Netflix Pix #2

Hey Everybody! It's the start of a new week and in turn time for another Netflix Pix. This week there are a few major releases coming out, but there is one particular sequel I am quite excited for. The follow up to the 2012 horror flick Sinister hits theaters this weekend and it looks to be a solid follow up to the surprisingly scary original. In honor of such my list this week is composed entirely of horror movies currently streaming. Netflix is a gold mine for horror fans as they always have countless fantastic genre films streaming at any given time. The five flicks I have selected below don't follow any specific theme, they are just quality horror movies.

1. Resolution (2012) Directed By: Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead

Remember the names of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, these are two filmmakers who are currently making a name for themselves in the horror world as some of the most innovative and intelligent story tellers. This year’s new film Spring was a beautiful display of fussing horror and romance, and all around is one of the most well made films of the year so far. Before filming that however the pair created a genius little indie horror film called Resolution.

Boasting a simplistic plot and intelligent writing the film centers on a Michael (Peter Cilella) and his meth addicted friend Chris (Vinny Curran). Michael has decided that the long time drug addiction his best friend has had has become far too serious. He decides to take Chris out to an abandoned cabin in the woods, tie him to the wall, and force him to get clean. He tells him if he can survive the week and get his body clean of the drugs he will let him go free and decide from there what he wants to do with his life. Unfortunately for them this won't be as simple as Michael hoped as the cabin doesn't belong to the people he believed it to and the land they are on seems to have some mystery around it. To put it frankly, when mysterious things begin happening the two realize shaking a drug habit may be the least of their worries.

2. eXistenZ (1999) Directed By: David Cronenberg

Cronenberg has certainly made a name for himself in the horror genre. With films like The Fly remake and Videodrome he has secured a place in the history of the genre. People tend to overlook one of his later films however, as it got lost in the mix being released the same year as The Matrix. eXistenZ is a cerebral horror/thriller that plays with the idea of virtual reality and the illusions of false reality it could create. It has a similar idea to The Matrix so it has been sort of lost in the shuffle as this film doesn't use insane CG or action set pieces to mystify the viewer. In true Cronenberg form this film utilizes incredible practical effects to make a film that is rooted in the future but feels like a blast from the past.

When a game designer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is set on the run from a group of assassins trying to steal her work she must enter her new virtual reality game to make sure it hasn't been damaged. There is a hitch though, she is forced to take with her into the VR an untrained rookie (Jude Law) who could potentially ruin her whole mission.  As they move through the game with their lives at risk the line between reality and virtual reality becomes blurry and with it, their sanity begins to slip. Any Cronenberg fans who haven't seen this one should consider it a must watch.

3. American Mary (2012) Directed By: Jen & Sylvia Soska

This may sound like an odd thing to say, especially considering the subject matter of the film but, American Mary is quite possibly the sexiest horror film I have ever seen. Katharine Isabelle (Freddy vs. Jason) stars in the title role and is stunningly beautiful, even when she is brutally mutilating people. The film is simple, Mary is a young, aspiring medical student with dreams of being an incredible surgeon. When debt begins to consume her she finds herself being pulled into the world of underground surgeries. She ends up doing illegal plastic surgeries for all sorts of wacky characters as well as some more sadistic procedures as well. It doesn't take long for the life to begin to change her and by the end of the movie the beautiful, seemingly innocent Mary is anything but. Not only is this a wonderfully gory horror flick but it is also a small peek into a crazy underworld that actually exists (not saying it exists in this manner but to some extent it does).

4. Bad Milo! (2013) Directed By: Jacob Vaughan

I had to sneak at least on horror comedy on here and what better one than Bad Milo! Starring the hilarious Ken Marino alongside the wonderful Gillian Jacobs (Community) this is one of the wackiest films I have ever seen. Duncan (Ken Marino) and Sarah (Gillian Jacobs) are a happy couple living their normal, happy suburban life. That is until Duncan contracts what he thinks is a mysterious parasite, but is actually a small demon that lives inside his intestines. You read that right, he has a demon parasite living in his bowels, and even better, the butt parasite emerges each night while he sleeps to take revenge on all of Duncan's worst enemies. The two must learn to live with their new friend and try to find a way to keep him under control as he begins murdering people all over town while they sleep. This is an absolutely bonkers flick and an all-around good time. It’s funny as all hell and the little creature Milo is fairly creepy. I consider this a must watch for all genre fans as it is a raucous good time and something unlike anything you have seen before.

5. Frankenstein's Army (2013) Directed By: Richard Raaphorst

Last but definitely not least is Frankenstein's Army, a crazy little found-footage flick set during WWII. The film follows a group of Russian soldiers who have been pushing into East Germany at the end of the war. They think their war is coming to a close and the worst is behind them until they stumble upon a top secret Nazi experiment. Within the lab they find a mad scientist working from the old journal of Dr. Victor Frankenstein to create indescribable monsters to use as weapons of war. Their mission now is not to take East Germany but to clear out this madman's lab and do what they can to survive. He has countless creatures throughout his laboratory and he plans to use each and every one of them if he has to. The film is absolutely insane and just a blast to watch as each creature created by the scientist is more ridiculous and crazy than the last. Incredible make-up and set design make this a unique period piece horror. I'd definitely recommend this to any found-footage or monster movie fans out there, I think it will surprise you.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!