So, we've already covered a lot of the Made-for-TV movies already on the site, but what about the other genre films made or premiered on other services? With the advent of streaming in the modern society and an influx of genre premiering or specifically catered to that market, it's no wonder that a large aspect of the year featured plenty of such films. So let's take a look at these films with the two most specific and genre-favorite services looking at both Netflix and Shudder contributions.
Netflix-
The Ritual-
There was a lot to really like with this one. One of it's strongest aspects is the central setup at work here, where it works several enjoyable plotlines together into a rather engaging setup starting with the opening in the store that spurs the motivation for their trip. Once there, the film picks up incredibly well with the group confronting an endless series of strange and otherworldly scenarios. That this is all accompanied by the sounds of tree branches breaking off in the distance and the complete lack of animal sounds around them creates a truly terrifying scenario the deeper they travel. The film's biggest misstep occurs in the final half when it introduces the followers in the woods which is entirely unneeded in the film, and to then offer this utterly bizarre turn that undermines a lot of the atmosphere and tension seen previously in favor of an underwritten setup about the group undergoing these strange and bizarre rituals which make no sense. As well, the ending is a bit of a cheat with a rather weak resolution to it all that's way too simple and comes about due to very little involvement with the main creature's backstory. These here are what hold this one back for the most part. (9.25/10)
This ended up being quite an extraordinary effort. What really works for this one is the rather impressive amount of supernatural action throughout here, keeping this one moving along at a frantic pace as it unleashes plenty of strong scenes that offer up plenty to like. From the standout early sequence showing the girls getting caught up in the seance in the dark room where they first get exposed to the spirit to the different house attacks with the children being directly involved in the supernatural antics and finally diving into the absolutely stellar finale with the demon loose in the house where it has plenty of strong special effects alongside the dark actions of the spirit tormenting her as she tries to get her brother free. The strong and engrossing family drama keeps this moving along nicely and giving this the perfect kind of setup that the scares come build from later on. The film is a bit cliche and filled with some rather familiar elements that can be seen coming quite easily due to that, and it does drag on a bit too long but is still a whole lot of fun. (9.25/10)
For the most part, this one wasn't too bad. The fact that the zombie action throughout here, when it occurs, manages to give this one plenty to like as the fact that there are some great aspects here. The scenes of the horde rushing out of the forest to attack or the eerie scenes in the field where they accrue the giant collection of debris sets quite a sight while showcasing all the action here with the creatures getting into all sorts of bloody, gory fun. It does have a few flaws, from the bland and lethargic pacing that doesn't really give this one much of a difference between the existential dialog to the action where there's no energy at all in the first half. There's also a rather confusing and disorienting setup here where the film makes it difficult to tell where we are, who's who or what's going on as we're thrust into the various characters on the outskirts of the situation without much knowledge of anything and cutting between everything, all lowering this one somewhat. (7.5/10)
Overall, this was a decidedly awful zombie film that really doesn't have much going for it. The fact that this one just pads out the running time with so much utterly uninteresting material, from the constant dealings with the red neck hunter living in the wilderness to the insanely lame ideas featuring the two simply wandering through the Outback together simply rambling on about nothing in particular just makes this feel endless, especially with the whole segment leaning towards a drama feel than outright horror. This is enhanced by the seeming lack of zombie action in the film, with the creatures featuring into only three scenes totally about a minute of screentime, making for a truly dull, bland and utterly overlong drama that has a few horror scenes included. The opening in their houseboat and the race to keep them uninfected starts this nicely, and while it looks professional in most aspects there's not much to the film. (2.75/10)
Apostle-
This one ended up with some rather enjoyable qualities overall. The main factor to this one is the engaging setup, where the fine mix of the unknown workings of the cult and how they operate, making for a fine time as the eventual revelation that comes out of the experience makes the scenes even creepier and generates some fine ideas as the underground scenes in the witches' lair or the confrontation in the forest. These provide all the fine conclusions to the early scenes providing the life on the island and their eventual secret which is quite impressive, holding it up over the fact that there are a few flaws here. The main issue is the complete lack of information regarding everything that's happening, from the capture of the goddess and the manner of how they setup their society to the purpose behind their plans as there's little given. That this is as long as it becomes another concerning feature since a lot of what happened here could've easily been done in less time and effort which is what makes the running time as curious as it is. Still, it's not a bad watch by any means. (7.75/10)
Shudder-
Dead Shack-
