The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1989

And, now we head into the final year of the 80's, 1989. By this point, the slasher movie has well run its course, with some some subpar and even terrible movies (looking at Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan) coming out and bombing. And, while there are some slashers in this list, it also represents an interesting and varied batch of genre flicks, as the decade closed off. One more that I want to mention is that I sometimes forget that this year really had quite a few solid movies in it. 

Honorable Mentions:
Pet Semetary
Leviathan
Cutting Class
Shocker
The Return of Swamp Thing
The Horror Show
The Dead Pit

10. Parents- It maybe a little slow, but this interesting and odd mix of horror and pitch black comedy has garnered a well deserved cult following over the years. One of the reasons it works so well is cause of Randy Quaid, who is creepy as fucking hell as the dad. And, while I was able to figure out the ending, I still loved the fuck out of it!

9. The Phantom of the Opera- This one is a wholly enjoyable, if flawed, mix of classic, Gothic horror and slasher film. The flick has good production values and also features some graphic gore. The acting is also good especially from Robert Englund (in the title role) and the beautiful Jill Schoelen as the object of his affection/ obsession. 

8. Intruder- Far more gory than most of the slashers of its era, this is one bloody and graphic motherfucker. It is also stylishly shot, exciting, and fun. In all it is an honestly and absolutely killer, good time. 

7. The Fly II- Look, this movie was never gonna be on the level of its flawless original. But, that's fine, cause what it is is a a wholly fun and highly entertaining monster movie. It has amazing practical FX, including a great looking monster and splatter that pushes the limits of the R-rating. The acting is great and it even manages to tug at your feelings with that doggie scene. Said moment is proven to make anyone with a heart cry any and every time they see it. 

6. Bride of Re-Animator- Making a sequel to all my all time favorite movie is no easy task. But, leave it to Brian Yuzna, the producer of the first masterpiece, to come back and direct it. He does a great job with this gory, wild, and, above all, fun film. And, with most of the cast coming back for it, Bride wins in ways most sequels, fuck many "original" movies, wish they could!

5. Dead Calm- A slow-burn horror/ thriller that really knows how to build-up the nail-biting intensity, this is one suspenseful fucker. It's expertly directed and has excellent acting from its small cast. And, the ending is a perfect way to cap off a damn good flick. On a side note, Nicole Kidman's nudity is nice bonus.

4. The Church- Produced by Dario Argento this Michele (Cemetery Man) Soavi' flick is stylish, gory, and wild. It has everything that makes Italian horror so kick ass: graphic splatter, great directing, awesome music, over the top set pieces, a wild, err, "plot", and beautiful (sometimes naked) women. Plus, there are some cool looking demons, too! 

3. Stepfather 2: Make Room for Daddy- It's the acting, especially from Terry O'Quinn, that really helps make this one of the very best slasher sequels ever made. The climatic and bloody battle between he and the lovely Meg Foster is rousing and and exciting. Too bad the franchise kept going after this with the godawful third film and the unwanted remake, cause this was the perfect ending for the titular character.

2. Society- Brian Yuzna, with the earlier ranked Bride of Re-Animator and this slimey classic, pulls double duty on this list. But, this to me, is his finest film. It is grotesque, smart, and funny. It's message of how the rich feed on the poor is still highly relevant, today. The excellent FX by Screaming Mad George are over the top and stomach churning. The supreme example of this being the climatic shunting scene. It is nightmarish, truly gross, and unforgettable. It wouldn't be me if I didn't mention the fact that the gorgeous Devin Devasquez is one of the sexiest women in 80s horror.

1. Santa Sangre- Alejandro Jodorwsky's beautiful and powerful horror flick ranks among the finest genre movies made in any era. Lyrical, surreal, and bloody it is a truly spectacular site to behold. I find it a shame that horror fans don't seem to talk about it, these days, anywhere near the amount that should be. So, to those of you who have never seen it, you need to change that, as of right fucking now! 

And, this concludes the best of the 80s horror movies, year by year. I plan to do a best overall of the whole decade, but am still thinking of whether to make it a video or simply write it out. Would you guys rather have a video or a written one, like this one? Let me know in the comments section below. Also, comment and let me know your favorites of 1989. And, here here are the previous years:

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1980

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1981

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1982

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1983

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1984

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1985

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1986

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1987

The 10 Best Horror Movies of 1988

And, I know things are very different this year, but I wish you all a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving! And, for one, am so thankful to all who read and support my website. I and this site, would be nothing with you ladies and guys. 

