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  • Writer's pictureGabe Powers

Grinding the Stream April 2021 UPDATES: North American Horror & Cult

Welcome to spring on the stream! As per usual, I'm including as many movies as I can per each category as I scour Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Arrow, Peacock, Shudder, Tubi, Midnight Pulp (a "+" will be included wherever subscription fees apply), VUDU’s free selections, The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, Crackle, Dark Matter TV, Night Flight, Shout Factory TV (though most of their titles can also be watched via Amazon Prime). I've also started adding Paramount + titles


Again, be warned – all of the free apps have ad breaks (I know, it sucks) and the video quality is inconsistent from app to app. Sometimes it's genuine HD, other times, it's sub-VHS. I've also included links to my own reviews of some of these films.



The Masters of Horror (so-called)


Clive Barker Movies

I know he’s British, shhhh...

  • Transmutations (aka: Underworld; directed by George Pavlou, 1985) – Shout Factory TV and Pluto TV

  • Rawhead Rex (directed by George Pavlou, 1986) – Shudder

  • Hellraiser (1987) – Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel, Shudder, The Roku Channel, and Tubi

  • Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 (directed by Tony Randel, 1988) – HULU, Amazon Prime, Shudder, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Tubi

  • Nightbreed (1990) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, VUDU Free, Peacock, Tubi, and Pluto TV (director’s cut)

  • Candyman (directed by Bernard Rose, 1992) – Tubi

  • Lord of Illusions (1995) – Tubi and Pluto TV

  • Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (directed by Bill Condon, 1995) – Amazon Prime

  • The Midnight Meat Train (directed by Ryûhei Kitamura, 2008) – Pluto TV and Tubi

  • Books of Blood (directed by John Harrison, 2009) – Amazon Prime, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and Tubi

  • Books of Blood (directed by Brannon Braga, 2020) – HULU

John Carpenter Horror/Thriller/Sci-fi Movies

  • Dark Star (1974) – The Roku Channel and Shout Factory TV

  • Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) – HBO Max

  • Halloween (1978) – Shudder and The Roku Channel

  • The Fog (1980) – Shudder

  • Escape from New York (1981) – HBO Max

  • Starman (1984) – Amazon Prime

  • They Live (1988) – Peacock

  • Body Bags (with Tobe Hooper, 1993) – Amazon Prime, Peacock, Shudder, The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Shout Factory TV, and Popcorn Flix


Larry Cohen Horror Movies (RIP)

  • Full Moon High (1981) – Amazon Prime

  • Q: The Winged Serpent (1982) – Pluto TV and Popcorn Flix

  • The Stuff (1985) – Amazon Prime, Arrow, and Tubi

  • Maniac Cop (directed by William Lustig, 1988) – Shudder and Midnight Pulp

  • Maniac Cop 2 (directed by William Lustig, 1990) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Night Flight, and Popcorn Flix

  • Maniac Cop 3 (directed by William Lustig, 1992) – Shudder, VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Popcorn Flix

  • Uncle Sam (directed by William Lustig, 1997) – Tubi

Don Coscarelli Horror Movies.

  • Phantasm (1979) – Amazon Prime, Peacock, Crackle, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Popcorn Flix

  • Phantasm II (1988) – Tubi

  • Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994) – Amazon Prime, Peacock, Crackle, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Popcorn Flix

  • Phantasm: OvlIVion (1998) – Amazon Prime, Peacock, Crackle, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Popcorn Flix

  • Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • John Dies at the End (2012) – VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, and Tubi

  • Phantasm: RaVager (directed by David Hartman, 2016) – Amazon Prime, Peacock, Crackle, and Tubi

  • BONUS: The Beastmaster (1982) – Amazon Prime


Wes Craven Horror Movies (RIP)

  • The Last House on the Left (1972) Amazon Prime, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi

  • The Hills Have Eyes (1977) – Criterion Channel, Shudder, Arrow, and Tubi

  • Stranger in Our House (1978) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Deadly Blessing (1981) – Tubi

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – HBO Max

  • The Hills Have Eyes Part 2 (1984) – Arrow and Tubi

  • Invitation to Hell (1984) – Tubi and VUDU Free

  • Chiller (1985) – Amazon Prime and The Roku Channel

  • Shocker (1989) – HBO Max

  • New Nightmare (1994) – HBO Max

  • Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) – Amazon Prime and Peacock

