9 Horror Movies to Watch on Netflix (Sept. 2016)

Here’s a little insight on this particular article. Some co-workers asked for my horror movie recommendations to watch on Netflix that weren’t necessarily “well-known”. Since there were too many options and they asked for a new suggestion after finishing the last, I decided to write them down. Here are my horror genre suggestions available for streaming as of today, September 16. This is solely based on content I’ve personally watched on Netflix. They each have their own unique theme and aspects that I highly appreciate. Hope you have fun watching these films! Here are my favorites in descending order:

 

9.) Re-Animator

This 1985 movie is pretty good for its time and brought dead people back to life before The Walking Dead did it. The title explains it all, a medical student experiments with human remains and he conjures up some human animation.

 

8.) Wes Craven’s New Nightmare

Let’s take a moment of silence for the late Wes Craven, rest in horror royalty peace!

Now, this one is interesting because the actor’s from A Nightmare on Elm Street play themselves with Freddy Krueger chasing them in the real world. New Nightmare was released in 1994, just 10 years after the original A Nightmare on Elm Street was released.

 

7.) Creep

I appreciate this film because it does a lot considering its low budget, similar to Hush. It’s great when content can still create suspense and eeriness without fake CGI alterations. The production company behind this 2014 movie is Blumhouse Productions. If you aren’t familiar with the name, Blumhouse is responsible for titles like Paranormal Activity, The Purge, Sinister, and Insidious just to name a few. Creep takes place none other than in the woods and starts with a Craigslist’s ad. The title is starting to make sense now, right?

6.) The Invitation

I was initially hesitant to continue watching this 2015 movie because it does start off a little slow but please give it a chance. This is somewhat similar to Hush. It does pick up speed and it details what occurs when a former couple copes with their emotions after a death.

 

5.) The Awakening

This 2011 British film has some good actors (I’m sure you Harry Potter fans will appreciate seeing Imelda Staunton). This is about a woman named Florence who works to debunk paranormal incidents. Makes sense since we all know at least one unbeliever. Florence visits a boarding school and well you know what they say, children can be pretty creepy.

 

4.) Hush

This is the most recent film on my list coming out this year in 2016. It’s about a novelist who retreats to a house in the woods (yes, I agree the woods as a film backdrop is effective but also slightly overused). The novelist lives alone and quickly finds that she isn’t the only one stepping on her grounds. Oh, and she’s also deaf. Blumhouse Productions also worked on this one.

 

3.) The Babadook

Ba-baaa-doooooook!

I’m a pretty huge fan of this Australian film (and I love saying “Ba-baaa-doooooook”) from 2014. Noah Wiseman, who plays the young boy Samuel, does a great job acting in this and he could not have been much older than six or seven-years-old during filming. I like the mood and coloring of the film. Side note: a friend once told me they pictured me living in a house similar to one the in the film and you know what? My friend was certainly correct. Not everyone will like this but I like how it’s different from other horror films.

 

2.) Tucker and Dale vs Evil

This funny and gory tale was released in 2010 and it pretty much has everything for everyone. Two harmless friends end up in crazy mix-up with some preppy college kids in woods. If you’re a fan of wacky (not as wacky as Final Destination deaths though, these deaths are slightly more realistic) accidental deaths and chainsaws, this is for you.

 

1.) The Exorcist

(Yes, this is pretty well-known but I had to put it on the list since I’m pleasantly surprised it’s even on Netflix.)

You absolutely can’t go wrong with watching this 1973 classic. Bonus: you can actually experience The Exorcist world in person by attending Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights both in Hollywood and Orlando. Plus! The FOX network is also releasing a TV series premiering on September 23. Exorcisms are definitely having a blessed year.

 

Bonus

If you want something weird and super different try: V/H/S and V/H/S 2. I’m not sure if I’m fond of these two but I appreciate them thinking outside the box and having mini stories in the films.

 

Let me know if you watch any of these and what you think!

Reign of Terror – Haunted House

(On a completely unrelated note, I thought it would be fun to mention I wrote this piece while watching the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise films. Please continue reading about the actual story. Thanks! =])

Looking for something unusual to do tonight instead of dinner and a movie? Look no further than visiting the Reign of Terror!

Reign of Terror is a haunted attraction located in Thousand Oaks, CA and is usually only open in October. They decided for just one evening to open again on Saturday, February 13^th for two great causes. The first reason being to benefit Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties, according to Reign of Terror’s website. The other reason for producing the haunted house is to provide plenty of scares for those who prefer screams to the typical Valentine’s Day weekend customs.

