4 MUST-WATCH STREAMING CHANNELS FOR HARDCORE GENRE FANS

It's a modern dilemma: Hundreds of channels and there's nothing on but the same old story lines with the same old boring characters on the same old networks. You could succumb to a commercial TV life and watch the newest rom-com in which the guy gets the girl OR you could embark on a more interesting entertainment path. For television and movies, there are some stellar streaming options out there for the discerning viewer with more specific tastes. Whether you are a comic fan, cult fanatic, zombie enthusiast or horror buff, there's a streaming channel and a service for every genre imaginable if you just know where to look.





For the Cult Film Viewer: Grindhouse Channel

Roku offers some amazing film channels and these small media streamers connect directly to your television and Internet service through your home network, so set up is super simple. Every Roku player comes ready with hundreds of free channels including access to the Grindhouse Channel, which streams obscure and nearly obsolete films from the 1950's through the 1980's, so it's a cult film fanatic's dream. Catch movies like Russ Meyer's exploitative classic "Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill!" (1965) and John Waters' quirky and depraved "Pink Flamingos" (1972) at your leisure, which is a good thing because these movies are definitely NSFW.

For the Science Fiction Viewer: SyFy Now

Xbox One allows you to snap apps side by side and switch between them so you can Skype with your mom without having to turn off your favorite episode of "Defiance" on the SyFy Now channel. SyFy Now streams shows as they are aired and the day after they've premiered. Do you know what that means? No more stalls in finding out what happened to the zombie outbreak survivors on "Z Nation," because it's waiting for you at the tips of your fingers. And if you need another reason to jump on board, consider this: "Sharknado 2."


For the Horror Viewer: Cinemanow

Though the Cinemanow channel does offer some pretty solid scares, it's also a sure bet for finding cheesy, B-movie horror galore. It's available through the WD TV player. The WD TV player is cool because it offers user configuration widgets, allowing you to adjust in size and move to and from the home screen, so you don't have to scroll through tons of channels you never touch. The Cinemanow widget will definitely be on your home screen with its line-up of horror that spans from "Nosferatu" (1979) to "Return to Nuke 'Em High" (2014). Break out the popcorn...but leave the lights on.


For the Anime Viewer: Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is available through Apple TV. You can gain access to Apple TV by purchasing their attachment device which plugs into your TV. Crunchyroll is a particularly unique and delightful channel that offers the best in Japanese drama and anime. And they're ready to watch just an hour after they air in Japan, plus you can view "Naruto Shippuden" (2007) or "Hunter x Hunter" (2011) episodes anytime.

Just because your entertainment preferences don't jive with the rest of the crowd doesn't mean that you have to go without quality television and movies. There is a whole world of genre channels out there for the taking. Choose wisely.