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Porno (Review)

Director: Keola Racela
Writers: Matt Black, Laurence Vannicelli 
Cast: David Arrow, Evan Daves, Blake French, Jillian Mueller, Amber Paul, Katelyn Pearce
Year: 2019
Min: 98

It's 1992 and a group of young people work at a family friendly movie theater. It is currently playing a League of Their Own and Encino Man, and is led by an older, Christian dude named Mr. Pike (Bill Philips). At closing time, he tells the teens that once all their work is done, they can watch any movie they choose. He leaves and days hell be back at midnight to take them home. 

A little bit later, a crazy, old man runs around in the movie theater. In the course of trying to catch him, they accidently find a secret room with old film reels. They choose one of them as the movie that they're going to view. Of course, they go with the one with weird symbols on it. Said flick ends up being some weird ass, experimental "porno" flick. 

In said movie, there is a hot naked chick, Lilith (Katelyn Pearce) covered in blood. The film also features satanic imagery. Goody two shoes and movie projectionist Jeff, AKA Heavy Metal Jeff (Robbie Tan) (even though, as he reminds a couple of times he listens to hardcore not metal) immediately stop the film reel, preventing them from watching more of this "filth". Not that it matters, cause Lilith is now free from the movie and looking to seduce them all using their fantasies to turn them on. To accomplish this, she takes on male or her own very fine female form. Soon dicks and souls are in peril and they must find a way to stop her sexy, evil, and frequently naked ass. 

Porno is a horror comedy presented under the Fangoria banner. It was suppose to have played a limited release, but alas COVID-19 and lockdown occurred and the movie made its debut online. This Tuesday 24, 2020 it begins to steam on Shudder. Which will allow it reach a much bigger audience.

The movie, itself, is a mix of hits and misses. From the technical aspect, though, it looks great. There is some excellent editing and camera work throughout its running time. It also has a really nice, Argentoesque use of color that adds a nice bit of style to the proceedings. 

Plot wise, it has a nice build-up to the story and action. I like the way the characters' secrets are revealed. Even though I figured out most of them on my own, these moments are still fairly well done. A lot of the humor is quite funny and, at times, welcomely dark.

The flick certainly delivers in the skin and blood departments. There is full frontal nudity, provided by the gorgeous Katelyn Pearce, which is a welcome change form the skin free horror of the last few years. And, the film has lots of male genitalia related violence and gore, as graphic castration and ball crushing ensues. Oddly and disappointingly, though, its actual body count is quite low.

Another plus is that the acting is quite good. Pearce makes for a sexy, fun, and beautiful demoness and is one of the film's biggest highlights. But, is in the protagonist characters, that the film's problems begin. The only good guy character I really liked was that of pretty, goth girl Chaz (Jillian Mueller). She had a little bit an edge and was likable. Sadly, most of the other characters left me feeling apathetic towards them, never caring for them one way or another. The only other protagonist to inspire any feeling in me was Robbie Tan's Heavy Metal Jeff. Unfortunately, said feeling was annoyance. He is simply too pure and good for his or the movie's own fucking good. 

He doesn't change by the movie's ending, in fact, no one does. The characters never progress, change, or grow from the predicament that they are in. You would think with these occurrences, they would be questioning their beliefs, or, at the very least, the guy who ran this theater. But, nope that doesn't happen, at all.

Hence, it's a little disappointing that for a movie features so much skin, has dick violence, and calls itself Porno, it plays safe in so many other ways. Christian ideas versus porn is an idea that is thrown in but never, if at all, fully explored. As a matter of fact, the idea of hypocrisy of the religious is touched upon, then quickly dropped. All of this is a shame, cause it would've added a level of depth that would have raised the quality level all around of the film. This all amounts to leaving me feel unfulfilled, as the the movie heads into its climax and ending. Sure said climax is kind of fun, but, honestly, I was left wanting more to happen. 

