Did you know - Netflix has different content in different countries? Now you can watch it all.
By: FlixDetective staffers
Every month you see that credit card statement and are reminded of the payments you're making to Netflix. More times that you can count, you look online for something new to watch and you're faced with "We're sorry! This title is unavailable in your region." Those days can be over when you install a VPN on your computer/router because you'll never be without something to watch ever again (you'll be able to see it all). The treasures of Netflix will all be yours!
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network, aka your new best friend. Once installed, it allows you to select which country you want to appear to be browsing from, it masks your IP address, and is completely safe and anonymous as most VPN providers do not keep a log of any sites browsed. None of your security information will be accessed, nor will your browsing history be logged. You are left with complete privacy and anonymity.
How will this let me watch whatever I want?
In being able to select which country you're viewing from - you'll be able to see the Netflix content unique only to your selected region. Not all countries were created equal in Netflix's eyes, so each region will have a chosen content selection specific only to that region. With a VPN, you can watch TV shows and movies from all over the planet, and will never be faced with another "this is unavailable in your region" message again. The entire Netflix library will be at your fingertips and at your disposal - multiplying the rewards of your subscription by at least ten-fold.
How do I install a VPN?
Getting a VPN set up isn't as complicafted as it sounds, but it does require you to follow a few steps to get set up. The complexity of set up depends what device you are using to watch. A Laptop/PC/Mobile device is very simple to set up, but if you're using a Smart TV/Set Top Box, then you need to use a VPN at router level. This can be done with sites such as Express VPN, where you will need to flash your router. Express VPN have a range of very clear, step-by-step articles to guide you through this process, which is actually a lot more simple than it sounds, and is completely finished in a very short time. Well worth the few clicks here and there.
If that still sounds too complex, we suggest using Smart DNS Proxy. This won't encrypt your traffic (less secure), and you won't be able to choose multiple Netflix regions - just the US, but you can set it up very easily on your router, and will be able to access titles within the US Netflix server.
Will Netflix block my account?
Netflix allows up to 5 users per account - and these users can be in any country, anywhere on the globe. So far there have been no reports of any accounts being blocked, so we think users are pretty safe.
Ok, so...what now?
Ready to take the plunge? You won't regret it.
Listed below are three of our preferred VPN providers (tried & tested)
1. Express VPN (148 server locations)
The most effective and most popular of all VPN providers, ExpressVPN offers fully encrypted, no-log browsing which allows for complete access to all Netflix content world-wide. It boasts super fast speeds and the ability to allow Netflix streaming over multiple devices and multiple types of devices. Morever, there is 24/7 online live chat and users are offered a 30 day money back guarantee, so if you're not entirely sure if it's worth it, you can get a full refund - but we are pretty sure that you'll be satisfied once it's all been set up. Endless Netflix offers nothing to complain about. Click here to learn more about ExpressVPN.
2. NordVPN (62 server locations)
Also a fantastic and very secure choice, NordVPN offers a free 3 day trial, as well as a 30 day money back guarantee. The servers are speedy, secure and when switched on, will have little to no effect on download speeds. Click here to learn more about NordVPN.
3. Smart DNS Proxy (41 server locations)
Smart DNS Proxy allows for access to US Netlix, Hulu, Prime and a range of UK channels such as iPlayer and 4od. Once configured on the router, every device in the house will be able to access various region restricted content. It's pretty fast and you'll be offered a 14 day free trial. Click here to learn more about Smart DNS Proxy.
Trust us. This will be one of the best decisions you've ever made. Happy couch potato-ing!
Get your scare on this weekend! Here are our top ten Netflix horror picks.
American Horror Story, TV Series, English
The much anticipated season cross over is finally happening! Murder House & Coven are going to be joining forces for the upcoming season of American Horror Story, Apocalypse.
Get yourself ready by refreshing your memory on what the hell happened in Season 1 (Hello, Dylan McDermott!), and reminding yourself what that Supreme thing was all about again in Season 3?
NETFLIX Rating : 4.3
IMDB Rating : 8.1
FD Smart Rating : 8.3
Ghoul, TV Mini-Series, Hindi with English dubs
Ghoul is the second original Netflix show released in India, and has English dubs (originally Hindi). It’s a suspenseful few episodes as we explore the ins and outs of an Indian prison whereby the Arab folklore monster, Ghoul, starts to make an appearance. It’s definitely frightening, and an interesting glimpse into Indian television.
IMDB Rating : 7.8
FD Smart Rating : 7.8
Bates Motel, TV Series, English
Everyone knows that Psycho is one of the biggest horror films of all time, but if you haven’t already, watch Bates Motel. Bates Motel is the prequel, in tv show format, to Norman Bates final showdown in Psycho. Less of a horror than its inspirational movie, it is a psychological horror drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat through all of the seasons.
Nominated for 3 Emmy Awards and many others, you’re in for a treat if you haven’t binged this whole show already!
