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Alex’s Top Three of 2021

I am a self-proclaimed Reaction Whore™. When it comes to showing people films that I love, I strive to provoke an evocative response, be it shock and awe, fear, or laughter.

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Malignant

I am a self-proclaimed Reaction Whore™. When it comes to showing people films that I love, I strive to provoke an evocative response, be it shock and awe, fear, or laughter. Malignant garners all of the above in one bonkers package. Directed by horror master James Wan, I was initially perplexed by the B-movie schlock it presents. The film’s opening borders on camp and reminded me of 1999’s House on Haunted Hill. The melodrama is almost tangible in the cold, damp house where protagonist Madison resides, and the plot screams direct-to-video. But the gag is, dear reader, that this film knows exactly what it’s doing, and once you understand this, you are in for a wild ride.

The film centers on the aforementioned Madison, whose life is upended by murders she presumes to be committed by her childhood imaginary friend, Gabriel. Its plot maneuvers through themes and topics of spousal abuse, astral projection, hot cops named Kekoa, the gray morality of science, bad wigs, and ultimately lands on the patriarchal control men have over women and their bodies. And while Malignant certainly toys with these ideas, its ultimate purpose is to reveal to us a twist and climax like no other: Gabriel is not Madison’s imaginary friend. He is an extreme teratoma attached to the back of her head from birth, which remained dormant in her skull until a recent violent altercation with her now murdered husband set him free.

Yes, it is the mother of all Reaction Whore™ moments. The crowning achievement, however, is that this information is revealed while Madison is imprisoned in a holding cell with a dozen other women wherein Gabriel unleashes a bloody reckoning upon them in a moment that can only be described as “backward John Wick.” So please, don’t shame my cinematic promiscuity. I’m only trying to spread the wealth.

The Fear Street Trilogy

 Not since Kill Bill and The Matrix released their respective parts within six months of one another have I had the pleasure to enjoy such a rapid-fire release schedule of a film series. Dished out on Netflix over the course of a few weeks in the height of the summer, The Fear Street Trilogy became an event in the style of the Movie of the Week that we rarely get to experience in today’s binge culture.

The trilogy tells the tale of the curse of the supposed 17th-century witch, Sarah Fier (I see what they did there), that looms over the town of Shadyside. Its overarching plot focuses on a group of teens in the phosphorescent-infused Fear Street: 1994 who are inexplicably linked to the curse and its murderous rampage. The following two films bring us further back to the washed-out nostalgia of a summer camp in Fear Street: 1978, and finally to the early American settlers of Fear Street: 1666 to delve deeper into the history of the curse and why exactly people are transforming into vicious killers, Evil Dead style.

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Knowing Fear Street is based on a young adult book series of the same name, I honestly did not have high expectations going in. I was surprised with how much these films lean into their R rating, violently setting the bar high with the first kill and not letting up through three gruesome supernatural slashers worth of carnage. They also cleverly take a page from American Horror Story and retain key members of the cast to play different characters in each film. The result gave me all the feels as I grew to care for these actors and their well-developed characters right up until they were snatched from my heart in a series of kills that stand up to some of the better slashers out there. Fear Street: 1978, my favorite of the trio, ends in an especially brutal and tragic sequence between two sisters that left my jaw on the ground.

Netflix served up a thrilling summer indulgence this year, and I invite them to try it again sometime.

Titane

French filmmaker, Julia Ducournau, delivered one of the most unexpected films on the 2021 bingo card: Titane. A bizarre story on love and human evolution, it follows a dancer with a steel plate in her head who moonlights as a serial killer, is impregnated by a car, and flees her crimes to disguise herself as a man’s decade-long missing son, which then results in the pair finding unconditional love in one another and the human/machine hybrid child she births into the world.

Much can be said concerning Titane’s sophisticated themes and grotesque imagery, and perhaps that’s why it stood out to me. To take such an absurd premise and skillfully track the journey of a woman quite literally made of steel and detached from her humanity, who finds love and acceptance with a similarly lost stranger, is a thing of art. The cold steel of Titane melted away, as did my mind, by the time the credits rolled.

