Stream These 5 Gruesome DREAD Horror Movies Right Now
Tyler Doupe'
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The DREAD label has introduced viewers to cinematic icons like Benny, Art the Clown (in the breakout hit Terrifier) and even made us laugh with outlandish efforts like Butt Boy. Whether you love horror, fantasy, sci-fi, or all three, the DREAD imprint surely has something to offer you.
In celebration of the DREAD banner, I have pulled together a few of my very favorite titles from the catalogue. My picks include a sampling of cinematic offerings from the archives that span multiple genres. And each of my selections is conveniently available to stream. Read on to see what made the cut and where you can find it!
Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro (Tubi)
This documentary functions as a heartfelt look at the career of wrestling icon, Vampiro. But the proceedings go far beyond his storied career. The doc pulls back the curtain to show viewers who the wrestler is outside the ring. We are privy to poignant moments he shares with his daughter and the viewer gets a fascinating and unflinching look at the toll wrestling has taken on both his body and interpersonal relationships.
I didn’t expect to get emotional watching a wrestling documentary. I don’t even particularly wrestling. But I sought the film out on a whim and am so glad I did. Nail in the Coffin transcends wrestling and it hit me on a very human level.
Red Letter Day (Tubi)
I’ve previously spoken to the collective merits of Red Letter Day here on the site. But allow me to say, once again, that this film is a breezy but brutal horror comedy that never takes itself too seriously. The flick has a twisted sense of humor and even offers some insightful messaging on the various ways in which social media is designed to be divisive and pit us against one another.
Red Letter Day catches up with a single mother (Dawn Van de Schoot) and her two adolescent children (Hailey Foss and Kaeleb Zain Gartner) shortly before they are tasked with an unseemly objective: Kill or be killed. Each member of the family is assigned a target within close proximity and the first to kill their opponent emerges as the victor. But at what cost?
Benny Loves You (Tubi and Showtime)
If I were pressed to pick a favorite film from the Dread catalogue, I would likely have to go with Benny Loves You, Karl Holt’s darkly comedic tale of a killer stuffy. Benny is such a delightful character. And while he is technically the antagonist of the film, I think of him more like an extremely lovable antihero.
For the uninducted, Benny is a bit like what we might see if Chucky from the Child’s Play films were impossibly cute and just wanted Andy to be happy, even if it meant committing the occasional murder on Andy’s behalf. If that sounds like your cup of tea, you can catch the flick streaming on both Tubi and Showtime. Hooray!
The film follows Jack (Holt), a frustrated toy designer who can’t quite seem to put the pieces of his life back together after the tragic death of his parents. Matters only get worse when he throws away Benny, a beloved stuffed animal from his childhood. After being discarded, Benny comes to life and begins solving Jack’s problems by murdering anyone he identifies as a threat.
Sacrifice (Showtime)
Viewers should know that Sacrifice is a bit of a slow burn affair and may require a certain amount of patience to truly appreciate. But your perseverance will be rewarded as the third act gets really wild, delivering intense atmosphere and brutal carnage.
Additionally, Barbara Crampton turns in a rather immersive performance as a local officer of the law. She effectively becomes her character. That capability to transform is something I have long appreciated about Crampton. She is able to not just play a role but to truly exist as the character she’s depicting.
The proceedings catch up with Isaac (Ludovic Hughes) and his pregnant spouse, Emma (Sophie Stevens), following the death of Isaac’s mother. The duo treks to the desolate town in Norway where Isaac was born with the intention of claiming an inheritance. Upon arrival, they are given a cold welcome by the locals. But the icy reception pales in comparison to the terrors the young lovers face when they run afoul of a malevolent cult that worships a sea creature.
Slapface (Shudder)
I have been a fan of Jeremiah Kipp for a very long time. We first crossed paths when he reached out to me about reviewing some of his content about 12 years ago. His short film Crestfallen (which contains graphic depictions of suicide) resonated with me in a major way. I couldn’t get it out of my head. And after watching it, I had a sneaking suspicion Kipp was going places. That inclination proved correct. Kipp is a talented director with a keen understanding of how to make the audience feel something. That capability is on full display in Slapface. Like with Crestfallen, Slapface stuck with me. The characters are well-realized and the messaging about the harmful effects of grief and unprocessed trauma are spot on.
Slapface (which Dread released in partnership with Shudder) follows two brothers trying to cope with the passing of their mother. With both parents out of the picture, older brother, Tom (Mike Manning) is saddled with raising his younger brother, Lucas (August Maturo). Rather than communicate through their differences, Tom encourages Luke to play a ‘game’ called Slapface, where the brothers take turns smacking each other upside the head. Isolated and lonely, Lucas befriends a malevolent entity that adds an additional layer of complexity to the troublesome family dynamic.
That’s all for now. If you’re keen to keep up with the latest developments from the Dread imprint, be sure to give them a follow on Twitter.
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