  • Scream (1996) – HBO Max

  • Scream 2 (1997) – HBO Max

  • Scream 3 (2000) – HBO Max


David Cronenberg Horror Movies

  • Stereo (1969) – Criterion Channel

  • Shivers (aka: They Came From Within, 1975) – The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix and Tubi

  • Rabid (1977)The Roku Channel and Dark Matter TV

  • The Brood (1979) – HBO Max

  • Scanners (1981) – HBO Max

  • Dead Zone (1983) – Amazon Prime and HULU

  • Dead Ringers (1988) – Amazon Prime, Peacock, Tubi, Popcorn Flix, Pluto TV, and Shout Factory TV

  • eXistenZ (1999) – Peacock


Joe Dante Movies

  • Piranha (1978) – Amazon Prime

  • The Howling (1981) – Shudder

  • Twilight Zone: The Movie (co-directed with John Landis, Steven Spielberg, and George Miller, 1983) – HBO Max

  • Gremlins (1985) – HBO Max

  • Explorers (1985) – Amazon Prime

  • Innerspace (1987) – HBO Max

  • Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) – HBO Max


Brian de Palma Horror Movies/Thrillers

  • Murder à la Mod (1968) – The Roku Channel and Tubi

  • Sisters (1972) – Criterion Channel and HBO Max

  • Femme Fatale (2002) – Amazon Prime and HBO Max

  • Passion (2012) – Amazon Prime, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and VUDU Free



Stuart Gordon Movies (RIP)

  • Re-Animator (1985) – Shudder, Arrow, Midnight Pulp+, and Tubi

  • Dolls (1987) – Tubi

  • Robot Jox (1989) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Daughter of Darkness (1990)Tubi

  • The Pit and the Pendulum (1991) – Tubi and Pluto TV

  • Castle Freak (1995) – Shudder and Tubi

  • Space Truckers (1996) – Amazon Prime

  • Dagon (2001) – VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, and Tubi

  • King of the Ants (2003) VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Popcorn FX, and Tubi

  • Edmond (2005) – Amazon Prime, VUDU Free, and Tubi

  • Stuck (2007) – Shudder and Tubi

  • BONUS: Bride of Re-Animator (Brian Yuzna, 1995) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, Arrow, Night Flight, Midnight Pulp+, and Tubi


Tobe Hooper Movies (RIP)

  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – Shudder, Criterion Channel, Arrow, and Tubi

  • Eaten Alive (aka: Slaughter Hotel; 1976) – Amazon Prime and Night Flight

  • Poltergeist (1982) – HBO Max

  • Lifeforce (1985) – Amazon Prime

  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) – Shudder, The Roku Channel, and Pluto TV

  • Invaders from Mars (1986) – Tubi

  • Body Bags (with John Carpenter, 1993) – Amazon Prime, Peacock, Shudder, VUDU Free, Shout Factory TV, and Popcorn Flix

  • Crocodile (2000) – The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Crackle, and Pluto TV


Sam Raimi Movies

  • Simple Plan (1998) – Amazon Prime and HULU

  • The Gift (2000) – Amazon Prime and HULU

  • Drag Me to Hell (2009) – Peacock


George A. Romero Movies (RIP)

  • Night of the Living Dead (1968) – Criterion Channel and HBO Max (best transfer), Amazon Prime, Shudder, VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, Night Flight, Midnight Pulp +, and Tubi

  • There's Always Vanilla (1971) – Arrow and Tubi

  • Season of the Witch (aka: Hungry Wives, 1972) – Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel, Arrow, Shudder, Tubi, and Midnight Pulp

  • The Crazies (1973) – Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel, Arrow, VUDU Free, Tubi, and Midnight Pulp

  • Knightriders (1981) – Amazon Prime, VUDU Free, Popcorn Flix, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Shout Factory TV (including commentary track version)

  • Day of the Dead (1985) – HBO Max and Pluto TV

  • Monkey Shines (1988) – HBO Max

  • Two Evil Eyes (Italian: Due occhi diabolici; co-directed with Dario Argento, 1990) – VUDU Free, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi

  • Night of the Living Dead (directed by Tom Savini, 1990) – Tubi

  • Bruiser (2000) – The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, and Tubi

  • Land of the Dead (2005) – Peacock

  • Diary of the Dead (2008) – The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, and Tubi


Vincent Price Movies

(I realize some of these are British-made)

  • Shock (Alfred L. Werker, 1946) – Amazon Prime and Pluto TV

  • The Baron of Arizona (Samuel Fuller, 1950) – Criterion Channel

  • House on Haunted Hill (William Castle, 1959) – Amazon Prime, Fandor, The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, Dark Matter TV, Midnight Pulp, Pluto TV, and Tubi

  • The Bat (Crane Wilbur, 1959) – Amazon Prime, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Dark Matter TV, and Tubi

  • The Tingler (William Castle, 1959) – Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Popcorn Flix

  • The Pit and the Pendulum (Roger Corman, 1961) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Tales of Terror (Roger Corman, 1962) – Amazon Prime

  • The Raven (Roger Corman, 1963) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • The Haunted Palace (Roger Corman, 1963) – Amazon Prime

  • The Comedy of Terrors (Jacques Tourneur, 1963) – Amazon Prime

  • Diary of a Madman (Reginald Le Borg, 1963) – Amazon Prime

  • Twice-Told Tales (Sidney Salkow, 1963) – Amazon Prime

  • The Last Man on Earth (Ubaldo Ragona and Sidney Salkow, 1964) – Amazon Prime,The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, Pluto TV, Midnight Pulp, Tubi, and Dark Matter TV

  • The Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964) – The Roku Channel

  • Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs (Italian: Le spie vengono dal semifreddo; Mario Bava, 1966) –Amazon Prime

  • The Oblong Box (Gordon Hessler, 1969) Amazon Prime

  • Cry of the Banshee (Gordon Hessler, 1970) – Amazon Prime

  • Theatre of Blood (Douglas Hickox, 1973) – The Roku Channel and Tubi

  • Madhouse (Jim Clark, 1974) – Amazon Prime

  • The Monster Club (Roy Ward Baker, 1981) Amazon Prime, Shudder, and Tubi

  • From a Whisper to a Scream (Jeff Burr, 1987) – Amazon Prime

  • Dead Heat (Mark Goldblatt, 1988) Amazon Prime, Shudder, and Tubi



The Masters of Trash (so-dubbed by myself)


Al Adamson Movies

  • The Female Bunch (1969) – Tubi

  • Jessi's Girls (1975) – The Roku Channel and Tubi

  • Sunset Cove (1978) – Tubi

  • Death Dimension (1978) – Amazon Prime and Tubi


Herschell Gordon Lewis Movies


Frank Henenlotter Movies

  • Basket Case (1982) – Arrow, Midnight Pulp +, and Tubi

  • Brain Damage (1988) – Arrow, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • Bad Biology (2008) – Tubi

  • That's Sexploitation! (2013) – Night Flight


Ted V. Mikels Movies

  • Strike Me Deadly (1963) – Tubi

  • Girl in Gold Boots (1968) Fandor, Tubi, and Shout Factory TV

  • The Corpse Grinders (1971) – Amazon Prime, Fandor, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • Blood Orgy of the She Devils (1973) – Fandor, Midnight Pulp +, and Tubi

  • The Doll Squad (1973) Amazon Prime, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • 10 Violent Women (1982) Fandor and Tubi

  • Angel of Vengeance (1987) – Amazon Prime

  • Mission: Killfast (1991) – Tubi

  • Dimension in Fear(1998) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • The Corpse Grinders II (2000) – Midnight Pulp and Tubi

  • Mark of the Astro-Zombies (2004) – Tubi

  • Cauldron: Baptism of Blood (2004) – Tubi


Andy Milligan Movies

  • The Body Beneath (1970) – Amazon Prime, Popcorn Flix, and Pluto TV

  • Guru, the Mad Monk (1970) – Amazon Prime, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • Blood (1973) – Tubi

  • Legacy of Blood (1978) – Tubi and Shout Factory TV



Must-See North American Underground Horror Classics

These are a series of relatively deep cuts that offer unique, sometimes surrealistic alternatives to the more popular American (and Canadian) horror movies of the ‘70s (and early ‘80s). I can’t guarantee everyone will like them, but, for better or worse, I think of them as vital pieces of Americana and, uh, Canadana(?).

