The Bloody Disgusting-powered SCREAMBOX is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Here are five recommendations you can stream on SCREAMBOX right now.
Night of the Demon
Not to be confused with the 1957 film of the same name (also on SCREAMBOX), 1980’s Night of the Demon is an unforgettable Bigfoot experience. It’s no surprise that the gory exploitation flick was prosecuted as a “video nasty” by the British Board of Film Classification upon its initial release. It’s best remembered for a scene in which Bigfoot rips off a guy’s manhood — and that’s not even the most outrageous death scene!
The cheesefest plays like an early slasher, but instead of a masked killer lurking in the woods, it’s a guy in a cheap gorilla costume. The premise follows an anthropology professor (Michael Cutt) and a group of students on an expedition into the woods of Northern California in an attempt to prove the existence of Bigfoot after a rash of brutal murders. An integral subplot introduces a recluse (Melanie Graham) who was gratuitously molested by the creature.
Night of the Demon may not be a high mark of cinema — this one falls squarely into the so-bad-it’s-good category — but I’d argue that it’s the most entertaining Bigfoot movie. Beyond the wild kills, the plot itself is just as bonkers, riddled with so many vignettes about the cryptid’s previous victims that it could be mistaken for an anthology. It culminates with a five-minute slow-motion finale in which Bigfoot mercilessly obliterates most of the cast.
Under the Bed
If you have a kid that can handle Ghostbusters and Gremlins but isn’t quite ready for the likes of Insidious or IT, Under the Bed is a great way to help them transition to full-blown horror. In terms of scares and intensity, it’s in the same ballpark as Poltergeist, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Stranger Things, albeit with enough bloodshed to earn it an R rating.
Directed by Steven C. Miller (Escape Plan 2: Hades, Silent Night) and written by Eric Stolze (Late Phases), the film stars Jonny Weston (Project Almanac) and Gattlin Griffith (Changeling) as troubled brothers who team up to defeat the boogeyman under the bed that torments them. The first half meanders a bit as an Amblin-esque coming-of-age tale, but it eventually transforms into a supernatural monster movie with a cool, practical creature. It’s surprisingly effective, spooky, and gory.
Aenigma
The Beyond (also streaming on SCREAMBOX) is generally considered Lucio Fulci’s magnum opus, and for good reason, but Aenigma is a great stepping stone if you’re looking to delve deeper into his filmography. The 1987 supernatural horror film is the Italian horror maestro’s answer to Carrie, an influence he openly acknowledged. Parallels can also be drawn to Patrick as well as the works of Fulci’s cinematic rival, Dario Argento.
In the aftermath of a humiliating prank at the hands of her cruel boarding school classmates, awkward teen Kathy (Milijana Zirojevic) is rendered comatose. Shortly after, Eva (Lara Lamberti, Red Sonja) transfers to the prestigious college and moves into Kathy’s old room. Eva shares an inexplicable telepathic link with Kathy, which she uses to enact revenge on her tormentors; killing them one by one under mysterious circumstances. Dallas’ Jared Martin receives top billing as Kathy’s neurologist who becomes embroiled in the scheme.
Aenigma is somewhat tame by Fulci standards — no eye trauma here! — but his signature style is present in the dreamlike atmosphere, elaborate cinematography, and inspired deaths. Fulci and co-writer Giorgio Mariuzzo do for snails what they did for spiders in The Beyond: turn them into nightmarish killers in the film’s most memorable sequence.
Blood of the Tribades
Looking for an outside-the-box viewing in celebration of Pride Month? Blood of the Tribades is a love letter to the 1970s Euro-horror subgenre centering on lesbian vampires from the likes of Jess Franco, Jean Rollin, and Hammer Films. It’s not a comedic send-up — although it is a tad goofy — but rather an homage to the era through a modern, feminist lens. Instead of the gratuitous male gaze associated with the sleazy trope, this one offers equal opportunity eroticism.
Writers-directors Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein’s esoteric vision — centered on a vampire culture divided by their differences in gender, race, and beliefs — may be off-putting to some, but the ambitious worldbuilding is admirable for an indie film. Exterior shots are lush, but the low-budget seams show in the cramped, bare interiors. It’s a bit slow moving despite clocking in at only 78 minutes, but a dreamy aesthetic keeps it interesting. Make it a double feature with Vampyros Lesbos, also on SCREAMBOX.
Road Head
If you’re planning any road trips this summer, Road Head will make you reconsider your vehicular activities. The 2020 horror-comedy is far more competently made than one might expect from such an explicit title, with director David Del Rio and writer Justin Xavier delivering a quirky mash-up of The Hills Have Eyes and Mad Max with a sense of humor.
The film follows three 20-something friends — cheeky technophobe Alex (Damian Joseph Quinn), his photographer boyfriend Bryan (Clayton Farris), and third-wheeling lovesick stoner Stephanie (Elizabeth Grullon) — on a fruitless road trip in which they encounter a sword-wielding savage collecting the heads of anyone who crosses his path in the desert. The characters are messy in a relatable way, and the performances are good despite some questionable story beats. There are several good laughs, practical effects, and twists along the way.
Visit the SCREAMBOX Hidden Gems archives for more recommendations.
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