News

Streaming Services Are The Unsung Heroes During COVID-19

Published

4 years ago

March 23, 2020

Nurses, firefighters, and other essential crisis team members were the heroes during 9/11, and they still are today in this time of the great COVID-19 global lockdown, but there are other people who deserve a little credit and those are the ones behind streaming services.

Nearly 19 years ago America woke up to the news that large commercial aircrafts had flown into the World Trade Center in an act of terrorism. It was a shocking sight and nobody alive or near a television will ever forget it.

People reacted to the attacks by spending time with their friends and families. The public wasn’t going to let the terrorists win by staying at home in fear.

America went out into the world, it was a time of mass solidarity.

COVID-19 is not having it.

For the first time in modern history the United States is on lockdown. “Shelter in place” orders, quarantine directives, and other guidance are taking us out of the public and keeping us at home. It’s apparently saving lives, but it also cultivates the doldrums.

Thankfully there is something that can ameliorate the boredom: Binge-watch television on a streaming service. But for Netflix, the world’s most successful company in that arena, such a product almost didn’t happen.

In 2001, Netflix was near failure after the terrorist attacks. At the time, their business model was to have members receive DVDs and send them back via the postal service. September 11 had taken a toll on the company and they laid off one-third of their employees.

That would all change in 2007 when the company unveiled its then very limited streaming service. It was risky, but for a fee, customers could subscribe to a new video-on-demand feature. The movies weren’t that great, but as is usually the case, significant icons of pop culture have modest beginnings.

At last count, Netflix has over 160 million subscribers which is a far cry from the 300,000 viewers it had at the turn of the century.

Today the market is saturated with online media service providers and on-demand video rental companies. Entertainment choices are endless which until recently has become a criticism among the paying public.

Yet as America battles the coronavirus by flattening its curve, keeping people away from the things that entertain them collectively in public, our knights in streaming armor are contained in massive libraries of movies, television shows, and even video games.

The very things our parents said would rot our brains are actually saving lives.

Capitalism would suggest this is a perfect time to gouge the customer for money but just the opposite is happening. Many services are offering free subscriptions for 30 days to help holed-up families get through it.

Showtime, Acorn TV, Sundance, Starz, and one of our favorites, Shudder, are making available their content without a fee for a limited time, and it’s helping.

That’s not to say big subscription companies aren’t doing their part. The coronavirus is giving filmmakers a chance to turn a tiny profit by releasing first-run movies through their rental platforms.

The Hunt, The Invisible Man, Trolls World Tour, Onward and other big-budget films will have e-venues in which to give the public a chance to rent them without the risk of getting sick.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have said, “Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.”

Essentially, don’t go out into the public unless absolutely necessary.

The heroes in this pandemic are still the ones who are working overtime in hospitals, and the scientists who are racing for a cure and a vaccine. The heroes are also the truck drivers and grocery store workers who are essential to keeping people in food and supplies.

These people are not sitting at home binge-watching every episode of Schitt’s Creek, but I can guarantee they are happy that you are.

So thank you streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Prime and other entertainment options that provide us with content while we endure this confinement.

The economic fallout once this is all over is uncertain. Hopefully, America will bounce back vigorously with as little casualties as possible.

We have compiled some horror titles that are now streaming we think you might enjoy:

Shudder

Hulu

Prime

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

3 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Spirit Halloween (@spirithalloween)

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

5 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.