 

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Alex Warrick is a film lover and gaymer living the Los Angeles fantasy by way of an East Coast attitude. Interested in all things curious and silly, he was fearless until a fateful viewing of Poltergeist at a young age changed everything. That encounter nurtured a morbid fascination with all things horror that continues today. When not engrossed in a movie, show or game he can usually be found on a rollercoaster, at a drag show, or texting his friends about smurfs.

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Netflix in February

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It’s still too cold to seriously consider going outside, so I am still in my couch potato era. Cozy, comfort, and Netflix are the three words people will hear me chanting under my breath this month. I also recently finished a group rewatch of Slasher: Solstice and have been looking at the other TV shows currently living on Netflix. Which is why I am looking for the warmth of my next quick binge. That’s right! I’m here with a few shows that could be taken down in one frosty February weekend. Most of them have been on my radar forever, and one of them I want to revisit because it screams lazy Stephen King Sunday. However, what I find most appealing about each of them is that I am guaranteed to lose at least a whole day if it’s a match made in hell. 

Without further ado, here are the five titles I have my evil eye on this month. Check out my five Netflix picks for this February below! Happy binging to all my fellow couch potatoes! 

The Best Movies to Stream on Netflix This Month

Archive 81 (2022)

An archivist finds himself reconstructing the work of a filmmaker and her investigation into a dangerous cult. I missed Archive 81, but have only heard good things about it. Which is why it’s weird it was cancelled after only one season, consisting of eight episodes. The popular show was created by Rebecca Sonnenshine and starred talent like Mamoudou Athie and Matt McGorry. So, I’m long overdue for this Netflix watch and am excited to finally see what all of the fuss is about. 

Castle Rock (2018 – 2019)

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A series set in the town of Castle Rock and inhabited by characters from some of Stephen King’s most infamous works. This is the only show on this streaming guide that I have already seen. However, it’s very cozy, and I want to go back in. While this divisive series wasn’t for everyone, it scratched my King itch better than most of his adaptations. Also, this cast was ridiculously stacked. Where else can you see André Holland, Melanie Lynskey, Bill Skarsgård, Jane Levy, Sissy Spacek, and Lizzy Caplan all play together? I will definitely be revisiting these twenty episodes that make up these two seasons of what the fuckery.

NOS4A2 (2019-2020)

An immortal who feeds on children is threatened by a young woman with a mysterious gift. This show has circled my list forever, and it’s high time I cross it off my list. I also need to know what Zachary Quinto and Ebon Moss-Bachrach were doing during this era of genre TV for research. I’m ready to run through these twenty episodes and report back on my findings. More importantly, I love to see a show with big “fuck them kids” energy. So, fingers crossed, he eats a few kids to keep me leaned in. I need this to be good for so many reasons.

Peaky Blinders (2013 – 2022)

A mob family in 1900s England sews razor blades in their caps and causes a ruckus. I am so ready to find out how this alleged crime drama collected so many horror fans. Is it just because it stars Cillian Murphy? Or is it very bloody and violent due to the razor blades being a key factor? Whatever the case, I’m excited to see all six seasons on Netflix. I plan to take these thirty-six episodes down like it is my job. I also cannot get over how lucky I have been to avoid all spoilers for the show, and I need to jump on it before someone ruins it for me already.

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Reality Z (2020)

When a zombie apocalypse breaks out, a TV studio becomes a shelter for a small band of survivors in Rio de Janeiro. Because of the pandemic, I missed this Brazilian horror show. However, this seems like the kind of international gory zombie situation that I would like to make my new personality. I’m looking forward to seeing if these 10 episodes are one of the few reasons to keep talking to Netflix this year. Fingers crossed it is a scary good time, because we deserve some scares this February. 

