As I viewed these videos, I made up my own "To Watch" list for each service, and I'm happy to report that I've had very good success with this method so far. I have found that Amazon has had the better selection than Netflix, with more "gems" to choose from, and a generally more satisfying scare factor.
One, two, tree... killer plants in Day of the Triffids
I've been able to watch a movie per day, not quite every day, but pretty close. Now I just need to be sure I've got enough to keep me going right up until October 31st - Halloween Eve. But even if the Netflix and Amazon movies run out, I have the option to rent something (but not very many) on Youtube, where there is a pretty decent selection of modern horrors, and there are even the free flicks on there, of which there are many, though the picture quality may not always be the best. Still...
In an attempt to help you, the reader, in finding some good scary movies (and maybe avoid the bad ones), I'll give a rundown of the stuff I've watched so far this month:
Day of the Triffids, the original 1962 production - superior to the 2009 BBC two-part TV adaptation. Darker and more atmospheric, this one delves more into the lives of its characters, and the pair of story threads add double the interest. Creature effects are just good enough for a creepy vibe and to be believable. Definitely see this classic. On Youtube.
I Spit on Your Grave, the 2010 version - this has been re-made and sequelled to death, and though I've never seen the 1978 original, I felt this take must have captured the essence of the harrowing experiences in the oldie. It's certainly disturbing and horrific, so mission accomplished. Not for everyone, this is a rape and revenge tale... graphic and unsettling. On Amazon Prime (Canada).
I Spit on Your Grave 2 - by the same director of the 2010 version, this is not nearly as engaging or successful in its depravity. It's just an unpleasant mess. Gore and violence aside, this lacks the more solid acting and story of the first, so it's a disappointment. Give it a pass. On Amazon.
Mara - a taut 2017 thriller on Netflix that took me by surprise. The subject matter, sleep paralysis, is creepy to begin with... but then there's this ancient demon thing, too. Yikes! The mystery slant, with an investigation by a forensic psychologist, was right up my alley, so I thought this one worked extremely well.
Seven - we've all seen this one, right? This 1995 neo-noir crime thriller has its share of horrific scenes, and the overall eerie, unsettling vibe makes this just fine for Halloween viewing. The police procedural again fell into my wheelhouse, so I was riveted, even though I'd seen this before. Gripping and dark serial killer stuff. A winner. On Netflix.
War of the Worlds, 2005 re-make - starring Tom Cruise, this is surprisingly good. Not great, but its use of sophisticated visual effects really makes the doomsday scenes and alien attacks believable. Grim and bleak, the story examines a fractured family and their evolving relationships. You could do much worse than this (though the 1953 version is better, in my opinion). On Netflix Canada.
Panic Room - this 2002 thriller stars Jodie Foster as a mom who, with her daughter, is trapped in her home as vicious burglars take over the residence. It's a nail-biter, and though not quite horror, it's got some freaky scenes to give you the willies. A stylish and tense cinematic experience. On Netflix.
Veronica - a 2017 Spanish-language supernatural tale that works quite nicely on the nerves. A teenage girl accidentally summons a malevolent spirit during a ouija board seance. And all hell breaks loose. Creepy and cool, well worth a look. Netflix.
Deathgasm - this heavy metal-horror-comedy out of New Zealand is a treat. Fun and funny, Deathgasm is about a young metal band who unwittingly unleash demons with a song. Blood, monsters, extreme metal music, laughs - does it get any better than this? On Amazon Prime.
Stake Land - teenaged Martin meets a seasoned vampire killer in this strange post-apocalyptic survival road trip movie. Better than I expected, this boasts a solid cast and a "fun" story. Not fun in a happy way, though... just very watchable. On Amazon.
Us - there's a lot of buzz around this 2019 movie, but I failed to see what was so great about it. A family settles into the beachfront home where the mother had a traumatic childhood experience, and... well... it doesn't go well. I found Us watchable but a bit dull. Everyone seems to like it besides me, so don't let my negative feedback turn you off. You just might love it. On Netflix.
Hostile - another sort of post-apocalyptic survival tale, this one stood out for me. Young woman Juliet drives around a wasteland looking for food, supplies, and mutant creatures to slay. What make this great are the present-day struggle story (the horror part) and the relationship drama told in flashbacks. Good acting and script make this a must. Amazon Prime.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - my first time seeing this 1986 gritty kill fest. Not at all what I expected, this was a bit disappointing. Not bad, but not great either. I suppose Henry might have been shocking for its time, but it doesn't have much impact now... as jaded as I am. Amazon.
Okay, now that I've fed this bunch of demented films into my brain, I'm sure to go wacko any time now. I enjoyed just about all of these picks, with just a few lesser ones. But hey, we all have different tastes, and maybe you would like the ones I didn't. Plenty of dark, creepy, and disturbing movie viewing for the horror fan. Have fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment