New year, new durational entertainment experience
December 19, 2018 8:15 AM Subscribe
My husband and I like to spend New Year's Eve marathoning horror movie series, and are having trouble coming up with a good one this year. Hope me?
In past years, we watched all the Hellraiser and Child's Play movies, which seemed to strike the right balance of good movies/enjoyably bad or goofy movies/not too boring and repetitive if you, say, watch all of them in a row/not horribly diminishing returns as we barreled to the end of the series (we watched the Hellraiser ones in random order, which ended up giving us some of the better ones to look forward to as the night wore on). We'd love some suggestions for a series along the same vein!
Within the horror genre, we're open to almost anything except straight-ahead slasher movies and torture porn (it's fine if a series has elements of either, though). We're also considering going with a theme instead of a series, if one of them tickles our fancy (suggested themes have included: the Arctic, musical folk horror, and Catholicism). The top contender right now is the Puppet Master movies, though I've never seen any of them and I'm almost certain the diminishing returns will come fast and hard with that series. And finally, it would be great if all or most of the series were available for free via streaming services (Shudder, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.) in the US, though that's not a dealbreaker.
In past years, we watched all the Hellraiser and Child's Play movies, which seemed to strike the right balance of good movies/enjoyably bad or goofy movies/not too boring and repetitive if you, say, watch all of them in a row/not horribly diminishing returns as we barreled to the end of the series (we watched the Hellraiser ones in random order, which ended up giving us some of the better ones to look forward to as the night wore on). We'd love some suggestions for a series along the same vein!
Within the horror genre, we're open to almost anything except straight-ahead slasher movies and torture porn (it's fine if a series has elements of either, though). We're also considering going with a theme instead of a series, if one of them tickles our fancy (suggested themes have included: the Arctic, musical folk horror, and Catholicism). The top contender right now is the Puppet Master movies, though I've never seen any of them and I'm almost certain the diminishing returns will come fast and hard with that series. And finally, it would be great if all or most of the series were available for free via streaming services (Shudder, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.) in the US, though that's not a dealbreaker.
Horror movies starring Toni Collette. It'd have to be a fairly broad definition of horror but I have been wanting to do this myself.
posted by wellred at 8:22 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by wellred at 8:22 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
How about the Don't Fuck With Women Film Festival of Jennifer's Body, Teeth, Hard Candy, Audition, and The Descent?
I've always wanted to host a double feature of Jennifer's Body and Teeth! SOMEDAY.
posted by Aquifer at 8:36 AM on December 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
I've always wanted to host a double feature of Jennifer's Body and Teeth! SOMEDAY.
posted by Aquifer at 8:36 AM on December 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
Ghost Stories. Released earlier this year, it’s based on the British stage play of the same name, and stars Martin Freeman and Andy Nyman. A professional paranormal skeptic is recruited by his idol who basically says “We’ve been wrong about everything: ghosts are real, the supernatural is real” and sends him on a road trip to investigate three unexplainable case studies.
That’s what you’re SUPPOSED to be seeing, but there’s way more to the story so I won’t spoil it for anyone. I saw the Toronto production of the play and it Freaked. Me. Out. The film does a fantastic job of adapting the story and retaining the tense creepiness.
posted by tantrumthecat at 9:06 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
That’s what you’re SUPPOSED to be seeing, but there’s way more to the story so I won’t spoil it for anyone. I saw the Toronto production of the play and it Freaked. Me. Out. The film does a fantastic job of adapting the story and retaining the tense creepiness.
posted by tantrumthecat at 9:06 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you're going to do the Don't Fuck with Women Festival (an idea I heartily endorse), you need to put Revenge (2017) on the list.
If you haven't seen them already, I would *highly* recommend all three of the "Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs" marathons on Shudder. The second and third ones (Dinners of Death and A Very Joe Bob Christmas) are themed.
posted by holborne at 9:08 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you haven't seen them already, I would *highly* recommend all three of the "Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs" marathons on Shudder. The second and third ones (Dinners of Death and A Very Joe Bob Christmas) are themed.
posted by holborne at 9:08 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
just a general PSA that Joe Bob Briggs writes for openly racist rag Taki's Magazine and anything he does should be boycotted off the face of the earth! I personally still like the Catholic idea! (Hi Lucy!)
posted by cakelite at 9:11 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by cakelite at 9:11 AM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
* Found footage marathon (e.g., the original Blair Witch, Quarantine, VHS, etc.)
* Pagan/folk horror movies (e.g., Wicker Man, Witch, Lair of the White Worm, etc.)
* Early appearances by stars in horror movies (e.g., Kevin Bacon in Friday the 13th, Johnny Depp in Nightmare on Elm Street, Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun, etc.)
* Sci-fi horror
posted by DrAstroZoom at 10:21 AM on December 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
* Pagan/folk horror movies (e.g., Wicker Man, Witch, Lair of the White Worm, etc.)
* Early appearances by stars in horror movies (e.g., Kevin Bacon in Friday the 13th, Johnny Depp in Nightmare on Elm Street, Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun, etc.)
* Sci-fi horror
posted by DrAstroZoom at 10:21 AM on December 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Leprechaun
posted by Ragged Richard at 10:35 AM on December 19, 2018
posted by Ragged Richard at 10:35 AM on December 19, 2018
on Netflix I really enjoyed Creep and Creep 2 - very suspenseful. Not gory. Super fun.
I also HIGHLY endorse ALL OF THE PSYCHO MOVIES (My favorite horror series) - Psycho (the original) is incredible obviously, but you'll be surprised at how good Psycho II, III and IV are!! You can probably get all 4 together for really cheap. Anthony Perkins plays Normal in all 4!
And THENNNNNNN if you're REALLY into it, you can stream the PREQUEL to Psycho, Bates Motel on Netflix. <3 Bates Motel might be my favorite TV series of the last 10 years. I love it so much.
Have fun!!
posted by Dressed to Kill at 10:58 AM on December 19, 2018
I also HIGHLY endorse ALL OF THE PSYCHO MOVIES (My favorite horror series) - Psycho (the original) is incredible obviously, but you'll be surprised at how good Psycho II, III and IV are!! You can probably get all 4 together for really cheap. Anthony Perkins plays Normal in all 4!
And THENNNNNNN if you're REALLY into it, you can stream the PREQUEL to Psycho, Bates Motel on Netflix. <3 Bates Motel might be my favorite TV series of the last 10 years. I love it so much.
Have fun!!
posted by Dressed to Kill at 10:58 AM on December 19, 2018
Sorry another fun series (funny gory I think) are the Final Destination series. Fun game: choose your player and guess how and when they're going to die. Place bets!! It's nonstop fun!!
And all Final Destination movies are really enjoyable.
posted by Dressed to Kill at 11:00 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
And all Final Destination movies are really enjoyable.
posted by Dressed to Kill at 11:00 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Children of the Corn. There's like 8 of them and they are a mix of okay, bad, and terribad.
posted by all about eevee at 11:30 AM on December 19, 2018
posted by all about eevee at 11:30 AM on December 19, 2018
The Cornetto trilogy of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End cover 3 different horror genres and aren’t less horrifying than, say, Child’s Play.
Stuart Gordon/Brian Yuzna HP Lovecraft films: Re-Animator, From Beyond, Castle Freak, Dagon, Bride of Re-Animator, Beyond Re-Animator
Rock and roll horror flicks? The Gate, Black Roses, Wild Zero (ok I just wanted to recommend Wild Zero, it’s a lot of fun)
Oh! The Phantasm series!
posted by rodlymight at 11:38 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Stuart Gordon/Brian Yuzna HP Lovecraft films: Re-Animator, From Beyond, Castle Freak, Dagon, Bride of Re-Animator, Beyond Re-Animator
Rock and roll horror flicks? The Gate, Black Roses, Wild Zero (ok I just wanted to recommend Wild Zero, it’s a lot of fun)
Oh! The Phantasm series!
posted by rodlymight at 11:38 AM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Frank Henenlotter:
- Basket Case (series)
- Brain Damage
- Frankenhooker
If you liked the Clive Barker theme (not all directed by him):
- Nightbreed
- Rawhead Rex
- Midnight Meat Train
- Candyman (series)
- Lord of Illusions
posted by exolstice at 12:39 PM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
- Basket Case (series)
- Brain Damage
- Frankenhooker
If you liked the Clive Barker theme (not all directed by him):
- Nightbreed
- Rawhead Rex
- Midnight Meat Train
- Candyman (series)
- Lord of Illusions
posted by exolstice at 12:39 PM on December 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Came to suggest Hellraiser, but since you've already done that the general Clive Barker theme is solid.
