october movie diary

In this blog I will be posting the movies I watch during the month of October together with their ratings and spoiler-free reviews with my thoughts about them. The plan is to watch at least 1 movie per day until the end of the month. Movies genres may vary but I will try to stick with the ones that match October's gloomy feeling. This list on Letterboxd.

Week one

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975) - ★★★★★

Off with a great start, it's disgusting just like the book but with obvious changes like the setting to the time of the Republic of Salò (thus the name). Not much else to say without spoilers, if you watch it just make you sure you don't do it while eating (specially polenta).

Sátántangó (1994) - ★★★★★

Pure nihilism. The atmosphere is like no other, it's a long and dark journey with no apparent destination or conclusion. The movie is over 7 hours long, I started watching it one day and finished on the other. We are all dancing the Satan's tango in one way or another.

The Elephant Man (1980) - ★★★★★

A great depiction of human cruelty, but also of kindness and empathy, you need to see it yourself. Masterfully crafted, it felt very modern too despite being released in 1980. In the end, nothing will die.

Onibaba (1964) - ★★★★

A story of jealousy and lust, it starts off really well and the ending didn't dissapoint. The desire turned into a curse, and finally, a punishment. The mask was the best part, the grass was cool too.

The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973) - ★★★★★

It felt like a fever dream, a nightmare, nostalgic and hallucinogenic at the same time and in the best way possible. It's visually perfect, just watch it.

On the Silver Globe (1988) - ★★★★★

Meaningless reincarnation and a death that can not bring salvation to anyone. 👁️👁️

Solaris (1972) - ★★★★★

On the same level as Stalker (1979), slow but rewarding. It's not necessary to read the book before watching but I'm glad I did it years ago because it gives you better understanding of what is going on. Go hug your father.

Week two

The Cremator (1969) - ★★★★★

No one will suffer, I shall save them all. Deranged and funny, very ahead of its time. The portrayal of a descent into madness is fantastic, great political (and also religious) allegory.

Dead Man’s Letters (1986) - ★★★★★

For while a man is on his way, there is still hope for him. Bleak and raw just the way I love, the color grading in the movie is flawless, it's a letter to humanity after its self-destruction, and finally a post-apocalyptic exodus.

Lesson of a Dead Language (1979) - ★★★★★

The lesson is pointless. We watch the passing of an age and time that will give birth to something arguably worse, there is beauty in decay.

Dracula’s Daughter (1936) - ★★★

Interesting concept but it felt directionless, lots of ideas that were left unexplored and it just resulted in a bland movie, not to mention the mediocre ending. You are better reading a synopsis than watching it.

Satan’s Feats in the Village of Take-and-Bring (1967) - ★★★★★

For he is a liar and the father of lies. A raw and sharp social criticism. I found it funny that the devil supports the same football club as me though. Masterpiece.

The Strange World of Coffin Joe (1968) - ★★★★★

You are the horror. Social commentary underneath the grotesque and sexual themes. Those are three short movies in one, the third one was my favorite.

Mephisto (1981) - ★★★★★

You are not playing Mephisto, you are Faust. A great depiction when adaptation reaches an extreme level and makes one lose its own identity, it also showcases someone that sacrifices his beliefs for survival and professional success.

The Devils (1971) - ★★★★★

Tell me do you love the church? Not today. Sacrilegious and depraved, but a bit tamer than I imagined though.

Caligula (1979) - ★★★★★

Let them hate, so long as they fear. It captures perversion and depravity in a spectacular manner but it's definitely not a movie for everyone.

Andrei Rublev (1966) - ★★★★★

You'll cast bells, I'll paint icons. A movie that combines art, trauma and religion, it was a great journey, we live between forgiveness and our own torment.

A Visitor to a Museum (1989) - ★★★★★

If Dead Man's Letters had any hope at all, this movie discards it. Very hellish, slow paced, and very enjoyable.

Pearl (2022) - ★★★★

First movie from this century in this list. Great performance with very colorful aesthetics, it was also pretty fun.

Suicide Club (2001) - ★★★

I got the message but it felt flat and the approach towards the main theme was basically lost throughout the film, it wants to portray some deep message but it ended up being shallow and inconsistent. Not bad, just average.

Limite (1931) - ★★★★★

Very experimental with an atmosphere you must absorb to enjoy it. It's perfect if you feel without direction, adrift at the sea and with no limits. A sensory trip.

