5 Unmissable Horror Movies Now Streaming Mike Flanagan Highly Reccomends
Mike Flanagan is part and parcel with the modern horror genre. From Absentia to his upcoming retooling of The Exorcist, Flanagan has dabbled in IP, original conceits, and—pretty profoundly—the Stephen King multiverse. He’s not just among my favorite horror contemporaries, but among many other people’s as well. Regularly, Mike Flanagan honors the spirit of Us Magazine’s “Stars: They’re Just Like Us” beat, watching, logging, and reviewing whatever he’s recently watched on Letterboxd. In honor of Mike Flanagan, here are five recent recommendations of his, along with where to stream them.
Fréwaka– Shudder
I’ve written about Aislinn Clarke’s Fréwaka before. This is folk horror at its finest, and it was a strong contender for my Best Of list last year. It’s terrifying, elusive, and drenched in Gothic, Irish atmosphere. Check out what Mike Flanagan had to say about Fréwaka below:
“Excellent horror tale that burrowed under my skin early on and stayed there after the credits rolled. Great performances and a wicked tone distinguish this unnerving Irish-language folk horror and create a waking nightmare that slowly eats the protagonist – and the viewer – alive. Highly recommended for fans of slow-burn, atmospheric horror. Aislinn Clarke is definitely a director to watch.”
Sinners – HBO Max
Sinners is the horror movie of the moment. We gave it a glowing review, calling it a “Superb and bloody spectacle,” and surprisingly, Sinners has been getting a lot of awards attention. That rarely happens with horror, so you know filmmaker Ryan Coogler delivered something special here. Don’t believe me? Believe Mike Flanagan, who saw it not just once, but twice:
“WOW – absolutely loved this. Terrific performances, some truly jaw-dropping music sequences (that first one at the juke joint is an all-timer), and the vampires are just a metaphorical wrapper for a story about racial and cultural identity, appropriation, and legacy. I thought the film was very, very good as the credits started to roll, but the mid-credit sequence elevated it to absolute greatness for me, and fully completed the emotional arc of the whole movie. Felt really bad for the people who wandered out too early. Michael B. Jordan is one of the most charismatic and impactful movie stars working today, Ryan Coogler’s direction is superb, and Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, Jack O’Connell, and Hailey Steinfeld are all exceptional. Highly recommended. (Also – I saw this in IMAX and highly recommend you do the same if you’re able).”
He then added on a later post: “Enjoyed it even more the second time. Going for a third when it’s re-released in IMAX.”
Oddity – Hulu
Oddity was Dread Central’s top horror movie of 2024. We wrote, “Oddity is very scary. Everything on this list is. But, when I say Oddity is scary, I mean really, really scary. The kind of traditional, throwback scary that will have you yelping, jumping from your seat, covering your eyes because you’re too afraid to see what happens next. It’s as pitch-perfect a ghost story as any, distilling decades of tropes and scare tactics into the perfect powder keg of a midnight horror show.” What Oddity lacks in contemporary verve it more than makes up for with uncompromising scares. Mike Flanagan agreed, calling the film “Terrifying.” Check out his words in full:
“Absolutely excellent. Damian Mc Carthy’s engrossing, terrifying follow-up to his atmospheric and chilling Caveat is a masterclass in dread, atmosphere, and tension. An arresting opening sequence involving a woman answering the door to an unsettling stranger blossoms into a tale of supernatural revenge, mournful spirits, and buried secrets. I loved this. One of the best of the year, for sure, and confirmation that Mc Carthy is the real deal. This one gets under the skin.”
Good Boy – Shudder
Come on. Indy is the best boy. Ben Leonberg’s Good Boy could easily have been a good concept rendered terribly. Leonberg is too talented a filmmaker for that, however, and last year’s most viral horror movie delivered on its unique hook and then some. It’s no surprise, then, that Mike Flanagan was a huge fan.
“Very impressive indie effort with a bulletproof hook. Stylish, atmospheric, and patient rendition of a familiar set-up – a man alone in a haunted house with his dog – but told through the eyes of the dog. Recommended for anyone who likes a good ghost story, or who roots for the dog… so basically everyone, I guess.”
Exhuma – Shudder
Mike Flanagan is a man of taste. No doubt the deepest cut here, Exhuma is one of the strongest South Korean horror movies of the century. In my 4.5 star review, I wrote, “Exhuma is thrilling, bold, and ceaselessly surprising in its excess.” Exhuma subsequently made my Top 10 list of the year, and it seems I wasn’t alone. Check out what Mike Flanagan had to say below:
“I really dug this (see what I did there). Oldboy’s Choi Min-Sik leads the cast in this ambitious Korean horror film about exhuming the wrong grave and the ghastly consequences. What seems like a straightforward twist on an exorcism/possession movie has more up its sleeve, though, and was much larger in scope than I anticipated. Smart writing, good performances, and some terrific effects elevate this ghost story into something far more modern and original than I expected. Recommended.”
There are plenty more recommendations over on Mike Flanagan’s Letterboxd, though these are five of the most recent. Which have you seen? Do you agree with his reviews? Be certain to let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
Categorized: Streaming News