Horror Movies To Watch On Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and HBO
We're getting you all set up for a spooky Halloween week. Plus: a review of The Trial of the Chicago 7
Halloween is just a week away so we are getting you all set up for a week of scary movies by dishing out recommendations on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and HBO. Drew and Billy both picked a horror flick on each streaming service to check out or rewatch. You can also find links to movies on those services that we have previously recommended as well. And, if you are such a horror nut that you would be interested in an entire streaming channel just for horror movies, read our review of Shudder.
Make sure you scroll down to see what we thought of the new Netflix movie The Trial of the Chicago 7. Happy Halloween and keep it spooky, ya’ll.
Netflix
Drew: Poltergeist
A little scary and a little silly, Poltergeist has remained a horror classic since its release in 1982. Although directed by Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Steven Spielberg’s fingerprints are all over this supernatural ghost story. As he was preparing to make E.T., a clause in Spielberg’s contract stated that he couldn’t direct another movie at the same time, so he brought in Hooper to collaborate on Poltergeist. The two created a spooky story about a suburban family in California whose home is invaded by ghosts that abduct their little daughter. Even without many big name actors, Poltergeist was a huge success. It has that Spielberg feeling with an extra dose of legitimate scares that you don’t always see in his work.
Billy: Creep
I am a Mark Duplass super fan so seeing him attempt to play a horror movie villain made me extremely intrigued. Creep follows a freelance filmmaker who is creating a video log for a man who is dying of cancer (Duplass). As the filming happens we realize what this man says may not be true. Creep uses the classic 21st century found footage technique. In this case it is for sure a gimmick, but it enhances the relationship we have with the two characters. Their emotions feel raw and because of that the jump scares and over-acting make the horror shine. Creep is quick and a blast of a horror movie.
Previously recommended:
Green Room
The Invitation
The Ritual
Gerald’s Game
Paranormal Activity
Cam
Amazon Prime
Drew: Midsommar
This one I don’t recommend lightly. If the thought of spending two hours with a mysterious pagan cult in Sweden doesn’t appeal to you, then pass on Midsommar. However, if you are intrigued by such things, this is an experience that you will not be able to shake. Writer-director Ari Aster (Hereditary) slowly draws the viewer into a deeply disturbed and horrifying world. In lieu of typical horror jump scares, Aster first delivers unsettling (but gorgeous) scenes, and, later, white-knuckled terror. There’s something about a horror movie in broad daylight that really freaks me out. Also, Florence Pugh gives one of the best performances you will see in any horror-thriller.
Billy: The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is essentially about if Jack Sparrow found the rum and never got off the island. Instead of Johnny Depp we have Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Director Robert Eggers goes for pure disorientation throughout from the very beginning. He uses the old school 1.19:1 aspect ratio to make the audience feel like they are inside the lighthouse with the characters. As the images become more surreal the images become more horrifying. That is where this movie shines. Not by creating jump scares or real-life tense situations, but visualizing the madness the characters are descending into.
Previously recommended:
The Cabin in the Woods
Train to Busan
Hulu
Drew: The Host
Before he conquered the Oscars with Parasite, South Korean director Bong Joon-ho announced himself to American audiences with The Host, his extraordinary monster movie from 2006. In it, a creature emerges from Seoul’s Han River and terrorizes the city’s residents, including a family that tries to rescue their daughter from its clutches. Bong is a master at balancing tones and genres, and in The Host he juggles action, suspense, horror, comedy, and social critique with incredible precision. This isn’t your typical horror movie; it’s only a wildly entertaining and expertly crafted experience from one of the best filmmakers working today.
Billy: Paranormal Activity 3
The Paranormal franchise holds a unique place in my heart. For the first one the girl I was in love with elbowed me in the face when she jumped at a scary part. My best good friend Ryan asked me to be in his wedding by getting me a box set of all SIX Paranormal Activity movies. The third installment is the scariest of them all. It goes into the past with a family from the seventies who are haunted by a presence in their house. It uses the handheld/found footage schtick in inventive ways that enhance the tension. Then in the 3rd act it almost goes too hard. One of the all-time best closing 15-20 minutes in horror movie history.
Previously recommended:
The Cabin in the Woods
Mom and Dad
HBO and HBO Max
Drew: Ready or Not
Although it flew under the radar last year, Ready or Not is pure and simple entertainment for 95 minutes. The setup is that a woman has just married into a wealthy family at their enormous estate when she finds out they have a dark secret, which is that the bride must hide from her in-laws as they try to kill her before dawn. What follows is frightening, funny, thrilling and hilariously absurd. Featuring a strong lead performance from Samara Weaving (whose piercing shriek instantly vaults her into the conversation for most distinctive horror scream), Ready or Not is a good time that you shouldn’t try to think too hard about. Just enjoy it for the jokes and the ridiculous mayhem.
Billy: The Brood
Going through Cronenberg’s filmography has been one of the best experiences I have had watching film. When at his best he tugs at our most insecure impulses to make his films relatable while being grotesque. The Brood uses a marital relationship and parental relationship to show the fears that come along when that type of commitment is made. It visualizes these various fears by showing the decay of relationship through rage and the decay of the flesh. This is a slow burn that snowballs into a conclusion of body horror that leaves any audience member feeling gross. If you like a horror movie that deep dives into its themes in uniquely horrific ways then The Brood is for you.
Previously recommended:
Recent Release Mini-Reviews
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (streaming on Netflix)
Drew: No one loves speechifying and ping-pong dialogue more than Aaron Sorkin, which puts a courtroom drama like The Trial of the Chicago 7 squarely in his comfort zone. With this real life story of political protest, clashing ideologies, and law and order, Sorkin takes us back to the late 1960s while reminding us of the clear resonance to our present day.
Once again Sorkin has proven his extraordinary talent as a screenwriter, but this movie is more evidence for the prosecution to make the case that his worst tendencies are left unchecked when he directs his own material. In excellent movies like Moneyball and The Social Network, other directors were able to creatively play off of Sorkin’s writing. When Sorkin writes and directs (Molly’s Game is the other example), his sometimes hollow idealism and lack of visual imagination can hold these movies back from reaching great heights.
Still, the tremendous ensemble of actors in The Trial of the Chicago 7 relish the chance to sink into a Sorkin project. Sacha Baron Cohen and Jeremy Strong provide comic relief as a couple of zealous anti-war hippies, and Frank Langella nails his role as the biased and spiteful judge that can’t contain his contempt for the defendants. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is effective as the ambivalent prosecutor and the great Michael Keaton shows up and steals the movie for 10 minutes. Not everything works (Eddie Redmayne and Mark Rylance appear to be miscast), but The Trial of the Chicago 7 is an entertaining and extremely relevant watch in this turbulent year. - 3.5 / 5 Apples