I Stream, You Stream Vol. 103

by Patrick Bromley

Stream some movies you probably haven't seen yet.

Await Further Instructions (2018, dir. Johnny Kevorkian) This was a discovery for me out of Cinepocalypse last year. It's a British sci-fi horror film, set at Christmas, about a family get together interrupted by what may or may not be some kind of hostile alien takeover. There's little explanation for what's going on; just a message on the TV that reads "await further instructions." As is so often the case in movies like this, what happens among the people in the house is far more horrifying than any external threat. The premise is creepy, but what I really dig about the movie is its willingness to go places that movies like this are traditionally only willing to hint at going. (Watch on Netflix)

Close Calls (2017, dir. Richard Stringham) This is one of my favorite discoveries of the year so far. A young woman (Jordan Phipps, heavily exploited) spends a night at home taking care of her sick grandmother. Weird shit happens. I definitely have complaints about the movie -- at over two hours, it is embarrassingly overlong and I'm still not sure I understand all of it -- but it's so hypnotic and stylish and unusual that I found myself transfixed by it. I had the tagline for David Lynch's Inland Empire in my mind the whole time I was watching: "The story of a girl in trouble." That's Close Calls, and the trouble comes from every direction. If I can turn one or two people onto this movie, I will have done my job. (Watch on Amazon Prime Video)

Bad Reputation (2018, dir. Kevin Kerslake) Joan Jett is the best, right? That's pretty much the guiding thesis and singular conclusion of this documentary, which doesn't offer much insight but is a terrific appreciation of one of the greatest rock stars of all time. There has never been and will never be another Joan Jett. Let's not take that for granted. (Watch on Hulu)

Horror Noire (2019, dir. Xavier Burgin) This rightly-celebrated documentary, which just premiered on Shudder this week, looks at the portrayal of black people throughout the history of horror movies. It's a mix of criticism, scholarship, and surprising insight, all told with a number of welcome interview subjects and some excellent clips. There is no shortage of documentaries tracing the history of the horror film, but thanks to its new perspective and solid execution, this is one of the better ones I've seen in a very long time. Well worth your time. (Watch on Shudder)