Every day is Halloween for some people, so we tapped into Milwaukee’s horror community to get their recommendations on entertainment that will enhance your spooky season. Here’s some ideas for horrifying books, movies, franchises and music that will chill you to the bone.
Best Horror Novel
Samantha Loehe organizes the Spooky Frog book fair, which showcases Midwest horror authors, the next one taking place on March 13. She also co-hosts and discusses books on the Spooky Frog Podcast with Goth Barge’s Jeffrey Allen Joseph.
“Joe Salazar wrote ‘The Dead Weight,’ self-published in 2024, and it was recently picked up by Source Books Fire for re-publication under the new name ‘If We Survive the Night.’ While usually I’d stay clear of the fairly overplayed zombie genre, what Joe has written isn’t about the zombies. This book starts with two girls that have snuck out of their rooms in a residential treatment home and witness the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. Now, they (and a few other survivors) have to escape and navigate not just the undead and how to survive societal collapse, but also… each other.
The book prompted some memorable discussions between me and Jeffy when we covered it on the podcast, leading to his recommendation that no one become injured around me in a survival situation.”
Celebrate this year’s winners of the Betty Awards!
Best Slasher Franchise for a Marathon
Joelyn Dormady is co-host of the horror themed Monsters at Midnight podcast and hosts weekly Happy Hour Horror Trivia while bartending at Sabbatic.
“I know I should say “Halloween,” because of course that should be number one, but I am gonna throw “Candyman” into the mix. You only have four movies with that franchise, and I feel like you get more variety in the stories and scares. Ghost stories, urban legends, candy and gore, plus it’s a little sexy which feels like Halloween to me. I almost wanted to say ‘Hellraiser’ but more than one of those movies missed the mark for me, and Candyman is similar in that it’s based on a Clive Barker story.”
Best Bands for Your Halloween Soundtrack
Doug Brem has played drums in several local groups, including the horror-punk band Ratbatspider.
“Halloween is pretty much all year for me, I just glow in the dark more in October. If your Halloween soundtrack doesn’t have lots of Misfits, Blitzkid, Calabrese, The Jasons and Won’t Stay Dead — you better add them — and a little Ratbatspider wouldn’t hurt.”
Best Classic Horror Film
Christopher Kai House is one of the directors of the Twisted Dreams Horror Show, which spotlights work by Wisconsin filmmakers. Their next festival is taking place November 7 at the Avalon Atmospheric Theater.
“My favorite classic horror is 1931’s ‘Dracula.’ Bela Lugosi just oozes charisma. There is a reason why his image and voice became synonymous with Dracula. He was just that good. Check it out if you want an introduction to classic horror.”
Best Horror Movie of 2026
Danny Villanueva Jr. is the director of horror films like “I Dream of Psychopomp” and “What Happened to Dorothy Bell?”, the latter of which received a Cream City Cinema Award at the Milwaukee Film Festival last year.
“’Obsession’ rightly deserves its praise. It’s a cautionary tale about forcing things that aren’t meant to be. It’s punchy, well-crafted and an incredibly fun watch. Inde Navarette as Nikki is the most unhinged performance in a horror film since Kathy Bates in ‘Misery.’”
Best Halloween Activity
Katie Kadaver has appeared as an actress in horror films like Orgy of the Dead 2, taken the stage as a horrorlesque performer, and co-hosts The VHS Vault podcast.
“My favorite Halloween activity as it relates to Milwaukee is trick or treating in Bay View. I love how ‘in the spirit’ most people are. Great costumes and decorations and even some adult treats like Jello shots and spiked cider. Overall, a lot of fun for the whole family. My daughter is 19 and in college at UW-Madison and she is coming home for Halloween weekend specifically for Bay View trick or treat with her friends.”