Porno is decently enjoyable, but it never reaches its full potential. It plays safe in so many aspects. It leaves you feeling like you had just sex, that's just alright but never fully fills the needs and wants. Still, Pearce's Lilith is a sexy and fun presence in the flick. Everyone else in the cast also do a fine job in their roles. Even if most of them are playing characters that aren't that interesting or even likable. Regardless, of any complaining, it is a very stylish looking movie, that is quite funny at times. I really wanted to like it a whole lot more than I did, but I don't regret viewing it one bit. And, I think it is worth at a least a passing look.

2.5 out of 4

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Repuked- Dawn of Reintoxication (Album Review)

Musicians: Repuked

Album Title: Dawn of Reintoxication
Genre/ Subgenre: Death Metal
Label: Soulseller Records
Release Date: October 9, 2020

Seven years after their last release, Pervertopia, Stockholm, Swedish death metal act Repuked are back with their third full length album, Dawn of Reintoxtication. Heavily influenced by Autopsy, this gross and vicious, yet really fun death metal record, that is sure to repulse, please, and totally fucking crush, all at the same time.

There is a good meaty and thick sound that gives the album a very heavy and aggressive quality. The band features talented musicians who pull off the the brutal and thick assault and mix it with speed and aggression. Lyrically the band are obsessed with perversion, gore, and booze, making for a fun and decidedly unpc good time. You only need to read song titles like "Fucking Your Fucking Corpse", "Shitfister", and "Repulsive Erected and Anally Infected" to get what I am talking about.

The aforementioned " Fucking Your Fucking Corpse" has a slow and crunchy start that has this decidedly gross feel, especially when Rob the Slob's, who also plays bass in the band, vocals kick in. Then, the song goes into overdrive as the speed kicks way up. As the song goes back forth in speed and sound, what you get is a have fucking killer and brutal track. The creepy and haunting title track sounds like something straight out of a John Carpenter flick. With its electronic like soundscape and horror movie atmosphere, it comes off as a fun change of pace from the rest of the record and a real highlight. "Repulsive Erected and Anally Infected" is a blistering and unrelenting track, which actually feels even heavier when it slows down! "Sewer Rain" has this disgusting little intro that feels like sewer water is washing over you. It then heads this grinding sound accompanied by soaring guitars that is to put it quite simply fucking glorious! It feels nasty and heavy throughout this 3.03 minute duration.

Dawn of Reintoxication by Repuked is a vile, stomach-churning, good time. Heavy and fun, it has meaty crunches and killer slow parts that alternate with some almost punky faster sections. The end result is one of the most out right, purely enjoyable death metal releases in recent memory. Get some strong ass booze and play this fucker as loud as possible!

3.5 out of 5 

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Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on "The Exorcist" (Review)

Title: Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on "The Exorcist"
Writer/ Director: Alexandre O. Philippe 
Cast: William Friedkin
Min: 104
Year: 2019

Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on "The Exorcist" is a magnificent documentary on one of the greatest films, horror or otherwise, ever made. It is solely driven and centered on the legendary director's words. And, what words they are! This in-depth talk covers practically every aspect on the movie you could ever ask for and more. 

Of course, his youth is explored, if in quick detail, as he talks about growing up with his mother and father in Chicago, Illinois. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite moments is when he discusses about his love and desire to work in film. Fate, he says, plays such an important role in everything, movies and life, included, for him. But, the main focus is, of course, on the movie in the docu's subtitle. And, that is what vast majority of this film is about. 

The documentary opens up with Friedkin talking about the only film that influenced him when making The Exorcist, Danish drama movie Ordet. A various points in the discussion, he goes back to this film and as well as mentioning other aspects that influenced him, like art and music. The later discussion ends up leading into a great story involving Bernard Herman and a possible score for the The Exorcist.

One of my favorite parts, of what are many fascinating moments, is when his talks about the script by William Peter Blatty, who, of course based it, on his own book. Another highlight, is when he discusses casting and the film's cast like Max (Father Merin) Von Sydow's lack of faith or the wonderful stories that he has about Mercedes (Regan's demonic voice) McCambridge. 