In the "films of one director" spirit, Cronenberg's early films should scratch that itch and are available streaming in Criterion editions through Kanopy, if your library has a subscription. There's a pretty consistent "body horror" theme throughout.
Also Takashi Miike's stuff from the early 'aughts - definitely elements of slasher absurdity but IMO even Ichi the Killer still has enough substantial weirdness to make it worth watching.
posted by aspersioncast at 12:51 PM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
In the "films of one director" spirit, Cronenberg's early films should scratch that itch and are available streaming in Criterion editions through Kanopy, if your library has a subscription. There's a pretty consistent "body horror" theme throughout.
Also Takashi Miike's stuff from the early 'aughts - definitely elements of slasher absurdity but IMO even Ichi the Killer still has enough substantial weirdness to make it worth watching.
posted by aspersioncast at 12:51 PM on December 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Phantasm movies are exactly what you're looking for. Like the Hellraiser films, the first one is almost just a setup for the awesome/cheesy setting of the second and third which are the peak of the series, and the fourth one is satisfying if you want a denouement.
posted by panhopticon at 1:39 PM on December 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by panhopticon at 1:39 PM on December 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Giallo? You could start with Dario Argento’s trilogies (the Animals trilogy and the Three Mothers trilogy, which includes Suspiria); his other classic movies like Profundo Rosso and Tenebrae; you could watch the remake of Suspiria; you could watch other classic horror giallo like Deliria, Don’t Torture A Duckling, Blood and Black Lace, The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail; you could watch the modern giallo Amer... lots of directions to go in.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 2:35 PM on December 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by chappell, ambrose at 2:35 PM on December 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
Zombie anthology:
Night of/Dawn of the Living Dead
Shaun of the Dead
Zombieland
Planet Terror
and I'm sure there are a dozen more decent ones...
posted by tacodave at 5:05 PM on December 19, 2018
Night of/Dawn of the Living Dead
Shaun of the Dead
Zombieland
Planet Terror
and I'm sure there are a dozen more decent ones...
posted by tacodave at 5:05 PM on December 19, 2018
Zombie International Festival would include:
Ravenous
Train to Busan
posted by cda at 8:48 PM on December 19, 2018
Ravenous
Train to Busan
posted by cda at 8:48 PM on December 19, 2018
How about scary children?
The Bad Seed
Village of the Damned
Hell Baby (if comedy is allowed)
Who Can Kill a Child
Orphan
The Fury
Firestarter
The Exorcist
posted by heatvision at 4:33 AM on December 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Bad Seed
Village of the Damned
Hell Baby (if comedy is allowed)
Who Can Kill a Child
Orphan
The Fury
Firestarter
The Exorcist
posted by heatvision at 4:33 AM on December 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
Super low-budget streaming psychological horror:
Resolution
Spring
The Endless (this is a trilogy)
They Look Like People
in the same vein, low-budget streaming dystopian future/end of the world horror:
Monsters
Monsters 2: Dark Continent
These Final Hours
The Darkest Dawn Blackout
Embers
Break-in movies where the hunter becomes the hunted:
Hush
Intruders
Don't Breathe
Tau
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 5:14 PM on December 23, 2018
Resolution
Spring
The Endless (this is a trilogy)
They Look Like People
in the same vein, low-budget streaming dystopian future/end of the world horror:
Monsters
Monsters 2: Dark Continent
These Final Hours
The Darkest Dawn Blackout
Embers
Break-in movies where the hunter becomes the hunted:
Hush
Intruders
Don't Breathe
Tau
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 5:14 PM on December 23, 2018
Response by poster: For posterity: we went with the theme of Internet Horror! Our list was far from an exhaustive survey of the genre, but here’s what we watched: Searching (2018), The Lawnmower Man (1992), Unfriended: Dark Web (2018), Ratter (2015), Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018 [this was only the most tangentially on-theme, but we wanted to watch/play it, so]), e-Demon (2016), and Brainscan (1994).
posted by quatsch at 11:59 AM on March 20, 2019
posted by quatsch at 11:59 AM on March 20, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:20 AM on December 19, 2018 [4 favorites]