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Netflix Canada: Top 10 Horror Films You Need to Watch

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Hello Canada! If you’re looking for a breakdown of the best horror films on Netflix, here’s a good place to start. Our guide to Netflix North will be updated regularly to include new additions and tried-and-true favorites. For now, here are my top 10 picks (in no particular order) to tide you over between those dreaded made-for-tv Holiday specials.

The Wailing (2016)


From the writer/director of The Chaser, this suspenseful South Korean horror thriller received widespread critical acclaim. There’s a genuine mystery at the heart of it.  You are constantly wary of what to expect, who to suspect, and where to go next. The film is a simmering stew that gradually turns up the heat to a dramatic and unforgettable finish.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)


This companion piece to Cloverfield is kind of like a bottle episode – but with a much higher budget. The small cast is confined to a single location where they must confront and resolve an increasingly suspicious problem. John Goodman’s performance as Howard is unnerving, captivating, and hauntingly reserved for a man who is best known for his more dynamic roles.

Green Room (2015)


Jeremy Saulnier gave us a knockout follow-up to Blue Ruin (2013). This film does not pull any punches, throwing our protagonists (lead by the late Anton Yelchin) into a hopeless and unyielding fight for survival. The peaceful opening act sets the stage for a mighty storm that perfectly matches the throbbing energy of the punk-rock theme

Bone Tomahawk (2015)


S. Craig Zahler’s Bone Tomahawk is probably one of the best Western/Horror crossovers you will ever see. The cast  – Kurt Russell, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins (who absolutely steals the show) – are absolutely superb. It honors all the Western tropes, however, it goes full-throttle with the brutality. The climax is more savagely vicious than any Western and – to be honest – it ups the ante for Horror violence as well.

The Witch (2015)


For his directorial debut, Writer/Director Robert Eggers made a serious commitment to creating an authentic period piece. Most of the dialogue is taken directly from journals and court records from the era and extensive research was applied to find the right sound for the musical score (using Old World instruments like the Swedish Nychelharpa). The set was built using historically accurate materials and the film was mostly shot with natural lighting– the indoor scenes were done by candlelight. Eggers’ hard work has paid off. The film was a success with critics and horror fans alike. The Witch also caught the attention of the media when it was endorsed by The Satanic Temple.

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)


A faux-documentary is a fantastic way to work with the “found footage” sub-genre of horror. It provides a legitimate explanation for the presence of the camera and leads us to the action in a more believable way. The topic of this faux-documentary – Deborah Logan’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease – is carefully and respectfully presented. However, it becomes quite clear that Deborah’s experiences are not normal.

Hush (2016)


In Hush, a deaf writer must put her creative thinking to the test when trying out out-smart and outlast an unknown assailant. Her at-home-attacker (John Gallagher Jr. – who you can also find in 10 Cloverfield Lane) presents a continuous threat. He has come fully prepared; his story is never explained, but his intentions are clear. The concept is similar to Wait Until Dark, but with the modern struggle of disconnected WiFi to thwart a Skype connection.

You’re Next (2011)


Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett (V/H/S, V/H/S/2, The Guest, Blair Witch) are a formidable team. They’ve got a pretty solid track record of creating a film that thrills, chills and kills. You’re Next puts a fun twist on the home invasion horror and throws a badass wrench in the mix. With the rise of the New Scream Queen, we’re seeing a lot of strong, kickass women in horror films. In You’re Next, Erin (Sharni Vinson) is certainly one of the most capable victims you’ll ever see.

It Follows (2014)


It Follows
is one of those films that is kind of timeless. There are no fancy new cars, no iPhones, nothing to really suggest any modern digital connectivity. Our young heroes are truly all alone with no help in sight. Their anxious terror comes from the knowledge that the threat is unrelenting and inescapable. The atmosphere is supported by the fantastic synth soundtrack and decaying locations. It’s bleak, it’s creepy, and it’s a great watch.

The Invitation (2015)


The art of the slow burn is coming up more and more in recent horror films. Actually, most of the films listed here are “slow burners”. Director Karyn Kusama uses a lighter touch than her previous films (Jennifer’s Body, Girlfight, Æon Flux) to really stress the tension of this Psychological Thriller. Due to the slower pace, it may require some patience, but there is a great payoff.

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Brad Dourif Says He’s Retiring Except For One Important Role

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Brad Dourif has been doing movies for nearly 50 years. Now it seems he is walking away from the industry at 74 to enjoy his golden years. Except, there is a caveat.

Recently, digital entertainment publication JoBlo’s Tyler Nichols talked to some of the Chucky television series cast members. During the interview, Dourif made an announcement.

“Dourif said that he’s retired from acting,” says Nichols. “The only reason he came back for the show was because of his daughter Fiona and he considers Chucky creator Don Mancini to be family. But for non-Chucky stuff, he considers himself retired.”

Dourif has voiced the possessed doll since 1988 (minus the 2019 reboot). The original movie “Child’s Play” has become such a cult classic it’s at the top of some people’s best chillers of all time. Chucky himself is ingrained in pop culture history much like Frankenstein or Jason Voorhees.

While Dourif may be known for his famous voiceover, he is also an Oscar-nominated actor for his part in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Another famous horror role is The Gemini Killer in William Peter Blatty’s Exorcist III. And who can forget Betazoid Lon Suder in Star Trek: Voyager?

The good news is that Don Mancini is already pitching a concept for season four of Chucky which might also include a feature-length movie with a series tie-in. So, Although Dourif says he is retiring from the industry, ironically he is Chucky’s friend till the end.

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Editorial

7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch

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The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.

The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.

We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.

Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?

Scream Live (2023)

Scream Live

Ghostface (2021)

Ghostface

Ghost Face (2023)

Ghost Face

Don’t Scream (2022)

Don’t Scream

Scream: A Fan Film (2023)

Scream: A Fan Film

The Scream (2023)

The Scream

A Scream Fan Film (2023)

A Scream Fan Film
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Another Creepy Spider Movie Hits Shudder This Month

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Good spider films are a theme this year. First, we had Sting and then there was Infested. The former is still in theaters and the latter is coming to Shudder starting April 26.

Infested has been getting some good reviews. People are saying that it’s not only a great creature feature but also a social commentary on racism in France.

According to IMDb: Writer/director Sébastien Vanicek was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they’re spotted, they’re swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.

Shudder has become the gold standard for streaming horror content. Since 2016, the service has been offering fans an expansive library of genre movies. in 2017, they began to stream exclusive content.

Since then Shudder has become a powerhouse in the film festival circuit, buying distribution rights to movies, or just producing some of their own. Just like Netflix, they give a film a short theatrical run before adding it to their library exclusively for subscribers.

Late Night With the Devil is a great example. It was released theatrically on March 22 and will begin streaming on the platform starting April 19.

While not getting the same buzz as Late Night, Infested is a festival favorite and many have said if you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to take heed before watching it.

Infested

According to the synopsis, our main character, Kalib is turning 30 and dealing with some family issues. “He’s fighting with his sister over an inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a shop and brings it back to his apartment. It only takes a moment for the spider to escape and reproduce, turning the whole building into a dreadful web trap. The only option for Kaleb and his friends is to find a way out and survive.”

The film will be available to watch on Shudder starting April 26.

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