So, what are you watching during the coronavirus pandemic? I’ve been doing my part to help flatten the curve by staying indoors as much as possible, and hopefully you are, too. I’m using this time to catch up on my various movie challenges and to channel my anxiety about COVID-19. It’s helpful for me to watch movies that connect in some way to a personal anxiety, and this list is a result of my recent movie marathons. And sorry, but they’re not exactly feel good flicks: All movies have to do with something spreading through a population; characters confined, quarantined or contained in some way; or prominently feature an apartment complex or home in the narrative. They’re currently streaming for free on various platforms, but apologies in advance for those outside the US who may not be able to access these titles.
High-Rise
Life for the residents of a tower block begins to run out of control. As the residents break into tribal factions, Laing finds himself in the middle of mounting violence.
I know this film has received pretty divided reactions. I’m among the crowd who enjoyed it – I think the performances from Tom Hiddleston and Luke Evans were fantastic and disturbing. Fun to watch the collapse of social order in a luxurious apartment building.
WATCH IT ON: Tubi. Also available on Prime.
Attack the Block
South London teenagers defend their neighborhood from malevolent extraterrestrials.
One of my favorite alien invasion movies! Attack the Block is funny and smart, with a great cast featuring John Boyega and Jodi Whittaker. And one thing I love about it is that the creatures don’t look like your typical ETs. If you’re a fan of movies like Shaun of the Dead, I’m sure you’ll dig this.
WATCH IT ON: Sony Crackle.
Containment
Mark wakes up to find that the doors and windows of his flat have been sealed shut. His confusion turns to terror when he sees sinister figures in hazmat suits attacking his fellow residents.
This movie surprised me – I randomly found it while browsing, and kept my expectations low. The acting was pretty good, particularly from the lead, and the story was engrossing enough – although I do think the ending was the worst part. Still, Containment helped pass the time while isolating in my apartment.
WATCH IT ON: Tubi.
Quarantine
A television reporter and her cameraman are trapped inside a building quarantined by the CDC, after the outbreak of a mysterious virus which turns humans into bloodthirsty killers.
Quarantine is a remake of the Spanish film Rec, but unfortunately Rec isn’t available for free on streaming. So this is the next best thing. We can debate whether the movie was necessary or not, but I enjoyed it. I think Jennifer Carpenter does horror really well, and I wish she’d do more.
WATCH IT ON: Sony Crackle.
The Stuff
A private detective investigates a new consumer taste treat that’s absolutely delicious and just possibly lethal.
If you’ve been paying even the slightest bit of attention to the pandemic, you’ve seen images or videos of shoppers gone wild, hoarding items like toilet paper. And I’m sure you heard talk of bailing out of the cruise and airline industry. So while The Stuff isn’t a movie about infection, it IS about something that’s spreading through society, and I included it for its damning portrayal of consumerism and corporate greed. Also, it’s just a fun movie.
WATCH IT ON: Tubi.
Escape From New York
In 1997, when the U.S. president crashes into Manhattan, now a giant maximum security prison, a convicted bank robber is sent in to rescue him.
I’m currently in New York right now, and we’re under a “lockdown” so I thought it would be fun to watch a dystopian movie about Manhattan. A classic. Since we seem to be quickly heading towards dystopia ourselves, I think it’s a good time to watch Escape From New York if you’ve somehow not seen it before.
WATCH IT ON: Movieland TV. Warning: There doesn’t appear to be closed captions for the movie. Huge bummer.
The Carrier
There’s no good short summary of this movie, so I’ll try my best: Jake, blamed for his parents’ death, is an outcast in his small town. He is attacked by some sort of large creature that infects him, but the infection doesn’t harm him, only other people. The infection spreads to every inanimate object that Jake touches, and anyone who touches the objects will dissolve. The town breaks down as the people try to determine who is the carrier.
This was a weirdly original movie that I’m happy to have stumbled across. The Carrier shows a clash between a faith-based and a scientific approach to the situation, and is a bit silly with some cringe-worthy acting. It’s also quite a bit of a downer. An important note: Stray cats play a role in the plot (leading to an iconic line from the movie, “Cats or death!”), which you have to see to believe.
WATCH IT ON: YouTube!
The Neighbor Zombie
In 2010, the people of Seoul, South Korea fight a virus that threatens to infect the planet.
The Neighbor Zombie is an anthology film of six different stories, giving us a look at the different ways a zombie outbreak would affect our lives. It’s also super bloody. My favorite segment was “Mother I Love You.” I know zombie movies have been done to death, and I was hesitant to include one on here. But it’s not run-of-the-mill like most of the subgenre (being an anthology definitely helps), so I enjoyed it.
WATCH IT ON: AsianCrush.
Right At Your Door
After several dirty bombs explode in Los Angeles, an unemployed musician must seal himself in his house to guard against the toxic ash that is descending over the whole area. However, his lover arrives home after the seals are in place and so must remain outside, separated by thin doors and thinner plastic.
Out of all the movies I watched during this little pandemic marathon, Right At Your Door stressed me out the most. It’s great when a minimal cast in a confined space can carry an entire movie, and for the most part, the film takes place inside the main character’s home. I’d seen Right At Your Door before, but back when it was first released, so I only had a vague memory of the plot. It holds up today, and with a satisfying ending.
WATCH IT ON: Tubi.
Take Shelter
Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself.
I’ve been meaning to see this movie for a long time. I think I picked the perfect time to watch it. Michael Shannon is an incredible actor and this is the best I’ve seen him. It’s the most serious film on my list, and one that quite moved me. It’s been a while since I had an emotional connection to a film (Midsommar was probably the last time).
WATCH IT ON: Crackle.
Lastly, I’ll throw in a few other movies that I didn’t watch for my marathons, but would fit here: The classic Night of the Living Dead, Cronenberg’s body horror Rabid, and the period piece Black Death. They’re all currently available on Tubi, and if you want even more streaming movies, check out my frequently-updated list of Ten Movies to Watch on Tubi This Week(end).
Streaming Platforms Referenced in the Post
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