Summer is just around the bend, so why not celebrate with a ‘Subspecies’ marathon?
Welcome to Horrorscope, a monthly column keeping horror nerds and initiates up to date on all the horror content coming to and leaving your favorite streaming services. Here’s what to watch in June 2023.
At the risk of being overly formal, I’d like to get some housekeeping out of the way before we launch into this month’s horror streaming offerings. I will not be calling the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max by its new name. The change from Amazon Prime Video to Prime Video? I could deal with that. But Max? No. Not going to happen. Sorry. We all have limits, and this is one of mine.
Back to the fun stuff: it’s no coincidence that June is always something of a banger month for new horror additions to streaming libraries. Could there be some kind of subconscious correlation between Pride Month and genre film? Surely not. In any case, let’s not question a good thing: this month is stacked! So let’s get into it.
Be sure to peruse the complete list below, calendar in hand, for a full picture of what horror movies are coming and going from your favorite streaming services in June 2023.
Please keep in mind that all dates listed below may not apply to viewers outside the US.
The streaming service champion of the month is Tubi, which is (1) free; (2) genre-film friendly, and (3) reliably good at acquisitions. The People’s Streaming Service prevails once again.
The streaming service dunce of the month is once again Disney+, which has really cemented its status as an enemy to horror movies. It’s not all that surprising that the most straight-edge/capitalistic streamer would be the most antagonistic to a rebellious genre like horror. But I’m not going to pull punches! Up yours, D+!
Synopsis: An all-inclusive vacation to an isolated island resort never leads to anything horrifying, right? Right? Well, failed novelist James and his heiress wife Em are about to find out! Will James’ writer’s block be cured by the island’s soothing surf and placid beaches? Or will the revelation that the island’s draconian laws are mere suggestions to a privileged few lead the writer down a darker path?
One of the only kinds of inflation I can abide is the career of Brendan Cronenberg (son of David), who has only become more interesting, polished, and self-assured over time. Flawed as it may be, Infinity Pool is a must-watch for anyone with, uh, my notes say “taste”?
Kinky and compelling in equal measure with some banger lead performances from known freaks Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth, dive on into the Infinity Pool!
Available on Hulu on June 23.
Synopsis: The last time we saw Glen, they were naught but a tiny, sharp-toothed babe bursting from Tiffany’s plastic loins as the final jump scare in ‘The Bride of Chucky.’ Now, the tiny tot is all grown up, dying to know who their parents are and what their purpose is. Innocently, Glen manages to resurrect their parents, who proceed to bicker over everything from their kid’s gender to their innate talent for murder.
Seed of Chucky‘s reputation as the stinker of the franchise is inaccurate for two reasons. First, there are no “stinkers” in the Child’s Play franchise. Second, if the series does have a weak link, it’s Child’s Play 3.
While the Child’s Play films have never been shy about switching things up, for many, Seed of Chucky put a bit too much paprika on its slasher sandwich. These people are cowards. Leaning hard and unapologetically into queer paratext, Seed of Chucky is loud and campy in all the right places. The appearance of John Waters should tell you everything you need to know about what this film is trying to do.
Picking up the meta-fiction approach perfected by Wes Craven’s New Nightmare a decade earlier, Seed of Chucky is smarter and funnier than its reputation would suggest.
Available on Tubi June 1**
**Along with every single film in the Child’s Play franchise barring the 2019 remake that doesn’t exist.
Synopsis: After unexpectedly becoming the guardian of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, robotics engineer Gemma does what any loving aunt would do: she gives little, emotionally-shattered Cady an un-tested prototype of an AI doll companion. What could possibly go wrong?
Released to thunderous “hell yeahs” as a campy oasis in a sea of self-serious genre fare, 2022’s M3GAN took the internet by storm, as is her prerogative as our new robot overlord.
Directed by Gerard Johnstone (of Housebound fame) and with a screenplay by Malignant scribe Akela Cooper, M3GAN wasn’t the gay icon we expected, the gay icon we absolutely what we deserved. It’s Pride Month. If you can’t meet M3GAN from the comfort of your couch, you’re homophobic. I don’t make the rules (I do).
Available on Prime Video June 27.
Synopsis: In this 500-year spanning prequel, we learn about the origins of Radu Vladislas, the sassy half-vampire, half-demon who went from a weapon of the Church to a horrible, long-fingered, blood-slurping goblin man.
If Charles Band‘s Full Moon Entertainment likes one thing, it’s sequels. So a new entry in the Subspecies franchise is less of a surprise than a fun treat. At the risk of showing my hand, my entry point into the multi-film soap opera that is Subspecies was Allison Pregler’s video essay series. You can (and should) watch the first of their videos here. Pregler makes plain what makes the series a fan favorite. Namely that it is very, very silly.
