Tomorrow is the first day of fall and you know what that means: HORROR MOVIES! (And probably some other stuff, too, like pumpkin beer, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin cakes and OH MY GOD, I’M A PUMPKIN ADDICT WHO NEEDS HELP.) But what I’m really getting at here is that Halloween is only a little over a month away and this is amazing because Halloween is the best holiday ever! (Sorry, Jesus.)
To help jump-start the season, AMC has launched its own horror-only streaming service called Shudder, available now in open beta. Deranged and demented horror fans everywhere can sign up for a 14-day free trial and after that it’ll set you back $4.99 a month or $49.99 for a year. In addition to their movie library, there’s also Shudder.tv which streams a never-ending lineup of movies, making sure that your holiday season will be merry and frightful.
The categories are really something to celebrate here. For example, the “Smart Slashers” category description reads: “Forgoing the formulas, these slashers offer distinctive deaths, one-of-a-kind twists, and smart scares you’ll never see coming!” Sounds promising! (And we all know how I love a good slasher…)
Other categories include A-Horror (Asian), Socko Spoofs, Slashics (for the classics), Zombie Jamboree, and plenty more.
The service does seem to be a work in progress (hence, the “beta” aspect). There’s no search function yet, which could be an indicator that the catalogue might not be up to par with other streaming services yet. But having said that, there are still some great movies for the taking. Here’s a list of what Shudder has to offer out of the gate:
Nosferatu, Let the Right One In, The Human Centipede (1 and 2), The Hills Have Eyes (original), Children of the Corn, Hellraiser (1 and 2), Evil Dead, The Toxic Avenger, Night of the Living Dead, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Stuff, House (1 and 2), Basket Case, Maniac Cop, Sleepaway Camp, Maniac, Intruder, Halloween 2 (Rob Zombie remake), Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and many more.
If Netflix’s horror offerings just aren’t cutting it for you, this could very well be the answer you’re looking for. Head on over to Shudder to view more of their collections and if you end up trying it out, be sure to let me know!