As a both a student of film and devoted fan of The Exorcist, I was also deeply fascinated by his discussion of the more technical aspects of making this classic. For example, he talks in great detail about the film's opening, including its meanings, shots, reasons for, mood, foreshadowing, and more. It is just as interesting, if not more so, to hear about shots and moments that he didn't plan out and just happened. On top of all this, he brings up aspects related to the movie, that I have either never thought about before, ones that I have had, and others I may have, but never fully realized that I did. He even goes into what he sees as flaws in the film's ending. For a life long long fan of The Exorcist, such as myself, this is all profoundly and deeply intriguing.  

Throughout the documentary, Friedkin remains a fascinating person, one who is profoundly intelligent, never boring, and always captivating to hear. In many ways, this feels like the film theory and tech class that I which I had taken when I was in college. Equally engrossing are his profoundly deep talks about his beliefs. And, without saying anything in detail, the docu ends on a truly beautiful note, making this a wholly unforgettable viewing experience. 

Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on "The Exorcist" is a magnificent and profound talk with William Friekin. What he says and talks about here is fascinating, deep, and thought provoking. He covers faith, the movie's themes, and his techniques in the film. He is an intelligent and well spoken master of his field, and by the end of this film, I had gained even more respect and admiration for him. This is a must see for those who admire his work, in particular those of us who love and are fascinated by The Exorcist, or simply those interested in filmmaking and film theory, in general. You will be able to view it for yourself, when the documentary makes its debut and begins to stream on Shudder this Thursday, November 19, 2020.

4 out of 4 

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The Pretty Reckless Announce New Album "Death By Rock And Roll," Shares New Song "25"

THE PRETTY RECKLESS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM DEATH BY ROCK AND ROLL

ALBUM ARRIVES ON FEBRUARY 12 VIA FEARLESS RECORDS

PRE-ORDERS ARE LIVE HERE

BAND SHARES NEW SONG "25" — LISTEN

THE PRETTY RECKLESS have announced their fourth album, Death By Rock And Roll. The album will arrive on February 12 via Fearless Records. Pre-orders are live here. 

The album, which follows 2010's Light Me Up, 2014's Going To Hell, and 2016's Who You Selling For, is titled after the first single, which rocketed to No. 1 on the rock charts and held strong for several weeks. It marked the fifth No. 1 single of the band's career and was heralded by Paper, Loudwire, CNN, Forbes, and more. The band also has the incredible and impressive distinction of being the first female-fronted band to have back-to-back No. 1 singles at the active rock format and the first female-fronted act to have five No. 1 singles on the Billboard chart.

The Pretty Reckless have shared the brand new song "25." Listen here.

"'25' is an interesting song that came from a lot of different places," powerhouse singer Taylor Momsen says. "It was the first song we recorded for the record in early 2019. I had just turned 25 when we wrote it. In a way, it's an autobiography and hopefully shows that this album really ventures out into new territory with the music."

DEATH BY ROCK AND ROLL TRACK LISTING:
"Death By Rock And Roll"
"Only Love Can Save Me Now"
"And So It Went"
"25"
"My Bones"
"Got So High"
"Broomsticks"
"Witches Burn"
"Standing At The Wall"
"Turning Gold"
"Rock And Roll Heaven"
"Harley Darling"

ABOUT THE PRETTY RECKLESS:
The Pretty Reckless formed in New York City during 2008, and the musicians and late producer Kato Khandwala initially made waves with their 2010 debut Light Me Up. After countless gigs, the band returned with Going To Hell in 2014. Not only did the record crash the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 200, but it also ignited three #1 hits —the Platinum-certified "Heaven Knows" (the biggest rock song of 2014), "Fucked Up World," and "Follow Me Down"— a feat that had not been accomplished by a female-fronted group since The Pretenders in 1984. Meanwhile, their third offering, Who You Selling For, saw them return to #1 on the Mainstream Rock Songs Chart with "Take Me Down," which cemented them as "the first band to send its first four singles to #1 on the chart," according to Billboard. Praise followed from Vogue, Nylon, and more as the quartet lit up television shows such as Letterman and Conan. With over half-a-billion streams, they headlined countless sold out shows and toured with Guns N' Roses, Soundgarden, and ­many other heavy hitters. The title track of their fourth album Death By Rock And Roll hit No. 1 on the rock charts and stayed there for multiple weeks. It marked the fifth No. 1 single of the band's career and was acclaimed by Paper, Loudwire, CNN, Forbes, and more. The band also has the distinction of being the first female-fronted band to have back-to-back No. 1 singles at the active rock format and the first female-fronted act to have five No. 1 singles on the Billboard chart.

