New year, new me, new you, same pandemic! It's time to revisit Grinding the Stream for February 2021 (edit: LOL, I took so long that it's practically March...). 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, 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). Arrow started their own paid service recently, so I'm going to start including them where applicable.
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: Farewell to the Flesh (directed by Bill Condon, 1995) – Amazon Prime, Crackle, and Popcorn Flix
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
Halloween (1978) – Shudder and The Roku Channel
The Fog (1980) – Amazon Prime
Escape from New York (1981) – HBO Max
Starman (1984) – Amazon Prime and HULU
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
Escape from L.A. (1996) – Amazon Prime
Vampires (1998) – Pluto TV
Ghosts of Mars (2001) – Pluto TV
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) – 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, Crackle, Tubi, and Popcorn Flix
Phantasm II (1988) – Peacock
Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994) – Amazon Prime, Crackle, Tubi, and Popcorn Flix
Phantasm: OvlIVion (1998) – Amazon Prime, Crackle, Tubi, and Popcorn Flix
Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) – Amazon Prime
Phantasm: RaVager (directed by David Hartman, 2016) – Amazon Prime, Crackle, and Tubi
BONUS: The Beastmaster (1982) – Amazon Prime
Wes Craven Horror Movies (RIP)
The Last House on the Left (1972) – Amazon Prime and HULU
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) – Shudder, Arrow, and Tubi
Invitation to Hell (1984) – Tubi and VUDU Free
Chiller (1985) – Amazon Prime and and
Shocker (1989) – HBO Max
New Nightmare (1994) – HBO Max
Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) – Amazon Prime, HULU, and Popcorn Flix
Scream (1996) – HBO Max
Scream 2 (1997) – HBO Max
Scream 3 (2000) – HBO Max
Cursed (2004) – The Roku Channel
David Cronenberg Horror Movies
Stereo (1969) – Criterion Channel
Shivers (aka: They Came From Within, 1975) – Criterion Channel, The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix and Tubi
Rabid (1977) – Amazon Prime, Criterion Channel, Tubi, and Dark Matter TV
The Brood (1979) – Criterion Channel and 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
Joe Dante Movies
Piranha (1978) – Amazon Prime
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
Sisters (1972) – Criterion Channel and HBO Max
Femme Fatale (2002) – Amazon Prime, HBO Max and The Roku Channel
Passion (2012) – Amazon Prime, Tubi, The Roku Channel, and VUDU Free
Stuart Gordon Movies (RIP)
Re-Animator (1985) – Shudder, Arrow, Midnight Pulp+, and Tubi
From Beyond (1986) – Pluto TV and Tubi
Daughter of Darkness (1990) – Tubi
The Pit and the Pendulum (1991) – Tubi
Castle Freak (1995) – Shudder and Tubi
Dagon (2001) – Tubi
King of the Ants (2003) – VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, 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, and Tubi
Eaten Alive (aka: Slaughter Hotel; 1976) – Amazon Prime and Night Flight
Poltergeist (1982) – HBO Max
Lifeforce (1985) – Amazon Prime 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
Sam Raimi Movies
The Quick and the Dead (1995) – Amazon Prime and HULU
Simple Plan (1998) – Pluto TV
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, and Shout Factory TV (including commentary track version)
Day of the Dead (1985) – HBO Max, The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, and Tubi
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) – Pluto TV
The Dark Half (1993) – Pluto TV and Tubi
Bruiser (2000) – The Roku Channel and Tubi
Land of the Dead (2005) – Peacock
Vincent Price Movies
(I realize some of these are British-made)
Shock (Alfred L. Werker, 1946) – Amazon Prime
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, Dark Matter TV, and Tubi
The Tingler (William Castle, 1959) – Tubi, The Roku Channel, and Popcorn Flix
Tales of Terror (1962) – Amazon Prime
The Raven (1963) – Amazon Prime
The Haunted Palace (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, Midnight Pulp, Tubi, and Dark Matter TV
