Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer are the co-writers and directors of Starry Eyes and the co-directors of the 2019 adaptation of Stephen King's Pet Sematary.

“We have to admit, whenever we saw our friends and colleagues sharing their recommendations on ARROW, we were a bit jealous! We’ve always wanted to do one ourselves, so it’s an incredible honor to finally take part. Long time collectors of Arrow Video’s physical releases, it’s no surprise that their app is essential when it comes to the streaming format. Loaded with the best cult, horror, Giallo and exploitation films, all neatly curated into themed collections, ARROW has become the first app we open when looking for something to watch. And if you’re here now doing the same, let us recommend to you a few of our favorite movies currently playing on the platform...”

KEVIN’S SELECTS:

THE SECT - In 2023 three Michele Soavi films got brand new 4K releases. THE CHURCH and DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE seem to be well know and have a cult following, but the third release is just as good as those two. In fact, I like it better. Wildly overlooked, THE SECT might be Soavi at his most inventive. The directing is just so fresh, creative and inspiring. This one deserves just as much attention as the other two and I’m here to give it to it!

DEADBEAT AT DAWN - Legend has it, Jim Van Bebber took his college tuition money and made this movie instead. And we’re all the better for it. This is the epitome of the DIY film and essential viewing for any aspiring filmmaker. This is a testament to what you can do with passion and a resource of loyal friends. The stunts and effects in this are insane and hit harder than anything in any big budget, wide release movie. They remind you of that danger you felt watching Buster Keaton perform a crazy daring feat. This movie is punk rock to the core. Watch it. Be inspired. And go make a movie.

MY SWEET SATAN - Growing up a metalhead on Long Island, the Ricky Kasso story was infamous. Van Bebber retells it here with an unflinching eye. But the murder isn’t even the hardest part to watch! Wait until you see the live caught-on-film nipple piercing with a seemingly dull needle!”

SEASON OF THE WITCH - Domestic drama with a dash of occultism and surreal dream sequences. This is right up my alley. And with every viewing it solidifies its place as my favorite non-dead trilogy Romero.

THE TERROR - The best Corman? Not by a long shot. My favorite? Not even close. But it is the one film directed by Roger that they have on here. Even though it was famously also directed by a handful of other uncredited filmmakers. It’s got a great cast, featuring Corman regulars Dick Miller and Jonathan Haze alongside Boris Karloff, Sandra Knight and her then husband, a very young Jack Nicholson. And if that isn’t enough, this film is a prerequisite for Corman’s best produced film, and one of my all-time favorites, Peter Bogdanovich’s TARGETS. Watching the two as a double, then reading the backstory on TARGETS is a fascinating look into Corman’s process and what the most creative way a filmmaker dealt with one of his assignments.

FEMALE PRISONER #701: SCORPION - I don’t know what the budget was on this film or if exploitation movies are treated as big productions/releases in Japan, but they always look like a million bucks - I guess that’s actually small in movie terms, but you know what I mean. These movies blow my mind. The cinematography. The colors. The composition within the widescreen frame. The production design. In camera lighting tricks. All so stunning.

CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS - Being the youngest of six kids, I remember my oldest sister walking around the house referencing this title. What a cool and scary title to hear as a child: CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS. So years later, when I was a young budding movie lover and I discovered and fell in love with BLACK CHRISTMAS and DEATHDREAM, I was amazed when I learned that that the same director had made the movie that had become a legend in my mind. So when I finally sat down to watch this thing my sister had burned into my brain, it was like a religious experience. I haven’t watched it since in order to preserve that feeling for it, but you should!

SPIDER BABY - Speaking of cool titles, SPIDER BABY?! Come on. Pull that out when you have someone over for a movie night and watch their eyes light right up, just at the sound of that title. And the movie is just as cool as the title. The definition of a cult classic. So join the cult and press play…

THE GORE GORE GIRLS - Herschell Gordon Lewis at his most… playful? It just may be. This movie has a wicked sense of humor. But don’t let that fool you, it’s still his goriest. And I’m talking about within the same scenes!

SCHRAMM - I had never seen SCHRAMM before poking around on Arrow Player trying to make my selects. Gave it a watch and… it’s on the list! Images I can’t get out of my head. Even the ones I want out. And while it certainly delivered on the shock value Jörg Buttgereit is infamously known for, I was blown away but how artfully made it was. There’s some real masterful filmmaking on display here. The amount of movie you get crammed into just over an hour is just as insane as what happens on screen. Okay, not quite that insane. But short on time, throw this on and ruin whatever event you were heading out to after!

DENNIS’S SELECTS:

DEATH WALKS AT MIDNIGHT - I’ve seen quite a ton of Gialli and this one somehow crept up on me. I feel like it’s underseen, which is a shame because the lead, Nieves Navarro, is a Spanish Sharon Tate.

TORSO - Maybe the first Giallo I’d ever seen. It left such an impression on me, I had the poster hanging on my apartment well when I first moved to Los Angeles.

MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN - Evil scientists… a gothic backdrop… wax museums and brain transplants!? Sign me up! I’m obsessed with this movie.

MIAMI CONNECTION - I missed this one during its big revival at Fantastic Fest so many years ago, so I was elated to find that it still played like gangbusters when I watched it at home. A total hoot from start to finish. And man, are those songs catchy…

MESSIAH OF EVIL - The closest film influence I can think to it is IT FOLLOWS. This movie gets under your skin… and stays there. The palpable atmosphere and creeping dread is done masterfully.

*not all titles are available in all territories