Halloween is the season for pumpkin spice, haunted houses, and… rivers of blood. For horror fans who want to crank the gore meter to its absolute max, October is the perfect excuse to queue up the bloodiest, goriest horror movies ever made. These aren’t your spooky family flicks or slow-burn psychological thrillers. We’re talking about films that leave audiences clutching their stomachs, cringing at practical effects, and (sometimes) laughing at just how over-the-top things can get.

If you’re squeamish, this list isn’t for you. But if you’re ready to embrace the splatter, guts, and gallons of fake blood, here are the movies that deliver pure gore for your Halloween marathon.

1. Evil Dead (1981) & Evil Dead Rise (2023)

Sam Raimi’s original Evil Dead is a cornerstone of the splatter genre. With its DIY effects and relentless demon possession chaos, it set the standard for gore-soaked horror. Fast forward to Evil Dead Rise—a film TGON already reviewed that proved the franchise hasn’t lost its appetite for blood. With over 6,000 liters of fake blood used in production, it’s easily one of the goriest mainstream horror films of recent years.

  • Why watch: Creative kills, demonic possession, and buckets of blood.

2. Terrifier (2016) & Terrifier 2 (2022)

Art the Clown has quickly become a modern horror icon, and it’s not because of subtlety. The Terrifier series leans hard into graphic violence and practical gore effects that shock even seasoned horror fans.

Terrifier 2 pushed boundaries so far that some theaters had to hand out barf bags. Yes, really. It’s not for everyone, but if your idea of Halloween fun is testing your stomach’s limits, Art the Clown is ready.

  • Why watch: Some of the most creative (and disturbing) gore sequences in modern horror.

3. Saw Franchise (2004–2023)

You can’t talk gore without mentioning Saw. Starting with James Wan’s clever psychological thriller in 2004, the franchise quickly evolved into “torture porn,” a subgenre defined by elaborate traps, bloody set pieces, and moral dilemmas.

Saw X is one of the most brutal entries yet, returning to the franchise’s roots with disgusting detail and shock value.

  • Why watch: The traps are gruesome puzzles, designed to make viewers wince.

4. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Despite its reputation, Tobe Hooper’s original Texas Chain Saw Massacre is less graphic than you might remember—but it feels filthy, violent, and disturbing thanks to raw direction and gritty realism. Later remakes and sequels upped the gore factor, but the original remains iconic for its disturbing atmosphere.

  • Why watch: The dinner scene is horror legend.
  • Best pick for: Fans who want unsettling, sweaty, and raw horror.

5. Hostel (2005)

Eli Roth’s Hostel put the term “torture porn” on the map. Set in Eastern Europe, it follows travelers who fall into the hands of sadistic torturers. While not subtle, the gore is practical and stomach-churning.

  • Why watch: For horror fans curious about the height of mid-2000s gore.
  • Warning: It’s every bit as nasty as you’ve heard.

6. Dead Alive / Braindead (1992)

Before Peter Jackson was winning Oscars for The Lord of the Rings, he directed one of the goriest movies ever made. Dead Alive (Braindead outside the U.S.) is a slapstick gorefest famous for its lawnmower scene that sprays blood everywhere.

  • Why watch: It’s cartoonishly gory—more funny than scary.
  • Claim to fame: Holds the record for “most fake blood used in a film” (until Evil Dead Rise).

7. Hellraiser (1987)

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser is equal parts gothic horror and body-horror nightmare. The introduction of Pinhead and his Cenobites opened the door to otherworldly gore, complete with hooks, chains, and plenty of skin-crawling visuals.

  • Why watch: It mixes gore with cosmic, existential horror.
  • Notable scene: Frank’s resurrection sequence—equal parts art and nausea.

8. The Fly (1986)

David Cronenberg is the master of body horror, and his remake of The Fly is a perfect example. Jeff Goldblum’s slow transformation into a fly-human hybrid is grotesque, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.

  • Why watch: Practical effects make the transformation sequences legendary.
  • For beginners: This one has as much tragedy as gore.

9. Martyrs (2008)

For extreme horror fans, Martyrs is a French film that goes well beyond blood and guts into full existential despair. It’s not just gore—it’s deeply disturbing.

  • Why watch: Only if you’re ready for hardcore, bleak horror.
  • Warning: This one is notorious and not for casual viewers.

10. Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

No list of the goriest films is complete without mentioning Cannibal Holocaust. Banned in multiple countries and infamous for its disturbing realism, the movie shocked audiences with its depictions of cannibalism, torture, and extreme violence. TGON has covered it before, recognizing it as one of the most controversial films in horror history.

  • Why watch: A landmark in exploitation cinema, though difficult to stomach.
  • Warning: Even hardened horror fans may struggle with this one.

11. The Green Inferno (2013)

Eli Roth’s homage to cannibal exploitation films of the ’70s is unapologetically gory. From flesh-eating to ritualistic dismemberment, it’s brutal from start to finish.

  • Why watch: It’s outrageous and shocking, but undeniably a gorehound favorite.

12. Mandy (2018)

While Mandy isn’t gore for gore’s sake, Panos Cosmatos’ neon-soaked fever dream includes chainsaw duels, dismemberment, and Nicolas Cage at his wildest.

  • Why watch: A unique blend of arthouse horror and splatter violence.
  • TGON Note: A cult film already beloved by horror fans.

13. Halloween Kills (2021)

Michael Myers is no stranger to blood, but Halloween Kills cranked up the brutality compared to earlier installments. The film’s mob violence and relentless body count make it a modern slasher gorefest.

  • Why watch: For fans of slashers who want a classic villain at his most brutal.

Final Thoughts: Halloween Belongs to the Gorehounds

Halloween is the one time of year horror fans can revel in blood, guts, and gore without apology. Whether you’re looking for the demonic mayhem of Evil Dead Rise, the clown-driven nightmares of Terrifier 2, or the puzzle-box torture of Saw X, there’s no shortage of ways to paint your screen red this October.

And while gore alone doesn’t make a movie great, these films prove that when done with creativity, blood can be both shocking and wildly entertaining.

So dim the lights, grab your bravest friends, and prepare for a Halloween marathon soaked in red.

Because sometimes, the bloodier the better.