by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Welcome to the Buried Treasure of the Streaming World! This series takes a month’s worth of content at a time and sift out the buried treasure that exists on all forms of streaming. These films most likely fly under the radar, but now it is time to shine that spotlight on them and give them the attention they truly deserve. Time to dive in, shall we?
V/H/S/94 (4/5 stars) — Shudder
What horror franchise was in need of a revival? I have never experienced the V/H/S franchise myself, but I know that there are plenty of fans out there. This retro feeling anthology series has the trademark of grainy VHS footage, and is full of creepy horror scenarios along the way. Simon Barrett and company have returned to make this fourth installment exclusively for release on Shudder, and it has found the perfect home for itself. This anthology flick boasts a diverse collection of artists who bring unique voices to each segment, making up a collection of snuff films produced by some strange cult. Each segment is honestly compelling (to varying degrees) and delivers some quality scares. Some highlights include the new ruler of my nightmares, Ratma, a crazy Doom-style first-person shooter sequence in a grotesque lab full of mutated hybrid humans, and a creepy wake. There are plenty of great horror thrills to enjoy streaming right now on Shudder!
Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog (3/5 stars) — VOD
What is the greatest team-up in the history of cinema? Batman and Superman? The Avengers? Yeah, they are great… but are they on Scooby-Doo and Courage the Cowardly Dog level? Of course they are… but this was such a great idea! This cross-generational idea of combining two spooky animated properties seems like such a no-brainer. A disturbing and creepy creature combined with a fun whodunnit, Straight Outta Nowhere is a fun combo that has enough for fans of both shows to enjoy. Is it a little stretched thin? Are some aspects a bit one note? Unfortunately so, but there is definitely enough fun to be had with this silly and spooky romp full of giant bugs and Scooby Snacks. The release might fly clear below the radar, but the Halloween season hopefully got some people to dig deeper into their favorite on-demand service and took advantage of this fun dose of nostalgia.
The Spine of Night (4/5 stars) — VOD
What is the best way to bring the world of fantasy to life? Animation! Some of the most successful and effective fantasy worlds and tales pop off the screen in beautiful and colorful animation. But what would make it even better? Throwing around plenty of blood, guts, and gore as well! The Spine of Night takes on the long tradition of Heavy Metal by making some unapologetically adult content in animated form. There is crazy fantasy action, including slicing and dicing of limbs and sending dangerous spells into faces and leaving them burnt to a crisp. This new flick is HARD fantasy as it pulls no punches in wearing its deeply dense fantasy world, stories, and themes. A great cast of vocal performances deliver as well, including a haunting Richard E. Grant as a mysterious being, Lucy Lawless as a tough as nails warrior, and Patton Oswalt as a sniveling and impetuous ruler. If you love fantasy, The Spine of Night just might be the most fantasy film you will see for a while!
The Velvet Underground (4.5/5 stars) — Apple TV+
Who was the Velvet Underground? One of the most ambitious musical artists of all time, they surely put the “art” in “artist.” Led by Loy Reed, they captured a frequency that was truly their own in the punk scene at the time. Each member of the group was a talented artist with a strong voice. They all came together to create one of the most iconic ensembles of all time. Director Todd Haynes of Carol fame brings his unique eye for filmmaking to this new Apple TV+ documentary, The Velvet Underground. Channeling the unique voice of its subject matter, this doc artfully threads together multiple tales of each member and shows the audience how these creative forces converged. Do you love music? Do you love to see a filmmaker challenge the conventions of film? Do you love to learn and gain new perspectives? If you do, The Velvet Underground might just be the film for you!
Summertime (4/5 stars) — VOD
Have you ever thought about how poetic life can be? It is filled with the unexpected beauty in the smallest of things, and the shared human experience. Those vibes and ideas are exactly what Summertime, a new anthology type film, is about. The director of Blindspotting and Raya and the Last Dragon, Carlos Lopz Estrada, brings the lives of 25 Angelinos into one collage of life and energy. A small army of writers each bring their characters to life with poetry, humor, and humanity. Not all of their stories are as interesting as the others, but there is plenty of room for meaningful and endearing spurts of life. There are few films out there that truly capture the spirit of a city quite like Summertime. As the weather takes a turn and the leaves start changing, take a trip back to the summer with this new film!
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