TAYLOR MOMSEN ONLINE: THE PRETTY RECKLESS ONLINE: FEARLESS RECORDS ONLINE:

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Legendary Director David Cronenberg to Star in "Slasher: Flesh and Blood" for Shudder

New York, NY – November 12, 2020 – Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today that it has teamed up with award-winning production company Shaftesbury to make a new eight-episode installment of the hugely popular horror series, Slasher. Hailed by Bloody Disgusting as “top-notch horror storytelling”, Slasher: Flesh & Blood will stream exclusively on horror platform Shudder in the US, Australia and New Zealand in 2021. Shudder will also be the streaming home for Flesh & Blood in Canada, the UK and Ireland following its linear premieres in those countries. The series will be broadcast exclusively on Hollywood Suite in Canada. Production is underway now in Ontario, Canada.

Slasher: Flesh & Blood follows a wealthy but dysfunctional family gathering for a reunion on a secluded island. Their old wounds and competitive rivalries flare up when the family realizes a masked killer is on the island, intent on cruelly picking them off one by one. As with the past installments of the series, Slasher: Flesh & Blood will combine elements of traditional murder mystery with the intense horror and bold kills that audiences have come to expect.

Canadian horror legend David Cronenberg has joined the cast for the new season, which will also continue Slasher’s trend of bringing back cast members in new roles. Returning from previous seasons are Paula Brancati, Jefferson Brown, Patrice Goodman, Sabrina Grdevich, and Christopher Jacot. New faces this year include Rachael Crawford (Heartland), Jeananne Goosen (The Walking Dead), Sydney Meyer (Departure), and Alex Ozerov (The Americans).

 

“Slasher is clever, bloody, scary and fun, and adding David Cronenberg to the mix will take this new installment of the series to the next level,” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s general manager. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with Aaron Martin and the team over at Shaftesbury to bring Slasher: Flesh and Blood to Shudder members.”

“We are so thrilled that Slasher will be brought back to life on Shudder,” said Shaftesbury Chairman & CEO Christina Jennings. “We know the fans of the show weren’t ready to say goodbye, so we are eager to bring them the goriest, scariest chapter of this anthology yet.”

 

“The Slasher series overdelivers on good old-fashioned gore, horror and fun with fast pacing and exceptional casting,” said David Kines, President Hollywood Suite. “We are very excited to throw our support behind the series and resurrect it for another bone-chilling season.”

 

Slasher is developed and produced by Shaftesbury and created by Aaron Martin. Slasher is executive produced by Aaron Martin, Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, David Ozer, Thomas P. Vitale, and Ian Carpenter, who also serves as showrunner; Adam MacDonald is director. Additional distribution info to come.

Follow the production via Slasher’s Social Channels:

Facebook:  facebook.com/SlasherTV

Twitter:      @SlasherSeries

Instagram: @slashertvofficial

 

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ABOUT SHUDDER

AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit ​www.shudder.com​.

 

ABOUT HOLLYWOOD SUITE

Hollywood Suite owns and operates four exclusive HD channels featuring the iconic movies that defined the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, plus essential Hollywood classics from the Golden Age, always uncut and commercial-free. With hundreds of movies every month on four HD channels and Hollywood Suite On Demand. Hollywood Suite provides an unparalleled value to consumers. Hollywood Suite is available to over 10 million households across Canada, exclusively through Canadian television service providers and Amazon Prime video channels. Visit hollywoodsuite.ca for more information.

