I love scary movies.They’re a lot of fun, even when they’re terrible.I wanted to give everyone a guide for what to watch for free on Netflix, Amazon, HBO, or Hulu. We’ll do some different categories, including stuff for the younger kids.
Starting with Netflix...
CARRIE (1976)
The 1976 classic, Carrie, is on Netflix, as well as Amazon Prime.Starring Sissy Spacek and directed by Brian DePalma, taken from the Stephen King novel.Carrie is a teenager with an overbearing mother who finds telekinetic powers and uses them against the classmates tormenting her.It’s fun, just scary enough, and delivers a great finale as well as a final frame or two.
THE CONJURING (2013)
The Conjuring is another great choice on Netflix.This haunted house movie from 2013 set into motion The Conjuring Universe, which has delivered mediocre spin offs to say the least.But the original still is a strong movie.Based on the story of real life paranormal investigators, Ed & Lorraine Warren.The Conjuring tells the tale of The Warrens most difficult case.I don’t enjoy haunted house movies, but The Conjuring creates a wonderful tension that usually falls flat in most films from the genre.
SCREAM (1996)
Our final pick for Netflix is Scream.The 1996 Wes Craven movie that makes fun of the rules of scary movies, and then devolves into exactly what it scoffs at.Scream is a perfect movie.I rate it 5 out of 5.One of just 8 movies I’ve ever bestowed that distinction upon.The acting, the level of gore, the story, the meta narrative, all perfect.Wes Craven’s love letter to the genre may never be his most famous film, but it’s by far his best.
Now, on to Amazon Prime...
ANNIHILATION (2018)
Natalie Portman stars in this sci-fi head trip from Alex Garland who gave us the excellent Ex Machina.A team of female biologists team up and investigate a mysterious section of the globe where the laws of science seem to not apply.This is a heady, weird little movie that works for the most part.It’s not for everyone.If you like to think while watching your horror movies, if you like ambiguous twist endings, you might want to try Annihilation.
A QUIET PLACE (2018)
One of my five favorite movies from last year, John Krasinski directs and stars with his real life wife Emily Blunt as a mother and father trying to stay alive as an unknown entity kills whoever makes a sound.Watch it in the dark, and put your phone away for 90 minutes.The rules of this movie aren’t necessarily ironclad, but the movie is a lot of fun and has a great heart to it.
SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
Another perfect movie.I wouldn’t change a single frame of this film.Some of the best acting performances ever, front and center being the iconic Hannibal Lecter from Sir Anthony Hopkins.The last movie to ever win the big 5 at the Academy Awards, Silence of the Lambs is part police procedural and part psychotic character study.It’s one of the best movies ever made.
Moving on to Hulu...
SAW (2004)
Given a bad wrap for creating the “torture porn” genre, the original Saw is actually a lot like Silence of the Lambs.Part police procedural, part bloody mayhem.Saw was a genius evolution for the genre.Later used for shlock effect, but here in this one movie, it absolutely works great.
CHILD’S PLAY (1988)
Chucky comes calling on Hulu.The original movie, significantly better than this year’s mundane remake.Watch the classic!The killer doll terrorizes a Chicago family who had a voodoo curse put on him and tries to deliver his soul to that of a young boy.It’s fun, it’s bloody, it’s required viewing for horror-heads
EVIL DEAD 2 (1987)
Sam Raimi took it upon himself to remake his 1981 gory blood bath Evil Dead.He just wanted to get it right.And boy did he.The sequel surpasses the original in every way.Adding in a layer of black comedy, the classic Evil Dead is the right mix of everything to make a great horror movie.
Now for some quick picks for kids of all ages...
Beetlejuice – Amazon Prime
Coraline – Netflix
Goosebumps – Hulu
Hotel Transylvania 3 – Netflix
Ghostbusters (2016) – Hulu