Knotfest's guide to your culture streaming needs.
WATCH NOW:
'Antebellum' (VOD)
Starrring Janelle Monáe, the film originally slated to be a theater tentpole title in April, is finally released on VOD.
With serious vibes of 'Get Out' & 'Us' (thanks to producer Sean McKittrick who had a hand in all three), this psychological thrilling horror from first time film writer/directors Bush & Renz uses racial injustice as a launch pad to bring the horror to your mind.
"Successful author Veronica Henley (Janelle Monáe) finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality that forces her to confront the past, present and future – before it’s too late."
'Alive' (Knotfest)
With a trailer scored with original music by Slipknot's Clown - 'Alive' will be screening exclusively on Knotfest.com through Sept 24th here for $6.66.
The award winning horror film from critically acclaimed director Rob Grant hits 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been called “Unrelentingly tense and grim, Alive is one of the best films I’ve seen so far this year" from 'Voices from the Balcony.'
"A severely injured man and woman awake in an abandoned sanitarium only to discover that a sadistic caretaker holds the keys to their freedom and the horrific answers as to their real identity."
Starring Angus Macfadyen, Thomas Cocquerel, and Camille Stopps
'Ratched' (Netflix)
The hotly anticipated new Netflix series from Ryan Murphy (creator, writer and producer of American Horror Story) follows the rise of iconic character Nurse Ratched leading up to the classic film 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'. Sarah Paulson now steps into the prequel role for the 8 episode season.
With many of Murphy's hallmark traits including picture perfect cinematography, dark undertones, gripping horror and gore - the show will be the buzz of streaming for awhile.
'The Devil All the Time' (Netflix)
This slow burning beautifully shot and acted film spotlights evil unleashed in many forms across a multi-generational deep dive in post World War 2 Appalachia. The film kicks off with a howling performance from Harry Melling starting a timeline that throws a hardened Tom Holland into a brutal adventure set in a world filled with a quiet yet unnerving and menacing preacher exploration from future Batman, Robert Pattinson, and a true unhinged evil duo in Jason Clarke and Riley Keough.
Deeply unsettling, the film forces itself face to face with various demons throughout a life in full circle devastation.
"In Knockemstiff, Ohio and its neighboring backwoods, sinister characters — an unholy preacher (Robert Pattinson), twisted couple (Jason Clarke and Riley Keough), and crooked sheriff (Sebastian Stan) — converge around young Arvin Russell (Tom Holland) as he fights the evil forces that threaten him and his family. Spanning the time between World War II and the Vietnam war, director Antonio Campos’ THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME renders a seductive and horrific landscape that pits the just against the corrupted."
'Spiral' (Shudder)
Shudder continues to be an amazing outlet spotlighting gems in the often overlooked horror genre. This Shudder exclusive, following the success of Jay Baruchel's 'Random Acts of Violence', utilizes its horror to highlight the continuing fight for the LGBTQ+ community in all areas of the world. With shades of 'Get Out' this film will definitely stick with you past the credits.
"Malik (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman) and Aaron (Ari Cohen), a same-sex couple, move to a small town in search of a better environment for them and their 16-year-old daughter (Jennifer Laporte). But nothing is as it seems as something sinister lies behind the picturesque homes and welcoming faces of their new neighbors. Written by Colin Minihan and John Poliquin, directed by Kurtis David Harder"
'The Babysitter: Killer Queen' (Netflix)
Director McG, who made his splash in the industry directing Korn's early music videos, returns for the second installment in the acclaimed 'The Babysitter' horror comedy series on 'The Babysitter: Killer Queen'. This time directing AND co-writing, McG revisits the fun and dread that made the first such a success.
"Two years after defeating a satanic cult led by his babysitter Bee, Cole's trying to forget his past and focus on surviving high school. But when old enemies unexpectedly return, Cole will once again have to outsmart the forces of evil."
Starring Judah Lewis, Emily Alyn Lind and more.
'The Invisible Man' (HBO Max)
'The Invisible Man' smashed all expectations when it hit theaters in late February just before the outbreak, now it's dropped on HBO's Saturday night movies to stream on HBO Max.
The horror film transcends the typical thrilling scares (though it has plenty) with a witful, creatively smart script that puts Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid's Tale & Mad Men) in a fight against misogynistic, controlling gaslighting behavior that stretches far beyond this specific story.
Produced by horror mastermind Jason Blum and directed by Leigh Whannell (Saw, Insidious Series).
"Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding. But when Cecilia’s abusive ex commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see."
COMING THIS WEEK:
'VEROTIKA' (Shudder) Sept. 24th
'VEROTIKA', the much buzzed about anthology film from Glenn Danzig (which he wrote, directed and scored) based on the comic book series 'Verotik' finally hits streaming Sept 24th.
'Utopia' (Amazon) Sept 25th
So much of what is happening onscreen feels like art imitating life in the new series from Amazon. The story revolves around a virologist played by Rainn Wilson. Navigating social unrest, conspiracy freaks, and worldwide panic, he attempts to save the world from the continued spread of the virus.
The show also features John Cusack as an eccentric tech billionaire and Sasha Lane as the leader of a crew of comic book aficionados that connect online over their affinity for the comic book of the same name.
The eight-episode series follows the group as they unearth clues from the pages of the book that unfolding in reality. All this is happening while Wilson continues to work towards eradicating the impending threat of the superflu.
The series is penned by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn and was adapted from the hit UK series created by Dennis Kelly.
Watch the red-band trailer below.
CONTINUED WEEKLY EPISODES:
'The Boys' Season 2 (Amazon - Fridays)
The new season continues Butcher (Karl Urban), Hughie (Jack Quaid) and their team’s bloodshed revenge adventure to take down the Superhero super team. Adding fuel to the fire is new superhero Stormfront (Aya Cash) who is already seen raising the stakes in the new trailer.
'Lovecraft Country' (HBO - Sundays)
The highly-anticipated series from Misha Green, Jordan Peele, and J.J. Abrams, based on the 2016 Matt Ruff novel of the same name, the series follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) who connects with a friend and his uncle (Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Letitia and Michael K. Williams as Montrose) for a road trip across Fifties Jim Crow America in search of Freeman’s father.
Traversing the segregation and discrimination of the era, things become things become additionally terrifying as the trio undercover there are different kind of monsters among us. The teaser of the series has included an appearance by the mythical “Cthulhi,” which originated in the paperbacks of H.P. Lovecraft.
'Raised by Wolves' (HBO Max - Thursdays)
HBO Max’s most anticipated original series yet Raised By Wolves’ promises shades of distant planets, violence, androids, mythology and more.
Ridley Scott, legendary status due to Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator and more, finally makes his TV directing debut.
‘Raised by Wolves’ “centers on two androids tasked with raising human children on a mysterious virgin planet. As the burgeoning colony of humans threatens to be torn apart by religious differences, the androids learn that controlling the beliefs of humans is a treacherous and difficult task.”