Tubi, bless their hearts, is bringing the entire Subspecies franchise to their library this month. So whether you’re an initiate or an old hat, you can get acquainted with horror’s biggest vampire drama queen: Radu (played in every single film in the franchise by Anders Hove, who more “culturally elevated” readers might recognize from a handful of Lars von Trier films).
Available on Screambox at some point in June
Streaming Service | Movie | Date |
---|---|---|
ARROW | Anguish (2015) | June 16 |
ARROW | The Pack (2015) | June 23 |
The Criterion Channel | The Haunting (1963) | June 1 |
The Criterion Channel | Disturbing Behavior (1998) | June 1 |
Crackle | Girl (2020) | June 1 |
Crackle | Cryptid (2023) | June 1 |
Crackle | Desert Shadows (2022) | June 15 |
Crackle | Willy's Wonderland | June 13 |
Freevee | American Psycho (2000) | June 1 |
Freevee | Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) | June 1 |
Freevee | Priest (2011) | June 1 |
HBO Max | Army of Darkness (1993) | June 1 |
HBO Max | Knock Knock (2015) | June 1 |
HBO Max | Little Shop of Horrors (1986) | June 1 |
HBO Max | The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015) | June 1 |
HBO Max | The Evil Dead (1981) | June 1 |
HBO Max | The Evil Dead (2013) | June 1 |
HBO Max | The Evil Dead II (1987) | June 1 |
HBO Max | The Lodge (2019) | June 1 |
HBO Max | You're Next (2013) | June 1 |
Hulu | Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2011) | June 1 |
Hulu | Attack the Block (2011) | June 1 |
Hulu | Monster House (2006) | June 1 |
Hulu | Predators (2010) | June 1 |
Hulu | Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil (2010) | June 1 |
Hulu | The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) | June 1 |
Hulu | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) | June 1 |
Hulu | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011) | June 1 |
Hulu | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012) | June 1 |
Hulu | Infinity Pool (2023) | June 23 |
Hulu | Barbarian (2022) | June 25 |
Netflix | End of Days (1999) | June 1 |
Netflix | The Ring (unclear which version) | June 1 |
Netflix | Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) | June 1 |
Paramount+ | Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow (1959) | June 1 |
Paramount+ | The Relic (1997) | June 1 |
Paramount+ | The Time Machine (2002) | June 1 |
Paramount+ | There’s Something Wrong with the Children (2023) | June 15 |
Peacock | The Purge (2013) | June 1 |
Peacock | The Purge: Election Year (2016) | June 1 |
Plex | Beyond The Black Rainbow (2010) | June 1 |
Plex | Terrifier 2 (2022) | June 1 |
Plex | Timecrimes (2007) | June 1 |
Prime Video | The Gift (2001) | June 1 |
Prime Video | The Call (2020) | June 1 |
Prime Video | Ghost Of Dragstrip Hollow (1959) | June 1 |
Prime Video | Reign of Fire (2002) | June 1 |
Prime Video | Shaun of the Dead (2004) | June 1 |
Prime Video | The Relic (1997) | June 1 |
Prime Video | The Return of the Living Dead (1985) | June 1 |
Prime Video | The Time Machine (2002) | June 1 |
Prime Video | M3GAN (2023) | June 27 |
Redbox | Willy's Wonderland (2021) | June 13 |
Redbox | Black Death (2010) | June 16 |
Screambox | Autopsy (2008) | June TBA |
Screambox | Beneath (2013) | June TBA |
Screambox | Christmas Evil (1980) | June TBA |
Screambox | The Collector (unclear which version) | June TBA |
Screambox | Crazy Desires of a Murderer (1977) | June TBA |
Screambox | Day of the Dead (unclear which version) | June TBA |
Screambox | Deathcember (2019) | June TBA |
Screambox | Dominique (1979) | June TBA |
Screambox | Grotesque (2009) | June TBA |
Screambox | The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008) | June TBA |
Screambox | Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story (2023) | June TBA |
Screambox | The Mangler (1995) | June TBA |
Screambox | Rabid (1977) | June TBA |
Screambox | Rabid (2019) | June TBA |
Screambox | Road Games (1981) | June TBA |
Screambox | Subspecies (1991) | June TBA |
Screambox | Subspecies II: Boodstone (1993) | June TBA |
Screambox | Subspecies III: Bloodlust (1994) | June TBA |
Screambox | Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm (1998) | June TBA |
Screambox | Subspecies V: Bloodrise (2023) | June TBA |
Shudder | An American Werewolf in London (1981) | June 1 |
