PearlImage: A24
A college student’s drifting existence takes a terrifying turn when she’s infected with... something that means she’s constantly being pursued by an evil that can take any number of human forms. “Constantly” being the key, and unexpectedly terrifying, descriptor in this case. Read io9's review here.
A killer cast and menacing production design elevate this “haunted house in space” tale, with further spine-tingles provided by the story’s expert exploitation of every fear you’ve ever had about the enigmas of outer space, especially black holes. Read io9's Retro Review here.
This found-footage marvel turns 25 next year; though it spawned dozens of imitators, its lo-fi frights remain as potent as ever, culminating in one of horror cinema’s all-time greatest last shots.
Prep yourself for MaXXXine—the third film (release date still TBD) in Ti West and Mia Goth’s gruesome yet retro-gorgeous journey through decades of twisted show business dreams—by revisiting its first two entries. Goth co-wrote Pearl and also stars in both films, showcasing her breathtaking range and fearless energy.
In this tale set amid the Y2K unease of 1999 (but released in 2021), a man obsessed with finding his missing wife goes down a grimy, eerie rabbit hole chasing clues he believes he’s seeing in vintage video tapes. Read io9's review here.
Everyone, everywhere, please watch and re-watch this 1971 oddity so Paramount+ will add more weird cult titles to its library. Read io9's Retro Review here.
Alexandre Aja (High Tension, 2006's The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D) applies his talents for blending nail-biting suspense and creepy creatures to this 2019 tale. “Climate-change terror produced by Sam Raimi” is another way of putting it, as a monster hurricane means a young woman and her father must evade a pack of pissed-off Florida alligators lurking in the basement of their flooded home.
Dario Argento’s 1977 classic meshes ballet, slashed throats, witches, maggots, brilliant colors, a gloriously mind-mangling soundtrack, dark conspiracies, and the ominous feeling that reality itself has become completely encased in a nightmare. Essential viewing. Read io9's Retro Review here.
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