Many on the east coast are being pummeled with snow and ice this weekend, myself included. We all have our rituals for when we are snowbound in our homes. Some will get to watching programs that have piled up on their DVRs. Others will read or play board games. Me? I love watching horror movies. It’s something I do often, no matter what the weather is like. In the spirit of giving, I thought I might share a few suggestions, should you be in a similar frame of mind this weekend…or any other snow-filled day to come this winter season, no matter where you reside.
For the sake of simplicity, I have stuck to films and TV shows that are available for streaming off of
All Cheerleaders Die (2013)
A remake of their straight-to-video 2001 debut, co-writers/co-directors Lucky McKee (May) and Chris Sivertson (The Lost) crafted an extremely playful and entertaining high school tale of witchcraft and revenge. If fun and laughs are a must for you when it comes to horror, this little gem is just waiting for you to discover it. It’s smart, it’s creative, and it’s an absolute blast from start to finish.
Almost Human (2013)
Joe Begos’ feature-film debut is a wonderfully low key and inventive slice of local horror. What exactly do I mean by that? It feels lived in, with every character and location completely belonging to a singular place. It’s also a pretty wild little alien film, with a hefty dose of The Terminator in terms of tone. If you had shown me this film without telling me it was made three years ago, I’d have assumed it was some underseen early ‘80s genre-bender that I had somehow missed seeing as a child.
Black Death (2010)
Sometimes we crave dread that comes not from the supernatural, but from the human condition. This dark ages tale set amidst the Black Plague and the witchcraft panic that followed gives you just that. A roving band of religious warrior is sent to cleanse an area suspected to be under the sway of witches, bt are they any better than the people they seek to condemn to death? If that logline doesn’t pique your interest, perhaps the cast will? This Witchfinder General-esque tale stars Sean Bean (Game of Thrones), Carice van Houten (Black Book), and none other than current Oscar nominee Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl).
Dead Silence (2007)
James Wan’s sophomore follow-up to Saw tends to get lost in the conversation when his work is spoken of, but it’s no less entertaining than his popular outings that followed (Insidious, The Conjuring). A supernatural terror tale involving a vengeful spirit and ventriloquist dummies, it’s high on atmosphere and even manages to conjure up a few laughs, courtesy of Donnie Wahlberg’s (Blue Bloods) eccentric detective character. If you were looking forward to seeing The Boy in theaters this weekend, perhaps this doll-centric chiller will quench that thirst for at least few days.
From the Dark (2014)
Hailing from Ireland, this creature-feature gives audiences a vampire tale altogether different than the recent likes of Twilight, True Blood, and The Vampire Diaries. Eurotrash pleasantries give way to animalistic hunger and ferocity as a couple is stranded in a remote area and under attack from an ancient terror. It many ways, this film makes a great companion piece to the similarly-ferocious Dog Soldiers (2002).
Late Phases (2014)
Speaking of werewolves, how about a tale involving a retirement community under siege by one? Argentinian filmmaker Adrian Garcia Bogliano (Here Comes the Devil) made his English-language debut with this lycanthropic romp and not an ounce of his craft is lost in the translation. If you have been craving something more akin to the werewolf films of the ‘80s like The Howling and Silver Bullet, look no further.
Pontypool (2008)
Last year, Canadian filmmaker Bruce McDonald (Hardcore Logo) released on of my favorite horror films of 2015. While Hellions has not yet made it to streaming, his earlier horror film, Pontypool, is just as great. An adaptation of an under-read novel (Pontypool Changes Everything), this interesting riff on the zombie film is impeccably written, well-directed, and contains a powerhouse performance at the center of it. Plus, given the winter storm backdrop, it’s perfect viewing material for a snow day.
Salem: Season One (2014)
If longform storytelling is more your thing, then perhaps you should consider giving this Brannon Braga and Adam Simon-created horror drama series a shot. A flagship series for the newly-reborn WGN America, it was initially sold as a soap opera with horror trappings, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. This show is 100% pure old school witchcraft-fueled horror, with a hefty dose of Lovecraft thrown in for flavor. The third season begins later this summer and while Season Two has yet to show up on Netflix, I’m sure it will soon. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to curl up on the couch with its inaugural season.
Soulmate (2013)
For those of you who aren’t keen on gorefests, monsters, or wild comedy, this one might be more your speed. An classic style ghost yarn, Axelle Carolyn’s Soulmate could easily be described as a dark companion piece to the classic The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. More a study in grief and mourning than in terror, it’s a perfect film to curl up next to a loved one with on a dark winter evening.
When Animals Dream (2014)
Yeah, I know. I have a thing for werewolf movies. This title, however, is entirely different from the aforementioned Late Phases. Whereas Bogliano’s film revels in its monster movie trappings, Jonas Alexander Arnby’s Danish film entry in the subgenre plays more towards art house sensibilities. More a coming-of-age tale than anything, it’s an absolutely elegant piece of genre-filmmaking that could sit comfortably on the shelf next to Let the Right One In.
Naturally there are dozens (if not hundreds) of other titles from which to choose. There are snow-centric classics (both acknowledge and cultish) like The Shining, Ravenous, and Let the Right One In. If you haven’t caught up with 2014’s The Babadook, there’s no better time than now. Maybe devilry is more up your alley? Starry Eyes, Last Shift, and/or Let Us Prey are waiting for you.
Looking for some slasher action beyond the usual favorites? I’d recommend checking out Kristy or Some Kind of Hate. Perhaps documentaries are more your style? The exhaustive Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy is just for you, as it spends hours chronicling the cinematic history of Freddy Krueger and the Nightmare on Elm Street films.
Back on the television front, with the new X-Files miniseries set to premiere tomorrow night, there’s no better time to finally explore (or reacquaint yourself with) the original series. The entirety of The X-Files is available on Netflix Instant, so set the new miniseries to record on your DVR, and head on over to your streaming app to start your journey from the beginning. Don’t worry, that miniseries will still be waiting for you when you finish and the revival will still be getting its needed ratings from your recorder.
Whatever particular subject or subgenre you favor, chances are there is at least a handful of applicable title. Be they old or new, they’re just waiting for you to sit down with them on a dark and (snow)stormy night! Stay safe and have yourself a good fright!
