Netflix: September 2015 Horror Roundup
Matt Molgaard
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Thank the higher powers-that-be, September is a much stronger month than August in terms of horror additions on Netflix. August was a dismal month with next to zero highly intriguing genre films to take in. Well, whoever is in charge of making sure decent flicks get tossed in the mix on Netflix has done a fair job in early Halloween preparation. This month we’ve got a few classic pictures to check out, a brand new horror comedy from Joe Dante, Marcus Nispel’s latest, a Stephen King flick worth looking into, and a whole lot more.
Here’s our rundown of the site’s new additions that you should be seeking out.
The Scribbler: An amazing visual thrill ride, this graphic novel transfer is faithful to its source (thanks to original writer Dan Schaffer’s handling of the script), features some mind-blowing aesthetics, and functions at break-neck speed right out of the gate. It’s a trippy film that ultimately feels a bit more science fiction than horror, but it’s damn rewarding just the same.
Exeter: It’s unclear exactly how he manages it, but Marcus Nispel is pretty nifty at taking tired, cliché material and really making it work. Everything about Exeter should fall flat and fail to impress; yet, somehow the film is legitimately entertaining. It isn’t an abnormally frightening effort, but kids dealing with possession suddenly works well to leave viewers a little disconcerted. There’s a solid cast in front of the camera and some strong technical work, which further help to elevate the picture to a height it should theoretically never reach.
Bloody April Fools: A virtually completely unknown flick, Bloody April Fools (which is… somehow directed by about a dozen people, if you believe IMDb) is stuffed full of sex, drugs, and murderous mayhem. It feels a lot like a nod to 80s horror and the gore far exceeds expectations. There’s nothing truly original here, but there are some gratifying death scenes and a few lovely racks to gaze at. Not a bad little foreign film here!
Sleepy Hollow: Halloween is fast approaching so of course Sleepy Hollow makes a return to Netflix! This one has been featured too many times to count, but it’s such a beautiful, nostalgic film that we’ve got to drop you a notice of return. You know you love the film, you know it’s very loyal to the vibe of Halloween, and you know it’s got a cast to die for. You also know I have no reason to continue trying to sell you something you’ve likely already bought in the past!
Burying the Ex: Joe Dante’s Burying the Ex is damn near identical to Life After Beth, so if you enjoyed the latter, you’ll certainly enjoy the former. The humor is heavy; Anton Yelchin, who’s now made horror something of a résumé staple (you’ve seen him in Fright Night, Odd Thomas, Terminator Salvation, and Only Lovers Left Alive) does a stellar job as the unfortunate boyfriend of a zombie girl; and the disgusting moments you might expect from a Dante film are present and accounted for. Trust us: You want to see the movie!
Ejecta: Ejecta snuck onto Netflix last month, and it’s worth looking into despite the lack of media love it’s garnered. The duo behind the underrated Septic Man handle the film, and they bring the awesome Julian Richings along with them. Like The Scribbler, Ejecta is more sci-fi than anything else, but it’s got some creepy moments, and fans of alien-themed pictures should find the film satisfying.
Stephen King’s A Good Marriage: Is Stephen King’s A Good Marriage another one of those films that’s going to wander onto Netflix with consistency? It looks like it, and we’re perfectly happy with that. This one is fueled by character examination as opposed to brutal, primordial visuals, but it really works. Anthony LaPaglia is great as the longtime husband who moonlights as a serial killer, but Joan Allen is even better as his wife, suddenly distraught after learning what her hubby truly is. It’s well-acted, well-shot, and damn tense in the final act. Watch it; it’s one of the better King adaptations out there.
The Monster Squad: Hey, it’s another movie that requires no introduction and no gimmick pushing. The Monster Squad is irrefutably one of the greatest films of the 80s, and its constant adoration and homage to Universal monsters is flat-out brilliant. Want to take an amazing trip back in time? Just tune in to Fred Dekker’s The Monster Squad.
The Walking Dead Season 5 (September 27th): Fans of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” will be able to catch up on all the insane, undead bullshit that Rick Grimes and his group of traveling survivors have endured in recent memory when the fifth season of this absurdly popular series hits Netflix on September 27th, just a few weeks before returning for a sixth season. You already know this is the best zombie series to ever land on the small screen.
Mimic: Mimic has been on Netflix for ages. But we wanted to recommend an “oldie but goodie” for you, just in case you’ve somehow missed this in Netflix’s expansive video library. Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak is a month away from arriving in theaters, and there’s no better way to prime yourself for more of the mastermind’s chills than revisiting one of his earlier and finest films. If creature features are your bag, Mimic will help fill it in proper fashion.
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