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New movies streaming this weekend: 'Heretic' starring Hugh Grant hits Max; Dennis Quaid's 'Reagan' debuts on Starz
It's hard to keep track of when new movies hit streaming services, but we've got you covered!
Did you know that there’s a new Hellboy reboot? No, not the 2019 box-office disaster with David Harbour, but another one made afterward. It eschewed a theatrical release entirely and unceremoniously debuted on video on demand (and airplanes!) toward the end of 2024.
Now, Hellboy: The Crooked Man is streaming on Hulu, so people can finally watch it at home. The real surprise is that, despite some budget limitations, it’s actually a lot of fun and eons better than the 2019 movie that preceded it.
Speaking of smaller movies, Dennis Quaid stars as Ronald Reagan in the low-budget biopic Reagan, which makes its streaming and cable debut this week. The horror-comedy-thriller hybrid Heretic hits Max and is worth a watch for its delightfully wicked villainous turn from beloved heartthrob Hugh Grant.
Speaking of genre flicks, Heart Eyes, the Valentine’s Day-themed horror comedy that was a surprise hit at the box office, is now available to watch at home, and the 2024 buzzy indie horror flick Strange Darling is now streaming as well on Paramount+ with Showtime.
Here’s what to know about the movies newly available to stream as of this week and where you can find them.
Click on the links below to jump straight to a specific movie:
Hellboy: The Crooked Man
Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy films are so well regarded, and the filmmaker has said himself that he’s eager to finish off his trilogy (with Hellboy himself, Ron Perlman, saying he would gladly return if del Toro did), that it’s crazy to consider we got another Hellboy movie by another director. While this 2024 reboot isn’t as satisfying as a new del Toro-Perlman team up would likely be, it manages to more than justify its existence.
What’s interesting about Hellboy: The Crooked Man, an adaptation of a fan-favorite comic book arc, is the smaller scale and the decidedly different tone that’s more akin to folk horror than traditional superhero stuff.
In the movie, Hellboy and a rookie Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense agent get stranded in 1950s rural Appalachia. There, they discover a small community haunted by witches, led by a local devil with a troubling connection to Hellboy’s past: the Crooked Man.
The film is directed by Brian Taylor, one half of the filmmaking duo Neveldine/Taylor, who are responsible for gonzo, highly stylized films like Crank and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, both of which are beloved cult objects to varying degrees.
This movie was made for $20 million, and you definitely feel that at times, but the use of practical effects gives it a charm similar to that of low-budget horror fare. Despite that lack of a budget, Taylor invigorates the film with his signature style and kooky camerawork, and the gothic horror setting lends itself nicely to these characters. Jack Kesy has a tall order following up Perlman’s iconic performance, and he largely nails it. Fans of the character, and fans of folk horror in general, should absolutely check it out.
How to watch: Hellboy: The Crooked Man is now streaming on Hulu.
Heretic
Heretic is more clever than scary, and that’s fine! Its greatest asset is Hugh Grant, whose charm is weaponized here in ways we have yet to see from him and who wrings tons of laughs from what should be a terrifying scenario.
In the film, two young Mormon missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by Grant’s diabolical Mr. Reed, becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat and mouse. Budding scream queen Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, who play the missionaries, are both great and hold their own as they go toe to toe with Grant’s smarm.
It’s a cheeky and playful film, but that doesn’t stop it from getting pretty out there as far as the horror elements go. Grant truly gives one of the year's most memorable performances; without him at its center, it’s easy to picture a different version of this movie that really doesn’t work. It’s laugh-out-loud funny and thought-provoking. The script, which is full of tons of ideas, depicts them all in engaging and entertaining ways. It’s a blast!
How to watch: Heretic is now streaming on Max.
Heart Eyes
Heart Eyes is another movie that may appear more horror than comedy, but it’s equal parts both. What makes the movie special is that it is as dedicated to its romantic comedy elements as it is to the horror elements, a balance that these genre-mixed movies often get wrong or skew in favor of the scares.
The premise is quite clever: When the “Heart Eyes Killer” strikes Seattle, a pair of co-workers pulling overtime on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the elusive couple-hunting killer. Now, they must spend the most romantic night of the year running for their lives.
The idea of a killer that only goes after couples is a funny and fresh spin on the tired slasher genre, and the movie gets a ton of laughs out of the “We’re not even dating!” element. The two leads, Mason Gooding and Olivia Holt, are charming, and Gooding, in particular, feels like he’s making the most out of a star-making performance.
It delivers a fair amount of gore that will please even the most depraved horror fan, and the romance is handled so earnestly that those watching for the rom-com elements will be just as satisfied.
How to watch: Heart Eyes is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video and other video on demand platforms.
Reagan
Reagan has a rather atypical biopic structure; can you recall any other movie about an American figure that has a framing device centered around narration from a KGB agent? Jon Voight appears to be having fun doing an accent, but it’s one baffling decision in a series of many in the movie, which jumps indiscriminately in time and has no real narrative arc.
The movie’s thesis is that Reagan single-handedly caused the fall of the Soviet Union, and we see a series of “greatest hits”-style moments from his presidency and life depicted.
The movie isn’t really interested in examining his deeply felt legacy in America; it’s more about depicting Reagan as the man who stopped communism from infiltrating the U.S. as well as the importance of his Christian faith, and that focus is limiting. It plays more like hagiography than biography, but it’s fun to watch Dennis Quaid sink into the role.
How to watch: Reagan is now streaming on Starz.
Strange Darling
Strange Darling is one of those movies where the less you know about it going in, the better. To keep it vague, the movie is about a one-night stand gone wrong, leading a serial killer to go on a murder spree in pursuit of their date. It’s full of twists — just when you think you’ve got the situation and characters figured out, the rug gets pulled out.
Strange Darling stars Kyle Gallner, a familiar face for horror fans, and Willa Fitzgerald, but its most notable credit is behind the camera, literally. Character actor Giovanni Ribisi, who doesn’t appear in the movie, is its cinematographer, and the filmmakers are proud of the fact that it’s shot on 35mm, if the opening title card is any indication. Another beloved character actor, Ed Begley Jr., appears in the movie in a scene that will make you cackle with its simple absurdity.
It’s tense, bloody and will keep you guessing.
How to watch: Strange Darling is now streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime.