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

Welcome to the end of summer 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, Peacock, Fandor, Shudder, Arrow Video, 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). This month I've also added Paramount+ and AMC+.


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) – Amazon Prime, Tubi, Shout Factory TV, and Pluto TV

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

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

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

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

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

  • Lord of Illusions (1995) – Amazon Prime

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

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

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

  • Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) – HBO Max

  • Halloween (1978) – Shudder, AMC+, and The Roku Channel

  • The Fog (1980) – Amazon Prime and AMC+

  • Escape from New York (1981) – HBO Max and AMC+

  • Starman (1984) – Pluto TV

  • They Live (1988) – Peacock

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


Larry Cohen Horror Movies (RIP)

  • God Told Me To (1976) – Arrow

  • Full Moon High (1981) – Paramount+

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

  • Special Effects (1984) – HULU and Paramount+

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

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

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

  • Maniac Cop 3 (directed by William Lustig, 1992) – Amazon Prime (via imdbTV), Shudder, AMC+, 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 III: Lord of the Dead (1994) – Peacock, Crackle, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Popcorn Flix

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

  • Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) – Pluto TV

  • John Dies at the End (2012) – Amazon Prime, VUDU Free, Crackle, Pluto TV, and Tubi

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

  • BONUS: The Beastmaster (1982) – Amazon Prime


Wes Craven Horror Movies (RIP)

  • The Last House on the Left (1972) – HULU, Popcorn Flix, and Pluto TV

  • The Hills Have Eyes (1977) – Shudder, AMC+, Arrow, and Tubi

  • Stranger in Our House (1978) – Crackle and Tubi

  • Deadly Blessing (1981) – Tubi

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Peacock

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

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

  • Chiller (1985) – The Roku Channel

  • New Nightmare (1994) – HBO Max

  • Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) – Peacock

  • Scream (1996) – HBO Max and Pluto TV

  • Scream 2 (1997) – HBO Max and Pluto TV

  • Scream 3 (2000) – HBO Max and Pluto TV

  • Cursed (2005) – 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) – HBO Max, The Roku Channel, and Dark Matter TV

  • The Brood (1979) – HBO Max and Criterion Channel

  • Scanners (1981) – HBO Max and Criterion Channel

  • Dead Zone (1983) – Paramount+, AMC+, and HULU

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

  • eXistenZ (1999) – Paramount+


Joe Dante Movies

  • Piranha (1978) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, AMC+, and Crackle

  • The Howling (1981) – AMC+

  • Gremlins (1985) – HBO Max

  • Explorers (1985) – Amazon Prime and Pluto TV

  • Innerspace (1987) – HBO Max

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

  • Small Soldiers (1998) – Amazon Prime, Paramount+, and Pluto TV


Brian de Palma Horror Movies/Thrillers

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

  • Sisters (1972) – Criterion Channel and HBO Max

  • Phantom of the Paradise (1974) – AMC+

  • Blow Out (1981) – Criterion Channel and Pluto TV

  • Body Double (1984) – Criterion Channel and Pluto TV

  • Snake Eyes (1998) – HBO Max

  • Passion (2012) – Tubi, Pluto TV, and VUDU Free



Stuart Gordon Movies (RIP)

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

  • From Beyond (1986) – Pluto TV

  • Dolls (1987) – Shudder and AMC+

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

  • Castle Freak (1995) – Shudder, AMC+, and Tubi

  • Space Truckers (1996) – Amazon Prime and Tubi

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

  • King of the Ants (2003) – VUDU Free, Pluto TV, and Tubi

  • Edmond (2005) – Amazon Prime (via imdbTV), VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, and Tubi

  • Stuck (2007) – Amazon Prime (via imdbTV), AMC+, Tubi

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


Tobe Hooper Movies (RIP)

  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) – Shudder, AMC+, Arrow, and Tubi

  • Eaten Alive (aka: Slaughter Hotel; 1976) – VUDU Free and Night Flight

  • Poltergeist (1982) – HBO Max

  • Lifeforce (1985) – Pluto TV

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

  • Invaders from Mars (1986) – Pluto TV

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

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


Sam Raimi Movies

  • Darkman (1990) – Peacock

  • The Quick and the Dead (1995) – AMC+ and Pluto TV

  • Simple Plan (1998) – Paramount+ and Pluto TV

  • The Gift (2000) – Paramount+ 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) – Shudder, AMC+, Arrow, and Tubi

