As
part of my continuing series about the ebb and flow of Netflix
streaming
titles, here are the latest in new genre films and television! These have been added since my last update about a month ago. Enjoy!
Horror
Black Sabbath (1964)
Classic 3-story anthology from Mario Bava. Must see for fans of Italian horror.
Blacula (1972)
The title says it all for this 70s blaxploitation film about a black Dracula. This one inspired many more like it (including Blackenstein - also on Netflix Instant).
Blacula |
Devil (2010)
M. Night Shyamalan penned the story for this supernatural horror film about people trapped in an elevator with the devil.
Graveyard Shift (1990)
Based on a Stephen King story, this one is about a textile mill infested with rats and perhaps something worse. The cast includes genre favorites like Brad Dourif and Andrew Divoff.
House of the Devil (2009)
Ti West jumped on every horror fan's radar with this good-looking throwback to late 70s/early 80s horror. The stellar cast includes Tom Noonan, AJ Bowen, Dee Wallace, Greta Gerwig, and newcomer Jocelin Donahue.
Maniac (2012)
Surprisingly well-received remake of William Lustig's 1980 film of the same name. Elijah Wood stars as the titular maniac, Frank Zito, and the film is told from his perspective. Alexandre Aja produced.
Maniac |
Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
I'm not a big fan of this film series to begin with, but the fourth installment is easily the worst. See it if you're a completist, I guess.
Pumpkinhead 2: Blood Wings (1994)
Direct-to-video sequel to Pumpkinhead, which was added to Netflix streaming last month, wherein some thrill-seeking teens summon the demon. Look for horror icons like Linnea Quigley, R.A. Mihailoff, and Kane Hodder.
Silver Bullet (1985)
Based on Stephen King's novella, "Cycle of the Werewolf", this lycanthrope classic stars Gary Busey, Cory Haim, and Terry O'Quinn.
Twixt (2012)
Francis Ford Coppola's weird, gothic horror about a failing writer who becomes entangled in a small-town murder mystery. Stars Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, and Ella Fanning.
Twixt |
V/H/S/2 (2013)
Sequel to the 2012 found-footage horror anthology, V/H/S. Segment directors include Adam Wingard, Jason Eisener, Eduardo Sanchez, Gareth Evans, and Timo Tjahjanto. At least as good as its predecessor, though some who hated the first really enjoy this one. The segment, Safe Haven, alone is worth a viewing.
Sci-Fi
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
Peter Weller stars in this sci-fi cult classic about a rock star/neurosurgeon/physicist who battles alien invaders led by an amusingly bonkers John Lithgow. Also stars Ellen Barkin, Clancy Brown, and Jeff Goldblum.
Buckaroo Banzai |
Action/Adventure/Thriller
A Company Man (2012)
Korean actioner about an assassin who falls in love and becomes targeted by his old employers. Not sure if it's any good, but I dig South Korean thrillers so I'll be checking this one out.
Flesh + Blood (1985)
Paul Verhoeven directed this medieval adventure starring Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It may look like soft sword-and-sorcery stuff, but rest assured genre fans, it's full of bloodshed, brutality, and rape.
Flesh + Blood (1985)
Paul Verhoeven directed this medieval adventure starring Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It may look like soft sword-and-sorcery stuff, but rest assured genre fans, it's full of bloodshed, brutality, and rape.
Flesh + Blood |
Hammer of the Gods (2013)
Bloody Viking movie about a man who travels far to find his estranged warrior brother so that he may save the kingdom. The film has not been greatly received, but it looks enjoyable for fans of Viking or Medieval action.
Messenger of Death (1988)
Charles Bronson stars as...a journalist?! Yep, he's investigating a massacre in a Mormon community and uncovers a sinister plot. Directed by J. Lee Thompson, who helmed the original Cape Fear and Death Wish 4.
Right At Your Door (2006)
When Los Angeles is attacked with dirty bombs, a married couple (Rory Cochrane; Mary McCormack) struggles to survive a city fraught with chaos and toxic smoke. The film has been praised for portraying an eerily plausible doomsday scenario.
Right At Your Door |
Comedy
The Addams Family (1991)
Barry Sonnenfeld's fun black-comedy based on the 1960s television series. Con artists attempt to exploit the oddball family by claiming to have found long-lost Uncle Fester. Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christina Ricci, and Christopher Lloyd give memorable performances.
Death Becomes Her (1992)
Here's another gothic 90s comedy, this one starring Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep as two women attempting to out-live one another for the affections of Bruce Willis. The great Robert Zemeckis made this one.
Teen Wolf (1985)
Michael J. Fox is the titular teen wolf in this comedy about a high school basketball player who discovers he comes from a family of werewolves, and uses the condition to his advantage.
Wrong (2013)
This black comedy is about a man looking for his dog. That description, of course, does not adequately describe this film from Quentin Dupieux, who also made Rubber. Needless to say, it's very unique and bizarre.
Wrong |
Ozploitation
Mad Dog Morgan (1976)
Dennis Hopper portrays real-life Irish outlaw Daniel Morgan who was wanted in Australia during the 1850s. He becomes something of a local hero while running from the wealthy and powerful. This flick was featured in the doc, Not Quite Hollywood.
Wake in Fright (1971)
A teacher spends a week in the Australian outback with some locals and plunges into a downward spiral of self-destruction. Considered one of Australia's greatest films, it was actually lost for quite some time. Directed by Ted Kotcheff (First Blood), this one was also featured in Not Quite Hollywood.
Wake in Fright |
Documentary
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (2011)
This doc includes interviews with the late, great effects legend, plus interviews with Peter Jackson, Rick Baker, John Landis, Terry Gilliam, Guillermo Del Toro, Robert Zemeckis, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, and countless more!
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan |
Fucked Up Stuff
Caligula (1979)
This controversial film tells the story of Rome's tragic emperor, portrayed by Malcolm McDowell. The film is infamous for its graphic porn-quality sex scenes and disturbing violent content. It remains banned in numerous countries today.
The Doom Generation (1995)
Rose McGowan, James Duval, and Jonathan Schaech star as three young folk who embark on a sex and murder-filled roadtrip. It's the second film in a trilogy that includes Totally Fucked Up and Nowhere.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Michael Rooker stars in this disturbing film loosely based on real life serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas. It's an intense movie that puts you inside the head of a brutal murderer. The film struggled with censorship and was once banned in Australia and New Zealand.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer |
Television
Dexter: Season 1-4 (2006-2009)
I enjoyed these seasons of Dexter, with 2 being my favorite. If you've never seen the show starring Michael C. Hall as a killer-of-killers, here is a great way to catch up. The remaining seasons hit Netflix in January, 2014.
The Following: Season 1 (2013)
I have not yet watched this show about Kevin Bacon hunting a serial killer but I've heard nothing but great things. Kevin Williamson (who penned Scream) created it.
Goosebumps: Special (1997)
Who doesn't love Goosebumps? These specials, of course, are based on R.L. Stine's beloved youth horror novels.
The Killing: Season 3 (2013)
This show about detectives solving the case of a murdered girl survived being cancelled by AMC, leading to this third season. Unfortunately it was recently cancelled again, but if you want to see what the hype was about anyway, here you go!
The Killing |
Sons of Anarchy: Season 5 (2012)
I liked Sons of Anarchy for four seasons. I never thought I'd enjoy a show about bikers hawking guns, but it was engaging for a while. Honestly, this was the season that made me stop watching it - something I never do. It's garbage, with the exception of one or two episodes (Walton Goggins in drag FTW). Proceed with caution.