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Looking to get into the Halloween mood this year? It might feel that there’s so many shows or films to watch on your smart TV that you don’t know where to start. With just a couple of clicks on your remote, you’ve got access to old classics, new releases as well as recommendations from friends that mean when you sit down to choose you just don’t know what’s the right one to watch. Even worse, with all these streaming services about these days, you might not actually be able to find what you’re looking for! Don’t worry though, the movie nerds here at Systems Insights have put together a watchlist of some of their all-time favourite horror films and where to find them in the UK across streaming services and Amazon to give you some easy choices and get you right into the spooky mood.
The Classic – The Shining
When it comes to horror films, who doesn’t love an old classic like The Shining? Kubrick’s iconic adaptation of Stephen King’s novel follows the Torrance family as they spend an isolated winter as the caretakers of the Overlook Hotel, where ghosts start to appear as Jack becomes more manic. With a truly iconic performance by Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance and classic moments everyone can quote, it’s a great watch on the first or fiftieth viewing. With Ethan watching this film every single Halloween, this comes highly recommended the team at Systems Insights as a classic that still manages to scare and unsettle no matter how many times you’ve seen it. It’s available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime here, so sink back into a remastered and extended version of an all-time classic this Halloween.
The Recent Hit – 28 Years Later
As well as old classics, why not check out a recent hit that’s finally been released on streaming services and Blu-ray like 28 Years Later. The long-awaited sequel to 28 Days Later and 28 Months Later finally came out this year and follows a group of survivors decades after a zombie apocalypse who live on an island but return to the mainland to hunt but find an even more dangerous form of zombies waiting for them. It’s finally been released to rent or buy on Amazon Prime here, as well as a special steelbook Blu-ray version here for the collectors out there. With the sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple coming out in January next year, now is the perfect time to catch up on 28 Years Later and be ready to watch the sequel on the big screen when it comes out.
The Hidden Gem – Bring Her Back
Or, if you’re looking for something more recent that might’ve slipped under your radar, then Bring Her Back is an excellent new release that just got onto streaming services. Made by the Philippou brothers, who also had a recent hit with their debut Talk To Me, this Australian horror flick is about a young teen and his sister who move to a foster home in the middle of nowhere and get drawn into an occult ritual by their foster mother and a brother who seems off. With an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s one of the best reviewed horror films that’s come out in the last year and is currently available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video here. So, give it a watch on your smart TV with the lights down low to get the right atmosphere. That is, if you’re not scared…
The Cult Classic – Eraserhead
If that still doesn’t interest you and you want to watch something really out there that’s different to the usual horror films you watch, then why not try out Eraserhead? This cult classic from David Lynch has unsettled audiences for decades through its surreal portrayal of Philadelphia in iconic black and white. Follow Henry Spencer across this dreamlike world as he grapples with being a single parent taking care of a sick child who might not even be human. OK, it might not sound that scary, but the visuals and sound really draw you in to the Kafkaesque fear and terror Henry feels going about his daily life. It’s also a big inspiration to many directors including Stanley Kubrick, making it a must-see for any movie lover. So this Halloween, get pushed outside your comfort zone by watching David Lynch’s cult classic Eraserhead here.
Better yet, you can grab the Criterion Collection edition of Eraserhead to let you experience the 4K digital restoration of this masterpiece. It also comes with a bunch of exclusive extras including six of David Lynch’s short films as well as a “making of” documentary, which is a must-watch if you want to find out about how the director lived on the set during the 5(!) years it took to produce. if you’re sick of just streaming everything and are looking for a device that can play Blu-rays then check out our guide to getting the perfect Blu-ray player here then grab the Criterion Collection version of Eraserhead here. So, if you’re in the mood for something a bit more niche and out there, Eraserhead is the perfect experimental horror film to watch on your smart TV and made even better if you can get the Criterion Collection version.
So, there’s clearly plenty of great horror films to watch on your smart TV this Halloween. Whether you want to revisit an old favourite in The Shining, see a recent release that you missed in the cinema in 28 Years Later, find a new gem like Talk To Me or discover a cult classic like Eraserhead, there’s plenty of options to get in the scary mood this month. So, what are you waiting for? Check out our recommendations above and have a happy Halloween from us here at Systems Insights!