10 More Hidden Horror Gems On Netflix
6. The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Yes, as in Sweeny Todd. And no, not the Johnny Depp one.
Black and white movies may not be for everyone, but the 1936 iteration of The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is an absolute treat for those who like to take a trip back to the early days of cinema. A Victorian horror drama, this spin on the infamous barber had Tod Slaughter in the title role, and Slaughter magically menaces his way through the film's brisk 71-minute runtime.
If for some reason you're not familiar with the story of Sweeny Todd, the short of it is Sweeney's a barber who likes to rob and murder wealthy clients. In terms of the murder aspect, Todd uses a lever to drop unsuspecting victims from his barber's chair to his basement; a basement he shares with Mrs. Lovatt and her pie shop. Between them, Todd and Lovatt strip the corpse of anything of worth.
What makes this a particular hidden gem, is that movies from the 1930s don't tend to be found on Netflix. As such, this is a fantastic, charming look into the past - and is a fine adaptation of the legendary tale of Sweeney Todd.