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5 films on VUDU to be thankful for this holiday season

By Susan Leighton

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 31: Actor Bill Paxton attends the 5th Annual Critics' Choice Television Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on May 31, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Critics' Choice Television Awards)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 31: Actor Bill Paxton attends the 5th Annual Critics' Choice Television Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on May 31, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Critics' Choice Television Awards) /
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Vudu
13th June 1955: Film director and auteur Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) filming ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’, a Paramount remake of his 1934 spy thriller. (Photo by Baron/Getty Images) /

VUDU is definitely becoming a go-to streaming service for horror fans especially since so many of their titles can be watched for free. We decided to go through the decades and pick 5 films that we are thankful for this holiday season.

VUDU is a terrific streaming service that has quite a catalogue of horror films for fans of the genre. If you are anything like us, the holidays can be a stressful time of year so why not kick back and watch some movies that feature other people screaming for a while?

The 5 films that we selected aren’t popular titles. Some you may have heard of and others you may not have. While we do enjoy our “comfort food” flicks sometimes you are in the mood for something different.

So, if you were expecting to see the tried and true franchises, they aren’t on this list. However, we think these choices will definitely satisfy any scary cravings you might have. Join us for a midnight snack!

5 Films on VUDU That We Are Thankful for This Holiday Season

1970’s: The Legend of Hell House

You can’t go wrong with a script written by the legendary Richard Matheson. It also doesn’t hurt that the source material is Matheson’s novel, Hell House. Frankly, we were surprised but happy that VUDU had this classic in their collection.

Lionel Barrett, is a physicist, a man of science and a non-believer in the paranormal. He has created a machine that is designed to clean houses that are labeled “haunted” of negative energy. Wanting to test his new toy, he decides to tackle the notoriously demonic Belasco House.

The deceased owner of the mansion, Emeric Belasco was thought to be a serial killer so it was said to be haunted by his many victims. What is of particular interest is the fact that no one who has investigated the site has managed to emerge with any significant findings because they have either been driven mad or been killed.

Accompanying Barrett on this investigation is his wife and two mediums, Florence Tanner and Ben Fischer (who is played by the great Roddy McDowell). Fischer also happens to be the lone survivor of a prior foray into Belasco that ended rather tragically.

Shortly after entering the abode, ghostly activity starts to manifest and the terror begins. Possessions occur, entities have otherworldly sex with the living and it just keeps building until the frenetic conclusion. If you don’t believe in evil or ghosts, you will after viewing this John Hough directed film.

1980’s: Psycho II

We can honestly say this particular sequel to the Alfred Hitchcock classic is a worthy successor. Tom Holland (yes, that Tom Holland of Child’s Play) wrote the Robert Bloch inspired script. He manages to stay true to the original material and does it justice.

Norman Bates, despite the protestations of Lila Loomis (Marion Crane’s sister) is released from a mental institution after being incarcerated there for 22 years. He returns to the motel and his childhood home to try and reintegrate into society. However, he is still haunted by the ever-present voice of his long-deceased mother.

Unfortunately, he finds that Warren Toomey (Dennis Franz), the man assigned to run the family motel in his absence, has turned it into an “adult” establishment where couples can have tristes and explore whatever fetishes they have. Sickened, Norman kicks him out.

Despite Toomey’s attempts to bait him into becoming irrational, Bates resists. In the meantime, Norman’s psychiatrist, Dr. Bill Raymond (Robert Loggia) has procured him a job at a local diner. Of course, we all know that isn’t going to go well.

Someone begins to torment Norman by leaving him notes on the order wheel from his mother. Unable to cope, he quits his job. However, he has made a new friend in waitress, Mary Samuels (Meg Tilly). After being kicked out of her boyfriend’s place, Norman offers her a room at the hotel for free.

We don’t want to give anything away but Anthony Perkins is at the top of his game in this film. His portrayal of an older Norman struggling to maintain normalcy and his sanity is compelling and well worth a viewing.

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