For the most part, this was quite a fun entry. The fact that this one goes for a lot of comedy with some truly funny and hilarious one-liners from the friends which manages to have plenty to like. That this leads into the actually thrilling zombie action with the strong series of attacks in the last half where it's mainly about the kids trying to escape from the different houses from the escaped zombies which has a lot of rather brutal action that treats them with respect and allows for some really fine bloody kills offers enough to like here that really overcomes the few flaws featured. The main problem is the rather glaring pacing issues as the film takes way too long to get the family out to the cabin that it can drag with them having too many stops before finally arriving and pushing the zombie action into the finale. Likewise, there are also some minor issues with the low-budget nature showing up from time-to-time, as the low light levels and somewhat cheap-looking gore do get to this one at times. However, these aren't really distracting and it's quite fun regardless. (8/10)
Last Ones Out-
This one proved to be a rather decent zombie effort. One of it's better qualities is the rather startling setup to this one that offers up a pretty enjoyable overall setting in the first half getting to the outbreak. With a minor pitstop on the way as they start on their journey into the desert, this one picks up in the abandoned village where it features a little more action and urgency with the zombies becoming much of a prominent figure, giving this more than enough to like to hold off its flaws. The main issue holding this one back is that there's not much happening throughout here. The idea of them wandering around in the forest aren't in the slightest bit interesting as rather than focus on the zombies, these scenes of the group wandering through the wilderness don't focus on anything remotely enjoyable and just cause this one to be quite dull. A lot of this is due to the feeling like the film is unfinished, as if it's missing an entire act of the story as there's nothing about the way the events unfold manage to give this a really underdeveloped feeling where there's easily more story that could've been included in this since it's just completely simplistic. That also holds the zombie action to just a few sequences and none of those provide this with any kind of money gore-shot that's usually seen in the genre which really holds it back for those looking for that as well. In the end, it's watchable enough as these flaws hold it down. (6/10)
This one was a rather troubling and problematic issue. The fact that there's way too much with the bullying, not only going way too far to be completely believable in terms of realistic people but also just turning them into outright unlikable characters, comes across as the biggest stumbling block which not only handles this one rather poorly. The other issue here is that the film is so determined to fill the first half with this kind of material that it really does hold the horror back to just a few small sections of the film with so much not that interesting material filling it to fulfill the kind of bullying mindset within this which is mainly set in the last half of the film. There's some great stuff to be had here with some stellar work to be had here with the creature getting loose and starting its rampage that's filled with some great action and gore. It's enough to hold this one up but not enough to overcome the flaws. (5.5/10)
This one wasn't too bad of an effort. One of it's better qualities is the rather enjoyable build-up this goes through in setting up the central premise at play with the manner in which this helps to sell her mental deterioration. These techniques throughout the first half are quite impressive and help to build an enjoyable atmosphere with some solid scares overall as the gradual reveal of it being the cause of a demonic being intending to steal her infant gives this a powerful resonance as it provides a creepy atmosphere as well as driving up the sympathy for the situation. There's some creepiness to be had in the finale which launches her final desperate race to get back which ends up revealing the film's biggest issue. Since this one never really makes it clear what the demon is or what it's doing, the scenes of it interacting in the physical world don't make any sense and there's never any kind of answer given to the events caused throughout here. It's all mainly due to the last half where the final reveal doesn't do anything to flesh out the series of questions involved in the storyline and nothing is really explained about where it comes from since the psychological aspect of her psychosis doesn't answer the question of what's involved. Coupled with some questionable decisions throughout here, there's not a whole lot to really hold it back. (7.75/10)
There was a lot to like with this one. The slow-build-up, from the early romance between the characters in the beginning to the rather enjoyable way this builds up the concept of the deadly video game alongside each other, works to develop a fantastically-fun and highly enjoyable series of elements that hold this one up into it's finale where it really lets loose with some incredibly fun body-horror style imagery and setups that indicate his deteriorating state. The concept of these scenes is quite impressive and effectively rendered which manages to give this a lot to like over it's few minor problems. The focus on the surrealistic imagery oftentimes comes at the expense of coherence in the story which is way too deep for the short running time to fully explore, leaving plenty of confusing times here. Even the way it resolves itself doesn't have much about it that makes sense, and the low-budget feel is somewhat disappointing, but overall it's got enough to really like about it. (7.75/10)
Ruin Me-
For the most part, this one was an enjoyable and entertaining effort. The main focus here, from the confines of the game itself that plays into the main resources of the remainder of the film, really playing with the idea of whether or not the game is real. Once it seems to take a turn for that being the case, this one picks up considerably with some fine stalking in the woods with the chaos and confusion over the actual reality and gives this a nice amount of fun that is rather fun. However, the final half hour, when it not only introduces a useless plot-point about the drug-addict ex-boyfriend and a series of twists that brings out a rather cliched and wholly contrived idea that really undermines the action beforehand, it just seems to be confused as to what it wants to do overall. That inclusion, as well as the overbearing low-budget tone and style that brings out the rather blatant tone here, these are what hold the film back in the end. (6.5/10)