The Masque of the Red Death (Roger Corman, 1964) – The Roku Channel
The Tomb of Ligeia (Roger Corman, 1965) – Shudder and 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
Scream and Scream Again (Gordon Hessler, 1970) – Amazon Prime
Theatre of Blood (Douglas Hickox, 1973) – The Roku Channel
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) – Tubi
Sunset Cove (1978) – Tubi
Death Dimension (1978) – Amazon Prime and Tubi
Herschell Gordon Lewis Movies
Blood Feast (1963) – Arrow, Midnight Pulp +, and Tubi
Scum of the Earth! (1963) – Arrow
Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964) – Arrow
Moonshine Madness (1964) – Arrow, Amazon Prime, and Tubi
Color Me Blood Red (1965) – Arrow and Tubi
Monster a Go-Go (co-directed with Bill Rebane, 1965) – Shout Factory TV
A Hot Night at the Go-Go Lounge! (short, 1966) – Arrow
Something Weird (1967) – Arrow
The Gruesome Twosome (1967) – Arrow
A Taste of Blood (1967) – Arrow
Blast-Off Girls (1967) – Amazon Prime
How to Make a Doll (1968) – Arrow and Tubi
She-Devils on Wheels (1968) – Arrow, Amazon Prime, and Tubi
Just for the Hell of It (1968) – Arrow
The Wizard of Gore (1970) – Arrow
This Stuff'll Kill Ya! (1971) – Arrow
The Gore Gore Girls (1972) – Arrow
Herschell Gordon Lewis' BloodMania (2017) – Amazon Prime
Frank Henenlotter Movies
Basket Case (1982) – Arrow, Midnight Pulp +, and Tubi
Brain Damage (1988) – Arrow, Midnight Pulp, and Tubi
Bad Biology (2008) – Tubi
Ted V. Mikels Movies
The Astro-Zombies (1968) – Amazon Prime
Girl in Gold Boots (1968) – Fandor and Tubi
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
The Corpse Grinders II (2000) – Midnight Pulp and Tubi
Cauldron: Baptism of Blood (2004) – Midnight Pulp
Andy Milligan Movies
The Body Beneath (1970) – Amazon Prime
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) – Amazon Prime, Fandor, The Roku Channel, 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
Blacula (William Crain, 1972) – Pluto TV
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, Pluto TV, Midnight Pulp, Dark Matter TV, and Popcorn Flix
The Baby (Ted Post, 1973) – Amazon Prime, 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) – 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) – 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 on, 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
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (Joe Chappelle, 1995) – Pluto TV
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (Steve Miner, 1998) – Pluto TV
Halloween: Resurrection (Rick Rosenthal, 2002) – Pluto TV
Child's Play
Child's Play 2 (John Lafia, 1990) – Peacock
Child's Play 3 (Jack Bender, 1991) – Peacock
Bride of Chucky (Ronny Yu, 1998) – Peacock
Seed of Chucky (Don Mancini, 2004) – Peacock
Child's Play (Lars Klevberg, 2019) – Amazon Prime and HULU
Final Destination
Final Destination 5 (Steven Quale, 2011) – HBO Max
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, Criterion Channel, The Roku Channel, 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) – Shudder, VUDU Free, The Roku Channel, Popcorn Flix, Crackle, and Tubi
Terror Train (Roger Spottiswoode, 1980) – Amazon Prime
Madman (Joe Giannone, 1981) – Pluto TV and Tubi
My Bloody Valentine (George Mihalka, 1981) – Amazon Prime and Pluto TV
Hell Night (1981) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, Shout Factory TV, and Tubi
The Burning (Tony Maylam, 1981) – Tubi
The Prowler (Joseph Zito, 1981) – VUDU Free 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, VUDU Free, Popcorn Flix, Pluto TV, Shout Factory TV, and Tubi
Slumber Party Massacre (Amy Holden Jones, 1983) – Amazon Prime, Shudder, Criterion Channel, The Roku Channel, Shout Factory TV, 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
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, 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) – Arrow and Tubi
Intruder (Scott Spiegel, 1989) – Midnight Pulp 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, 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)
Commentaires