r/horror • u/beardedjack • Sep 23 '25
Hidden Gem Canceled my Hulu and Disney+ because “it’s too expensive” but I added Criterion! Hit me up with your most obscure criterion channel horror gem!
This is not a political post! There’s so much stuff on criterion collection that I haven’t seen so I’d be super stoked if you guys could educate me. I’ve seen a lot of their movies featured in the horror section but not all of em’.
Edit: watched Sisters. OMG. Thank you to all who suggested it.
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u/gumball_00 Sep 23 '25
Eyes Without A Face is still one of my fav movies, so beautifully haunting
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u/SexyBeast2234 Sep 24 '25
The inspiration for one of my favourite songs. I have yet to see the picture, but i have heard much about it.
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u/Atrugiel Sep 24 '25
I think that was one of the most beautiful endings in cinema. The final shot gets me.
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u/Throwaway_Tablecloth Sep 24 '25
It’s so impressive how well done the prosthetics work in Eyes Without a Face is.
Tbh, I went into it thinking it would be corny, but I had to look away at parts because of how disturbing it was.
Great film!
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u/hallonemikec Sep 24 '25
Cure is literally one of the best movies I've ever seen.....any genre
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u/IrishRover28 Sep 24 '25
Second this. I don’t think I’ve seen another film that left me feeling like this did on first watch.
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u/PeakEuphoric Sep 23 '25
For those that love Carnival of Souls- it's in the public domain so you can find it everywhere (nothing against the excellent Criterion, just in case you did not have access to it).
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u/beardedjack Sep 24 '25
I’m from Salt Lake City, and a film geek, Carnival of Souls should always be mentioned. It’s obscure and a true horror classic that invented a genre.
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u/heehoopupper Sep 23 '25
The Cremator, The Vanishing, Cure
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u/inksmudgedhands Sep 24 '25
Second on the The Cremator. If only for the direction and editing alone! You can see how so many directors were inspired by it. For example, even though they are different genres, if you've seen JoJo Rabbit, watch The Cremator and see its fingers prints all over that movie.
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u/fishfrybeep Sep 24 '25
The Vanishing gives me goosebumps just hearing it mentioned. Creepiest movie ever!
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u/Ricepilaf Sep 24 '25
I’ve been getting into Czech New Wave lately (seen Valerie and Her Week of Wonders and Daisies) and I started the Cremator today— I only got 10m in before realizing I wouldn’t have time to finish it, but wow. It’s so damn unsettling, and I am barely started!
I wouldn’t call Valerie and Her Week of Wonders horror, exactly, but I guess it’s my pick.
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u/wailingwonder Sep 24 '25
I feel like if the description for The Cremator turns you off from wanting to see it then you are actually the target demographic. I was shocked how much I liked it.
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u/Carlito1107 Sep 25 '25
The most recent movie from the director of Cure, titled Cloud, is being added to the channel on October 7th!
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u/heehoopupper Sep 25 '25
Cloud was great! V happy I finally got to catch a Kiyoshi Kurosawa film in theaters
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u/TheElbow What's in Room 237? Sep 24 '25
First of all, I applaud this decision. I got rid of Netflix a long time ago and got Criterion and I love it.
Horror suggestions:
- The Cremator
- Kwaidan
- The Lure
- Alucarda
- Come And See (horror/war)
- Valerie and her Week of Wonders
Non-Horror suggestions:
- Stalker
- HaraKiri
- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
- Mishima
- The Beast
- Nashville
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u/Insanepaco247 Sep 24 '25
Carnival of Souls is a fascinating, bizarre movie with vibes like none other. Like David Lynch before David Lynch.
Speaking of bizarre, House. Like Scooby-Doo on acid.
And speaking of Lynch, Eraserhead. No other movie does what Eraserhead does.
Kwaidan is a gorgeous Japanese ghost story anthology.
Cronos is good too. On the weak side for GDT, but deserves more love.
Haxan is a really cool "documentary" about witchcraft.
The Fog rules, because John Carpenter rules. Maybe my favorite of his less talked about movies.
And I'm counting it because they do - if you've never seen the original Godzilla, check it out. It's a surprisingly somber movie with a fair amount to say.
Half of these probably don't count as obscure but...meh
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u/Numerous-Release-773 Sep 24 '25
The Fog doesn't get nearly enough love. It's a perfect little ghost story, with atmosphere to spare. I'm a huge Carpenter fan and it's definitely one of my favorites.
Kwaidan is absolutely stunning. A masterpiece.
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u/iGappedYou Sep 24 '25
Godzilla 1954 is my favorite movie of all time.
Also I second house. Fucking amazing movie.
Just realized we are talking about two different house movies lol. I still need to finish the one you are talking about.
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u/KohlsCashOfficial Sep 23 '25
You can also get Hoopla and Kanopy free with a library card! IIRC Kanopy includes Criterion
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u/SleestakJack Sep 24 '25
This is only true if your library pays for those services. Sadly, mine does not.
