In observance of that autumn spell when we celebrate the primal, compulsive instinct of fear, Rainestorm once more highlights 31 days of spooky scares to season the eerie atmosphere of Halloween.

For those who tuned in last year, I subjected you to a daily dose of diabolical dread and devilish distress. Just as every good horror movie deserves an inferior sequel, I offer this follow-up of also-rans, not bads, and perhaps a couple of you’ve-gotta-be-kidding-mes.

Unleashed: 1978

What evil lurks: Another excellent remake worthy of its predecessor. This time around the Red Scare overtones have been jettisoned in favor of a post-Nixon/Vietnam paranoia that sees the enemy as the establishment, conformity, and psychoanalytical self-centeredness. The film circles slowly around an ever-decreasing perimeter of safety as the protagonists first discover then try to escape from the otherworldly menace that claims them one by one. It’s easy to see the seeds of John Carpenter’s now legendary The Thing being sown here, as a close-knit group of people are replaced by creepy replicas. The suspense is palpable as lack of sleep keeps the survivors on edge and nearly delusional.

Highlight from hell: The truly startling and horrifying ending.

Terrifying trivia: Kevin McCarthy, star of the original, has a cameo as an apparent crazy man wandering the streets of San Francisco, spouting the same paranoid rant that ended the first film.

Diabolical dialogue: “How do you know my name? I didn’t tell you my name.”

Son of: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Legendary for its cold war paranoia and pessimistic ending, the original is as chilling as its 70s progeny.

Shoddy sequel syndrome: That swingin’ 70s style. Check out Nimoy in that turtleneck and Sutherland rockin’ the porn ‘stache and ‘fro.