Ruin Me-
For the most part, this one was an enjoyable and entertaining effort. The main focus here, from the confines of the game itself that plays into the main resources of the remainder of the film, really playing with the idea of whether or not the game is real. Once it seems to take a turn for that being the case, this one picks up considerably with some fine stalking in the woods with the chaos and confusion over the actual reality and gives this a nice amount of fun that is rather fun. However, the final half hour, when it not only introduces a useless plot-point about the drug-addict ex-boyfriend and a series of twists that brings out a rather cliched and wholly contrived idea that really undermines the action beforehand, it just seems to be confused as to what it wants to do overall. That inclusion, as well as the overbearing low-budget tone and style that brings out the rather blatant tone here, these are what hold the film back in the end. (6.5/10)
Hell House LLC 2: The Abaddon Hotel-
For the most part, this was a decidedly decent if somewhat underwhelming follow-up. One of the stronger aspects featured here is the opening half that devotes an incredibly enjoyable amount of time to set up the aftermath of the original. This gives the film a solid base as the second half delves into the new group entering the hotel and getting stranded inside. There's a generally creepy air throughout the hotel as they engage in their filming and the encounters with the ghosts are rather enjoyable, managing to work in some great moments here. There's a rather enjoyable air of relentlessness where it just sends ghouls and various figures they know shouldn't be there that adds a lot to the film, and overall these are more than enough to hold this up over it's few main flaws. The film's biggest issue is the finale as the full revelation of what the entity's looking for and how they're there are just lame and really just smacks of being an afterthought. It's also rather complicated in its set-up as to the cutting back-and-forth to the interview segments in the studio and back to their exploits in the hotel itself is distracting with seeing them alive and then being tortured seconds later, making the overall presentation being quite disorienting. Otherwise, there's not much else to this one. (7.5/10)
Terrified-
For the most part, this was an absolutely enjoyable effort. One of the biggest elements here is the standout series of supernatural attacks throughout here, ranging from the opening attack on the houses which feature some stellar supernatural action while also setting the stage for the events that come later on. Bringing in the paranormal investigators and featuring plenty of somewhat shocking and brutal scenes of the various attacks that are employed here, this section of the film is highly enjoyable and chilling as the relentless energy is put to good work letting this section generate plenty of great encounters. The ending is a little abrupt and really comes off as a surprise due to the sudden appearance of a twist that doesn't seem earned or genuinely arises out of the storyline here, as it seemingly comes out of nowhere and has no setup to give it any real impact. Otherwise, there isn't much else to really knock this one for if you're a fan of the genre. (9.25/10)
This was a fine if somewhat flawed effort. One of the better elements featured in this one is the strikingly enjoyable first half where there's some fun to be had with the build-up of the friends arriving at the house. This one treats the group rather nicely as they seem like a genuine group of friends that would be hanging out together, and the scenes of them partying together offer a fine starting point to where the horror elements that emerge later on have a rather intriguing base to work off of. When the horror does emerge here, there are some rather enjoyable times as the idea of being trapped in the house which suddenly starts in on the spirit turning their fears onto each other provide the kind of stellar supernaturally-tinged sequences that really could've added a lot more to this one than what's provided. This one does have a few minor problems. The main issue is a rather tonally chaotic final half that doesn't know what it wants to really do with itself. This one goes through a rather odd change-of-pace from the first half by dropping the idea of them being at the house together and instead goes into a series of random occurrences that are due to to the sudden appearance of this creature intent on killing them. As well, the film has the rather odd sense of pacing within here that does manage to get progressively worse as the movie goes on. Alongside an utterly moronic finale that doesn't do this any favors by preparing for an unwanted sequel, these here hold this one down. (6.75/10)
All the Creatures Were Stirring-
Overall, this was a decent enough if still an overall underwhelming effort. The first story is fun if not all that logically well-thought-out, taking a clever idea and running with it rather nicely but does have some problems with the budget. Story two has no real connection to anything else set on the holiday and isn't really that scary at all ends up making this quite dull and a curious inclusion. Story three is too familiar to really do anything else but is a decent time-waster if nothing else as the visuals of what's happening is decent enough. Story four has a spectacular premise and could've been fun but is undone by its weak budget and utterly laughable execution. The final story would make for a decent sci-fi/thriller TV episode and has some great ideas but isn't really that scary. The wrap-around itself would be enjoyable had it been a regular movie theater instead of a performance building and is worthwhile if not altogether needed setup, overall leaving this watchable if not all that necessary. (5.75/10)
And with that, we conclude this look at the films that arrived on streaming services in the previous year. Join us next time as we look at the 2019 entries.
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