A Creepy New Online Rental Service
Filed under: Action, Horror, Independent, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers, Mystery & Suspense, Distribution, Home Entertainment, Cinematical Indie
I love Netflix so much that I'm considering a name change. Scott Queue Weinberg is what they'll call me. But when I learned that there was a brand-new, horror-centric alternative to Netflix, well, I knew I had to give it a closer look. The outlet is called CreepyFlix.com, and it seems to work exactly like Netflix does, only this service focuses exclusively on horror, sci-fi, action, cult and other "creepy" sorts of film.But if I'm so passionately in love with Netflix (and I do mean "passionately"), then what would I need something like "CreepyFlix" for? Good question. Well here's one reason: If you head over to Netflix itchin' to rent the original Evil Dead, you're gonna be sent this DVD -- whereas if you search for The Evil Dead over at Creepyflix, your results will include all 432 of the different Evil Dead DVDs that Anchor Bay has released so far.
And while Netflix certainly does have a fanatastic selection where horror movies are concerned, CreepyFlix promises to stock the truly obscure, culty and foreign-style genre offerings. Let's try an impromptu comparison test...
City of Rott (recently released animated zombie splat-fest) -- Netflix: YES, CreepyFlix: NO
Dee Snider in Strangeland -- Netflix: YES, CreepyFlix: YES
The Guinea Pig series -- Netflix: 4 results, CreepyFlix: 8 results
The original Halloween -- Netflix: 1 result, CreepyFlix: 6 results
MGM's out-of-print Phantasm DVD -- Netflix: NO, CreepyFlix: YES
Image's out-of-print Flash Gordon DVD -- Netflix: NO, CreepyFlix: YES
Basket Case 2 -- Netflix: NO, CreepyFlix: NO
OK, that last one was a cheat; Basket Case 2 isn't even out on R1 DVD yet.
So what I've learned is this: CreepyFlix might have a few extra copies of those out-of-print platters that Netflix lost to thievery long ago, and it's very cool to see CF offer multiple DVD versions of the same title (something Netflix isn't too worried about), but here's the big issue: Netflix has a Philadelphia shipping hub not 25 miles from my house, which means I get my discs at an ultra-fast clip. CreepyFlix is based out of California, which means I'd be spening a lot of time waiting. If I lived on the West Coast I'd be happy to give the service a run, but right now I have more viewing options than I know what to do with. That said, I do love to see the genre fans catered to so enthusiastically (CreepyFlix promises to track down a title you want if they don't have it!) -- if any of you have some experience with the new guys, leave some feedback in our comments section.
[Thanks to Creature Corner for the pointer.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-29-2006 @ 7:17PM
Dallas Crow said...
For 25 years, the true cinephiles have known that the Netflixes of the world may have a lot more to spend on advertising and a zippy enough service for soccer moms, but nothing beats your local non-chain video store, and surprise -- there is almost one in every burb.
Not only that, but your local video store is well aware of the competitive nature of things and has already migrated toward the weird, rare and wonderful. Just to test this comparison, I called Video Plus, my local haunt that rents movies for a week for four bucks.
The result:
City of Rott -- LVS: NO
Dee Snider in Strangeland -- LVS: YES,
The Guinea Pig series -- LVS: YES, Mermaid In A Manhole/he Never Dies
The original Halloween -- LVS: YES
MGM's out-of-print Phantasm DVD -- LVS: YES
Image's out-of-print Flash Gordon DVD -- LVS: YES
Do you go to your local coffee shop or Starbucks? Your local farmer's market or Safeway? Everyone knows the difference in quality and the perpetuation of this Netflix love affair is playing into big corporate America assuming we don't know any better.
But, we do...
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8-30-2006 @ 3:51AM
nikescream said...
Looks like my kind of site..Think I will give it a try...Too bad it doesn't look like there is a trial period though.
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8-30-2006 @ 3:52AM
The Jeremy said...
All 432 DVD versions of *Evil Dead* seems about right. And people have the nerve to complain about LucasFilm re-releasing the holy trilogy every few years on different formats...
Reply
8-30-2006 @ 7:26AM
atomsmasher said...
I live in a fairly large city, but I can tell you that none of the video stores (mom & pop or big chains) has anywhere near the selection that Netflix has.
The only place that even comes close is about a half hour drive away, and that's just not as convenient as going to my mailbox.
To me, Netflix is like a video store with the best selection ever, where every title is always in, and there's no late fees...what's not to like? I've not come across any movies I wanted that they didn't have yet, unless the movie wasn't available on DVD yet.
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8-30-2006 @ 11:28AM
josh said...
"Do you go to your local coffee shop or Starbucks? Your local farmer's market or Safeway? Everyone knows the difference in quality and the perpetuation of this Netflix love affair is playing into big corporate America assuming we don't know any better."
Netflix offers something no video store can (besides Blockbuster, and their version of it sucks) - no late fees. I am a very busy guy, and I often forget to return my movies. Pre-Netflix, I regularly clocked $40 in late fees a month. Netflix is worth it for that alone.
Add in the fact that I don't have to go to the video store (again, I'm busy), don't have to worry about what I want being out, etc... Netflix is a winner.
Also, I would say that Netflix has a far superior selection than any video store that's not in a major market - if you live in NYC, LA, Chicago, etc... sure, you probably have access to a good video store. In Spokane? Probably not.
Also, major cities are the kind of areas where going to the video store is a drag. I live in Baltimore, and the good video store is not walking distance... I'd have to drive there and give up my ever so rare good parking spot...
No thanks, Netflix it is.
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8-30-2006 @ 1:30PM
Deena said...
Wow just did a quick browse of creepy versus net and creepy turned up way more than net did of the scifi and mystery titles i wanted. If i sign up i may never leave my house again...
p.s. I blame you scott weinberg :P
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