  • Spider Baby (Jack Hill, 1967) – Fandor, The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Midnight Pulp, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi

  • The Headless Eyes (Kent Bateman, 1971) – YouTube

  • Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (John D. Hancock, 1971) – Popcorn Flix

  • Images (Robert Altman, 1972) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, Arrow, Criterion Channel, The Roku Channel, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • Blood and Lace (Philip S. Gilbert, 1971) – Amazon Prime

  • Grave of the Vampire (John Hayes, 1972) – Amazon Prime and Midnight Pulp

  • Malatesta’s Carnival of Blood (Christopher Speeth, 1973) – Arrow and Tubi

  • Ganja & Hess (Bill Gunn, 1973) – Shudder and Popcorn Flix

  • Blackenstein (William A. Levey, 1973)Amazon Prime, VUDU Free, and Tubi

  • Messiah of Evil (Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, 1973) – Amazon Prime, Midnight Pulp, and Dark Matter TV

  • The Baby (Ted Post, 1973) – Arrow, Shudder, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • Deranged (Jeff Gillen & Alan Ormsby, 1974) – Amazon Prime

  • Deathdream (aka: Dead of Night; Bob Clark, 1974) – Criterion Channel, Night Flight, VUDU Free, and Tubi

  • Devil Times Five (aka: People Toys; Sean MacGregor, 1974) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Alice Sweet Alice (aka: Communion; Alfred Sole, 1976) – Amazon Prime, The Roku Channel, Midnight Pulp +, and Tubi

  • The Witch Who Came from the Sea (Matt Cimber, 1976) – Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel, Arrow, Night Flight, Midnight Pulp +, and Tubi

  • Cathy’s Curse (Eddy Matalon, 1977) – Popcorn Flix and Tubi

  • Rituals (aka: The Creeper; Peter Carter, 1977) – Fandor and Midnight Pulp +

  • Shock Waves (Ken Wiederhorn, 1977) – Night Flight and Tubi

  • Death Bed: The Bed that Eats (George Barry, 1977) – Amazon Prime, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • Tourist Trap (David Schmoeller, 1979) – Shudder and Tubi

  • The Driller Killer (Abel Ferrara, 1979) – Amazon Prime, Arrow, Criterion Channel, and Tubi

  • Christmas Evil (Lewis Jackson, 1980) – Shudder, The Roku Channel, VUDU Plus, and Midnight Pulp


Franchise Horror


Friday the 13th

  • Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (Adam Marcus, 1993) – HBO Max

  • Jason X (James Isaac, 2001) Netflix

  • Freddy vs. Jason (Ronny Yu, 2003) – HBO Max

  • Friday the 13th (Marcus Nispel, 2009)HBO Max (the rest are on Starz if you guys have that)


A Nightmare on Elm Street

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street (Wes Craven, 1984) – HBO Max

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (Jack Sholder, 1985) – HBO Max

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (Renny Harlin, 1988) – HBO Max

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (Stephen Hopkins, 1989) – HBO Max

  • Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (Rachel Talalay, 1991) – HBO Max

  • New Nightmare (Wes Craven, 1994) – HBO Max

  • Freddy vs. Jason (Ronny Yu, 2003) – HBO Max

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street (Samuel Bayer, 2010) – HBO Max (I can't believe the best one, Dream Warriors, is the only one not streaming...)


Halloween

  • Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978) – Shudder and The Roku Channel

  • Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (Dwight H. Little, 1988) – Shudder

  • Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (Dominique Othenin-Girard, 1989) Shudder


Child's Play

  • Child's Play 2 (John Lafia, 1990) Netflix

  • Child's Play 3 (Jack Bender, 1991) Netflix

  • Bride of Chucky (Ronny Yu, 1998) – Netflix

  • Seed of Chucky (Don Mancini, 2004) – Netflix

  • Child's Play (Lars Klevberg, 2019) – Amazon Prime and HULU


Final Destination

  • Final Destination 5 (Steven Quale, 2011) – HBO Max and Tubi



Non-Franchise Slashers and Other Mad Killers

  • Invasion of the Blood Farmers (Ed Adlum, 1972) – Midnight Pulp +, Night Flight, and Tubi

  • Black Christmas (Bob Clark, 1974) – Shudder, VUDU Free, Shout Factory TV, Peacock, Pluto TV, and Tubi

  • Drive-In Massacre (Stu Segall, 1976) – Amazon Prime, Night Flight, Midnight Pulp +, and Tubi