NETFLIX Rating : 4.2
IMDB Rating : 8.2
FD Smart Rating : 8.3
The Conjuring, Movie, 1hr 51mins, English
If you couldn’t get enough of Vera Farmiga in Bates Motel, you can get a little bit more watching the Conjuring. The Conjuring is based on the lives of a real-life couple and paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, who also inspired movies such as Amityville Horror.
The Conjuring is the first of several movies – including Conjuring 2, Annabelle, Annabelle: Creations and newly released The Nun, which is out in cinemas this weekend.
NETFLIX Rating : 3.9
IMDB Rating : 7.5
FD Smart Rating : 7.6
Dead Set, TV Mini-Series, English
Dead Set is an English comedy horror movie, set in the Big Brother house in London. A zombie attack takes over London while Big Brother contestants are still remaining in the sealed off house. Starring the actual British ex-Big Brother presenter, Davina McCall, this comedic horror is both highly terrifying and funny.
NETFLIX Rating : 3.9
IMDB Rating : 7.8
FD Smart Rating : 7.8
Train to Busan, Movie, 1hr 57mins, Korean with English subs
Train to Busan is one of the most beautiful Korean horror movies. It captures the struggle of a father, trying to save his daughter as a zombie attack rips through the country. They jump on the final train to Busan – apparently the only safe destination in Korea left, and horror ensues.
According to Empire Magazine, “One of the best horrors of the year (2016)” and according to us, a heart wrenching thought-provoking horror with believable actors, emotions and fear factor.
NETFLIX Rating : 3.8
IMDB Rating : 7.5
FD Smart Rating : 7.5
The Ritual, Movie, 1hr 34 mins, English
After the violent death of one of their friendship group, the remaining four friends decide to do a group trip into the Swedish wilderness, doing a long hike in their late friend's honour. The further they hike into the forest, the more lost they becom - ending up having to spend the night at one of the creepiest looking wooden shaks in the middle of nowhere.
All sorts of strange things happen overnight, and without giving anything away, we can guarantee that this film is odd, definitly freaking and has a couple of frights built in.
IMDB Rating : 6.3
FD Smart Rating : 6.3
Raw, Movie, 1hr 38mins, English
A kind-hearted, animal-loving, vegetarian-since-birth freshman joins her 'rebel' sister at Veterinary School. The first week is a whirlwind of events for Justine, just like any freshman. But when a peculiar annual hazing routine (involving eating raw meat) triggers a rather poor bodily reaction from her, something even more peculiar happens and suddenly, all she wants to eat is meat.....and raw meat at that.
IMDB Rating : 7
FD Smart Rating : 7
The Returned, TV series, English
In a small town, several people who were presumed dead for years suddenly start returning to life, without any awareness of their deaths. As they slowly reunite with their very shocked families, gruesome murders start to take place to shake this small town.
NETFLIX Rating : 4.2
IMDB Rating : 7.1
FD Smart Rating : 7.7
The Mist, TV series, English
Frances Conroy (Ruth) from Six Feet Under stars in this mystical horror TV series based off of Stephen King's novel, Mist.
When a heavy fog takes over a small town, terror begins to take hold as people start to disappear into the mist. Residents are stuck in malls, churches and hospitals where they are desperately trying to reconnect with their families on the outside, running around in the unknown. It's not the best adaptation of the book, but it certainly is compelling enough to binge watch over the weekend!
IMDB Rating : 5.4
FD Smart Rating : 5.4
Let the screaming begin.
Need ideas for a new show to obsess over? Check out our list of top most exciting bingeable series on Netflix you may not have watched yet.
The Good Wife (2009 – 2016)
FD Smart Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB: 8.2
Netflix: 4/5
For years I never watched the Good Wife, simply because of the title. Then one rainy day, this all changed and I had a whole seven seasons to binge on.
The Good Wife sits somewhere in between Suits, The Practice and Ally McBeal. It’s serious, but not as intense in terms of complicated storylines which are impossible to follow if you’re not a law student. It’s funny, but it’s not psychedelic funny (cue dancing baby). It’s a steady, dependable show with constantly recurring characters (think Judges, clients, opposition teams).
The first episode sets the tone for the seven seasons to come. We see a politician (Big, from Sex and the City) admit he cheated on his wife with a prostitute. His housewife of 17 years then suddenly has to decide whether to leave him, and what to do with her newfound freedom from her husband. She decides to return to law, the subject in which she studied at university. Finding herself in competition with people half her age, we follow Alica Florrick’s work career case by case.
One of the most impressive things about Good Wife was how relevant the storylines are. In 2012, they aired an episode called “Bitcoin for Dummies”. They had plot lines covering everything from police brutality to NASA and pro-life court cases. They were always on the latest news – which is also reflected by the improvement of smart phones in every season.
