New Netflix Horrors: November 2016
Matt Molgaard
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Most of us have grown accustomed to swinging by Netflix during the first week of every month just to run through the new films added to the streaming lineup. It’s always fun to browse, but it can be convenient when someone else does the legwork for you. That’s where we come into play, happy to lend a helping hand and highlight the marquee additions to the powerhouse digital outlet!
This month starts with a bang, and as is Netflix tradition, will keep the ball rolling with just a few occasional add-ons as the month progresses. But the Netflix gang love to sneak in a few unannounced gems during the month, so don’t be surprised when a compelling new flick pops up out of nowhere.
We try to keep you up to speed when the random new release hits Netflix, but in the meantime, take a peek at the officially planned horror films that are hitting Netflix in November, 2016.
November 1st
Candyman 2: Farewell to the Flesh
Verdict: Bill Condon’s unexpected sequel isn’t able to live up to the genius of the first film, but for a follow-up that arrived rather unexpectedly, Farewell to the Flesh has a few noteworthy moments. The real star of the production is again Tony Todd, however, as this was the role he was born to play. Todd looks like he loves the role, and he should: it’s perfect for the lovable giant.
Synopsis: The Candyman moves on to New Orleans and starts his horrific murders once more. This time, his intended victim is a school teacher. Her father was killed by the Candyman, and brother wrongly accused of the murders.
Cujo
Verdict: This is a classic and that’s a unanimous belief among genre fans. Dee Wallace is amazing, delivering one of the more heartbreaking performances you’ll ever see, and that damned Saint Bernard… good lord is that bastard terrifying. Despite its ripe old age of 33, Cujo still holds up remarkably well.
Synopsis: Donna Trenton is a frustrated suburban housewife whose life is a turmoil after her husband learns about her having an affair. Brett Camber is a young boy whose only companion is a Saint-Bernard named “Cujo”, who in turn is bitten by a rabid bat. Whilst Vic, Donna’s husband is away on business, and thinking over his marital troubles, Donna and her 5-year-old son Tad take her Pinto to Brett Cambers’ dad’s car shop… the car fails, and “Cujo” is very, very sick…
Ravenous
Verdict: Still one of the greatest cannibal flicks to ever see release, Ravenous remains a somewhat underrated film. Guy Pearce is nothing short of brilliant, but he’s got some riveting support from Robert Carlyle who completely shuts shit down. The man is a monster, and this is a beast of a film that’s going to stun those checking it out for the first time.
Synopsis: Captain John Boyd receives a promotion after defeating the enemy command in a battle of the Mexican-American War, but because the general realizes it was an act of cowardice that got him there, he is given a backhanded promotion to Fort Spencer, where he is third in command. The others at the fort are two Indians, George and his sister, Martha, who came with the place, Chaplain Toffler, Reich, the soldier; Cleaves, a drugged-up cook; and Knox, who is frequently drunk. When a Scottish stranger named Colquhoun appears and recovers from frostbite almost instantly after being bathed, he tells a story about his party leader, Ives, eating members of the party to survive. As part of their duty, they must go up to the cave where this occurred to see if any have survived. Only Martha, Knox, and Cleaves stay behind. George warns that since Colquhoun admits to eating human flesh, he must be a Windigo, a ravenous cannibalistic creature.
Stephen King’s Thinner
Verdict: Thinner has long been an unheralded piece of the Stephen King Library, but it really shouldn’t be. The film features some strong performers, a couple of genuinely nauseating moments and a finale that’s woven together with fibers of intricacies. It’s got a lot of good stuff going for it.
Synopsis: A fat Lawyer finds himself growing “Thinner” when an old gypsy man places a hex on him. Now the lawyer must call upon his friends in organized crime to help him persuade the gypsy to lift the curse. Time is running out for the desperate lawyer as he draws closer to his own death, and grows ever thinner.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie
Verdict: This is a certified classic that many often cite as an anthology strong enough to join the ranks of pics like Creepshow or the Twilight Zone movie as a longtime roost ruler. I’m not opposed to that idea, in the slightest. There’re some entertaining pieces in the film, and the small screen vibe of Tales from the Darkside is properly captured for the transition to the big screen. This is a fun film, no two ways about it.
Synopsis: This is really three shorter movies, bound together by a fourth tale in which the other three stories are read. The first segment features an animated mummy stalking selected student victims; the second tale tells the story of a “cat from Hell” who cannot be killed and leaves a trail of victims behind it; the third story is about a man who witnesses a bizarre killing and promises never to tell what he saw, and the “in-between” bit is the story of a woman preparing to cook her newspaper boy for supper.
November 30th
Ghost Team
Verdict: Oliver Irving’s comedic horror piece hasn’t won many fans over. Most, in fact, seem to hate the flick, citing lackadaisical comedy and uninspired performances. Maybe it’s my age catching up to me, but I found the often cynical comedy surprisingly effective, and I thought the characters – from my personal point of view – were quite relatable. For those reasons primarily, this one did a good job of holding my attention. All that said, if you’re not a nearing-40 who feels a little uninspired, you may just want to stick with the majority and give Ghost Team a pass.
Synopsis: A paranormal-obsessed man mounts his own investigation into the beyond with his depressed best friend, misfit nephew, a cable access medium and an overeager security guard.
Categorized:News
