It’s Friday the 13th, which means it’s time for a movie.
Cable channels use to have a whole line-up of campy, fun and over-the-top horror flicks on the night of Friday the 13th, but that’s not the case anymore. Those same channels are showing “Caddyshack,” “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance.” Good movies, but not Friday the 13th movies.
For a good movie for this special night I did the scariest thing I could think of, I searched through the Netflix library of horror movies. Now that’s terrifying. There are some really awful movies in there, but I did it anyway and found a few gems for you. You’re welcome.
Here are a few films on Netflix to watch for Friday the 13th.
The Cabin in the Woods
The 2012 film “The Cabin in the Woods” caught audiences and critics alike off guard with its strange premise, self-aware nature and goofy vibe, which makes it perfect for Friday the 13th.
The movie follows a group of college kids headed for a weekend in the woods at an old cabin. Sounds pretty familiar right? Well, it’s not. The movie takes twists and turns that will mess with your noggin and keep you guessing until the end.
Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
Feel like having a couple of scares and laughing until your sides hurt this Friday the 13th? Then watch “Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.”
The movie stars Tyler Labine and Alan Tudyk as two redneck buddies trying to enjoy a weekend at their vacation home in the mountains. Their weekend is ruined, however, when a group of college kids mistake them for serial killers and start terrorizing them.
The movie is original, odd and serious fun. Tudyk and Labine are spot on and the movie will keep you smiling, until another college kid gets impaled, then you’ll cringe, but you’ll smile again soon. I promise.
Monsters
Director Gareth Edwards just released his latest feature, “Godzilla,” which was one of the most anticipated movies of the summer. How did Edwards get the “Godzilla” job? Because of the 2010 flick “Monsters.”
Written and directed by Edwards, “Monsters,” follows two people as they head into an “infected zone” in a post-apocalyptic Mexico.
The movie is a fresh take on the monster genre and employs the “what you don’t see scares you” tactic to the greatest effect.
The movie isn’t fast-paced and brimming with action from start to finish, but it is a creepy and mesmerizing trip into a world filled with monsters. So, perfect for Friday the 13th.
Silent House
The 2011 movie “Silent House” sounds like your typical horror movie. A girl gets trapped inside her family’s vacation home as supernatural forces haunt her. What’s not so typical about this movie is how it was shot.
“Silent House” is 86 minutes and shot in virtually one take. Yeah, one long take. It’s pretty amazing.
Truth be told, the movie was actually shot in 10 segments and then edited together to hide the cuts, but still pretty impressive.
The movie is creepy and super clever and worth watching for the impressive filmmaking if nothing else.
Troll Hunter
Friday the 13th is all about campy, silly and downright fun movies, so that’s what I’m leaving you with.
The 2010 Norwegian film “Troll Hunter” is all of the above and then some.
The movie is about group of students following a hunter that they think is looking for an animal that’s killing bears. Soon, however, they find out he’s a troll hunter.
The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously and what we get is a fun, silly and intense ride as we search for trolls.
This bears repeating, this is a campy self-aware movie that will fit right in line with those late nights you had as a kid watching whatever scary movie popped up on AMC at 11:30 on Friday the 13th.
There you have it, five flicks to get your Friday the 13th on with. Enjoy.