The Most Extreme Netflix Original Horror Movie of all Time is Perfect for Pride Month
Netflix means a lot of different things to different people these days. A lot of it is warranted, and “Netflix Movie” is practically defined within the zeitgeist. Think of it like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s famous remarks on obscenity and porn—maybe I can’t define what I mean by Netflix movie beyond the obvious, but I know it when I see it. It’s complicated, too, since Netflix both produces movies in-house and acquires them elsewhere. Fair Play was one of 2023’s best thrillers, though that was a Sundance acquisition, not a Netflix original. Fear Street: Prom Queen? Yeah, that’s a Netflix movie.
Richard Shepard’s The Perfection? Also not a Netflix movie. This one’s a Miramax production acquired by Netflix after the 2018 Fantastic Fest. Still, in the most favorable terms imaginable, Shepard’s film may not be a Netflix movie, though it certainly feels like one. Netflix originals often opt for high-concept thrills and “I’ve got to see this through to the end” twists. The Perfection has both, and for Pride Month, it’s one of the best queer horror movies you can stream online. Learn more about The Perfection below:
Per Netflix: In this twisty horror-thriller, a once-promising music prodigy reconnects with her former mentors, only to find them taken with a talented new pupil.
The Perfection is nasty. It’s mean. It’s also funny and impossible to predict. Seriously, The Perfection piles on twist after twist, it’s liable to turn some viewers off. Not me, however. I loved every moment of it, even when it made my stomach churn, and not just because of the prominent insect imagery. While the film was a mild success at the time of release, especially among horror fans, it’s largely been forgotten over time. That’s inevitable in some sense, though for Pride Month, I’d encourage you to pull it out from the closet and dust it off, whether that’s for a first-time watch or a revisit.
In our original review of the film, we wrote, “Gorgeous cinematography by Vanja Cernjul (Crazy Rich Asians, Wristcutters: A Love Story) mirrors the luxury of the story and uses each set to its fullest extent while Shepard directs the hell out of everyone and every scene.” Guest writer Cat Voleur penned an ode, too, writing, “The Perfection shows queer fans of this genre things we’ve long known, but so seldom get to see confirmed. Same sex couples can have great chemistry on screen in an allotted time. There can be good gay representation in a horror movie without the horror stemming from one’s sexuality.” It’s great stuff, and it’s streaming on Netflix now.
What do you think? Any plans to check out The Perfection on Netflix? If you do, let me know your thoughts over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
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