By Emery Snyder @leeroy711
Preface: This is part of an ongoing blog series of curated movie marathons that are thematically or otherwise tied together. The other common factor tying these films together will be their availability to watch them all from the comfort of your own home on various streaming platforms. The goal is that writing this blog will somehow justify the excessive number of streaming platforms I subscribe to. The films will be found on some combination of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Mubi, Shudder, The Criterion Channel and/or Fandor. These titles will be available for the month that the blog is published. All of these subscriptions offer free trials so feel free to dive in and follow along… Have fun. Just don’t message me for my login information.
Preface: This is part of an ongoing blog series of curated movie marathons that are thematically or otherwise tied together. The other common factor tying these films together will be their availability to watch them all from the comfort of your own home on various streaming platforms. The goal is that writing this blog will somehow justify the excessive number of streaming platforms I subscribe to. The films will be found on some combination of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Mubi, Shudder, The Criterion Channel and/or Fandor. These titles will be available for the month that the blog is published. All of these subscriptions offer free trials so feel free to dive in and follow along… Have fun. Just don’t message me for my login information.
June 2019
Spring is over and it’s hot
outside again. And while everyone else is flocking to the beach, I’m turning my
A/C to “kill” and getting settled in for some of my favorite Summer flicks. I
specifically like to watch horror films in the Summer, especially if they scare
and discourage me from leaving the couch. I watch JAWS every Summer
religiously. I usually fit in one of the versions of PIRANHA (Dante or Aja).
And I don’t even want to admit to how many heads I’ve seen on a single shark on
the Sci-Fi channel on Saturday afternoons. And as if this wasn’t enough, Jordan
Peele’s beach-themed doppelganger horror, US is due for Blu-Ray release later
this month. I’m very excited to rewatch this one with the hopes that it will be
added to my Summer routine.
So, with that in mind, here are
some horror films available to stream right now that take place on or around a
beach.
The Stream
COLD SKIN (2017)
Directed by Xavier Gens – Streaming on Shudder
So,
this ‘beach’ is more of an Arctic coastline, but I play fast and loose with my
own rules so I’m including it. It’s a Shudder Exclusive right now and I really
think it’s worth the watch. The Lovecraftian creature design is fantastic, and
the under-siege lighthouse scenes are exciting and well put together. The whole
thing is shot beautifully.
COME OUT AND PLAY (2012)
Directed by Makinov – Streaming on Shudder
To
be clear, this is a remake Narciso Ibáñez Serrador’s WHO CAN KILL A CHILD?
(’76) a far superior film. But I still kind of appreciate what this film went
for and what it accomplishes. This version trades in the slow burn and social
commentary for adrenaline and gore. Which makes it easier fare for an 87-minute
distraction.
GRABBERS (2012)
Directed by Jon Wright – Streaming on Hulu
This
is just a very well-made horror/comedy from across the pond. A sleepy Irish
island is overtaken by sea monsters and their only line of defense is an
alcoholic police officer and his newly assigned partner. It is one of the most fun
times you can have with movie monsters. The two main characters played by
Richard Coyle and Ruth Bradley have a great chemistry together and the comedic
dialog is exactly what I've come to expect from British writers.
HOUR OF THE WOLF (1968)
Directed by Ingmar Bergman – Streaming on The Criterion Channel
Psychological torment is a common theme in Bergman’s work.
But this is probably the only film that dives off into the deep end of horror. Artist,
Johan (Max Von Sydow) and his wife, Alma (Liv Ullmann) are staying on a remote
island in this surreal work. I’ve probably watched this one about a half-dozen
times and I seem to come away with a slightly different interpretation every viewing.
The Gothic imagery that occupies the screen will keep you guessing exactly how
literally you’re supposed to be interpreting it.
I also find it interesting within the context of Bergman’s
entire filmography. He has plenty of films depicting the fragility of the human
psyche, the majority are about women’s mental state. Films like THROUGH A GLASS
DARKLY (’61), CRIES AND WHISPERS (’72), THE SILENCE (’63) and of course PERSONA
(’66) lead some (myself included) to question how Bergman felt about the
opposite sex. And I think it’s fascinating that his lone exploration of a weak-minded
man also turns out to be his only true horror.
LONG WEEKEND (1978)
Directed by Colin Eggleston – Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
If you only watch one movie from this list, make it this
one. It recently showed up on Prime and you can never be too sure how long it’s
going to stay. Traditionally, this one has been a bit more obscure and hard to
get a hold of. Recently, Synapse released a beautiful Blu-ray and I believe
that the Prime version is the same transfer.
‘Man vs. wild’ has always been a favorite sub-genre of mine.
Stories about people getting lost in the wilderness and braving the elements
are a good way for me to experience the worst of nature without having to leave
my couch. This one is not your typical fare though. It’s far more unnerving,
without ever introducing a supernatural element. It plays out like an environmentalist’s
moral tale. A couple of suburbanite weekend warriors pick a fight with nature
without even knowing it. Soon their lack of respect and dignity reap the wrath
of their surroundings. But the story is far less straightforward than I’m
alluding to. The horrors play out over a slow burn in night sounds and
disturbing imagery.
THE LURE (2015)
Directed by Agnieszka
Smoczyńska – Streaming on The Criterion Channel
And you didn’t even know that you needed a Polish musical
comedy horror about a couple of cabaret mermaids. Spoiler Alert: You do. It’s a
spectacular modern times Eurotrash retooling of the Hans Christian Anderson story.
Watch this for the color palette alone. In fact, invite your Mom and sister
over for a MAMMA MIA! Marathon and then put this on instead. They’ll thank you.
I promise.
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