  • Savage Weekend (David Paulsen 1979) – Amazon Prime and Night Flight

  • Maniac (Bill Lustig, 1980) – Amazon Prime, VUDU Free, Shudder, Night Flight, and Tubi

  • Prom Night (Paul Lynch, 1980) – VUDU Free, Peacock, Popcorn Flix, Crackle, and Tubi

  • Terror Train (Roger Spottiswoode, 1980) – Amazon Prime and The Roku Channel

  • Madman (Joe Giannone, 1981) – Pluto TV and Tubi

  • My Bloody Valentine (George Mihalka, 1981) – Amazon Prime, Paramount +, and Pluto TV

  • Hell Night (1981) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, Shout Factory TV, and Tubi

  • The Burning (Tony Maylam, 1981) – Shudder and Tubi

  • The Prowler (Joseph Zito, 1981) – VUDU Free and Tubi

  • Final Exam (Jimmy Huston, 1981) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Bloody Birthday (Ed Hunt, 1981) – Shudder, Arrow, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • The Dorm that Dripped Blood (Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow, 1982) – Midnight Pulp

  • Sleepaway Camp (Robert Hiltzik, 1983) – Shudder, Peacock, Popcorn Flix, Pluto TV, and Tubi

  • Slumber Party Massacre (Amy Holden Jones, 1983) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi

  • The Final Terror (Andrew Davis, 1983) –– Amazon Prime, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi

  • Curtains (Richard Ciupka, 1983) – VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, and Tubi

  • The Mutilator (Buddy Cooper, 1984) – Amazon Prime, Arrow, Night Flight, and Tubi

  • The Initiation (Peter Crane & Larry Stewart, 1984) – Tubi

  • Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (John McNaughton, 1986) – Shudder and Tubi

  • Sorority House Massacre (Carol Frank, 1986) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • April Fool's Day (Fred Walton, 1986) – Amazon Prime

  • Blood Rage (John Grissmer, 1987) – Amazon Prime, Arrow, Night Flight, and Tubi

  • Doom Asylum (Richard Friedman, 1987) – Arrow, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi

  • Slaughterhouse (Rick Roessler, 1987) – Amazon Prime, VUDU Free, and Tubi

  • Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (Bruce Pittman, 1987) – Shudder, Peacock, Night Flight, VUDU Free, Crackle, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi

  • Slumber Party Massacre II (Deborah Brock, 1987) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, Pluto TV, and Tubi

  • Jack's Back (Rowdy Herrington, 1988) – Amazon Prime, Pluto TV, Shout Factory TV, and Tubi

  • White of the Eye (Donald Cammell, 1988) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

  • Edge of the Axe (José Ramón Larraz, 1988) – Shudder, Arrow, and Tubi

  • Intruder (Scott Spiegel, 1989) – Pluto TV and Tubi


Underseen (?) American Creature Features

  • Squirm (Jeff Lieberman, 1976) – Popcorn Flix and Tubi (worms)

  • Shriek of the Mutilated (Michael Findlay, 1974) – Amazon Prime, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi (yeti)

  • Track of the Moon Beast (Richard Ashe, 1976) – Amazon Prime and Dark Matter TV (lizard man)

  • The Incredible Melting Man (William Sachs, 1977) – Amazon Prime (melting man, naturally)

  • Slithis (aka: Spawn of the Slithis; Stephen Traxler, 1978) – Amazon Prime, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi

  • Night of the Demon (James C. Wasson, 1980) – Amazon Prime (penis-tearing Bigfoot)

  • The Slayer (J.S. Cardone, 1982) – Arrow and Tubi (dream monster)

  • The Being (Jackie Kong, 1983) – Amazon Prime (toxic waste monster)

  • Neon Maniacs (Joseph Mangine, 1986) – Tubi (mutants)

  • The Nest (Terence H. Winkless, 1988) – Amazon Prime (giant cockroaches)

  • The Terror Within (Thierry Notz, 1989) – Amazon Prime and Tubi (mutant creature)

  • Shakma (Hugh Parks, 1990) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi (angry baboon)

  • Project: Metalbeast (Alessandro De Gaetano, 1995) – Amazon Prime and Tubi (seriously if you only watch one movie on this list, watch this one, it’s about a genetically engineered, bulletproof werewolf)

  • Beneath (Larry Fessenden, 2013) – Amazon Prime (giant lake fish)




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