Netflix: April Horror Roundup
If you subscribe to Netflix’s streaming service, there’s no doubt you keep your eyes glued to the lineup as each month arrives. A wealth of new genre pics are added each month in the first week, which draws our attention and outlines some of our viewing selections for the coming 30 days.
But many subscribers fail to notice that Netflix dumps a whole hell of a lot of other flicks in the lineup as the month progresses. So next time you plan your screening schedule on the first, remember that there will be many new additions you may not have anticipated.
That’s where we come in.
We’ll provide a mid-month roundup of the films that snuck onto the digital outlet while you weren’t looking. It’s a fine way to keep you in the loop and alert you to the new additions that don’t necessarily appear on the radar when you’re plotting your schedule, and it should serve as notice that you’ve got to keep your eyes on the digital powerhouse at all times.
Here are 10 additions to land on Netflix in the past few days, some of which are absolutely top-notch offerings.
Altar: On the surface, you may mistake Alter for another run-of-the-mill haunted house flick, but it has some great things going for it. The cast, which includes Olivia Williams and Matthew Modine, is quite impressive. Just as remarkable, however, are the beautiful scenic shots that wait and the incredibly jarring atmosphere of the project. It looks exceptionally chilling, and though the scares aren’t spine-tingling, there are a few disturbing sequences to take in. Altar is another one of those quiet productions that didn’t have a wealth of promotion behind it, but it’s worth a watch.
The Babadook: There’s no need to harp on this one. The Babadook was welcomed with an absurd amount of hype. That hype was justified through and through. If you’ve avoided reviews and the endless interweb chatter, but did invest the time in checking out the trailer, know this: It’s not what you expect. A psychological horror that’s bound to tug at the heartstrings of parents around the globe, The Babadook truly is a remarkable film, and it’s now officially on Netflix!
Sleepaway Camp II: Let’s admit that most of us love this hokey ’80s franchise. Not a single film in the series is what could be deemed a technical masterpiece, but just about all of them are a riot to watch… especially with a cold 12-pack by your side (I say by your side because chances are those brewskies aren’t going to last long; save yourself a trip to the fridge and keep them at arm’s reach). Felissa Rose is absent for this installment, but Angela is still a force to be reckoned with, and this is still a movie worth watching.
Preservation: Preservation doesn’t break any new ground but exhibits major spirit. It’s a low-budget indie flick that sports crisp cinematography and multiple layers of conflict. It could be described as Eden Lake meets The Strangers, but there are enough deviations to also identify it as its own picture, which earns big points on this end. It looks good, the pacing is impressive, and the harrowing journey that three everyday suburbanites are forced to endure is sometimes quite chilling. You may not have heard of the flick, but you’ll likely find quality entertainment here.
The Canal: One of 2014’s standouts, The Canal is admittedly predictable. What you believe is happening is indeed happening; however, that doesn’t steal away from the stellar performances offered by Rupert Evans and Steve Oram, and it doesn’t harm the creepy vibe of the film in the slightest. Upon arrival, this one picked up plenty of love from fans, and every bit of it was well-deserved. Again, don’t anticipate a riveting mystery, but look forward to a chilling film with a somewhat tense finale.
The Dead Zone: A classic Stephen King adaptation makes its way onto the list because it’s fantastic and was recently incorporated into Netflix’s lineup. Cronenberg’s direction is brilliant, and he does a damn fine job of issuing justice to a strong source. Christopher Walken truly shines, but don’t let his performance snag all your attention; Tom Skerritt and Brooke Adams are terrific. If you’re looking for a good throwback flick to tune in to, this is one of two new Netflix additions that shine.
My Bloody Valentine: Here’s the other vintage piece that deserves a nod. The original My Bloody Valentine doesn’t stray too far from the typical slasher format, and plenty of familiar tropes are exercised, but the film is damn charming. We’ve got a killer in a killer getup, some fantastic conflicts, and a few characters that we can get behind. It’s Nostalgia 101 right here, and it just so happens to also make for excellent Saturday night viewing.
Unbreakable: Just to be clear, Unbreakable isn’t an outright horror film. But oddly enough, it feels like one. The elements – good versus evil – are alive and kicking, and both Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson turn in outstanding performances as David Dunn and Elijah Price, respectively. One of M. Night Shyamalan’s finest achievements, Unbreakable, paints a compelling portrait: comic book film meets horror in a twisted but lovable mashup.
Ragnarok: The mega monster movie pick goes to Ragnarok, which mixes action, drama, and horror surprisingly well. The film is a Norwegian product, and if you’ve been paying attention over the last few years, you know these guys know how to craft a compelling picture. Although a little heavy on computer-generated imagery, Ragnarok holds the attention and summons memories of vintage monster movies like others manage. It’s a good but not great flick that merits at least a single viewing.
Disturbing Behavior: Teen-friendly, ultra-trendy horror was all the craze in the ’90s. Scream played a big part in re-launching the frenzy, and while it stands as one of, if not the very best of the bunch, there were a few rewarding flicks of similar nature to see release in the wake. Disturbing Behavior was one of those rarities that worked. It’s essentially an invasion flick, but it has a quality twist and one extremely memorable performance by the always-awesome William Sadler. The remainder of the cast – Katie Holmes, James Marsden, and Nick Stahl – are also worthy of a respectful hat tip.
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