What even is time anymore? The days and months feel as though they’ve bled into one homogenous mass lately, thanks to the strange timeline we find ourselves trapped within. So, this week’s streaming picks are dedicated to the twisted concept of time. Horror movies that prove, at best, that disrupting the flow of time adds severe complications when fighting for survival. At worst, they show that overlapping the past, present, and future can shatter the fragile human mind with ease.
These five horror movies wield time like a weapon, delivering mind-bending experiences that brings the chills, thrills, and feels…
Triangle – Prime Video, Tubi, Crackle
From writer/director Christopher Smith (Black Death, Severance), an ocean liner-set slasher turns into something far more extraordinary thanks to a claustrophobic time loop. Melissa George (The Amityville Horror, Turistas) stars as Jess, a frazzled single mother invited along on a yachting trip for the day. A sudden storm causes the boat to capsize, forcing the passengers to seek refuge on a passing ocean liner. The ship is eerily vacant, save for a burlap masked shooter intent on picking them off. Déjà vu sets in big time, adding layers to this twisty tale that keeps you guessing.
The House at the End of Time – Prime Video, Tubi
The passage of time proves key when unlocking the supernatural mystery driving this spooky haunter. In 1981, a strange paranormal phenomenon caused a devastating tragedy that leaves Dulce implicated for the murder of her husband and her son marked as missing. Thirty years later, Dulce returns home on house arrest, allowing her to discover the truth behind the events that derailed her life. A heartfelt story of familial love wrapped up on a fresh take on a haunted house story, from writer/director Alejandro Hidalgo in his directorial debut. An engrossing story with an ingenious narrative structure makes this smaller budgeted film something special, one that became the highest-grossing horror film in Venezuela upon release in 2013.
The Endless – Netflix
Directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead edit, produce, and star in this impressive thriller penned by Benson. The story follows brothers Justin and Aaron, who fled a UFO death cult in their youth but never quite recovered from it. When they receive a videotape originating from the cult’s camp, they head back for answers and to reconcile with their conflicted past. What they find warps time and space, raising new questions. This gorgeous pick (Moorhead also handled the cinematography) comes with a double feature bonus: the duo’s first film, Resolution, plays into this film thematically in many ways and would make a great watch before The Endless. Resolution is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Coherence – Hulu, Prime
A comet passes overhead during a dinner party among eight friends, unleashing a strange chain of events. A less-is-more cerebral sci-fi thriller, Coherence manipulates time to weave a mind-bending story that focuses on how the choices we make define us. The choices these characters tend to make are as frustrating as they are fascinating. Starring Emily Baldoni as the lead protagonist, relationships buckle under the weight of reality’s fluidity, creating tension and an unsettling atmosphere. If you’re a fan of solving puzzles, this pick is for you.
Waxwork II: Lost in Time – Tubi
This sequel opens with a reenactment to bring viewers up to speed on the events from the first film, which is also available on Tubi. Plucky heroes Mark (Zach Galligan) and Sarah (Monika Schnarre) embark on an epic quest through alternate dimensions, space, and time to clear Sarah’s name of murder. They face off against Frankenstein and his monster, deadly aliens in space, malevolent spirits, medieval tyrants, and so much more as they play “God’s video game.” In other words, if you’re in the mood for entertainment, this over-the-top sequel brings insane amounts of fun. Look for appearances and cameos by Bruce Campbell, David Carradine, Drew Barrymore, and Godzilla!
