Michael Dougherty's "Ghoul Log Trick 'R Treat Sam O'Lantern" Now Streaming on Shudder!

Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/V6HBxFg45eQ

 

NEW YORK, NY – October 2, 2020 – Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has debuted this year’s “Ghoul Log,” a 24/7 streaming jack-o’lantern, created by Trick ‘r Treat director Michael Dougherty (Godzilla: King of the Monsters). The Ghoul Log Trick ‘r Treat Sam O’Lantern is inspired by his beloved film from Legendary Entertainment and its iconic star, Sam, the mischievous spirit of Halloween who enforces the holiday’s ancient traditions. It is available to stream on Shudder now, both on-demand and soon 24/7 via the in-app Shudder TV feed.

 

Log line: On a dark, autumnal street, the Sam O’Lantern blazes to life. While the pumpkin burns, keep your eyes peeled for the surprises it summons. 

 

“Thanks to the ongoing dumpster fire that is 2020, Halloween is going to be yet another stay-at-home activity for a lot of people, so I hope the Sam O’Lantern brings a bit of light and magick to all those in need of some holiday spirit,“ said Michael Dougherty

 

“When we thought about what would get Shudder subscribers most excited for the 2020 version of our annual Ghoul Log, our wish-list idea was to team up with Michael Dougherty for something inspired by his iconic Halloween movie Trick ‘r Treat. When we reached out to Mike, we were delighted to find out that he was not only interested in the idea, but he already had an amazing concept in mind,” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s General Manager. 

 

The Ghoul Log Trick ‘r Treat Sam O’Lantern is the third in Shudder’s annual Halloween series. The Ghoul Log premiered in 2018, doing for Halloween what the famed Yule Log has long done for Christmas. Its long, unbroken feed of a candle-lit jack-o’lantern accompanied by spooky night sounds was an immediate hit. 2019 saw Return of the Ghoul Log, an animated creation courtesy of famed horror director Larry Fessenden (Depraved) and animator Beck Underwood. This year’s Ghoul Log is the first to be directly inspired by an iconic horror film. Trick ‘r Treat, released in 2009, has amassed a ravenous cult following and the Sam character has become a perennial Halloween icon inspiring a still growing line of toys, comic books, costumes, holiday décor, and theme park attractions. 

 

The Ghoul Log Trick ‘r Treat Sam O’Lantern was conceived, designed and executive produced by Dougherty and directed by Evan Gorski and Michael Babyak. It was produced by Ava Yazdani and features special effects by AtmosFX (AtmosFX.com). Trick ‘r Treat © Legendary 2007. All rights reserved.

 

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 MICHAEL DOUGHERTY

Michael Dougherty is a writer, director, and producer best known for the cult horror comedies Trick ‘r Treat (2009), Krampus (2015), and the summer blockbuster Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019). Beginning his career as an animator and illustrator, Dougherty’s animated work was featured on MTV, Nickelodeon, and a line of twisted greeting cards published by Nobleworks. He then became a screenwriter on X-Men 2 before making his directorial debut with Trick ‘r Treat, which starred Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker, and Brian Cox. Dougherty’s films have spawned a long and successful line of toys, comics, and other merchandise, along with theme park attractions at Universal Studios. Dougherty’s next project is a Hellraiser TV series with HBO, based on the classic Clive Barker horror film.

 

Read More

Krampus (2105)

Title: Krampus
Director: Michael Dougherty
Writers: Todd Casey, Michael Dougherty, Zach Shields
Cast: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Alison Tolman, Conchata Farrell, Emjay Anthony
Year: 2015
Min: 98

Between a fight at school and, most of all, his dysfunctional family, little Max (Emjay Anthony) is very disillusioned by the holidays. What he doesn't know is his actions and feelings unleashes the Christmas demon known as Krampus. Krampus punishes those who disrespect Christmas. He and his family are trapped inside their house, while Krampus and his minions take them away one by one.

Director/ co-writer, Michael Dougherty, who made the modern Halloween classic Trick 'R' Treat, brings the same level of greatness to the Christmas horror film that he did on that one. The result is a film that is supremely fun and thoroughly enjoyable. The structure of the film is one of its' strongest points. As it progresses it only gets better and better, until it reaches it's exciting climax and highly satisfactory ending. It's subversion of Christmas imagery into a funhouse nightmare only adds to its' charm.

As with his aforementioned horror anthology this movie has a warning about happens when you don't respect the holiday that the film revolves around. There is even loving tributes to  other Christmas movies like Joe Dante's classic Gremlins (in my opinion the best Christmas horror movie, ever) and possibly even Die Hard 2: Die Harder (if you can catch this one let me know!). For once the PG-13 doesn't hamper the film, something I actually feared would occur in this movie. Humans are taken away, but the monsters do die suitably gory deaths, which since they happen to teddy bears and such don't warrant the fury of the MPAA.

The mix of practical FX and CGI is excellent. The creatures all look cool and wonderfully creepy. It's as if someone took bits and pieces of ideas earlier seen in Full Moon, and made a better movie with them. The killer gingerbread men are a sight to behold. The humor and the horror mix quite well, being funny and still maintaining an sense of threat and tension, throughout its' running time.

The cast is all wonderful. While, I have heard minor complaints that many of the characters are unlikable, I think those who say that miss the point. I think many of them are suppose to be so, after all that is why they are being punished. Regardless, the are sympathetic characters that we care about, mostly the boy's mom, dad, sister, and grandma, the later of whom knows what is happening.

Krampus is the single most fun horror film that has received a major release this year. It leaves you feeling good and wholly satisfied. What's even more shocking is that ranks among the very best of Christmas horror movies. With this and Trick 'R' Treat not only does Dougherty define himself as one of the best horror directors, but one of the finest masters of holiday themed movies.

**** out of ****

Read More