Acclaimed filmmaker Pablo Larrian’s newest film, El Conde, satirizes Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet by portraying him as an immortal vampire, desperately (and bloodily) holding on to his power. It’s a funny, terse, dark work of political cinema with a powerful sense of visual language and cultural relevance. 

Exclusively streaming on Netflix.

This horror-romance, brought to life through terrific performances by Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Russell, is a beautiful testament to the power of young love. From director Luca Guadagnino (Suspira [2018], Call Me By Your Name [2017], etc.), it follows Maren Yearly (Russell), whose  cannibalistic tendencies force her to split town. Searching for her mother, she encounters Sully (Mark Rylance), who makes her realize that she’s not the only one. She meets Lee (Chalamet), and the romance blossoms from there. It’s a great film; just watch out for the sequence that takes place in Frederick. 

Available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and to rent or buy wherever you rent or buy movies.

This new horror-comedy was released at the start of October, but it flew under the radar, which is disappointing because it’s one of the wittiest additions to the genre recently. It stars Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as Jamie Hughes, a typical teenager in a typical town in 2023—except for two murders back in 1987. When the killer strikes again, Jamie accidentally  travels back in time and must solve the killings. Using slasher cliches to deconstruct the genre’s recent obsession with ‘80s nostalgia, Totally Killer is one of the most startlingly original horror comedies of late. 

Exclusively streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Junior Xaver Alexander recommends this 2016 film from acclaimed Haunting of Hill House director Mike Flannagan. “[It follows] a deaf author [who] lives in a secluded house in the woods,” Alexander explained, “[and] she must fight [for] her life when a masked killer appears.” It’s a simple premise, as Alexander admits, but it offers an interesting perspective: “The fact that she’s deaf [is unique]. [Few other horror movies] have a deaf lead, so [so few have] that set of obstacles [for] characters to face.”

Everyone knows director William Friedken and writer William Peter Blatty’s 1973 masterpiece, The Exorcist, but most will not know about Blatty’s 1990 follow-up, The Exorcist III. “[It] starts out with the original police lieutenant,” Junior Noah Day summarized, “[played by] one of my favorite actors, George C. Scott, it follows his journey through solving a mysterious string of ‘copycat’ murders.” Day continued: “I like how the movie takes a different path from the rest of the Exorcist movies. [It’s an intense movie that gives the audience] a good scare.”

Currently streaming on Shudder, AMC+, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and the Criterion Channel in their “‘90s Horror” feature. It’s also available to rent or buy wherever you rent or buy movies.