Editorials
Ten Noteworthy Horror Movies to Stream at Home in September 2023
September heralds in the start of Halloween season, and that means it’s officially that time of year where streaming platforms go all in on horror. Whether you’re looking for brand new releases or an endless sea of horror options to pad out your Halloween watchlists, this month has it all. So, here’s a quick, handy guide for horror streaming in September 2023.
This month’s noteworthy streaming titles spotlight new exclusives, repertory offerings that’ll help you prepare for upcoming releases, and so much more.
Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in September 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.
A horde of mutant crustaceans descend on a small coastal town in this wacky horror comedy. There’s no pretense with Crabs!; it’s abundantly clear upfront exactly what type of movie it is and the entertainment it aims to deliver. This low-brow horror-comedy wears its influences on its sleeves, embracing a Troma-like spirit while saluting and lovingly spoofing beloved cult classics.
Ahead of Netflix’s new series “Gamera: Rebirth” on September 7, the Gamera Collection stomps onto SCREAMBOX on September 4. All 12 films in the giant monster movie franchise are included, from the classic Gamera: The Giant Monster to the influential ’90s reboot, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, and the latest installment, Gamera the Brave. Instead of one single movie, this option offers up an entire marathon of Kaiju fun.
Godzilla vs. Kong – Tubi
Adam Wingard’s MonsterVerse heavyweight event pits Godzilla against King Kong in a dazzling Kaiju spectacle prone to going long on its human storylines. The rapid pacing makes it all fly by, and the visuals easily make this the best-looking entry yet in the MonsterVerse. Considering a sequel is in the works and Apple TV+ series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” is on the near horizon, now feels like a great time to revisit Godzilla vs. Kong.
Juan of the Dead – Prime Video
In this zombie comedy, slacker Juan and company find inventive ways of dealing with the infected. A satire that seamlessly blends life in Cuba with gory humor, Juan of the Dead makes good use of its unlikely heroes. Writer/Director Alejandro Brugués helms a segment in upcoming horror anthology Satanic Hispanics, presenting another reason why you should watch this underappreciated zombie comedy.
The Menu – Hulu
An ensemble of affluent patrons gathers at the exclusive Hawthorne Island for a dining experience run by prestigious Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). The guests soon realize what devious, deadly dishes the Chef intends to serve. The Menu may have gathered a fine cast for this delectable culinary nightmare, but the film belongs to Fiennes. Catch up on this 2022 genre release ahead of Halloween.
Blood Flower – Shudder (September 8)
This Malaysian horror film “tells the story of a 16-year-old apprentice faith healer and exorcist, who is tormented by visions of the dead and spirits from other dimensions. When a malicious spirit begins to wreak havoc around him, the teenaged exorcist is forced to harness his supernatural gifts to save his family and friends.”
El Conde – Netflix (September 15)
Up next from director Pablo Larraín (Spencer) is a stylish vampire comedy inspired by history. “The film portrays Augusto Pinochet, a symbol of world fascism, as a vampire who lives hidden in a ruined mansion in the cold southern tip of the continent. Feeding his appetite for evil to sustain his existence. After two hundred and fifty years of life, Pinochet has decided to stop drinking blood and abandon the privilege of eternal life. He can no longer bear that the world remembers him as a thief.”
Elevator Game – Shudder (September 15)
Rebekah McKendry (Glorious) is playing the Elevator Game with her next horror movie, which spins a fictional tale based on the eerie internet legend. Elevator Game follows socially awkward teenager Ryan, who ingratiates himself into a group of recent high school graduates that run an online web series debunking urban legends. He convinces the group to play the mysterious game, to disastrous results.
No One Will Save You – Hulu (September 22)
Writer/Director Brian Duffield (Spontanteous) is set to unleash floor-to-ceiling aliens in this sci-fi thriller. No One Will Save You introduces Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever), a creative and talented young woman who’s been alienated from her community. Lonely but ever hopeful, Brynn finds solace within the walls of the home where she grew up—until she’s awakened one night by strange noises from decidedly unearthly intruders.