  • The Crazies (1973) – Arrow, VUDU Free, and Tubi

  • Knightriders (1981) – VUDU Free, Popcorn Flix, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Shout Factory TV

  • Creepshow (1982) – Shudder and AMC+

  • Day of the Dead (1985) – Shudder, Tubi, and Pluto TV

  • Monkey Shines (1988) – HBO Max

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

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

  • Land of the Dead (2005) – Peacock

  • Diary of the Dead (2008) – Pluto TV, VUDU Free, and Tubi

  • Survival of the Dead (2010) – Amazon Prime, VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Crackle, and Tubi

  • The Amusement Park (2021) – Shudder and AMC+


Vincent Price Movies

(I realize some of these are British-made)

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

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

  • House on Haunted Hill (William Castle, 1959) – Amazon Prime, Fandor, Shudder, AMC+, VUDU Free, Dark Matter TV, Midnight Pulp, Pluto TV, and Tubi

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

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

  • Tales of Terror (Roger Corman, 1962) – Paramount+

  • The Haunted Palace (Roger Corman, 1963) – Paramount+

  • The Comedy of Terrors (Jacques Tourneur, 1963) – Paramount+

  • Diary of a Madman (Reginald Le Borg, 1963) – Paramount+

  • Twice-Told Tales (Sidney Salkow, 1963) – Paramount+

  • 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 Bikini Machine (Norman Taurog, 1965) – Paramount+

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

  • Witchfinder General (aka: The Conquerer Worm; Michael Reeves, 1968) – Shudder

  • The Oblong Box (Gordon Hessler, 1969) – Paramount+

  • Cry of the Banshee (Gordon Hessler, 1970) – Paramount+

  • Theatre of Blood (Douglas Hickox, 1973) – Tubi

  • Madhouse (Jim Clark, 1974) – Paramount+

  • The Monster Club (Roy Ward Baker, 1981) – Shudder, AMC+, and Tubi

  • From a Whisper to a Scream (Jeff Burr, 1987) – Paramount+

  • Dead Heat (Mark Goldblatt, 1988) – Shudder, AMC+, and Tubi



The Masters of Trash (so-dubbed by myself)


Al Adamson Movies

  • The Female Bunch (1969) – The Roku Channel and Tubi

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

  • Sunset Cove (1978) – Tubi

  • Death Dimension (1978) – Tubi


Herschell Gordon Lewis Movies


Frank Henenlotter Movies

  • Basket Case (1982) – Arrow, Shudder, AMC+, and Tubi

  • Brain Damage (1988) – Arrow and Tubi

  • Frankenhooker(1990) – Shudder and AMC+

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


Ted V. Mikels Movies

  • Strike Me Deadly (1963) – Tubi

  • Girl in Gold Boots (1968) – Tubi

  • The Corpse Grinders (1971) – Tubi

  • Blood Orgy of the She Devils (1973) – Tubi

  • The Doll Squad (1973) – Tubi

  • Missile X: The Neutron Bomb Incident (1978) – Amazon Prime (via imdbTV), Roku Channel, Tubi, and Pluto TV

  • 10 Violent Women (1982) – Tubi

  • Angel of Vengeance (1987) – Tubi

  • Mission: Killfast (1991) – Tubi

  • Dimension in Fear(1998) – Tubi

  • The Corpse Grinders II (2000) – Tubi

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

  • Cauldron: Baptism of Blood (2004) – Tubi


Andy Milligan Movies

  • The Body Beneath (1970) – Paramount+, Popcorn Flix, and Pluto TV

  • Guru, the Mad Monk (1970) – 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) – Pluto TV

  • Images (Robert Altman, 1972) – Arrow and Tubi

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

  • Grave of the Vampire (John Hayes, 1972) – Paramount+ and Tubi

  • Silent Night, Bloody Night (Theodore Gershuny, 1972) – VUDU Free, Popcorn Flix, Dark Matter TV, and Tubi

