September is Halloween Eve
Finally . . . it is that time of year when we get in shape for the Halloween season. Thirty-one days of horror movie watching takes training, focus, endurance, and a plan. And lucky for you, I have just the plan.
Last year several excellent horror series dropped on streaming media with barely a warning and no real opportunity to work them into the moviefest schedule. I managed to do it – but I am a professional – so I worked out a schedule for September that will allow you to get in all three series from last year and a bonus series from 2016 that originally ran on Fox network
I know what you’re thinking. FOUR entire series series in one month . . . are you crazy?
I probably am … crazy … but that has nothing to do with Halloween or horror movies. All you have to do is buy a month’s worth of Netflix and Hulu and follow the plan linked to the Movie Calendar in the sidebar of this page. Here we go.
September 1-7: The Haunting of Hill House
September starts on the Sunday of a long weekend, and my preseason plan will have you doubling up on the weekends. Don’t worry, though. Once you’ve seen the first episode of the Netflix original The Haunting of Hill House, you won’t want to stop. But pace yourself, there’s a lot of horror in your future and you don’t want to hurt yourself.
The Haunting of Hill House is the best horror series to hit any media – and it may just be the best drama series ever. The fact that it is on Netflix makes it that much better since it is practically free for those of us who cut the cord. I find Netflix originals hit or miss these days, and usually more miss than hit when it comes to horror. But the streaming giant scored a grand slam when it premiered this series last year. Based on Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name, it was made into the 1963 movie, The Haunting, then remade in 1999. Hugh Crane and Hill House are central to the story but the characters have different roles and affiliations in each retelling of this supernatural tale.
Netflix’s version of Hill House boasts a really strong cast behind a screenplay that alternates between then and now over a span of several decades. There is something unique about the screenplay – the atmosphere, the music, the dialogue – that checks all the boxes for me. Each episode runs about an hour which should give you plenty of time to sneak away for a guilty pleasure during the week, and barely demand a movie’s worth of time on the weekends. This series is scary, even for me. So if your loved ones don’t like scary you may want to find something else for them to do for these 10 hours.
September 8-14: Castle Rock
Next up, Hulu brings you Castle Rock. This original series is based on people, places and themes from the Stephen King universe. Castle Rock stars Bill Skarsgard who is best known to horror fans as Pennywise in the film reboot of It. The series takes you on a journey through the past, the present, and alternate versions of both. Sissy Spacek and Scott Glen give brilliant performances along with Skarsgard, Jane Levy, Melanie Lynskey, and Andre Holland. Shawshank Prison is the prominent backdrop for Castle Rock and fans of Stephen King will recognize the fictional town as a favorite in his novels along with Sheriff Alan Pangborn from Needful Things and The Dark Half.
There are so many Easter eggs in Castle Rock that even if you watch it more than once, you will probably need the internet to find them all. This series is well done in its complicity and once you finish the finale, hang on until after the credits have rolled and you’re expecting to be taken back to Hulu’s main menu. Trust me.
Now is the time to watch – or rewatch – Castle Rock. Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on October 23.
September 15-21: The Exorcist
The next series is courtesy of the Fox television network and brought to you by Hulu. The Exorcist is a ten-part sequel to the 1973 film starring Linda Blair, Ellen Burnstyn, and Max Von Syddow. The original movie is considered the scariest film of all time by many critics and viewers, breaking new ground in the genre with scenes that shocked and terrified the audience. The Exorcist remains the highest grossing film for Warner Brothers and the highest grossing “R” rated film, when adjusted for inflation. It is also one of two horror films ever to be nominated for an Academy award. If you think that is an impressive resume for a horror movie then don’t miss this made-for-television series. Officially known as The Exorcist: The Next Chapter, the series honors the original novel book and cinematic screenplay, delivering fully all of the terror with a TV-MA rating. But don’t let that fool you. This one is scary. It is not a series you want to watch with friends or family unless they really, really love horror.
I put only the first season on the calendar. I found Season 2 a lesser series and while Father Tomas and Father Marcus are back in their original roles, the second season lacks the magic and the continuity with the original classic that made Season 1 so great. Audience scores are comparable, however, and it is still better than all of the reality crap out there. So if you run low on things to watch, give Season 2 a shot.
September 27-30: Into the Dark
The preseason wraps up with another Hulu original, Into the Dark. This collection of horror films is not really a series in the traditional sense. The 12 episodes are completely independent, each themed around a holiday that defines its month. The first episode, The Body, was released in October 2018 and takes place on Halloween. The November episode, Flesh & Blood, has a Thanksgiving theme while December’s episode, Pooka, is about a toy. I saw an article comparing Pooka to Dickens’ Christmas Carol to line up with the December theme, but I didn’t get that at all. Just the cuddly not so cuddly toy with a dark side.
I will stop there with the intro and let you watch these for yourself. I had fun guessing which holiday would be the center of each episode. March surprised me. Into the Dark has more of a Black Mirror feel rather than classic horror, there were only a few episodes that I think really qualify as scary. But they are all good and generally safe for people who don’t like it too scary. The run time for each film is around 90 minutes. Perfect for winding down after a long day.
So there you have it. W'e’re keeping the preseason tradition with an entire month of horror content available with your Netflix or Hulu subscription. If you ease into the Halloween season an hour or so at a time you should have plenty of time to head to the theater for It: Chapter 2 before the month is out. And again, click on the Movie Calendar link for your quick reference guide.
The days are shorter, evenings are cooler, and the season is almost here. Grab a pumpkin spice latte and get ready.