 

ABOUT SHAFTESBURY

Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and producer of original content for television, film, and digital. Shaftesbury's current slate includes 14 seasons of Murdoch Mysteries for CBC and UKTV, four seasons of detective drama Frankie Drake Mysteries for CBC and UKTV, three seasons of critically acclaimed horror series Slasher for Netflix, three seasons of Hudson & Rex for Citytv/Rogers Media, and several new primetime series including Departure for Global/Corus Entertainment and NBC Universal, Dead Still for RTÉ, Acorn TV, and Citytv/Rogers, and The Sounds for CBC, Acorn TV, and Sky NZ. Building on a library of award-winning kids’ programs, Shaftesbury has an extensive slate of new kids and family programming with series centred on inspiring interest in STEAM, including The Solutioneers, Miikshi, Stinky Science, and Emerald Code. Shaftesbury's branded division produces original entertainment projects for brands, including the global phenomenon Carmilla for U by Kotex/Kimberly-Clark, Turning the Tables for göt2b®/Henkel, Futurithmic for Nokia, and The D Cut for Dove and Unilever Studios. Shaftesbury’s technology division works with leading healthcare institutions and researchers to explore and develop clinical applications for immersive media experiences including augmented and virtual reality, including a recent focus on children’s therapeutic support tools. www.shaftesbury.ca 

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Shudder: December 2020 Highlights for US, Including New Specials from "Creepshow" and "The Last Drive-In"!

DECEMBER 2020 U.S. HIGHLIGHTS 

titles also available on Shudder Canada, UK and ANZ as noted

 

NEW SHUDDER SPECIALS

 

JOE BOB SAVES CHRISTMAS — December 11 at 9pm ET

The Christmas spirit takes over The Last Drive-In as Joe Bob and Darcy close out the year with a double feature of holiday horrors. Premieres live on the ShudderTV feed Friday, December 11, and will be made available on demand on Sunday, December 13. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

A CREEPSHOW HOLIDAY SPECIAL — December 18

In the holiday themed, hour-long episode, “Shapeshifters Anonymous,” fearing he is a murderer, an anxious man searches for answers for his "unique condition" from an unusual support group. Starring Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect) and Adam Pally (The Mindy Project), the special is written and directed by Creepshow showrunner Greg Nicotero, based on a short story by J.A. Konrath (Last Call). (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) 

NEW SHUDDER ORIGINAL/EXCLUSIVE MOVIES

 

ANYTHING FOR JACKSON — December 3

After losing their only grandson in a car accident, grief-stricken Audrey and Henry, a doctor, kidnap his pregnant patient with the intentions of performing a “Reverse Exorcism”, putting Jackson inside her unborn child. It doesn’t take long to figure out Jackson isn’t the only ghost the grandparents invited into their home. Now it’s a race against time for the couple, as well as the pregnant woman to figure a way out of the haunting they’ve set upon themselves.

 

Consider this wintery anti-Nativity tale Shudder’s Christmas counterprogramming, from a writer (Keith Cooper) and director (Justin G. Dyck) who together have made a bevy of traditional holiday movies. Believe me, this ain’t Baby in a Manger or Christmas with a Prince.

 

Starring Sheila McCarthy, Julian Richings, Konstantina Mantelos, Josh Cruddas and Yannick Bisson, directed by Justin G. Dyck. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. (Also available on Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/ZVnxgZor8F0 

THE PALE DOOR — December 17

The Dalton gang find shelter in a seemingly uninhabited ghost town after a train robbery goes south. Seeking help for their wounded leader, they are surprised to stumble upon a welcoming brothel in the town’s square. But the beautiful women who greet them are actually a coven of witches with very sinister plans for the unsuspecting outlaws - and the battle between good and evil is just beginning. Starring Devin Druid, Zachary Knighton, Bill Sage, Pat Healy, Natasha Bassett, Stan Shaw, Melora Walters, directed by Aaron B. Koontz (Scare Package). A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/2CLqzKWDyxg  

NEW SERIES FOR DECEMBER

 

ELI ROTH’S HISTORY OF HORROR Season 2 — December 10 (all episodes)

Award-winning director, writer and producer Eli Roth brings together the masters of horror for a chilling exploration of how horror has evolved and its impact on society. Season two episodes explore “Houses of Hell,” “Monsters,” “Body Horror,” “Witches,” “Chilling Children,” and “Nine Nightmares.” Season 2 of the companion podcast, History of Horror: Uncut, currently debuting new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast platforms, will also be available on Shudder on December 10. Featuring Stephen King, Quentin Tarantino, Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, Bill Hader, Megan Fox, Greg Nicotero and many more. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

NEW COLLECTIONS FOR DECEMBER

 

