By Percy Mohn
Elm Staff Writer
With the Halloween season upon us, many are turning to our favorite horror movies to ring in the Halloween spirit. The popular streaming service Hulu is now offering its “Happy Hulu-ween” collection of movies for those horror fans with a Hulu subscription.
Here are a few fang-tastic flicks that will surely make you want to sleep with the lights on.
“Parasite” (2019)
If you prefer psychological thrillers over more traditionally gory horror movies, one of the most popular thriller movies on Hulu right now is Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite.”
While the film lacks the supernatural elements some tend to look for in horror films, it manages to keep its audience on their toes with its psychological and socioeconomic drama as it follows the Kims, a poor family who try to earn money through various schemes as they fight to remain undetected.
“‘Parasite’ is best described as a melancholy ghost story, albeit one disguised beneath umpteen layers of superbly designed — and impeccably photographed — generic mutations,” film critic Mark Kermode said in The Guardian on Feb. 9.
“A Quiet Place” (2018)
Another thriller to check out is John Krasinski’s directorial debut “A Quiet Place,” a sci-fi horror film featuring grotesque alien creatures and plenty of jump scares as a family navigates a world inhabited by murderous creatures who attack anything that makes a sound.
The movie’s main draw is how the actors convey emotion and fear without making any sounds. Everything in this film is dangerous, from a broken toy to a creaky floorboard. You may even find yourself holding your breath the entire time.
In her review of the film, The New York Times’ Jeannette Catsoulis said the film thrives in its ability to stress out its audience.
“In its convincing portrayal of a situation where a rusty nail is as lethal as an unexploded bomb, and the few remaining inhabitants seem — much like the audience — more likely to die of stress than anything else, the movie rocks,” she said.
“The Shining” (1980)
Fans of classic horror movies will be happy to note that “The Shining” is now available to stream on Hulu. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, “The Shining” is an adaptation of Stephen King’s novel of the same name. The movie follows a mother and a son who try to survive both a haunted hotel and an insane father all while isolated in the middle of nowhere.
“It asks way more questions than the standard ‘The killer is back on the loose’ horror ending, and, as a result, it leaves more of an impression,” ScreenRant’s Ben Sherlock said on Jul. 20. “It keeps viewers talking about it on the drive home from the theater and then keeps them up that night. That is effective horror at work.”
“The Addams Family” (1991)
If you cannot watch horror movies but still want to watch a movie that will get you in the Halloween spirit, Hulu is also streaming “The Addams Family” which is both a classic and incredibly tame in terms of its scary aspects. It is delightfully strange without being horror, so it is perfect for anyone who hates horror.
Hulu has many more horror movies streaming this October, so if you want to lift your spirits with some truly boo-tiful movies, consider making this year’s Halloween into your own personal Hulu-ween.
Featured Photo caption: With Halloween around the corner, Hulu is now offering a new horror film collection to get you in the spook-tacular spirit — here are a few to check out. Photo Courtesy of David Menidery.