When we first started doing "Sunday Streaming" posts years ago, it was all about picks you could find on Netflix Streaming. Then somewhere along the line I started worrying that not everybody had Netflix Streaming and so the focus switched to YouTube and freebies on Hulu. This week I say we jump back on the Netflix wagon because it's been a while and I figure the important thing is getting the titles out there. If you don't have Netflix Streaming, keep your eyes peeled for these…
House at the End of Time (2013)
I'm going to blame my not being able to shake this Venezuelan haunted house flick for the existence of this entire post. If you dig ghost movies or mysteries, this is a must see that is likely to become a new favorite. There's something genuinely haunting about this flick and what's even more stunning is just how moving it ends up being. Check it out. It left me feeling like I'd just finished a hearty book.
Starry Eyes (2014)
I can't help taking high praise for an indie horror film with a grain of skeptical salt. I get the feeling that reviewers are overly generous and more interested in patting themselves on the back for their noble support than being forthright. Starry Eyes though, actually deserves any and all praise it gets. It fascinating, circling the drain, character study about false hope and self-obliteration and it has the power to disturb you right down to the marrow of your bones.
Housebound (2014)
The less you know about this fun flick from New Zealand concerning a snotty girl confined to a house full of secrets, the better. Most of the joy here comes from never being able to pin anything down and having your expectations turned on their head at every turn. My hat's off to any movie that can pull off being hilarious without losing the steam of its scares and this rollicking coaster ride does just that. Watch it on Netflix but do yourself a favor and order a hard copy too just in case it disappears. I'd say this a keeper worth more than a few visits.
Late Phases (2014)
As a rule, you should probably watch anything that stars Nick (STAKE LAND) Damici because he could possibly be the coolest person who ever lived and I decree, the lone heir apparent to Charles Bronson. On paper, LATE PHASES is almost too good to be true. It's a werewolf movie that takes place in a retirement village directed by the guy who did HERE COMES THE DEVIL and not only does our man Damici play a blind war vet with an adorable seeing eye dog, the film also sports the likes of Ethan Embry, Lance (HALLOWEEN II) Guest, Tom (MONSTER SQUAD) Noonan, Rutanya (AMITYVILLE 2) Alda and Tina Louise. It's not nearly as fierce of a beast as it could have been but that cast, especially the Damici, make it well worth taking a bite out of.
Creep (2014)
I thought maybe I hated this movie but then I realized it was just insanely overrated and presented in an aggressively misleading way. It's weird and uncomfortable at times but I think my day-to-day life is more horrifying than the concept of being hired to do a job and having high-end whiskey thrown at me by a guy who is trying too hard to be my friend. CREEP isn't my idea of horror; it's more of a cross between a parody of OLD JOY (2006) and a budget remake of THE CABLE GUY (1996). It has a few unsettling moments but they're pretty much doused by how unconvincing it all is. Still, it's memorable and Marc Duplass is amusingly shameless and there's enough quotable lines to reference to easily earn it a comfortable corner on the cult couch.
I can't wait to see House At The End Of Time! I'm a sucker for a good supernatural story.
I really enjoyed the rest of these movies, but Creep was my favorite! I don't know what it was about it that really got me, but I was really unnerved by the end of it. I guess it started out being so uncomfortable to watch, it just set me on edge early! Even the scene when (SPOILERS AHEAD!!!) in the wolf mask rubbing his butt on the door and growling. Like, I knew it was a kinda funny visual, but it just ended up startling me! I saw it without hearing anything about it and I didn't have any expectations. Some of the horror options on Canadian Netflix are not great, so I was kinda expecting the worst.
On the other side of the coin, I really enjoyed Housebound, but I wish I hadn't heard anything about it beforehand. I had really high expectations and although I can't say I was disappointed, I wasn't as wowed as I should have been.
JennyD13,
I think you’ll really like House At The End Of Time. It’s one of those moves you can get lost in.
And I’m so glad you are a fan of Creep! I hadn’t read anything about it but I looked up its score on Rotten Tomatoes and the trailer made me think it was going to be terrifying but then I found it mostly funny instead. When it was over I felt kind of let down but then I kept thinking about it and I realized it had affected me more than I thought. Anyway, now I dig it just for being so memorable but I wish I had seen it without any expectations at all in the first place. My biggest issue may be that I don’t know how to read warning signs when it comes to crazy people! The scene you mentioned though with the mask is unnerving! All the sudden it’s like anything can happen and it’s always great to be reminded just how scary a simple mask can be.
I was able to see “Housebound†early on and without hearing much about so I think that did help and I have to admit that a part of me wished it had stayed a straight forward ghost movie because it did work so well like that but I loved the mom character and there was a bit of a funhouse vibe at the end too that really sold me.
Anyway it’s been on my mind a lot lately how expectations and even moods can affect the movie going experience so I really appreciate your comment! Thanks!