Hellraiser (1987) - ★★★★

Jesus wept. Great exploration of pain and pleasure, also kinkier than I expected, no wonder it's a classic.

Amadeus (1984) - ★★★★★

Mozart had too many notes and I have too few right now, just watch it. The fact that the movie is not named Salieri is funny.

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) - ★★★★

Death is beautiful. Very strange and slow but in a good way, heaven is overrated anyway.

Enter the Void (2009) - ★★★★

Every cradle is a grave. Unique style and a great concept but I felt it dragged for too long, and I love long movies. I'm so grateful reincarnation is not real.

Week three

Poor Things (2023) - ★★★★

Great themes but they could've been better explored, they didn't go far enough and they lacked complexity to some extent, but still enjoyable.

Das Boot (1981) - ★★★★★

An intense and claustrophobic atmosphere, great ending too.

Dracula: A Love Tale (2025) - ★

I was happier before I knew this movie existed. Not worth it.

The Sacrifice (1986) - ★★★★★

Very fitting to watch this during my birthday. A perfect ending for Tarkovsky's cinematography. A leap of faith in movie format, a conflict and communion between the sacred and the profane, just amazing.

Funeral Parade of Roses (1969) - ★★★★★

The spirit of an individual reaches its own absolute through incessant negation. Cynical and agonizing Oedipal tragedy.

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) - ★★★★★

A dark fantasy with a brilliant contrast between the fantastic and the real world, great visuals too.

Under the Skin (2013) - ★★★★

Very hypnotic, the movie is just beautiful. The story is not very straight-forward so it leaves a lot to think about. Surprisingly, I thought it was better than the book.

Blade (1998) - ★★★★

A bit cheesy sometimes but still very entertaining, I probably won't watch the sequels but this one was enjoyable.

Week four

Fantastic Planet (1973) - ★★★★★

Super unique animation that really matches feeling of being alien and outsider, the allegory is the strongest point in the movie and I loved it.

Mother Joan of the Angels (1961) - ★★★★★

Maybe the trouble is not demons, but the absence of angels. A redemption through blood. I watched too many movies about nuns this year. 

November (2017) - ★★★★★

I'm biased towards black and white movies but I absolutely loved this one, everything is just stunning. It works better if you don't search anything about it and just watch it. Get ready to learn about kratts, buddy.

Spider (1992) - ★★★★★

Nightmares, sexual awakening, spiders, Virgin Mary, colorful imagery. No wonder it starts with a Freud quote. This was also my first impression of Latvian cinema.

The Virgin Spring (1960) - ★★★★★

I don't understand you. Yet I still ask for your forgiveness. Faith as tragedy, the shattering of innocence, lost purity. Great parallels between paganism and Christianity.

Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind (1980) - ★★★★★

Immoral, nihilistic, hopeless. When surrounded by indifference all that remains is to burn it all down.

Sertânia (2019) - ★★★★★

Life flashing before your eyes, it just makes you feel like you are a dying man under the scorched sun. A spiritual sequel to Black God, White Devil (1964).

Schramm (1993) - ★★★★

Today I am dirty, but tomorrow I’ll be just dirt. I found this movie by a goregrind album, I also bet 90% of the budget went to *that* scene.

Dear Comrades! (2020) - ★★★★★

We'll be fine. Things will get better. We'll be better. I interpreted this one as self-critical. Shooting this in black and white was a great choice.

Penda’s Fen (1974) - ★★★★

Child be strange, dark, true, impure, and dissonant. This one surprised me a bit because I didn't expect it to really that queer. They know what you are.

The Sorrows of Satan (1926) -  ★★★

The book is so much better. I only watched it because of Bauhaus.

Week five

The Nun (1966) - ★★★★★

Bleak, harsh and hopeless. The nun movie to end all nun movies.

The Juniper Tree (1990) - ★★★★

Pagan poetry.

The Devil (1972) - ★★★★★

Tell me. Does the world appear so ugly to me because I am sick, or because it actually is such?

Death in Venice (1971) - ★★★★

Less subtle than the book, but still great.

Leptirica (1973) - ★★★★★

Folk horror is almost always fun, this one was no exception.

Viy (1967) - ★★★★★

Loved this one. Last one for this entry, I managed to finish 50 movies this month and won't be watching a new one anytime soon. Maybe.