Shudder | Ginger Snaps (2000) | June 1 |
Shudder | Ginger Snaps 2 (2004) | June 1 |
Shudder | The Howling (1981) | June 1 |
Shudder | Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf (1986) | June 1 |
Shudder | Calvaire (2004) | June 5 |
Shudder | The Devil’s Candy (2015) | June 12 |
Shudder | Baskin (2015) | June 19 |
Shudder | Unwelcome (2023) | June 23 |
Shudder | Home Movie (2008) | June 26 |
Shudder | Brooklyn 45 (2023) | June TBA |
Shudder | Children of the Corn (2023) | June TBA |
Tubi | American Psycho (2000) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Visit (2015) | June 1 |
Tubi | Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016) | June 1 |
Tubi | Annabelle Comes Home (2019) | June 1 |
Tubi | Annabelle: Creation (2017) | June 1 |
Tubi | Bride Of Chucky (1998) | June 1 |
Tubi | Candyman (1992) | June 1 |
Tubi | Child’s Play 2 (1990) | June 1 |
Tubi | Child’s Play 3 (1991) | June 1 |
Tubi | Cult Of Chucky (2017) | June 1 |
Tubi | Curse Of Chucky (2013) | June 1 |
Tubi | Devil (2010) | June 1 |
Tubi | Doctor Sleep (2019) | June 1 |
Tubi | Fright Night (unclear which version) | June 1 |
Tubi | Grindhouse: Death Proof (2007) | June 1 |
Tubi | Grindhouse: Planet Terror (2007) | June 1 |
Tubi | House Of Wax (2005) | June 1 |
Tubi | Interview with The Vampire (1994) | June 1 |
Tubi | Mama (2013) | June 1 |
Tubi | Seed Of Chucky (2004) | June 1 |
Tubi | Sinister 2 (2015) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Curse Of La Llorona (2019) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Last Exorcism (2010) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Shining (1980) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Thing (1982) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Thing (2011) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Wolfman (unclear which version) | June 1 |
Tubi | Van Helsing (2004) | June 1 |
Tubi | Army Of Darkness (1992) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Butterfly Effect (2004) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Call (2013) | June 1 |
Tubi | The Shallows (2016) | June 1 |
Tubi | Trap House (2023) | June 9 |
Tubi | She Came From the Woods (2017) | June 10 |
Tubi | Captive (2021) | June 15 |
Tubi | Play Dead (2022) | June 17 |
Streaming Service | Movie | Date |
---|---|---|
The Criterion Channel | The Wicker Man (1973) | June 30 |
The Criterion Channel | Sea Devil (2014) | June 30 |
The Criterion Channel | Brain Damage (1988) | June 30 |
The Criterion Channel | Basket Case (1982) | June 30 |
The Criterion Channel | Dream Demon (1988) | June 30 |
The Criterion Channel | Society (1989) | June 30 |
The Criterion Channel | Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) | June 30 |
The Criterion Channel | The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne (1981) | June 30 |
Hulu | The Meg (2018) | June 23 |
Hulu | The ABCs of Death (2012) | June 30 |
Hulu | The ABCs of Death 2 (2014) | June 30 |
Hulu | American Psycho (2000) | June 30 |
Hulu | The Fan (1996) | June 30 |
Hulu | I Saw the Devil (2010) | June 30 |
Hulu | It (2017) | June 30 |
Hulu | John Tucker Must Die (2006) | June 30 |
Hulu | Marrowbone (2017) | June 30 |
Hulu | Prom Night (2008) | June 30 |
Hulu | Prometheus 2011) | June 30 |
Hulu | Satanic (2016) | June 30 |
Hulu | Splinter (2008) | June 30 |
Hulu | V/H/S (2012) | June 30 |
Hulu | V/H/S 2 (2013) | June 30 |
Hulu | V/H/S: Viral (2014) | June 30 |
Hulu | XX (2017) | June 30 |
Netflix | The Darkness (2016) | June 15 |
Netflix | The Mist (2007) | June 21 |
Netflix | Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010) | June 30 |
Netflix | Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) | June 30 |
Netflix | The Stepfather (unclear which version) | June 30 |
Netflix | World War Z (2013) | June 30 |
Plex | An American Werewolf In London (1981) | June 31 |
Plex | The Blair Witch Project (unclear which version) | June 31 |
Plex | Cube (1997) | June 31 |
Plex | Cube 2: Hypercube (2002) | June 31 |
Plex | The Devil's Rejects (2005) | June 31 |
Plex | Eden Lake (2008) | June 31 |
Plex | Hannibal Rising (2007) | June 31 |
Plex | Horns (2013) | June 31 |
Plex | Hostel (2005) | June 31 |
Plex | Hostel: Part II (2007) | June 31 |
Plex | Open Water (2003) | June 31 |
Plex | The Road (2009) | June 31 |
Plex | We Summon The Darkness (2019) | June 31 |