5 Terrifying DREAD Horror Movies You Can Stream This October
Chad Collins
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Everyone knows Art the Clown and Benny the killer (and remarkably cute) doll, but the DREAD label has several other horror icons of its own to contend with the genre heavyweights. Last month, Tyler Doupe rounded up five of his favorite offerings from the label, highlighting a mix of genre and non-genre properties alike.
Here, in the spirit of Halloween, I have decided to add my perspective to the ring. Listed below are five of my favorite DREAD releases available to stream right now. As an added bonus, I made it a point to highlight seasonal offerings perfect for anyone looking to flesh out their October watchlist. Check out my picks below and be certain to let me know which you’re planning on watching.
Midnight (Prime Video)
I am never going to shut up about Midnight. It’s one of the best Korean thrillers available to stream on Prime Video right now and arguably one of the DREAD label’s most distinct offerings. Kwon Oh-seung’s visceral thriller sees serial killer Do-sik’s (Wi Ha-joon) chase deaf office worker Kyeong-mi (Jin Ki-joo) through the streets one evening after she stumbles upon the scene of a crime. This is a foot chase with guts, gamely cultivating sympathy for Kyeong-mi as both serial killer and accessibility constraints threaten her at every turn. Never before has an emergency beacon proved so stressful.
The Maid (Prime Video)
Lee Thongkham’s Thai import The Maid is another standout in the DREAD catalog. Harboring back to Asian horror fare like A Tale of Two Sisters, Thongkham’s immersive, ghostly tale is elevated by some genuine savagery and a distinct point-of-view that engages from start to finish. Maid Joy (Ploy Sornarin) is working in a new abode when she is haunted by the spirit of the property’s former maid. She’s dead and she’s pissed, and Joy is her only hope of revealing the secrets behind her demise. If it sounds conventional, trust me when I say it’s anything but. The Maid gets big, boldly arriving at a crimson-soaked conclusion that will make any Asian horror fan blush.
Howling Village (Prime Video)
I promise this list is more than Asian horror, but listen, I know what I like, and the DREAD label has some of the best cult offerings around. Takashi Shimizu’s (yes, of Ju-on: The Curse) J-horror shocker follows a psychologist whose missing brother sends her to the infamous (and cursed) Howling Village, an area known for all kinds of unexplained supernatural phenomena. While Howling Village can occasionally get bogged down in pretty overt exposition, it’s a dense, almost mythic foray into Japanese culture and the curses that bind us all.
Tales of Halloween (Freevee)
Tales of Halloween was actually my introduction to the DREAD label long before I was affiliated with the site. An anthology with holiday pizazz, ten different stories centered around the scariest night of the year introduce audiences to all manner of ghouls, be them aliens or axe-wielding maniacs with a grudge to work out. Darren Lynn Bousman, Lucky McKee, Axelle Carolyn, Neil Marshall, and more lend their talents to a certified banger of a horror anthology. Augmenting the behind-the-camera talent is a surfeit of genre faces, including Adrienne Barbeau, Caroline Williams, and Alexandra Essoe. It’s one of the decade’s stronger anthologies and an absolute must-watch this Halloween.
Bad Candy (Plex)
And I’ve got another horror anthology for you. Scott B. Hansen and Desiree Connell direct this chilling, and frequently funny, anthology of local myths and moral comeuppance set in a rural small town. Zach Galligan and Corey Taylor star as a pair of DJs in New Salem weaving all manner of horrifying tales for the town’s residents on Halloween night. While it lacks the scale of something like Tales of Halloween, it has plenty of seasonal charm in its own right. Bad Candy might not be great for your teeth, but it’s as perfect as anything for a chilly October evening.
What do you think? Which of these have you had a chance to check out yet? Let me know your favorites over on Twitter @ChadisCollins. Stay spooky, my friends!
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