  • Blacula (William Crain, 1972) – Shudder, AMC+, and Pluto TV

  • Scream Blacula Scream (Bob Kelljan, 1973) – Shudder, AMC+, Pluto TV, and Tubi

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

  • Ganja & Hess (Bill Gunn, 1973) – AMC+

  • Last House on Dead End Street (Roger Watkins, 1973) – Tubi

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

  • Messiah of Evil (Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz, 1973) – Paramount+, AMC+, Midnight Pulp, and Dark Matter TV

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

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

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

  • Alice Sweet Alice (aka: Communion; Alfred Sole, 1976) – AMC+ and Tubi

  • The Witch Who Came from the Sea (Matt Cimber, 1976) – Arrow, Night Flight, and Tubi

  • The Child (Robert Voskanian, 1977) – Arrow and Tubi

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

  • Rituals (aka: The Creeper; Peter Carter, 1977) – Fandor

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

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

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

  • Don’t Go in the House (Joseph Ellison, 1979) – Amazon Prime (via imdbTV), Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi

  • The Driller Killer (Abel Ferrara, 1979) – Arrow and Tubi

  • To All a Goodnight (David Hess, 1980) – Paramount+

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


Franchise Horror


Friday the 13th

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

  • Jason X (James Isaac, 2001) – HBO Max

  • 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) – Peacock

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

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (Chuck Russell, 1987) – Peacock

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

  • 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) – Peacock

Halloween

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

  • Halloween III: Season of the Witch (Tommy Lee Wallace, 1982) – AMC+

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

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

  • Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (Joe Chappelle, 1995) – Paramount+

  • Halloween II (Rob Zombie, 2009) – Tubi


Child's Play

  • Child's Play (Tom Holland, 1990) – Tubi

  • Child's Play (Lars Klevberg, 2019) – Paramount+ and HULU (the rest are streaming on the Syfy Channel app)


Final Destination

Sadly, none of these are streaming anywhere, though you can rent/buy them digitally.



Non-Franchise Slashers and Other Mad Killers

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

  • Black Christmas (Bob Clark, 1974) – Shudder, AMC+, Peacock, VUDU Free, Shout Factory TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Popcorn Flix, Crackle, and Tubi

  • Drive-In Massacre (Stu Segall, 1976) – Paramount +, Night Flight, and Tubi

  • Savage Weekend (David Paulsen 1979) – Paramount + and Night Flight

  • Maniac (Bill Lustig, 1980) – Arrow, VUDU Free, Shudder, AMC+, Night Flight, and Tubi

  • Prom Night (Paul Lynch, 1980) – Shudder, AMC+, Peacock, VUDU Free, Amazon Prime (via imdbTV), The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Popcorn Flix, Crackle, and Tubi

  • Fade to Black (Vernon Zimmerman, 1980) – Shudder and AMC+

  • Terror Train (Roger Spottiswoode, 1980) – Shudder, AMC+, and The Roku Channel

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

  • My Bloody Valentine (George Mihalka, 1981) – Paramount + and HULU

  • Hell Night (1981) – Shudder, AMC+, Shout Factory TV, and Tubi

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

  • Final Exam (Jimmy Huston, 1981) – Tubi

  • Bloody Birthday (Ed Hunt, 1981) – Arrow, AMC+, and Tubi

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

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

  • Slumber Party Massacre (Amy Holden Jones, 1983) – Shudder, AMC+, The Roku Channel, VUDU Free, Popcorn Flix, Pluto TV, and Tubi

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

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

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

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

  • Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (John McNaughton, 1986) – Amazon Prime (via imdbTV), VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, and Tubi

  • Sorority House Massacre (Carol Frank, 1986) – Shudder, AMC+, and Tubi

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

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

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

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

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

  • Slumber Party Massacre II (Deborah Brock, 1987) – Shudder, AMC+, Arrow, Pluto TV, and Tubi

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

  • White of the Eye (Donald Cammell, 1988) – Shudder, AMC+, and Tubi

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

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


Underseen (?) American Creature Features

  • Squirm (Jeff Lieberman, 1976) – Tubi (worms)

  • Shriek of the Mutilated (Michael Findlay, 1974) – Tubi (yeti)

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

  • The Incredible Melting Man (William Sachs, 1977) – Paramount + (melting man, naturally)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




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