Horror anthologies have been a mainstay of the genre pretty much since the advent of cinema. A collection of bite-sized stories strung together by a framing device, or wraparound, anthology horror tends to offer a variety of scares for every taste. What’s more, they provide a grab bag of unpredictability; it’s hard to guess what kind of horror is in store when you hit play.
If you’re short on time, the anthology makes for perfect viewing to break down and consume at your leisure. This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to great horror anthologies that run the gamut in style and tone, from must-see classics to experimental fare by horror masters.
All, of course, available to stream now…
Asylum – Prime Video
As the title suggests, this Amicus Production feature sets its wraparound in an asylum, where a doctor arrives for a job interview. His interviewer subjects him to an unorthodox interview process, which entails four tales of terror. Asylum offers a variety of segments, a few of which feature uber-creepy mannequins large and small. Look for notable stars like Peter Cushing. Above all, look for that classic Amicus style and eerie atmosphere.
Body Bags – Shudder, Vudu
Originally intended to be Showtime’s answer to HBO’s Tales from the Crypt, this anthology by John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper spun three unique tales introduced by a creepy coroner (Carpenter) involving his current cadavers. Look for horror masters Wes Craven and Sam Raimi to appear in the first segment, “The Gas Station,” and Roger Corman in the segment “Eye.” Also, look for appearances by Debbie Harry, Greg Nicotero, Stacey Keach, and David Naughton. Though Mark Hamill steals the entire film with his villainous turn in “Eye.”
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie – Crackle
Creepshow’s John Harrison directs this feature-length film based on the TV series. Debbie Harry, a horror anthology queen, stars as a suburban witch being regaled with horror stories by the paperboy she intends to eat for dinner. Those memorable tales feature mummies, a killer cat, and gargoyles and boast an all-star cast, including Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, James Remar, Christian Slater, and more. A seriously solid anthology without any real weak link among the segments.
Three…Extremes – Prime Video
If you’re looking for a grislier anthology with teeth, this one’s for you. Takashi Miike, Park Chan-wook, and Fruit Chan unleash three vicious segments that lean heavily into the gruesome or violent. Often both. All three with utter style. Look for Miike’s “Box” to offer surrealism and a twisted take on a circus performer’s nightmare. Park Chan-wook proves he can deliver visceral revenge in a bite-sized format with “Cut.” Fruit Chan upstages them both with “Dumpling,” a disturbing tale that earned a spinoff feature film. You may want to avoid snack time during this segment.
Trilogy of Terror – Prime Video
The king of made-for-television horror, Dan Curtis, instilled nightmares for a generation with the introduction of the Zuni doll. He saves that pint-sized terror for last, luckily. All three segments star genre stalwart Karen Black, playing four different roles of tortured women. From a twisted cat and mouse game between student and teacher to demented sibling rivalry, it’s “Amelia” that’s the crowning achievement. Based on Richard Matheson’s “Prey,” Black’s character in this story must fight for her life when she accidentally frees an evil spirit in one terrifying little doll.
That final shot is still pure nightmare fuel.