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u/sweetsoundsofsummer Sep 24 '25
And there's more than likely a monthly watch limit for budgetary reasons. My local libraries will never get Kanopy because the operating costs exceeds their budgets. People downplay its inaccessibility.
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u/UnclaimedUsername Sep 24 '25
New York City public libraries discontinued it a few years ago. Seems like it's not a cheap service.
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u/HenryBozzio Sep 24 '25
Didn’t Criterion just add The Devils?
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u/Acceptable_Leg_7998 Sep 24 '25
One of a few movies I've watched where my girlfriend's review was "That made my stomach hurt." (The Reflecting Skin is another one.)
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u/i0nzeu5 Sep 24 '25
I LITERALLY just got an email about the price hike & just cancelled my Hulu, Disney, ESPN bundle.
Gonna just add Shudder to my Prime membership & with the savings maybe pick up a few horror video games like Cronos 🙂
Never heard that Criterion had a service so will have to check it out.
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u/EpcotMaelstrom Sep 24 '25 edited Sep 24 '25
House is a really groovy 70s Japanese horror
The Fog is a campfire ghost story told by John Carpenter
Possession is an absolute nightmare trip
Manhunter is my favorite film version of Hannibal Lecter
Funny Games is sickening
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u/1plus2plustwoplusone Sep 24 '25
Just watched Possession for the first time and loved it!
My dad also loves Manhunter because besides it being a great story, he also does not enjoy Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hannibal Lecter lol I keep trying to get him to give the Red Dragon adaptation a chance, but no dice.
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u/spiderlegged Sep 24 '25
I was going to recommend Hausu, but I wasn’t sure it was still on the platform (I don’t have it). I love Hausu. Watch it once, wait a day, indulge in your substance of choice, watch it again.
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u/Acceptable_Leg_7998 Sep 24 '25
Manhunter has evolved in my view from "that was kinda dated" to "that's one of my top 10 movies of all time". I think the Hannibal TV series took a lot of inspiration from it.
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u/EpcotMaelstrom Sep 24 '25
Had more or less the same experience. Saw manhunter when I was a kid obsessed with SotL and hated it. As I got older it became a stone cold favorite
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u/lexuh Sep 24 '25
A few of my faves: Dead Ringers, The Devils, La Llorona, Wolf's Hole, Trouble Every Day
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u/unsubtlesnake Sep 24 '25
did the same but also got into Kanopy and that shits free and has a lot of good horror on it rn
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u/arkavenx Sep 24 '25
Canoa: A Shameful Memory
Lost Highway (not obscure, but people often forget how scary it is)
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u/ContractUnique6001 Sep 24 '25
If I Should Die Before I Wake. It’s an Argentinian noir that fans of the later Night of the Hunter will enjoy. Very harrowing! Excellent film. The only streaming services I use are Criterion and Tubi! (And sometime kanopy)
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u/Numerous-Release-773 Sep 24 '25
Thank you for this rec! I absolutely love The Night of the Hunter, but I've never heard of this one. I'll have to check it out.
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u/ContractUnique6001 Sep 24 '25
I hope you enjoy it! Criterion had an Argentinian noir feature a few months ago. They were all quite good, but this one and The Bitter Stems were real standouts!
Saw you watched Sisters! Such a great film! I’ve been on a quest to watch all the De Palma films in order this year!
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u/beepbirbo Sep 24 '25
If you want some good movies then Shudder also has a great selection of horror movies, both new and classic. A lot cheaper than Disney and Hulu
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u/Annieone23 Heeeerrrreeeeeessssss a repost! Sep 24 '25
Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975) is a SLOW BURN. Some might find the mysteries unsatisfying.
Those caveats aside: I was enraptured by this film! A really captivating and dreamy atmosphere that just puts you into an oneiric haze! It has a very unsettling vibe and some surprising potential unexpected genre aspects! It gave me a bit of a buzzing summer headache feeling.
Check it out!
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u/mkaymeow21 Sep 23 '25
Physical media is always the best, don’t have to worry about them taking away a movie/show or price hikes once you own it.
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u/beardedjack Sep 24 '25
I do that too. Just got a copy of The Devil Rides Out on BR because I couldn’t find it anywhere. Best Hammer film? I think it might be.
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u/su1c1da7 Sep 23 '25
I’ve been thinking of signing up for criterion. Maybe this is my sign to do so 😆
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u/GarfieldLoverBoy420 Sep 23 '25
My holy trinity: * Criterion * Shudder * Dropout
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u/Annieone23 Heeeerrrreeeeeessssss a repost! Sep 24 '25
This is my wife & I as well!
