morning stretches. You’re going to be on the couch for a while.

TIME: 2:02am – 3:45 am
TITLE: Gerald’s Game (2017)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Marital problems, survival horror, and hungry wolves
RATIONALE: This is a horror movie marathon, right? Then there better be some Stephen King. Directed by Hill House and Bly Manor‘s Mike Flanagan this thriller depicts everyone’s sexiest nightmare. After a woman is handcuffed by her husband, she finds herself trapped in bed with no way to escape. If dehydration won’t get her, the wolves will.
PAIRING: Lots and lots of water. Carla Gugino really sells that whole dying from thirst thing.

Watch Gerald’s Game on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 3:45am – 3:50am
All that sympathy water has to go somewhere. It’s time for a bathroom break.

TIME: 3:50 am – 5:13am
TITLE: Unfriended (2014)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Evil Skype, dumb teens, and spooky countdowns galore
RATIONALE: It’s early, so we’re still in the fun-horror stage of this marathon. And few thrillers are more fun than this found footage flick. After their classmate kills herself, a group of friends are digitally stalked by someone claiming to be the late Laura Barns. It’s outrageous, sure, but it will also make you side-eye your next virtual meeting.
PAIRING: A fruit-filled smoothie. Remember that graphic blender scene that cost a teenager his hand? Yeah? Opt for a healthier homage to that death.

Watch Unfriended on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 5:13am – 5:18am
Five hours in and you need a screen break. Try looking out the window and into the morning darkness.

TIME: 5:18am – 6:40am
TITLE: Creep (2014)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: The evils of Craiglist, masks, and one creepy creep
RATIONALE: Let’s keep the found footage ball rolling with this actually scary stream. Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass’ psychologically disturbing movie follows a struggling filmmaker who takes a job from a man dying of cancer. At least that’s what he claims. It isn’t long before this altruistic act turns into this artist’s biggest regret.
PAIRING: Pancakes with grilled peaches. It’s finally time for breakfast, and you need one that’s loaded with Peachfuzz.

Watch Creep on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 6:40am – 6:45am
Take a minute to Google how to delete your Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts. Two horror movies in a row that start with bad social media choices? It’s worth rethinking some things.

TIME: 6:45am – 8:31am
TITLE: Verónica (2017)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Ouija boards, blood, and a true story
RATIONALE: Now that you’re fully awake it’s time to be scared. Loosely based on Estefanía Gutiérrez Lázaro’s mysterious death in 1991, the drama all starts when the 15-year-old Verónica (Sandra Escacena) uses an Ouija board to reach out to her late father. But you know what they say about messing with things you don’t understand, It isn’t long before this innocent attempt to reach out to the dead leads to a full-on possession. Called one of the scariest movies on Netflix, this one will have you grabbing your remote in a panic.
PAIRING: Bloody Mary. Not only is this one of the few alcoholic spirits named after a spirit, its bloody title is a callback to Verónica’s most graphic scene. 8am is early enough to start drinking, right?

Watch Verónica on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 8:31am – 8:36am
After all of those frights you need a second to decompress and light some sage. Ghosts may be hiding in your Netflix account but you can keep them out of your house.

TIME: 8:36am – 10:06am
TITLE: Little Evil (2017)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Doomsday cults, creepy kids, and lots of laughs
RATIONALE: You did it. You’ve made it through five genuinely scary movies in a row. Now it’s time to treat yourself to some lighter fare. Starring Adam Scott and Evangeline Lilly, this spoof of The Omen is exactly the break you need. It’s just goofy enough to mellow you out without ruining the spooky mood.
PAIRING: Birthday cake Oreos. Watching that flaming clown at Lucas’ birthday party probably put you in the mood for some birthday cake. Since that’s hard to come by, settle for some specialized Oreos.

Watch Little Evil on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 10:06 am – 10:11 am
It’s bathroom o’clock yet again. Take a moment to wash your face or throw on a face mask. Even while you’re screaming, there’s time for self care.

TIME: 10:11am – 11:50am
TITLE: #Alive (2020)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Zombies, live streams, and a totally unrelatable pandemic
RATIONALE: Ten hours in and you need an adrenaline-filled pick-me-up. You know what that means in the world of horror? Zombies. Directed by Cho Il-hyung, this South Korean movie follows a video game streamer who finds himself trapped in his apartment during the zombie apocalypse. He has to use everything in his apartment to stay alive and stay sane. Sound familiar? You’re still early enough into this marathon to process subtitles, so take advantage of that state of consciousness.
PAIRING: Sausages galore. You need lunch, and there’s no better companion for a cannibalistic monster flick than questionable links of compressed meat.

Watch #Alive on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 11:50am – 11:55am
Halfway point! You’re doing it, you’re really doing it. Throw on another pot of coffee (with or without the pumpkin creamer) and get ready for Round 2.

TIME: 11:55am – 1:30pm
TITLE: Green Room (2015)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Rockers, Nazi skinheads, and Patrick Stewart
RATIONALE: Let’s keep the grunge going, but instead of staying in a depressing apartment it’s time to move to a grimy bar. Starring the late Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, and Patrick Stewart, this horror-thriller revolves around a struggling band who decides to take a last-minute gig outside of Portland. What was supposed to be a forgettable show soon turns into the coverup for a murder after a body is found in the green room. This movie will make you feel justified in always avoiding that one sketchy bar.
PAIRING: Your favorite cheap beer. Nothing goes better with murder and regret than something in the Bud Light or Coors family.

