Calling all members of the Scaredy-Cat Club to order!
Welcome to our official meeting, where the only thing more terrifying than a haunted house is accidentally watching a movie with actual jump scares. If you, like us, prefer treats over terror and think “mildly spooky” is the ideal devilish vibe, you’re in the right place.
Tonight’s agenda? A curated list of demon slayer movies that strike the perfect balance: enough eerie demons and sword-swinging action to make it feel festive, but nothing that’ll leave you sleeping with the lights on.
Onyx, The Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is an independent film that was funded through Kickstarter. The film had 7,493 backers who pledged $610,467 to help bring this project to life. It was written and directed by Andrew Bowser. It stars Andrew Bowser, Rivkah Reyes, and Melanie Chandra.
Plot:
Marcus Trillberry, who prefers to be known as Onyx, the Fortuitous, is a fast food worker and a fledgling occultist obsessed with his childhood hero Bartok the Great. Thus, when he wins a contest to visit Bartok's home with a select group of other individuals, he hops on the opportunity. Unaware that Bartok plans to use them to raise an ancient demon… by harvesting their souls
This film takes the viewer back to the 1980s with its practical effects and puppetry, like the movie Gremlins. It is a refreshing change when CGI and AI are so heavily used in filmmaking. The story is simple, nothing too complicated; yet, while I watched it, gave me such a sense of nostalgia. You can tell that this film was a true labor of love for Andrew. My favorite scene is Onyx’s dream. Yes, it is silly. Yes, it is weird. And yes, there is a demon that wants to devour souls, but isn’t that what you want on your film list for Halloween?
Speaking of devouring souls, this next film on our list amps it up to a whole other level! Nekrotronic was directed and co-written by Kiah Roache-Turner with Tristan Roache-Turner. The film stars Ben O'Toole, Monica Bellucci, and Caroline Ford.
Plot:
Down-on-his-luck sewage worker, Howard North, discovers he is a part of a secret sect of magical demon hunters called the Nekromancers. When Howard finds out about an evil demon's dark plans to use the Internet to devour souls through a ghost hunting app on people’s phones, he sets out to defeat her.
This movie… It’s like Ghostbusters merged with a superhero movie and a video game! The special outfits the characters wear at one point to keep themselves from being possessed by spirits remind me of Tron. This movie is nonstop action. The weapons they have are beyond imagination and create quite a light show! When demons and or other characters are killed, blood flies everywhere! Just to give you a little treat as to what this film feels like, watch this clip.
This is a movie where you just grab your favorite snack and enjoy the ride because it is a ride!
This is the hottest movie of 2025. It is an animated film called Kpop Demon Hunters. It was directed by Chris Appelhans and Maggie Kang. It was written by Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan and Maggie Kang.
Plot:
A world-renowned K-pop girl group balances their lives in the spotlight with their secret identities as bad-ass demon hunters, set against a colorful backdrop of fashion, food, style, and the most popular music movement of the current generation.
I have to admit, K-pop music and the style aren't for me. That being said, what drew me into this movie was the colorful animation and the songs. What kept me there and watching it to the end was the story; I had to know what was going to happen to Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. I really don’t need to say much more than that because thanks to fellow contributor Thomas Richards, who has written multiple articles on this subject. I think that should be enough to convince you to add it to your spooky watchlist.
Well kittens, that brings this meeting to a close. Which of these dynamite demon slayer films is your favorite? What do you suggest for another topic on the spooky film list? If you enjoyed this article, then check out The Scaredy-Cat Club Presents: 3 Movies So Bloody Good… They... Slay
