As of Friday, May 1, The Wretched released on VOD. With it, a Rear Window-type tale that sees a teen boy face off against one gruesome, ancient witch hiding in the skin of his next-door neighbor. It’s heavy on the practical effects and plays like a paranoid creature feature.
Because The Wretched takes a rather sinister approach to its witch, this week’s streaming picks carry that theme forward. To avoid the obvious, this particular selection won’t include The Witch (it is, however, available on Netflix and Kanopy). These five horror movies celebrate one of cinema’s most significant movie monsters, and all bring the horror in a variety of ways.
Black Sunday – Kanopy, Tubi
Mario Bava’s highly influential entry in Gothic horror is an absolute stunner, unafraid to get gruesome. So gruesome that it was banned in the UK for eight years upon release. The opening sees Barbara Steele’s witch Asa Vajda vow revenge in the form of a curse, promptly before her executioners hammer a spiked mask into her face. Two-hundred years later, the witch returns from the grave and attempts to possess her descendant, Katia (Steele), so she can resume her reign of terror. Steele delivered a breakthrough performance in her dual roles, and Bava once again nailed the balance between art and horror.
Inferno – Shudder
Dario Argento’s second entry in his Three Mothers trilogy tends to get overlooked in favor of its more dynamic predecessor, Suspiria. Granted, Mater Tenebrarum isn’t nearly as impressive as Mater Suspiriorum and her dance academy, but Inferno still offers up another hypnotic visual feast. As for the plot, an American college student and his sister investigate two locations across the globe where two covens have taken up residence. Argento invited his mentor Mario Bava to provide some optical effects and art for the film, and the result is one of the most gorgeous and haunting underwater sequences of all time. If you haven’t seen Suspiria yet, that’s okay; the original is streaming on Kanopy.
Pyewacket – Hulu
From writer/director Adam MacDonald (Backcountry), Pyewacket centers around angsty teen Leah Reyes (Nicole Munoz), harboring serious resentment over her mother uprooting their lives after the death of her father. After a blow out argument, Leah performs an occult ritual and wishes for the death of her mother. She doesn’t realize she’s summoned the witch Pyewacket, who’s come to grant that wish. An atmospheric tale full of creepy and unsettling moments, this film bides its time building an emotionally resonant and tumultuous relationship between a struggling mother and daughter.
The Autopsy of Jane Doe – Netflix
André Øvredal goes full throttle for the scares in this quiet little chiller that sees a father and son coroner team stumped over the bizarre mysteries contained within the body of an unidentified young woman. Well executed scares, clever twists, and earnest performances by Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch gives this supernatural haunter serious heft. While the narrative bides its time unveiling the truth behind Jane Doe’s battered body, it’s heavily steeped in witchcraft. In other words, The Autopsy of Jane Doe presents a new take on the subgenre. More importantly, it’s seriously spooky.
Warlock – Vudu
If you’re in the mood for something much lighter in tone, this late ‘80s pick is a sure bet. Directed by Steve Miner (House, Friday the 13th Part II), Julian Sands stars as the eponymous Warlock that time hops from the 17th century into the present to escape execution. Witchhunter Giles Redferne (Richard E. Grant) follows him, determined to put an end to the evil. Naturally, Giles teams up with bubbly Los Angeles waitress Kassandra (Lori Singer), showing her the ropes and traditions while Warlock hexes and slaughters his way through a body count in his bid to bring the Armageddon. Sands and Grant bring the energy in this supremely entertaining flick.
