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Streaming Services Are The Unsung Heroes During COVID-19

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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

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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