The event runs from 7pm – 11pm and is only open tonight. Make sure to get tickets before they sell out! General admission tickets are $17 and VIP express line tickets are $25.

Check out their promotional video:

“Gremlins” Holiday Film Screening

Happy December! Yes, it is hard to believe Halloween has come and gone but do not worry! You can still receive some fun thrills this winter season.

Typically, the film industry tries not to combine Christmas and Holidays with horror. There are a few exceptions like “Black Christmas,” both the original from 1974 and the remake in 2006. As well as the upcoming comedy horror movie “Krampus,” that puts a comedic eerie twist on Christmas celebrations.

Take a look at the “Krampus” trailer here:

 

On Saturday, December 19^th, you can watch the 1984 classic “Gremlins.” It is a fun fantasy movie that has comedy horror elements and is set around Christmastime.

(Gremlins, Credit: Google Images)

 

The film will be screened at the Palace Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are $18 and doors will open at 7:30pm with the movie starting at 9pm.

(Palace Theatre, Credit: Google Images)

Cinespia, the company producing the event, is known for their outdoor film screenings at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. They also showcase movies at various other locations throughout Southern California.

Taken from Cinespia’s website, the “Gremlins” screening will offer “…DJs spinning records, special holiday cocktails, and [their] famous free photobooth.”

The event is for those 21 and over with a valid ID.

Make sure to purchase your tickets soon as the event will most likely sell out. Everyone wants to spend the holidays with Gizmo! It is a great time to watch the original with the recent announcement of a third installment of the franchise in the works.

(Gizmo, Credit: Google Images)

Watch the “Gremlins” movie trailer here:

Experience “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Halloween

What better day of the year than Halloween to experience the beautiful and enchanting music from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas composed by Danny Elfman. The Hollywood Bowl will host Elfman with an orchestra and chorus concert on Saturday, October 31 at 8:15 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Times.

Elfman provided Jack Skellington’s (the film’s main character) singing voice for the 1993 film and will reprise his singing role for the show.

Danny Elfman in front of what appears to be the Haunted Mansion ride (“The Nightmare Before Christmas” themed ride during Halloween Time) at Disneyland.

The pre-show will feature a costume contest so, everyone is encouraged to dress in a costume. The most exciting aspect of the evening will be seeing the Hollywood Bowl transformed into Halloween Town, the film’s unfortunately fictional town. By attending the concert, you will feel immersed in the Pumpkin King’s world.

There aren’t many more appropriate ways to celebrate the holiday than in an actual replica of Halloween Town if you enjoy Elfman, Burton, and of course Halloween.

Pre-sale tickets are available now at Ticketmaster and regular tickets go on sale this Friday, September 18 at noon. It appears that ticket prices are approximately between $25-$700 a piece.

To get you in the mood, here’s a fan video from Elfman’s New York performance at the Lincoln Center this past July. I assume the Hollywood Bowl Halloween show will be similar to this except (and hopefully!) with a bunch of Jack Skellington, Sally, Oogie Boogie, and Vampire Teddy costumes:

Always Pick the Scary Movie

It’s a nice, mellow evening and you’re trying to decide how to occupy your time. You get together with your family, friends, or significant other and need to determine what to do. The great and predictable option is to watch a movie. You decide whether to do the “old-fashion’ route and actually drive to a theater or rent a Redbox flick or watch something on Netflix. The next step is to decide which genre what you want to watch. The genre that I will almost always pick is the horror genre. I’m here to convince you on why you should always pick the scary movie over other film genres.

A scary movie will allow for plenty of emotions to arise in a short amount of time. It’ll have thrills, dramatic music, storylines, surprises, relationships, and an evil force triggering the horror. Not that many other genres can cause multiple emotions to occur in a single film. If a spooky movie is done well, adrenaline can develop in the viewer. I enjoy a film that can allow me to experience various feelings while watching it.

Another positive about watching an eerie movie with friends creates a bonding moment. When you watch a scary movie with a group of friends, everyone can comment about what’s arranged on-screen. Everyone has at least one friend who is absolutely terrified of scary movies and it can be extremely fun watching them get scared. That friend will jump periodically or hold on to the closest friend to help alleviate their fear, giving the brave friends a good laugh.