Watch Green Room on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 1:30pm – 1:35pm
It’s probably been a second since you’ve moved. Take a second to do some lunges or jumping jacks, anything to get that heart rate up before taking it back down.

TIME: 1:35pm – 3:09pm
TITLE: The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Dead bodies, father and son bonding, and witches
RATIONALE: Austin (Emile Hirsch) and Tommy (Brian Cox) were just your typical father-and-son coroner team. But their lives changed once the body of an unidentified woman rolled into their morgue. By hour 13 you’re probably getting pretty restless. Leave it to this horror mystery to grab your attention and keep you leaning in for more.
PAIRING: Bugles. Combine this movie’s witchy reveal with one of the witchiest snacks around. And remember to put them on your nails before chomping down.

Watch The Autopsy of Jane Doe on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 3:09pm – 3:14pm
There’s nothing like familial trauma to make you appreciate your parents. Maybe shoot your dad a quick text right about now.

TIME: 3:14pm – 4:33pm
TITLE: Under the Shadow (2016)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: War, creepy kids, and djinns
RATIONALE: It’s time to be honest with yourself. You only have a couple more hours where you can mentally handle subtitles. That means it’s time to watch a truly thrilling horror movie that will leave you on the edge of your seat, Under the Shadow. While the war between Iran and Iraq intensifies, Dorsa (Avin Manshadi) decides to stay in the city of Tehran with her daughter. It’s a decision she will come to question as her small family is terrorized by missile strikes and a supernatural creature capable of possession.
PAIRING: Shirazi salad. Have you eaten a vegetable today? Didn’t think so. Get your fruit and veg on with this simple Persian salad packed with cucumbers, tomatoes, lime juice, and herbs.

Watch Under the Shadow on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 4:33pm – 4:38pm
Outside time! If you’ve been working remotely for the past few months, you know the drill. Go outside and breathe fresh air for a few seconds so you can claim you left your house this weekend.

TIME: 4:38pm – 5:58pm
TITLE: The Babysitter (2017)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Hot teens, truth or dare, and demonic cults
RATIONALE: You’ve suffered through creepy kids, zombies, murder, dead bodies, and literal war. It’s time to treat yourself with something from the fun side of life. Starring Samara Weaving and Judah Lewis, this comedy-horror flick takes the cool babysitter from everyone’s youth and turns her into the reason why you need therapy. Turns out there’s a very fine line between cliques and cults.
PAIRING: Caramel popcorn. So much of McG’s film echoes a specific era of childhood. Compliment it with a version of every babysitter’s favorite easy snack.

Watch The Babysitter on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 5:58pm – 6:03pm
Summon your inner cheerleader and work on some at-home stretches. Your body will thank you tomorrow.

TIME: 6:03pm – 8:03pm
TITLE: Poltergeist (1982)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Ghosties, mediums, and the worst clown doll ever
RATIONALE: There are only a few more hours to go. You don’t have the time or the energy to mess around with B-grade horror garbage. From now on it’s nothing but bangers, starting with this classic directed by Tobe Hooper and written and produced by Steven Spielberg. The best thing about Poltergeist is that it has both genuinely spooky moments, like the little girl in front on the TV, and delightfully quotable ones. Be sure to pay extra attention to everything Zelda Rubinstein’s medium says.
PAIRING: An iced latte. One of the first signs that something is seriously supernaturally wrong in the Freeling house happens when a glass of milk shatters. Add some espresso to that movie prop and you should be good to go.

Watch Poltergeist on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 8:03pm – 8:08pm
Have you checked on your pets lately? After all the trauma Buzz the good boy had to endure in Poltergeist, your own furry best friends deserve some extra love.

TIME: 8:08pm – 10:26pm
TITLE: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Cannibals, serial killers, and unexpected moths
RATIONALE: It’s finally happening. You’ve reached the marathon moment where you get to enjoy arguably the greatest horror movie currently on Netflix, The Silence of the Lambs. Even if you want to fall asleep Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins’ performances will keep you wide-eyed and alert.
PAIRING: Liver with fava beans (or just a nice Chianti). If you can’t swing or stomach that iconic dinner, a nice glass of red wine will suffice.

Watch The Silence of the Lambs  on Netflix

BREAK
TIME: 10:26pm – 10:31pm
You’re so close you can taste it. Run in place, put on another cup of coffee, help yourself to more wine — just do whatever it takes to stay awake this last hour and a half.

TIME: 10:31pm – 11:53pm
TITLE: Hush (2016)
THIS MOVIE’S GOT: Stalkers, disturbing masks, and a heaping dose of innovative horror
RATIONALE: Ending a 24-hour horror marathon on a movie that revolves around silence may seem questionable at best, stupid at worst. But it’s actually perfect. Mike Flanagan’s Stephen King-approved thriller is so tense you won’t be able to stop watching. And when the movie inevitably ends you’ll be surrounded by silence, just like Kate Siegel’s home invasion victim. After all isn’t that what you wanted? To feel unsafe and haunted in your own home?
PAIRING: Your favorite cereal. You can’t eat cat food, but you can mimic Siegel’s shaking food bowl with a great late night treat.

Watch Hush on Netflix

That’s it! You did it! Twenty-four hours packed with horror and Halloween madness. Spend this last seven minutes dancing in place and high-fiving yourself. Now try to close your oh-so-tired eyes and not think about silent knife-wielding maniacs.