Mike Flanagan Loves this Gory and Gorgeous Free-To-Stream Chiller Critics Call “An exquisite cinematic experience”
I’ve been keeping tabs on Mike Flanagan via Letterboxd for some time now. I’ve perused his lists and read quite a few of the critiques he’s penned for the platform. From all of that, two things are clear: the Oculus director has great taste, and he’s a champion of under-seen indie gems. Speaking of which, I’ve got a Flanagan-approved indie recommendation to share with you today.
But first, allow me to provide a little context. Flanagan has carefully assembled a list of his favorite horror films on Letterboxd. The ranking of which I speak is three pages long and features some exceptional selections. I was perusing that very list when one of his picks caught my eye. Accordingly, I felt compelled to spread the good word. The film is none other than Where the Devil Roams.
The setup for this Mike Flanagan-endorsed shocker goes like this:
In the dregs of Depression Era America, a family of performers travels a cold, dying carnival circuit. Seven likes books; Maggie’s fond of hammers; daughter Eve’s obsessed with scissors. On a ratty stage, quiet Eve sings for their supper, but off-stage their bloody side act is booming. When the family’s bond is severed by a violent comeuppance, Eve is there to pick up the pieces. After stealing magic from a sinister Devil-dealing carny, the family’s gruesome act begins to shine. But Eve must continue to cut and sew, as the Devil guides them from below.
Where the Devil Roams is a scrappy indie picture from a family of filmmakers who have made a name for themselves with their DIY approach and uncompromising creative vision. Toby Poser and John Adams have teamed up with their children, Zelda and Lulu, to take the indie genre cinema scene by storm. John, Toby, and Zelda co-directed and co-wrote Where the Devil Roams. But the family’s involvement with their output doesn’t stop there. Each member of the foursome has at least one role in the filmmaking process. They divvy up responsibilities and tackle writing, directing, editing, shooting, acting, and even scoring their work.
It’s impressive to think that one family could have so much talent. If you’re curious to see if you connect with their content, you can find Where the Devil Roams streaming for free (with ads) on Tubi as of the publication of this post.
Dread Central’s managing editor Josh Korngut awarded the film four stars out of its Fantasia Film Festival world premiere in 2023, writing, “[Where the Devil Roams] feels like ghostly couture; a hand-made, blood-bloodstained jacket of carnage sewn tightly together with pathos and believable relationships. It’s an exquisite cinematic experience that deserves your full attention.“
That is just about all that I’ve got for you at present. Stay tuned to the site for more enticing recommendations from your favorite creators in the genre space as we uncover them. If you’d like to keep up with me on social media, you can find me on Threads @FunWithHorror.
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