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster – Shudder (September 22)
Writer/Director Bomani J. Story draws from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, reinterpreting the mad scientist archetype with righteous fury in a contemporary setting. By adolescence, Vicaria (Laya DeLeon Hayes) already knows far more about death than most her age. She’s convinced that death is a disease that must be cured, but she winds up creating an experiment that gets away from her… to lethal results.
Editorials
‘The Vampire Lestat’ Concert Event Launches New Season With The Ultimate Expression Of Fandom
There are thousands of passionate fans decked out in gothic chic and champing at the bit like feral creatures. They’re screaming for Lestat, a legendary vampire-turned-rock star, as if the entire crowd has been glamored into submission.
The entire experience is magic, but not because some supernatural thrall has been activated. What’s going on is even more special. It’s the power of the effusive fandom that’s been authentically assembled by AMC’s sublime Immortal Universe, namely Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, now, The Vampire Lestat.
The Vampire Lestat is far from the first Anne Rice adaptation, and it’s not as if there’s been a lack of erotic vampire material for audiences to sink their teeth into. On June 2nd, during a one-night-only spectacle, New York City’s prestigious Beacon Theatre shook from Sam Reid’s bravado performance and an audience full of adoring fans who had already memorized Lestat’s songs.
It’s clear that The Vampire Lestat just hits differently than its predecessors. It’s become more than just a TV series at this point, and this opulent display of ego, swagger, and pure sex is the perfect way to premiere the new season and give back to the fans who helped make Interview with the Vampire/The Vampire Lestat such a breakout success. It’s exactly the sort of hyperbolized hedonism that would make Lestat cackle.
For all intents and purposes, AMC has successfully created the illusion that this concert/premiere is just one of the many destinations on Lestat and his band’s 54-stop tour that is simultaneously playing out on this season of television. It’s such a sophisticated and thorough level of interactive fan engagement that the audience doesn’t just understand, but also manages to accentuate through its involvement.
It’s a level of seamless synergy that’s not unlike the give-and-take relationship of vampire and victim.
Before the concert started, “LeStans” were sitting in the Beacon and flipping through a fake Rolling Stone issue with Lestat emblazoned on the cover, complete with interviews with the undead frontman inside. Other fans were admiring the vinyl pressing of Lestat’s EP as they walked past a section of undead band merch. Fandom and fantasy blur together, and it all becomes this elaborate, immersive experience. Fan celebration, erotic gothic fantasy, and a lavish rock concert transform into one beautiful thing.
To this point, AMC Global Media’s Chief Content Officer and President of AMC Studios, Dan McDermott, introduced the event by reiterating to fans, “You are the heartbeat of the series.” That’s abundantly clear on nights like this as that heartbeat collectively pulses to this performance. In terms of how AMC engages with The Vampire Lestat’s fans, it’s as bold a reinvention as the season itself.
This intuitive gamble speaks to AMC’s creativity in this department and a fandom that is eager to seize such opportunities. It’s the same innovation that led to zombie walks for The Walking Dead and real-life Los Pollos Hermanos restaurant pop-ups from Breaking Bad. It’s a great way to pump up the audience for The Vampire Lestat and then maintain that enthusiasm for the whole season.
For most series, a rock ‘n’ roll concert just doesn’t make any sense as a promotional tool. The Vampire Lestat finds itself in a very unique position where it can deliver an excellent concert at an iconic theater, but also use it to showcase The Vampire Lestat’s music by Daniel Hart (who was shredding on stage alongside Reid and the rest of their band) and, more than anything, Sam Reid’s endless charisma.
The way in which Reid feeds off of the crowd’s energy, modulating his performance and giving different sections of the Beacon life, is a perfect distillation of the series’ thoughtful relationship with its audience and how it’s become such a breakout success for AMC. AMC Studios President Dan McDermott emphasized that the fans are the reason that the show is still here and why an event like this is even possible. It’s rare to see a series in which every single cog in the machine is so perfectly attuned to its fans. Reid’s fans already cheer whenever they see him, so why not translate that to a concert setting?
It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.
Now bring on the encore and get this show on the road!
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