What to Watch

Joko Anwar wears his influences on his sleeve. A veteran filmmaker who got his start in the early 2000s, Anwar’s career took off globally in 2007 when his film Kala, a film noir that pays homage to Fritz Lang’s classic M, was recognized by Sight & Sound. Anwar has a knack for homage, and he’s recently started resurrecting older Indonesian horror titles by repackaging – and folding in a bit of his own – nostalgia.

When we are first introduced to veteran detective Shogo Ogami (played by Kôji Yakusho) in The Blood of Wolves, it’s through the eyes of a straight-laced rookie, Shuichi Hioka (Tôri Matsuzaka). Ogami seems more concerned with fucking the sister of a missing person in the police interrogation room than actually finding the missing person. He provokes Hioka into picking a fight with an outsized yakuza, sets a building on fire to illegally gather evidence, taking bribes to look the other way from lesser criminal activity, and, in the film’s most iconic scene, holds a gangster down to bloodily extract his genital piercings when the gangster fails to provide information.

If you don’t know Mario Bava, you should. He is, without a doubt, one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, regardless of genre. He was responsible for the first Italian horror and science fiction films after he took over direction on I Vampiri for Riccardo Freda and made The Day The Sky Exploded, despite credit having been awarded to another director.

If, like us, you’re staying home for Halloween this year, never fear — we’ve got you covered. We’re bringing the spooky festivities to you with ShudderFest, an at-home horror celebration for everyone. The wicked all-day virtual event will feature panels, presentations, conversations and screenings led by legendary genre icons, fan-favorite musicians, and acclaimed directors, writers, and producers. It’s free for everyone and accessible around the world via the ShudderFest website.

It’s an indisputable fact that one of the most important elements in a horror film is sound. Creepy visuals are one thing, but one of the quickest and most efficient ways to scare the hell out of your audience is to have a sound mix that forces their imagination to work overtime, trying to figure out what’s happening in the darkness. This includes a film’s score.

Since February (remember February?) and the historic wins for Parasite and Bong Joon-ho at the Academy awards, representation in film has been an important topic of conversation, especially in the horror genre. It’s becoming increasingly more important that marginalized communities be afforded the opportunity to see themselves properly represented in the entertainment industry, an opportunity that has long been denied.

The filmed-in-lockdown screen horror Host has taken the horror world by storm, nabbing the top spot (as of this writing) on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of Best Horror Movies of 2020. As fans go back to watch for a second or third time, they’re starting to notice some of the many Easter eggs the filmmakers have scattered throughout the movie. We asked co-screenwriter/executive producer Jed Shepherd to share a few of his favorites to get you started…

One of the earliest memories as a child was when my parents used to run the Halloween haunted hayride in my hometown. At the end of the ride, the tractor malfunctions, the driver leaves to find help, and suddenly “Jason Voorhees,” aka my own father donning a stained hockey mask and a fake chainsaw (continuity be damned) appears and kills the driver in front of us. With the riders stranded, Jason jumps on the wagon to terrorize everyone on board.

If you’ve been watching The Dead Lands on Shudder, you may have been wondering about some of the te reo Māori terms being used. So, to give you a bit of a deeper understanding of the Māori language, we’ve got a handy glossary for you.

Roses are red, violets are blue, and this Valentine’s Day on Shudder, we’ve got terror for you. Celebrate this almighty holiday of chocolate and guilt love with something a little darker from our Love Sick collection. From Ganja & Hess to Dogs Don’t Wear Pants with Audition, Spring, and Return Of The Living Dead III in between, there’s something for every date night plan. But don’t take our word for it — here’s what this eclectic group of horror-loving fiends has to say about them.

This January prepare to visit a strange and fantastic world where the dead stalk the living in a mythic Māori past: The Dead Lands, a new original series co-produced with TVNZ in New Zealand. The series, which premieres January 23 on Shudder, features a murdered Māori warrior, Waka Nuku Rau (Te Kohe Tuhaka), who’s sent …

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When Season Of The Witch released in 1973, its original title was Hungry Wives. The term is an apt one, nailing both the protagonist’s insatiable thirst for flesh and power and a social commentary on the shifting role of women in society. George A. Romero, no stranger to socio-political commentary in his films, sandwiched his witchy unpacking of feminist evolution between two genre examinations of social unrest; zombie-fest The Night Of The Living Dead and bio-horror The Crazies.

Halloween was a special smash this year at Shudder as our head curator, Sam Zimmerman, took to the phones with our brand new Halloween Hotline. Fans of Shudder could call in to get a personalized recommendation from the Shudder library to fill their Halloween weekend with scares, splatters, and terror. The hour flew by, with …

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Every movie and series you’ll find on Shudder has been chosen with care by our team, led by Head Curator Samuel Zimmerman. But for Halloween, Sam has whipped up a special viewing list with a mix of new exclusives, essential classics and world-premiere Creepshow episodes guaranteed to keep your horror buzz going all month long. …

Continue reading “31 Days of Halloween Shudder Viewing Guide”

One of the most successful box office stories of the decade, Shinichiro Ueda’s hilarious and heartfelt zombie horror/comedy One Cut of the Dead, begins its limited theatrical run today in both Los Angeles, CA and New York City, NY. Not in those cities? Fear not: On September 17th, the film will have special one-off screenings …

Continue reading “Hit Zombie Comedy ONE CUT OF THE DEAD in Theaters Now”

After spending over a year stunning audiences on its festival run, writer/director Issa López’s incredible fantasy/horror film Tigers Are Not Afraid is hits Shudder today. Thrillist has said that audiences, “simply won’t find a much better genre film this year,” while Dread Central calls it, “…a marvelous, devastating, important film.” And some of horror’s most …

Continue reading “Issa López’s TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID is Now on Shudder”

Ahoy, Shudder Curator, Sam Zimmerman, here. Much like the teens of Elm Street, once movies enter the Shudder library they feel like all my children now. Anything from our highest profile new release to weirdo Greek murder sprees from 1976 find a special place in my heart. It’s ones like the latter—under the radar insanities—that …

Continue reading “Deep Cuts: 5 Underseen Picks for September”

LIZZIE starring Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart premieres on Shudder April 11. Here are three great reasons to check it out.