You didn’t ask for someone else’s log-in to not get their money’s worth. Let’s go!
Whether you’re doing a free trial or borrowing your friend’s log-in, you’re probably wanting to make the most of your time with this streaming service. This is why I decided to volunteer as tribute to watch a bunch of their stuff and report back to the mothership.
After Party (2019)
Influencers at a Hollywood after-party begin to get picked off by a masked killer. I don’t know what drew me to put this movie on my list of movies to watch. To be honest, I plan to go in with low expectations and see where it goes. However, as I was poking around I discovered that Danny Trejo, Brandy’s little brother Ray J, and Tiny Lister Jr. are waiting on me whenever I hit play.
A Quiet Place (2018)
If you missed this, or have been looking to revisit it, then Paramount has you covered. The silence makes it tense and I really liked it the first two times I saw it a few years back. I’m still not sure why we weren’t picking up birth control when foraging for food to avoid having a baby because babies are loud! I guess we have to overlook a lot more in a lot lesser movies though. The sequel is also on Paramount+ if you’re into that kind of thing. I think the first one is better and have STRONG opinions about the sequel but I am just one drunk woman on the internet.
Friday the 13th
If you’re like me, then you like to unwind with slashers set in the woods where campers catch weapons with their torsos. Paramount supports this leisure activity by giving us six of the original eight Friday the 13th movies. Part III and VI: The Final Chapter are missing, but you get the first two and that’s what really matters. Everyone should see Mrs. Voorhees at least once, and the second movie is possibly the best movie of the franchise. I’m making my way through these as we speak and have stopped Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan twice so can say that with a fresh memory.
Paranormal Activity: The Entire Franchise
The whole franchise lives on Paramount+, including last year’s movie. I’m not as into found footage as much as everyone in all of my friend circles. However, I fux with this franchise and have definitely marathoned it with a roommate and then kept every light in the apartment on for a night or two. I will be rewatching the installments I like and then wondering why I jump at every noise in this unit. If you’re also a PA fan then you might also want to check out Unknown Dimensions. It’s a doc about the making of the franchise so in theory that should make it less scary, right?
Rare Stephen King Finds
Paramount has three Stephen King adaptations that are usually hard to find. I haven’t seen Graveyard Shift, Silver Bullet, or Thinner since I was a child. While I know they can’t have aged well, and I have complicated feelings about SK, I’m excited to see them as an adult. With enough booze maybe I can focus on the nostalgia. As a child of the 90s, I had to have a crush on Corey Haim and an obsession with werewolves. I will probably be diving back into that before this article is even published.
The horror section also has so many classics and B-movies that most of us will need at least three more free trials to get through half of it.
TV Picks
Paramount+ isn’t just here for the Star Trek and CSI crowds. It turns out they have a few shows on my shopping list.
Are You Afraid of The Dark?
If you love the original show and are curious about the reboot, then you’re in luck. The streamer has both so we can relive the memories with The Midnight Society we used to know, but also see what the kids are getting up to today. If it gets to be too much for you, then they also have a stellar selection of 90’s Nickelodeon shows to comfort us in our time of need.
Teen Wolf
I lived on MTV as a youth but never watched this show. A lot of my friends with questionable taste were into it though. I never had time before but now that it’s here, and I’m not paying for the service, it might be time to check it out. Maybe 2022 is my time to revisit shows with hot casts practicing their craft of making the word smolder a personality. Maybe we all should take up this hobby, to be honest.
The Twilight Zone
“You Might Also Like” — Pictured: Jordan Peele as the Narrator of the CBS All Access series THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Photo Cr: Robert Falconer/CBS ©2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
They had me with all five seasons of the original series. I grew up on it and didn’t know holidays had a purpose other than the marathons on Sci-Fi (because I’m old enough to remember when it was spelled that way). However, Paramount+ doubled down on getting my attention by also having both seasons of Jordan Peele’s reimagining of the show. I have only seen Peele’s version during the top of the pandemonium so would like to see it now that I’m upright and engaged again. There were some super strong episodes specifically in his first season that I highly recommend. They also give you the option of watching the reboot in black in white just like the original show. They did this for weirdos like me who will be watching both and to that, I say, “thank you!”
While Paramount+ offers a lot of stuff we can find in other places, it’s kind of nice to have it all in one central location.
Let me know what you’re watching on Paramount+ next week at @misssharai.
