There’s a creative freedom to the horror anthology; they’re not tethered to one central narrative, style, tone, or even voice. Some anthology collections unite multiple filmmakers, each taking on a segment. Some employ a single director for cohesion. Even the framework in which the film weaves its tales varies, whether by conventional wraparound or a complete remix.
For the viewer, anthologies offer a grab bag of bite-sized horror treats; there’s no telling what kind of horror the next segment will bring. This week’s streaming picks highlight horror anthologies that run the gamut from classic anthology format to experimental, from lighthearted to bone-chilling.
As always, here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Ghost Stories – AMC+, Plex, Shudder
Written and directed by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, based on their 2010 stage play, Ghost Stories challenges the traditional anthology’s boundaries. Nyman stars as Professor Goodman, a skeptic that dedicates his life to exposing paranormal frauds. He receives an invitation from a former paranormal investigator he worshipped as a child, who tasks him with three unsolved cases of the supernatural. As Goodman embarks on his quest, he’ll find his beliefs shaken as he’s confronted with horrifying accounts of ghosts, the Devil, and more. Dyson and Nyman lay clever and subtle clues throughout that lead into an ending that will likely polarize. But for those in the mood for intense chills, this for you.
HeBGB TV – SCREAMBOX
Much like the charming WNUF Halloween Special, HeBGB TV takes an experimental approach to Halloween season fun. This twist on the anthology format captures the essence of browsing cable TV throughout the years. The plot sees a multidimensional cable box install itself into a neighborhood home with designs to eventually take over the world. A pair of young siblings get whisked away on a journey through various channels of comedic horror mayhem, leading to no shortage of creativity as viewers encounter infomercials, sketches, news reports, music clips, and more for an infectiously nostalgic and charming DIY feature.
Kwaidan – Criterion Channel, Max
Director Masaki Kobayashi’s anthology, which roughly translates to “Ghost Stories” from the term Kaidan, draws from Lafcadio Hearn‘s collection of folk tales. Kwaidan presents four vignettes of terror, often revolving around a form of supernatural or violent karma. The haunting tales and stunning cinematography helped earn this rare horror anthology a Best Foreign Language Film nomination at the Academy Awards. As if that’s not reason enough to watch this horror classic, the second segment, “The Woman of the Snow” serves as inspiration to another memorable segment from 1990’s Tales from the Darkside: The Movie.
The Monster Club – Crackle, Plex, the Roku Channel, Tubi
This musical horror anthology directed by Roy Ward Baker stars Vincent Price as Eramus, a starving vampire who feeds off an author (John Carradine) he meets on the street. In return for the snack, he invites the author to a Monster Club, a gathering place for all supernatural creatures, and tells him three tales of terror. Featuring no shortage of horror vets, like Donald Pleasence, this anthology has something for everyone. Most of all it has a catchy soundtrack, creative visuals, and Price having a ball. It’s a wholesome treat of an anthology, like a cozy horror cartoon, and it’s also a rare instance where the wraparound steals the film.
The Mortuary Collection – AMC+, Shudder
Clancy Brown chews scenery as the grim mortician who relays tales of terror to his new hire, Sam (Caitlin Fisher). The undertaker spins four tales of phantasmagorical terror that harken back to EC Comics, both in retro aesthetic and themes of karma and morality. Writer/Director Ryan Spindell uses the whimsical town of Raven’s End as the base to spin fantastical tales of ghostly revenge and grotesque depictions of gender-swapped pregnancy, all building toward an epic final segment that really cuts loose with its subversion of familiar home invasion tropes. While not every segment is as novel, great production design and a pair of energetic leads make for a really fun time.
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