So, that’s where you can find me this February. Under a weighted blanket, in front of a TV, and eagerly taking advantage of the shows Netflix has collected. Let me know if any of these titles on my list will be your excuse to stay in this winter, too. Although, I am sure many of you will be revisiting your favorite Mike Flanagan Netflix Originals. Meanwhile, I am trying to get into some new (to me) stuff because the winter of our discontent is upon us. I plan to beat the winter of our discontent by being unreasonably comfortable and drowning in genre shows. I advise you to do the same because the weather outside is frightful and we have no place to go. 

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The Best Horror You Can Stream on Shudder in February 2026

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Shudder is making February a little more frightening with this month of programming. The streamer is adding indie horror that has been stuck in festival purgatory for a couple of years. The app is also getting a few international movies I need to see, a couple of classics, and one of my favorite overlooked Blaxploitation horror gems. So, it should go without saying that I will be very busy this month.

That is why I am sharing my notes with the class now so I can live every day in February like it is Shudder Saturday. Check out my five picks for the month below now and be prepared to see some weird stuff!

The Best Movies to Stream on Shudder This Month

J.D.’s Revenge (1976)

A murdered 1940s gangster possesses a young law student 30 years later to get revenge on his killer. This overlooked piece of cinema stars Glynn Turman and Louis Gossett Jr. I caught it last year, and will still argue that it is at the intersection of Blaxploitation and Shakespearean theatre. The plot is plotting, the drama is over the top, and the players are diabolical. Come to laugh at the outfits and stay for the betrayal and outstanding performances. I am especially grateful that Shudder is getting J.D.’s Revenge this month, so people can see a cleaner copy without ad breaks. It is truly a Black History Month miracle. Get into it while you still can.

You can watch J.D.’s Revenge on February 1st.

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Nina Forever (2015)

A suicidal man starts dating a co-worker. However, whenever they have sex his dead girlfriend appears. That premise has my attention, and I will be hitting play on this immediately. I want to watch this dead woman heckle this man and his new girlfriend almost as much as I want anything else in life at the moment. This British horror comedy has my attention, and I hope it is even half as good as I have built it up to be in my head. This is the kind of chaos I expect from Shudder, and I am glad they are one of the few things that I can depend on these days.

You can watch Nina Forever on February 9th.

Kill Your Lover (2024)

A couple’s relationship becomes so toxic that it leads to an acidic battle to the death. Kill Your Lover is a movie that understands the horrors of a bad romance. This movie is sick, this apartment gets dank, and it will remind you that being single is usually for the best. I’m beyond excited to make people watch this now that it is finally on Shudder. After all, how many indie body horror breakup movies will we get in this lifetime? I highly recommend that you watch it with your friends, who should separate and see if it starts an overdue conversation.

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You can watch Kill Your Lover on February 9th.

Hood Witch (2024)

A single mother who smuggles exotic animals and illegal goods develops an app that connects users with spiritual healers. However, when someone uses her app and gets deadly results, her community turns on her. Hood Witch is a lot of anxiety seasoned with somegood for hermoments. They take a witch hunt virtual with the use of apps, cellphones, and internet outrage over misinformation. The thought of your internet ops meeting up to hunt you down is enough to make us break out in a cold sweat. This movie was a fine time when I caught it a couple of years ago. I imagine it has only gotten even more timely as it finally makes its way to Shudder.

You can watch Hood Witch on February 16th.

The Last Sacrifice (2024)

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The Last Sacrifice examines the real-life 1945 murder that inspired The Wicker Man (1973) and jump-started folk horror as we know it. The alarming witchcraft killing of Charles Walton shook its small community, and this true-crime documentary is here to remind us that this popular cult movie is based on a true unsolved murder. The doc also looks into society’s rabid fascination with true crime. How often do we sensationalize something grizzly to the point of losing the humanity of the subject? This documentary has eluded me for months, and I am looking forward to catching it while it’s on Shudder this month. What a time to be a subscriber!

You can watch The Last Sacrifice on February 16th.

Shudder really has something for every day of the month, and I am living. They really thought of every good little ghoul, and that’s why they’re kinda the best. So, it is only polite that we smash the play button on these wicked goodies and tell our friends to do the same.

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