The Good Wife is best for: Watching alone, when you don’t want the excitement of murder mysteries and are not in the mood for a romantic comedy
Luther (2010 – present)
FD Smart Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB: 8.5/10
Netflix: 4/5
For English people, this show is legendary. However it has still yet to make its full break internationally, which makes it a prime candidate for shows you may not have watched yet.
Luther is a British crime drama, following John Luther (Idris Elba) and his nemesis Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson) through the streets of London in a fast paced, short series of the psychological thriller kind. It’s won the Critic’s Choice award, a Golden Globe and had over 11 Primetime Emmy nominations. Both Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson give outstanding performances in this show, and the acting alone makes this worth watching.
Luther is your typical TV Detective Chief Inspector. He’s troubled, occasionally violent, and very often doesn’t follow any rules set out to him, which is what makes him such an interesting character to follow. In being a typical TV detective, his decisions are often actually very atypical and unpredictable.
Luther is best for: Saturday night prime time viewing at home with your partner. Definitely not suitable for kids.
Dark (2017 – Present)
FD Smart Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB: 8.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
Dark takes a couple of episodes to warm up to, but the wait is very worth it if you’re into sci-fi thrillers. It is in German, so you can rely on Netflix’s subtitles, or you can also watch it dubbed in English. The dubbed version has some pretty poor voice acting, however, the storyline is strong enough to carry through this. Take your pick of the two, and thank us later.
It’s hard to tell you much about Dark without giving the plot away. It’s literally dark, full of twists and turns and quite honestly you may, like us, need a notebook to write down some things.
Dark is set in a tiny German town where kids start to disappear. The main story line follows a teenager, Jonas Kahnwald, who’s father has just killed himself and a police officer, Ulrich Nielsen, who’s younger brother disappeared in the forest 33 years earlier.
Dark is best for: Times you’re fully awake and want to have your brain messed with. Do not watch when tired.
Utopia (2013-2014)
FD Smart Rating: 8.7
IMDB: 8.5
Netflix: 4/5
TV.com: 8.8/10
Another English series and another drama sci-fi series, but this is truly fascinating watching. It begins with a bunch of oddball strangers who find an odd comic book and suddenly become targeted, nay, hunted down by an even odder set of killers. They begin to realise what the book contains – and why everyone is after it.
The book contains a hidden meaning, passed down from the author to his daughter. The series focuses on a rather interesting topic – that of global overpopulation and the strains that an overpopulated planet would bring on the earth and the rest of the living populations.
Having watched this series back in 2013 when it was first released, it is one that has always been very memorable to me as a very interesting concept of dealing with what is quite frankly, a real global issue.
Utopia is best for: When you’re feeling into conspiracy theories, bloodshed and punchy plotlines.
Broadchurch (2013 – 2017)
FD Smart Rating: 8.6
IMDB: 8.4/10
Netflix: 4/5
Broadchurch is a murder mystery set in a small British coastal town in Dorset. It starts with the corpse of an 11 year old boy, found on a beach at the foot of a giant cliff. The scenic backdrops and beautiful cinematography are captivating alongside the thrilling storyline.
We see how the murder of the young boy shocks the small town community, and how a regionwide media storm sends shockwaves through people who have no idea what is coming for them.
The story follows Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) who’s harsh and angry character is beautifully balanced out by the more optimistic charm of Detective Sargent Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman). The pace of the series matches the landscape it is filmed in. It is slow, yet compelling, and slowly unwinds with more and more layers of mystery.
The show is a fantastic watch, and the biggest drawback of the series is that they ended it after three seasons.
Broadchurch is best for: A Sunday afternoon on the sofa
Lost 2004 - 2010
FD Smart Rating: 8.8
IMDB: 8.4
Netflix: 4/5
We realise it’s very unlikely no one hasn’t seen Lost yet, but if you haven’t, you absolutely must. Lost revolutionised TV. Lost created binge watching. It created social media groups, a Lost wiki in 2004, IRC channels. It had a truly international audience. It became the basis of what Netflix strives for in every TV series. True binge-ability.
Lost is punchy episodes with massive cliff hangers. A mind boggling storyline. Character insight and development like we had never seen before. OK, it got a bit crazy towards the end (and lest we forget the writer’s strike which happened mid-way through season 3, which was painful watching indeed), but power through, and you’ll be rewarded to arguably the most fascinating journey and storyline that has been. After all, there is a reason why this 2004 show still has a cult following today. The Guardian even just published another article on it , 14 years after it first aired.
If you started watching it, but gave up, we highly recommend getting back into it. There is no better time than the present to explore the relationship between a man of science and a man of faith stranded on a desert island. It’s sci-fi, it’s drama, it’s comedy, it’s romantic and it’s got oh so many layers to ponder over for years to come.
We won’t bother explaining what the show is about as it’s impossible to have lived through this era and never heard of Lost. So if you really haven’t seen it – go watch it now. If you have seen it, then you know that “We have to go back!”