How Has the Concept of Binge-Watching Contributed to the Success Of Indie-Horror Movies on Streaming Platforms Such as Netflix?
The rise of streaming services like Netflix has transformed the way we consume entertainment. One major change has been the popularisation of binge-watching, where viewers watch multiple episodes of a TV show in rapid succession. This trend has been a boon for indie-horror movies, helping small horror productions find big audiences on streaming platforms.
The Binge-Watching Phenomenon
Binge-watching refers to watching many episodes of a TV show in a short span of time, often over the course of a few days. Before streaming, bingeing was limited due to shows being released once a week. Streaming removes these barriers, allowing viewers to watch a whole season at their own pace.
Binge-watching changes how people watch content. Viewers immerse themselves in a show’s story and characters for hours on end. Cliffhangers and suspense keep them hitting “next episode”, wanting to see what happens next. This results in shows getting ‘hooked’ on a programme.
How Bingeing Benefits Indie Horror
Indie horror films – low budget horror made outside the studio system – have found big audiences thanks to binge-watching. There are three key reasons this trend benefits indie horror:
1. Viewers Seek Out More Niche Genres
After binge-watching mainstream shows, viewers look for more niche genres to watch. Indie horror, with its focus on innovative concepts, creepy atmospheres, and subversive themes, provides the kind of fresh thrills people crave after bingeing popular shows.
Streaming algorithms notice these viewing patterns. The more people watch indie horror, the more it shows up in recommendations, leading to a viral, word-of-mouth effect. Soon indie horror goes from an obscure genre to having a dedicated audience.
2. Binge-Watching Suits Indie Horror’s Style
Indie horror films are perfect for bingeing. Their shorter runtimes get viewers hooked fast. Anthology films like V/H/S let people enjoy bite-sized horror stories. Slow-burn atmospheric horror benefits from being watched in long stretches instead of spread out.
Binge-watching also suits indie horror as the films often have connected themes and easter eggs that attentive viewers pick up on. For instance, seeing the same creepy symbol or character pop up in different movies. Noticing these details rewards binge-viewing.
3. People Love the Social Aspect
In the same way people enjoy playing online blackjack with a real dealer for the social experience, horror fans enjoy watching indie horror movies on Netflix for the shared community. Just as blackjack players discuss strategy in chatrooms, horror viewers bond over analysing chilling Indy film plots and imagery on Reddit and Twitter. Streaming has connected once disparate horror lovers.
Case Study: How the Indie Hit ‘The Void’ Thrived on Netflix
A perfect example of how indie horror finds audiences via binge-watching is the 2016 film The Void. A cosmic horror movie made for under $200,000, it struggled in its limited theatrical release. However, when The Void hit Netflix in 2017, it turned into a viral sensation.
The Void saw massive viewing figures on Netflix as horror fans binge-watched the movie along with other chilling films on the platform. Soon The Void was appearing on “Top Horror Films” lists on major publications like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. Its effective blend of body horror, Lovecraftian monsters, and cult symbolism made it perfect for horror buffs.
More Examples of Indie Horror Hits on Netflix
The Void is just one example of how Netflix has propelled niche indie horror films to mainstream success via bingeing. Here are some other notable examples:
- The Ritual – This 2018 folk horror film gained huge viewership figures on Netflix. Its creature effects and Norse mythology themes inspired many meme reactions.
- Cam – The disturbingly bizarre story of an online cam girl got significant attention after hitting Netflix in 2018. Lead actress Madeline Brewer received acclaim.
- The Platform – A 2020 Spanish sci-fi horror, The Platform‘s unique high-concept premise (prisoners on vertically stacked floors get fed from above) resonated with Netflix audiences.
- The Perfection – Netflix viewers could not stop talking about this twisted psychological horror’s shocking plot twists upon its 2018 release. It remained in the Top 10 for weeks.
The Future Looks Bright for Indie Horror on Streaming
Thanks to binge-watching, indie horror has found a lucrative home on Netflix and other streaming platforms. As digital word-of-mouth exposes small horror gems to bigger crowds, we will continue to see indie filmmakers prosper in the streaming space.
With viewers always looking for fresh, innovative horror to binge-watch, streaming services will likely invest even more in indie horror content. The winning formula of chilling concepts plus binge-viewing looks set to thrill horror audiences for years to come.
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