UNHAPPY HOLIDAYS — November 30

Home invasion by a supernatural man in a blood-red suit? Holiday getaways that turn homicidal? These Christmas films prove that yuletide is the perfect season for terror. Featuring Blood Beat, Body, Rare Exports and Sheitan (all newly coming to Shudder on November 30) along with Bob Clark’s proto-slasher Black Christmas, the Shudder Exclusives All the Creatures Were Stirring, Better Watch Out and Christmas Presence, Christmas Evil, A Christmas Horror Story, Deadly Games, Jack Frost, Red Christmas and Silent Night, Deadly Night 2, among others. (Collection also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK; titles vary by region)

HOLLY GIALLI CHRISTMAS — December 2

Slip on your black gloves and deck the halls with bloody murder, Italian style, as Shudder debuts its biggest-ever collection of Giallo cinema, both classic and modern, with films by Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Lamberto Bava, Michele Soavi, Sergio Martino and many, many more. Featuring A Blade in the Dark, Death Laid an Egg, Black Belly of the Tarantula, The Case of the Bloody Iris, The Corruption of Chris Miller, The Editor, The Fifth Cord, New York Ripper, The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, The Red Queen Kills Seven Times, Short Night of Glass Dolls, Stagefright, Torso, Trauma, Your Vice is a Locked Room and What Have You Done to Solange (all newly coming to Shudder on December 2), along with current Shudder films All the Colors of the Dark, The Cat O’Nine Tales, Deep Red, Don’t Torture a Duckling, Knife + Heart, Phenomena, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh and Tenebrae. (Collection also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ; titles vary by region)

ALL NEW TITLES FOR DECEMBER

 

November 30 – new Unhappy Holidays collection additions 

BLOOD BEAT (Director: Fabrice A Zaphiratos)

A young woman travels to rural Wisconsin to meet her boyfriend's family and a samurai warrior's spirit possesses her body to go on a bloody killing spree. Starring Helen Benton, Terry Brown, Dana Day (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

BODY (Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen)

A darkly funny and twisted journey taking place entirely on one unforgettable Christmas Eve, Body revolves around a trio of college co-eds whose dalliance with breaking-and-entering goes horribly awry. Following a freak accident, the girls find themselves entangled in a Hitchcockian nightmare steeped in tension, suspicion, double-crossing, and murder, where no one is to be trusted and a new twist lies around every corner. From the team behind last year’s Villains. Starring Helen Rogers, Alexandra Turshen, Lauren Molina, Larry Fessenden (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

 

RARE EXPORTS (Director: Jalmari Helander)

In this darkly comic gem, it's Christmas Eve in northern Finland, and an archeological dig has just unearthed Santa Claus. But this Santa isn't one you want coming to town. When local children begin disappearing, Pietari and his father capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the corporation sponsoring the dig. Starring Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, Tommi Korpela (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

SHEITAN (Director: Kim Chapiron)

On Christmas Eve, a group of guys meet two gorgeous girls who invite them to spend the weekend in the country, where they meet Joseph, a creepy unkempt man whose pregnant wife is hidden in the house. That evening, their innocent Christmas dinner turns into disturbing conversations about sex, satanic possession and incest. Joseph's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and the young friends realize all hell is about to break loose. Starring Vincent Cassel, Olivier Barthelemy, Roxane Mesquida (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

December 1

BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (Director: Francis Ford Coppola)

From Francis Ford Coppola comes the remake of the classic and chilling tale about the devastatingly seductive Transylvanian prince who travels from Eastern Europe to 19th century London in search of human love. Starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Tom Waits

 

THE LOST BOYS (Director: Joel Schumacher)

When a single mother and her two sons move to the sleepy seaside California town of Santa Clara, they discover much more than they anticipated in this visually stunning blend of hip humor, horror and rock 'n' roll about the most compelling group of contemporary vampires ever to put fang to vein. Starring Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Dianne Wiest

 

December 2 – new Holly Gialli Christmas collection additions

A Blade in the Dark (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Black Belly of the Tarantula (Also available on Shudder Canada)

The Case of the Bloody Iris (Also available on Shudder Canada)

The Corruption of Chris Miller (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

Death Laid an Egg (Also available on Shudder Canada)

The Editor

The Fifth Cord (Also available on Shudder Canada)

New York Ripper (Also available on Shudder Canada)

