December is a perfect month for new scary movies on Paramount+. The biggest news is the return of Dexter Morgan, serial killer extraordinaire, in a prequel series, Dexter: Original Sin, that has ten new episodes. Although this is a younger version of the character, actor Michael C. Hall will provide the character's inner voice. It's exciting for horror fans to have a new series to continue the story of Dexter Morgan and give the audience a glimpse of how Dexter became who he is.
Paramount+ selections lean more towards realistic scares like serial killers, suburban paranoia, and worldwide pandemics. The big exception is the inclusion of William Friedkin's magnificent tale of demonic possession The Exorcist. With that one film, Paramount+ ensures that you will get your dose of supernatural terror in December.
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Contagion - Streaming on December 1
Image Credit: IMDB An all-star cast including Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, and Bryan Cranston. Jennifer Ehle, and Sanaa Lathan star in writer and director Steven Soderbergh's most terrifying film, Contagion.
The story of healthcare professionals, government officials, and everyday people who find themselves during a worldwide pandemic as the CDC works to find a cure. The movie was frightening when it was first released in 2011, but in 2020 had a renewed popularity. and was also praised by scientists for its accuracy.
Disturbia - Streaming on December 1
Image Credit: IMDB Director D.J. Caruso's riff on Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window stars Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, and Carrie-Anne Moss with a dose of suburban paranoia and voyeurism.
When a teenager is placed under house arrest, he succumbs to despair and starts spying on his neighbors, hoping to spice up his life. This, however, leads him to witness a serial killer on the loose.
Edward Scissorhands on December 1
Image Credit: IMDB Tim Burton's scary and romantic fairy tale in which a key moment is set during Christmas is a perfect watch for horror fans during the winter months, especially since his creator is played by Vincent Price.
In the film, the solitary life of an artificial man, whose creator never finished his construction, has scissors for his hands. When he is discovered the residents of a town are at first frightened and then entranced by Edward Scissorhands.
The Exorcist on December 1
Image Credit: IMDB William Friedkin's masterpiece of horror, about a girl who is possessed by a demon and the Catholic priests who try to save her never fails to shock audiences. Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Jason Miller, Linda Blair, and the voice of Mercedes McCambridge as the demon Pazuzu star in this particularly upsetting movie.
It is the realism of Friedkin's filmmaking that makes this film terrifying even now and set the standard for nearly every demonic possession film for fifty years.
Fear on December 1
Image Credit: IMDB Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Petersen, Alyssa Milano, and Amy Brenneman star in Fear, a film that shows the darker side of teen dating that has been compared to Fatal Attraction. It became a sleeper hit in 1996.
When Nicole met handsome, charming, affectionate David, he was everything. It seemed perfect, but soon she sees that David has a darker side. And his adoration turns to obsession, their dream into a nightmare, and her love into fear.
Dexter: Original Sin - Streaming on December 13
Image Credit: IMDB If you have missed Dexter, the crusading pathologist serial killer who was trained to use his talents for the good of humankind, he's back. The new series is about the origin of Dexter, a young man and son of a police officer, who has disturbing inner urges.
Patrick Gibson, Christian Slater, Molly Brown, James Martinez, Christina Milian, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, and special guest star Sarah Michelle Gellar. Michael C. Hall returns as the inner voice of Dexter in a voiceover role. The showrunner of the first four seasons of Dexter, Clyde Phillips, created this prequel series and will be the showrunner of Dexter: Original Sin.
Set in 1991 Miami, the 10-episode drama series follows Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness with the guidance of his father, Harry (Christian Slater).
