A new month means a new lineup of genre offerings from streaming giant Netflix. Because we care and because we want to make life just a little easier for you, we have sorted through what’s hitting the platform in April 2023 and broken it down to what we think may be of greatest interest to our readers.
The full list is available at the bottom of this post. But we will begin by turning the spotlight on five upcoming additions we’re particularly excited about. If you’re solely searching for the full list, jump to the bottom of this post.
Psycho (1960) (April 1st)
Several Hitchcock classics are being added to the streaming giant’s catalog this month. Among them is one of the forefathers of the modern slasher picture! Hooray. Strong performances across the board and a palpable level of tension make Hitchcock’s Psycho a safe bet for any time you’re not quite sure what to watch. This black-and-white classic only gets better with repeat visits.
Psycho follows Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) as she absconds with a large sum of cash and heads out on the open road. When Marion stops off to rest at the Bates Motel, she meets the seemingly charming Norman (Anthony Perkins) who takes a liking to her. But Norman’s ‘Mother’ has decidedly different ideas about Marion.
The Birds (April 1st)
Only Hitchcock could make the normally innocuous avian creatures of the sky this terrifying. The Birds is a true testament to the late director’s prowess for establishing tension. Much like Psycho, it’s always a good time to rewatch The Birds. And Netflix subscribers will be able to do so as often as they’d like beginning April 1st. Hooray!
The film follows jet setter Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) as she journeys to a small town in Northern California, only to learn that the local fowl have grown disturbed and developed a disdain for the human species, making the outdoors a deadly place for mankind.
The Thing (2011) (April 1st)
This oft-maligned prequel to the 1982 film of the same name doesn’t deserve all the vitriol. So, to paraphrase viral YouTube star Chris Crocker, leave The Thing (2011) alone! The picture functions as a fairly seamless lead-in to the events depicted in John Carpenter’s The Thing. And save for the unfortunate over-reliance on VFX work, it’s a pretty impressive cinematic offering. I suspect if The Thing (2011) had been more effectively marketed as a prequel, as opposed to a remake, the flick may not have been so maligned from the jump. If you haven’t yet given it a shot, make sure to check it out on Netflix starting April 1st.
The setup sees a research team in Antarctica happening upon an alien spacecraft deep beneath the icy ground. When the researchers thaw what they believe to be the inhabitant of the craft, it proves to be a shapeshifting entity that can take on the form of nearly anything or anyone. From there, paranoia ensues and things get dicey for the crew.
Zombieland (April 1st)
This zombie comedy serves up an all-star cast and plenty of gut-busting laughs. Not to mention what might be the most memorable celebrity cameo ever featured in a horror picture. The relationships between the core cast members are endearing. And you really come to care about them over the course of the film. With that said, I wasn’t nearly as taken with the 2019 sequel. In spite of that, Zombieland remains a bona fide classic in my eyes.
Zombieland catches up with two sisters on their way to a theme park, a young man trying to get home to his family, and a redneck looking for the last Twinkie on earth. All of this, of course, is set against the backdrop of the zombie apocalypse. Along the way, the foursome becomes something of a chosen family, for better or for worse.
Lights Out (April 11th)
This flick stands as one of the scariest efforts of the 2010s. It manages to be supremely terrifying and manages to do so with a PG-13 rating, which is all the more impressive. The film sees David F. Sandberg adapting his short, of the same name, to a feature-length effort. And the results are astounding. The way he uses light and darkness to ramp up the tension is masterful. Anyone that missed this gem during its theatrical run should add it to their Netflix queue post-haste.
The film sees a young woman trying to protect her younger brother from the malevolent presence that has haunted their mother for years. In addition to serving as a thrilling viewing experience, Lights Out also delivers a touching narrative about a family torn apart that finds reason to come back together and fight for one another.
April 1st
Conan the Destroyer
Hotel Transylvania
I, Frankenstein
Marnie
Psycho (1960)
The Birds
The Thing (2011)
Zombieland
April 11
Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire (Limited Series)
Lights out
April 12
American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing (Limited Series)
April 13
Qorin
April 14
Phenomena (2023)
April 25th
The Hateful Eight
Tags: Lights Out Psycho The Birds The Thing (2011) Zombieland
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