The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

The Red Queen Kills Seven Times (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Short Night of Glass Dolls (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Stagefright (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Torso (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Trauma (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

Your Vice is a Locked Room (Also available on Shudder Canada)

What Have You Done to Solange (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

 

December 3

ANYTHING FOR JACKSON (see above for details)

 

CASTLE FREAK (Director: Tate Steinsiek)

After inheriting a castle from her long-lost-mother, a recently blinded girl learns that her family harbored dark secrets with deadly implications. Starring Clair Catherine, Jake Horowitz, Chris Galust, Emily Sweet (Also available on Shudder Canada) 

Note: Castle Freak and VFW were acquired prior to May 2020. Shudder is no longer working with the producer, Cinestate, on any further titles.

 

December 7

LET THE CORPSES TAN (Directors: Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani)

A hypnotically stylish, fever dream thriller from the team behind Amer and The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears. During a beautiful Mediterranean summer, Rhino and his gang steal a cache of gold. They believe they've found the perfect hideout until surprise guests and two cops compromise their plan. Starring Elina Lowensohn, Stephane Ferrara, Bernie Bonvoisin, Hervé Sogne (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

VFW (Director: Joe Begos)

A typical night for a group of war veterans at the local VFW turns into an all-out battle for survival when a teenage girl runs into the bar with a bag of stolen drugs. AStarring Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Martin Kove, David Patrick Kelly, Sierra McCormick, Tom Williamson, Travis Hammer, Dora Madison, George Wendt, Fred Williamson (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Note: Castle Freak and VFW were acquired prior to May 2020. Shudder is no longer working with the producer, Cinestate, on any further titles.

 

ZOMBI CHILD (Director: Bertrand Bonello)

Acclaimed French filmmaker Bertrand Bonello brings the zombie film back to its Haitian roots. In 1962, a man is brought back from the dead to work on a sugar cane plantation; many years later, a teen tells her friends her family secret, not suspecting that it will push one of them to commit the irreparable. Starring Louise Labeque, Wislanda Louimat, Katiana Milfort (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

December 10

ELI ROTH’S HISTORY OF HORROR Season 2 (see above for details)

 

December 11 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

JOE BOB SAVES CHRISTMAS (see above for details)

 

December 14

A GOOD WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND (Director: Abner Pastoll)

A recently widowed young mother will go to great lengths to protect her children as she seeks the truth behind her husband's murder. Starring Sarah Bolger, Edward Hogg, Andrew Simpson (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

LET US PREY (Director: Brian O'Malley)

A man brought to a police station possesses everyone's darkest secrets. As the cops try to figure out who or what he is, they soon realize deadly retribution awaits anyone who stands in his way. This violent chiller is definitely not for the easily disturbed. Starring Liam Cunningham, Pollyanna McIntosh, Bryan Larkin (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

December 17

THE PALE DOOR (see above for details)

 

December 18

A CREEPSHOW HOLIDAY SPECIAL (see above for details)

 

December 21

LUZ: THE FLOWER OF EVIL (Director: Juan Diego Escobar Alzate)

El Señor, the leader of a small cult in the mountains, returns one day to his village with a child who is purported to be the new messiah. But when only pain and destruction befall the community, El Señor finds himself under attack from his own followers, including his three daughters, whose burgeoning femininity has already caused them to question their faith. Equally mystical and terrifying, LUZ: THE FLOWER OF EVIL is a fantasy folk horror film where tranquility belies a simmering evil. Starring Yuri Vargas, Conrado  Osorio, Andrea Esquivel, Sharon Guzman, Jim Munoz (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

 

THE SOUL COLLECTOR (Director: Harold Holscher)

In an attempt to start a new life with his young, fragmented family, bankrupt William Ziel returns to the farm he inherited from his estranged father. Lazarus, the farmhand who took care of William's father in his lonely final hours, reappears soon after William, Sarah, and adopted daughter Mary arrive. A supposed chance meeting between Mary and Lazarus develops into a bond between two kindred spirits. But Lazarus carries a dark secret: a demon child with an insatiable appetite for human souls ... and now the Ziels’ newfound domesticity is placed at unfathomable risk. Starring Tshamano Sebe, Inge Beckmann, Keita Luna (Also available on Shudder Canada)

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