Speaking of holding…watching a scary movie with a significant other is a perfect opportunity to cuddle. Half of the pair (sometimes both parties) will most likely be scared to watch the creepy film. Watching it together is a prime occasion to “protect” your significant other from the scares. Who doesn’t like the chance to get close to someone you like and experience a fun roller coaster full of emotions? It makes for a swell date night.

Throughout this article, I mention it being a horror film but it could really correlate to a horror television show as well. If you’re trying to decide on something in general to watch and are open to TV shows, definitely consider watching a spooky series. Some great TV shows with thrills include: The Walking Dead, Supernatural, American Horror Story, Penny Dreadful, Salem, and I’m sure the highly anticipated Ash vs Evil Dead (based on the cult classic franchise, Evil Dead) will feature a sufficient amount of delights. Enjoy your time with your family, friends, and other half by picking something scary to watch! Hurry and do it before the Babadook gets you!

“Rings” is a Sequel, Not a Prequel

Dread Central reported that Rings, the upcoming horror movie is not a prequel to The Ring franchise but it is a sequel. There was a rumor circulating claiming that the next film would be a prequel but the movie’s director, F. Javier Gutierrez, corrected the allegations.

Gutierrez said on Twitter, “Hey peeps. Rings is NOT a prequel,” he wrote, “the story takes place 13 years AFTER The Ring.”

Alex Roe (The 5^th Wave) was casted as the lead male role in Rings. Matilda Lutz, an Italian actress, has been cast as Roe’s character’s girlfriend.

The Ring franchise is based on hit movies from Japan. The American The Ring earned $249 million at the box office and The Ring Two made $160 million.

You can watch Rings when it premieres in theaters on November 13, 2015.

“The Walking Dead” Spinoff Series

AMC’s The Walking Dead is scheduled to have a spinoff series from the creator, Robert Kirkman. The new series was originally reported to be a prequel to the hit zombie show. However, Kirkman announced at a panel on Saturday at SXSW that the spinoff would initially start off as a prequel and show viewers how the zombie apocalypse began. According to IGN, Kirkman also said the show will eventually catch up to the original show and will not remain a prequel.

Kirkman told EW.com about the spinoff series, “not going to relate to the comics at all. From the beginning of the show one thing we’ve heard is, ‘What’s going on over here or there.’ So the intent of the new show is to expand that world and show another corner of the United States and what’s happening there.”

Kirkman also said, “Rick Grimes woke up from a coma and was like, ‘Oh, man, zombies, weird!’ We’re going to possibly see that unfold a little more in the other show. But I wouldn’t call it ‘prequel’ because the entirety of the show is not going take place before (The Walking Dead). It will eventually form a path running concurrently.”

The Walking Dead creator also stated that the spinoff show would have its own characters and situations making it unique and its own entity.

“The Purge 3”: New Story Idea or the Return of a Familiar Face

Frank Grillo, star of The Purge: Anarchy, is rumored to be returning for the third installment of the franchise, The Purge 3. John Squires reported for Dread Central that the next film should not have the actor return. Grillo played “Sergeant”, a well-prepared hero with weapons, a spectacular car that could challenge the Bat mobile, and enough bent up anger that never allows him to be sidetracked from his revenge mission.

Squires seemed pretty confident with his opinion about not including Grillo in The Purge 3; however, I definitely see the pros and cons of including him and not including him. I understand wanting to bring the Sergeant back because his character and Grillo’s performance was incredible. Sergeant saves a mother and his daughter just as they are about to be killed, anything and everything is legal during a certain time frame, on the “holiday” known as The Purge. Even though Sergeant rather work and survive on his own, he still accepts a small group of random strangers to join him on this bloodbath of a day.

Sergeant is a fan favorite character that some may be extremely upset if he is not present in the next sequel. The Purge 3 without Grillo acting in it will permit for a completely new storyline and allow for more creative freedom. The Purge and The Purge 2: Anarchy have completely different story concepts. Bringing Grillo back would interrupt the cohesiveness of featuring various actors and introducing distinctive plotlines.

I would enjoy seeing Grillo return and see Sergeant in the Purge environment again. On the other hand, the franchise began with singular story concepts and I would rather see the franchise stay loyal to their initial roots and create new characters and stories. The concept of the franchise allows for endless possibilities of how individuals in the movie world could handle the Purge holiday. The lack of creativity or possible ideas should not be an issue for the future of the franchise.

In the meantime, catch up and watch the trailer for The Purge 2: Anarchy:

We will get to see how it all plays out, if Grillo returns or it is a completely new concept, when The Purge 3 is released on July 1, 2016.