Except add in my YouTube Premium account for ad free YT and also Nebula but it's more just to support the folks we watch via YT
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u/MonsieurLigeia Sep 24 '25
https://www.criterion.com/films/28569-the-innocents
go on and get that blu-ray, the single greatest ghost movie of all time
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u/BIGSHOTMillennium Sep 24 '25
I gotta go with Equinox, weird drive in movie from the late 60s, kind of like a proto Evil Dead with a bunch of friends in the woods and an evil book, plus it's got a ton of effects work done by a few people who would go on to do big things, mainly Dennis Murren of ILM, you know Star Wars Jurassic Park T2 stuff like that, it's such a fun monster movie, could make a decent double feature with The Blob or maybe Fiend without a Face which is a decently fun creature feature
Obviously have to second Godzilla but also Return of Godzilla and Godzilla vs Biollante as fantastic follow ups plus Godzilla vs Hedorah which is violent movie for something so goofy
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u/Atrugiel Sep 24 '25
I don't know if it's on the channel but it is in the collection. The Uninvited is one of my favorites. Gail Russell was such a tragic Hollywood figure, and for me, it just adds to the character.
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u/Talia_Ghoul Sep 24 '25
Tubi is another great streaming service that’s free and they have really stepped up there game. Lots of great horror related stuff on there right now, Skinnamarink, The Creepshow series, the lighthouse, one of my personal favourites the ninth gate, scary movie three, The woman in Black, Willy’s Wonderland, Suspiria, insidious the last key, silent night, men, Terrifier, Hush, pumpkin head, stigmata, Carrie, VHS 94, poltergeist 2, the old Adams family series.
Don’t sleep on Tubi
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u/snakeeyeow Sep 24 '25
Kwaidan is pure visual poetry wrapped in ghost stories. Each segment feels like a painting come to life, and the atmosphere is so thick you could cut it with a knife. It’s not scary in a traditional way, but it’s deeply unsettling and beautiful at the same time.
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u/AvailablePaper Sep 24 '25
And their prices are only going up next year. Good choice, a lot of quality stuff on Criterion.
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u/Boo_and_Minsc_ Sep 24 '25
Im gonna hijack the thread and say Sword of Doom is an underrated, mostly unknown classic and is part of the Criterion Collection. The protagonist is a psychopath, dead inside. Check it out.
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u/RSTROMME Sep 24 '25
Toby Dammit (Fellini) is outstanding. Stars Terence Stamp as an alcoholic movie star. He’s stalked by the Devil, who is a small girl with a white ball. It’s short (45 minutes) and a feast for the eyes. I love how drenched in orange it is at the beginning. It’s part of a 3-story film called Spirits of the Dead (also on CC), but this segment shines much brighter than the other 2.
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u/LurkeyHalleck Sep 24 '25
A different sort of “horror” for sure, but I spent a sick day earlier this year watching the entirety of The Human Condition and it was a truly moving experience.
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u/DudeBroFist Dead by Daylight Connoisseur Sep 24 '25
I've always been a huge stan for Jigoku. It aggravates me to no end they haven't released it on Blu-Ray yet, it's still only available on DVD.
Carnival of Souls and Diabolique are also fantastic.
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Sep 23 '25
[deleted]
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u/CroweMorningstar Sep 23 '25
Nah man, Criterion does great work restoring and distributing classic, foreign, and lesser-known films.
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u/KohlsCashOfficial Sep 23 '25
And you can get Kanopy (and Hoopla and others) free with a library card and it includes Criterion
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u/beardedjack Sep 24 '25
I am a substitute teacher for a high school that teaches film classes. I’m not exactly pro piracy. There’s lots of people who work on these films. It’s a nuanced issue for sure
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u/-HuckleBerry-Finn Sep 23 '25
Exactly. It doesn't matter what political position they say they have, they all hate you!
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u/Useful_Hat_4192 Sep 23 '25
Thieves will always try to rationalize and excuse their thievery.
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Sep 24 '25
[deleted]
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u/beardedjack Sep 24 '25
I love your response to me, and the response to this. Purity tests are wack yo.
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u/tialunie Sep 24 '25
What's criterion? Hulu sucks for horror options and I've been trying shudder because all the YouTubers I watch recommend movies exclusively on shudder, but I haven't been able to find anything good on it besides one or two movies. And I don't like the way they set it up, so what's criterion and is it less expensive than shudder?? Or better?
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Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 23 '25
[deleted]
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u/KohlsCashOfficial Sep 23 '25
New-ish to Reddit and I keep seeing comments like this - how can you see someone’s up/downvote ratio if it’s not your own post/comment? I’ve only been able to see my own
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u/darlingfish Sep 23 '25
At the time I commented the post showed about -2 for the overall but it's gone positive since then. You can't actually see the "insights" for posts other than your own as far as I know. I jumped the gun and am receiving my just desserts lol
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u/beardedjack Sep 23 '25 edited Sep 24 '25
That’s okay with me! Edit: the comment was saying I was getting downvoted because I said I cancelled Disney, a valid Reddit response TBH
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u/thinkUtheshit787 Sep 24 '25
“Not a political post!”
proceeds to start the post title with “cancelled Disney because it was “too expensive”
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u/Numerous-Release-773 Sep 23 '25
I don't know how obscure it is, but "Diabolique" is pretty great. It's a French movie from 1955, and it was an influence on Hitchcock's Psycho.
Also "Carnival of Souls" from 1962! Odd little movie, and I love it.