You can now stream one of the most grisly space sci-fi films for free this month ‣ Diverse Daily

In the late 70s, Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi horror film Alien taught audiences that in space, no one can hear you scream. However, Paul W. S. Anderson’s 1997 space venture into the heart of terror challenged that idea. It turns out, others can hear you scream if you’re descending into madness with company. Event Horizon is a film that embraces the claustrophobia of space by isolating a crew aboard a ship wracked by a hellish presence. It’s a film that not only intended to horrify audiences, but also shock them with grotesque, violent imagery that paired with the Dantean themes of an infernal Hell dimension.

Upon its release, the film was a spectacular box office failure. Critics also weren’t too kind, lambasting the film’s use of a “shock” approach with gore effects over offering “substance.” However, the film has steadily grown in popularity since its release and ultimately garnered a cult following. Now cemented as a cult classic, sci-fi and horror fans have been drawn to the film’s dark and sinister approach to the sci-fi trope of space exploration and discovery.

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Event Horizon doesn’t hold back on body horror

It’s still a remarkably grisly film by today’s standards

Set in the year 2047, the plot follows the crew of a rescue space shuttle as they embark on a trip to Neptune’s orbit to locate the ship Event Horizon after it’s mysterious re-emergence from having disappeared 7 years prior. The Event Horizon is an experimental craft that was equipped with a gravity drive theoretically capable of folding spacetime to advance space travel. Sam Neill’s (Jurassic Park) Dr. William Weir designed the gravity drive and accompanies the crew as they navigate to Neptune to investigate the ship’s distress signal.

Upon arrival, the crew finds the ship in a catatonic state. It’s a haunting, floating mausoleum, and there is a sinister presence that begins tormenting the new arrivals. The intrigue of Event Horizon is the mystery behind the spacecraft’s disappearance and sudden reappearance. What happened to the crew of the Event Horizon during those 7 years becomes the stuff of nightmares. In the modern age, there’s a resurgence of popular films with body horror themes, including The Substance, Possessor, Annihilation, Together, and more. However, body horror was once prevalent in sci-fi horror with classics such as The Fly, The Thing, and Re-Animator. Event Horizon embraced body horror to a gruesome degree as the outward effects of the crew are a visual manifestation of the internal conflict they are being forced into.

This cult classic is now available to stream for free

A spine-chilling sci-fi to add to your watchlist

Whether you’re already a fan of the film or are looking to discover a fresh, new sci-fi horror experience from yesteryear, you’re in luck. Event Horizon is now available to stream on Pluto TV. For those unfamiliar, Pluto TV is a free streaming platform with several movies, TV shows, and other entertainment options available. Of course, Pluto TV is still a business and the platform makes its money through advertising. So, while you get to watch freebies, you will still have to deal with the occasional commercial. However, you can’t beat the low price of $0.

Pluto TV does have an app that can be downloaded on various devices. You can create an account so that you can add other tantalizing movies and shows to your watchlist. With the expense of subscription services piling on, services like Pluto TV are a refreshing way to let your wallet rest while enjoying some of the best entertainment media available.

Pluto TV has many options for sci-fi and body horror fans

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Some horror fans might recognize a distinct influence from a popular horror franchise in Event Horizon. Hellraiser is another horror film series that depicts sinister beings from dark, occult dimensions that inflict torment on the unsuspecting. Pluto TV currently maintains nearly the entire Hellraiser catalog within its library. Another sci-fi thriller (horror-adjacent) available on Pluto TV is the stellar 10 Cloverfield Lane directed by Dan Trachtenberg (Prey, Predator: Badlands). Framed as an isolated story set within the strange Cloverfield universe, the film follows a woman who is taken captive after a car accident by a man who is claiming to be keeping her safe from world-ending chaos going on outside the underground bunker that he’s keeping her in. It’s a tense thriller that twists and turns with startling revelations that heighten the film’s intrigue.

So, while you’re on Pluto TV checking out Event Horizon, be sure to peruse the rest of the platform’s library. There’s always hidden gems waiting to be discovered. The service is constantly adding new titles. And be sure to check out films on other free platforms like Tubi.