- #HGCREATORS
- #HGEXPLORE
- #HGVOICES
- #HGSHOP
- CAREERS
- ABOUT US
- CONTACT US
As another week draws to an end, there’s only one thing on our minds – what am I going to watch on the weekend? With the increasing number of streaming application and websites, the options are endless. Though it does often make it difficult to navigate when you have an overload of choices and seeking out quality content can be a frustrating task.
Worry not, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to be your sherpas on this journey of (healthy) binge-watching. We’ve put together a list of some of our favourites as well as what we’re currently streaming online. Whether it’s after a long day of work or sometimes during working hours too when no one’s looking; while you’re on the pot, having a date night with friends or just killing time, queue up your picks from our curation.
The recent release Ghoul got us hooked again to the horror genre and we’ve gone through all the best offerings from India and abroad. While some did give us the creeps with the jumps scares and eerie music, others are, well, become iconic in their own ways – not for their scare tactics, but they’re more of a ‘so-bad-it’s-good’.
Grab a buddy, a blanket and keep the lights on.
I. The Shining directed by Stanley Kubrick
What do you get when one of the greatest directors makes a film based on a book by one of the best writers? A classic. Based on the book of the same name by Stephen King, Kubrick’s is one film that makes the top of the list of all horror favourites. Oscar-winner Jack Nicholson plays Jack Torrance, a writer who moves to an isolated, eerie hotel with a sordid history with his family one winter. A sinister presence and the isolation drive Torrance to insanity and he violently lashes out at his family.
This film truly is a gem in the horror genre and will stand the test of time with stellar performances from the cast, Kubrick’s masterful maintenance of a creepy atmosphere throughout the film and, of course, some finger-wiggling “redrum”.
Stream it online on Netflix here.
II. Ghoul directed by Patrick Graham
One of the latest additions to Netflix’s original Indian content, the 3-part series starring Radhika Apte, Manav Kaul, Mahesh Balraj and Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, among others, has gotten mixed reviews. Set in a dystopian Indian future where fascism reigns, a dreaded Muslim terrorist leader, Ali Saeed, is caught and brought to a detention centre. Apte, an interrogator and Muslim herself is soon faced with a ghoul, a demonic possession that wreaks havoc at the centre in a quest for vengeance, unveiling the horrors that take place at the centre.
Stream it on Netflix here.
III. Scream: The TV Series
A slasher TV series based on the iconic film series of the same name, Scream holds up to the film’s cult status with a deviation from the original plot-line but with the overall integrity still there. A grisly murder occurs in the fictional town of Lakewood, following instances of cyber-bullying. It sets into motion the unveiling of dark secrets of Lakewood’s troubled past with allusions to a similar murder that happened 20 years earlier. A group of teenagers are the central focus here and the protagonist, Emma, the killer’s obsession. She hunts down the identity of the killer while navigating between who is a friend, foe and the next victim.
Watch the first two seasons on Netflix.
IV. The Exorcist directed by William Friedkin
An adaptation by William Peter Blatty from his novel of the same name, The Exorcist was a revelation for horror film fanatics when it released, being cited as one of the scariest films of all times. It follows the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl, daughter of an actress and the two priests who attempt her exorcism. A true classic of the genre, it became the first film of the Exorcist franchise. Who can forget the spider-walk stair scene?
You can watch the film on Amazon Prime Video.
V. Pari: Not a Fairytale directed by Prosit Roy
Pari stood out as an Indian horror film that defied many of the parameters set by its predecessors. Darkness looms through most of the film through heavy rains and shadows. Arnab, played by Parambrata Chatterjee comes across Ruksana (Anushka Sharma), a troubled young woman, whom he rescues from a secluded hut in a jungle. With the death of her mother and nowhere else to go, he gives her refuge in his home and they grow closer until a darker side of her comes to light. It’s a strange kind of love story, so to speak, splashed with blood, gore, and legends. .
Stream Pari online on Amazon Prime Video.
VI. Blair Witch Project directed by Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez
The Blair Witch Project became a global phenomenon when it was released. Marketed as a ‘real’ documentary film made with the ‘found footage’ of three students that were hiking in the Black Hills, in Maryland in 1994, following a local legend about the Blair Witch. The film was nothing like people expected, with many genuinely believing it was real – indicative of quite the achievement on part of the filmmakers, cast and crew.
Watch it online on Amazon Prime Video.
VII. American Horror Story created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk
An anthology TV series, each season of the show have new storylines, themes and characters, becoming an independent miniseries, in a way. There are certain overlapping elements with some plot-lines and characters loosely based on real events and people. AHS is not exactly ‘horror’, per say, more psychological thriller and we love each season (perhaps barring Coven) but even if you’re not a fan, the first season is a must-watch.
The latest season, AHS Apocalypse just kicked off this week, you can follow it and watch previous seasons on Hotstar.
VIII. It directed by Andrés Muschietti
Based on the 1986 novel of the same name by scare-master Stephen King, It follows the story of a group of bullied children who are terrorised by a terrifying being, Pennywise the Dancing Clown. In the search for their missing friend they discover the town’s secrets, its past of missing children and supernatural events all while facing their own personal demons that are brought to life in a physical form by ‘It’. It’s hard to forget Bill Skarsgård’s face as Pennywise long after the credits role.
Watch it online on Amazon Prime Video.
If you liked this article we suggest you read:
