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Shudder is Celebrating ‘Halfway to Halloween’ all through April 2021

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We are four days into March, but Shudder is already ready for April. You know that means? It’s going to be big! They’re proclaiming the month as Halfway to Halloween and to celebrate the occasion, the all horror/thriller streamer is pulling out all the stop to mark the occasion in style.

“Some do Christmas in July but at Shudder we celebrate Halloween in April to mark the halfway point to the greatest holiday of the year,” Craig Engler, general manager of Shudder, said in a statement. “‘Halfway to Halloween Month’ is going to be the biggest month of programming in Shudder history with new movies, series, a killer documentary and more.”

Don’t take our word for it. Look at the full list of events and scheduled releases below!

Halfway to Halloween Hotline on Shudder

Some of you are familiar with Shudder’s Halloween hotline that allows callers to phone in for personalized film suggestions catered to your taste. This year, they’ll be running the same service through the month of April.

Every Friday, you’ll find the call-in number on Shudder’s social media. Between the hours of  3 pm and 4 pm EST, you’ll be able to call in and speak directly with Samuel Zimmerman, Shudder’s director of programming. Tell him what you like, what you don’t like, and all about your favorite movies, and Samuel will tell you what you should check out from the streaming service’s catalog of films!

**While recommendations are provided for free, please note that normal phone and long-distance charges may apply. Call volume is expected to be high, so please keep trying if a busy signal is received. There are no guarantees that every call will be answered, but Sam will get through as many as he can within the hour.**

Halfway to Halloween Schedule!

April 1st:

Creepshow, Season 2: A SHUDDER ORIGINAL SERIES. Based on the 1982 horror comedy classic, the anthology Creepshow returns for a second season and is still the most fun you’ll ever have being scared! A comic book comes to life in a series of vignettes, exploring terrors ranging from murder, creatures, monsters, and delusions to the supernatural and unexplainable.  You never know what will be on the next page. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK, and Shudder ANZ)

Train to Busan: Peninsula: A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE. Four years after South Korea’s total decimation in Train to Busan, the zombie thriller that captivated audiences worldwide, acclaimed director Yeon Sang-ho brings us Peninsula, the next nail-biting chapter in his post-apocalyptic world. Jung-seok, a soldier who previously escaped the diseased wasteland, relives the horror when assigned to a covert operation with two simple objectives: retrieve and survive. When his team unexpectedly stumbles upon survivors, their lives will depend on whether the best—or worst—of human nature prevails in the direst of circumstances. Upon Peninsula’s premiere, Shudder will be the only service in which viewers can watch Yeon Sang-ho’s complete trilogy, including Train to Busan and Seoul Station, on a single platform. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Night of the Lepus: Just in time for Easter, Shudder is debuting this classic creature from 1972 starring Janet Leigh and Stuart Whitman. After a failed attempt by a scientist to curb the rabbit population in an Arizona ranch, the locals find themselves under attack by giant rabbits with a taste for human flesh!

The Haunting of Julia: After losing her daughter, Julia (Mia Farrow), a wealthy American homemaker, moves to London in attempt to start over and deal with her grief. However, she soon finds herself haunted by the spirits of other children while attempting to mourn her own.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 2: All bets are off in this bonkers sequel to the classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Tobe Hooper returns as director. Chainsaw-wielding maniac Leatherface is up to his cannibalistic ways once again, along with the rest of his twisted clan. This time, the masked killer has set his sights on a pretty disc jockey, who teams up with a Texas lawman to battle the psychopath and his family deep within their lair, a macabre abandoned amusement park. Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, and Bill Moseley star. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

April 2nd:

April 2nd sees the release of the Val Lewton Collection. Seven of the famed writer/producer’s most enduring horror/thriller classics will be available. This is a horror aficionados dream!

Cat People: An American man marries a Serbian immigrant who fears that she will turn into the cat person of her homeland’s fables if they are intimate together. Simone Simon stars.

I Walked with a Zombie: A nurse is hired to care for the wife of a sugar plantation owner, who has been acting strangely, on a Caribbean island.

The Leopard Man: A seemingly tame leopard used for a publicity stunt escapes and kills a young girl, spreading panic throughout a sleepy New Mexico town.

The Seventh Victim: A woman in search of her missing sister uncovers a Satanic cult in New York’s Greenwich Village, and finds that they may have something to do with her sibling’s random disappearance.

Curse of the Cat People: The young, friendless daughter of Oliver and Alice Reed befriends her father’s dead first wife and an aging, reclusive actress.

The Body Snatcher: A ruthless doctor and his young prize student find themselves continually harassed by their murderous supplier of illegal cadavers. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi star!

Isle of the Dead: On a Greek island during the 1912 war, several people are trapped by quarantine for the plague. If that isn’t enough worry, one of the people, a superstitious old peasant woman, suspects one young girl of being a vampiric kind of demon called a vorvolaka. Starring Boris Karloff!

April 5th:

Don’t Panic: Best known as Mexico’s homage to A Nightmare on Elm Street, in this film, Michael is gifted a Ouija board from his best friend, Tony, on his seventeenth birthday. Tony unwittingly unlocks the evil forces of the board, unleashing a wave of violent killings, and the chief suspect appears to be Michael. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Zombie for Sale: When the illegal human experiments of a Korean pharmaceutical company go wrong, one of its undead test subjects escapes and ends up in a gas station owned by the Park family. When the Park family uncovers the undead visitor, they hatch a plan to exploit this unexpected fountain of youth. (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

April 8th:

The Power: A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE. London, 1974. As Britain prepares for electrical blackouts to sweep across the country, trainee nurse Val (Rose Williams) arrives for her first day at the crumbling East London Royal Infirmary. With most of the patients and staff evacuated to another hospital, Val is forced to work the night shift, finding herself in a dark, near empty building. Within these walls lies a deadly secret, forcing Val to face both her own traumatic past and deepest fears in order to confront the malevolent force that’s intent on destroying everything around her. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK, and Shudder ANZ)

Rose Williams as Val – The Power – Photo Credit: Rob Baker Ashton/Shudder

April 12th:

The McPherson Tape: Known for being a pioneer in the found footage genre, this film centers on a typical fall evening in 1983 when a young man videotapes his niece’s 5th birthday party. As the night’s strange occurrences take place, he keeps his video camera running, recording the entire event. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK, and Shudder ANZ)

Alex de la Iglesia Double Feature: The Day of the Beast (1995), in which a priest, TV psychic and Death Metal record store clerk team up to beat Satan and prevent the Apocalypse, and Dance with the Devil (a.k.a. Perdita Durango, 1997) starring Rosie Perez and Javier Bardem as a sadistic couple involved with human sacrifices, kidnapping, murder and fetus trafficking. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

April 15th:

The Banishing: A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. From acclaimed director Chris Smith (CreepSeveranceTriangle) comes The Banishing, which tells the true story of the most haunted house in England. A young reverend and his wife and daughter move into a manor with a horrifying secret. When a vengeful spirit haunts the little girl and threatens to tear the family apart, the reverend and his wife are forced to confront their beliefs. They must turn to black magic by seeking the help of a famous Occultist…or risk losing their daughter. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

April 16th:

The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs: The late night horror host is back with a brand new season with new episodes every Friday!

April 18th:

2021 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 8 pm ET: In April 2021, Shudder partners with FANGORIA to bring the Chainsaw Awards, hosted by actor and writer David Dastmalchian, to fans across the globe. This year’s nominated films include The Invisible ManFreakyRelicColor Out of Space and Possessor as well as actors Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton and Elisabeth Moss. Since 1992, the Chainsaw Awards have honored top achievements in horror film and television, with past recipients including Jonathan Demme, Sam Raimi, Robert Eggers, Toni Collette and George Romero. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK, and Shudder ANZ)

April 19th:

The Stepfather: Jerry Blake is a family man, but he happens to have a series of families, with each one on the receiving end of his murderous ways. When Jerry sets his sights on a lovely widow named Susan and her headstrong daughter, Stephanie, it appears that his brutal pattern of killings will continue. However, Stephanie begins to suspect that there’s something wrong with the seemingly well-adjusted Jerry, and a violent confrontation is inevitable. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Thale: Leo and Elvis are cleaning up a particularly messy crime scene when Elvis accidentally finds a secret passage that leads to a subterranean living space. He encounters Thale, a beautiful young woman who sings but does not speak. The two are ill-prepared when others tracking Thale finally catch up to her.

The Conspiracy: A documentary about conspiracy theories takes a horrific turn after the filmmakers uncover an ancient and dangerous secret society. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Housebound: A young woman placed under house arrest in her mother’s home begins to suspect that the place may be haunted. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

April 22nd:

The Boys from County Hell: A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE. Welcome to Six Mile Hill, a sleepy Irish backwater whose only claim to fame is the somewhat dubious local legend that Bram Stoker once spent a night in the local pub. It’s home to Eugene Moffat, a young man who fills most of his days drinking pints with his friends and pranking tourists who come to visit the gravesite of Abhartach, a legendary Irish vampire some believe to have inspired ‘Dracula.’ When a personal tragedy forces Eugene to go and work for his gruff, no-nonsense father, he finds himself on the site of a controversial new road. Strange events unfold when Eugene and the crew tear down a famous cairn believed to be the final resting place of Abhartach, and they soon come under attack from a sinister force that has infected one of their workmates. As the night closes in, The Boys must fight for survival while discovering the true horror of a myth that hits much closer to home than any of them realize. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Morgan C. Jones as Charlie Harte, Michael Hough as SP McCauley, Louisa Harland as Claire McCann, Louisa Harland as Claire McCann, Nigel O’Neill as Francie Moffat, Jack Rowan as Eugene Moffat – Boys from County Hell – Photo Credit: Aidan Monaghan/Shudder

April 26th:

In Search of Darkness Part 2: In Search of Darkness: Part II dives deeper into the fabled practical-effects decade of iconic and eclectic ‘80s horror movies that changed the course of film history. Packed with over four hours of brand-new interviews, including such legendary horror icons as Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Nancy Allen (Dressed to Kill), Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead), and special-effects wizard Tom Savini (Friday the 13th), Part II features 15 new faces alongside 40-plus returning members of the original In Search of Darkness cast to delve into more fan-favorite titles of ‘80s horror, year-by-year, expanding its scope to cover more international releases and spotlighting horror-career retrospectives.

The Similars: Eight people experience a strange phenomenon while waiting for a bus at a remote station on a rainy October night. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEg8kV2b7v4

The Diabolical: A single mother and her children are awoken nightly by an intense presence. She asks her scientist boyfriend to destroy the violent spirit that paranormal experts are too frightened to take on.

Attack of the Demons: For centuries, a demonic cult has been plotting the destruction of mankind. When a small Colorado town is overrun by a legion of mutating demons, three non-demon hunter friends must use every skill their minds can fathom to stave off the demon apocalypse. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

April 29th:

Deadhouse Dark: A SHUDDER ORIGINAL SERIES. An anthology of six interconnected horror short films, Deadhouse Dark is anchored by a woman who receives a ‘mystery box’ from the dark web, each item within it gradually unveiling a dark and troubling truth. A boxful of dark and chilling tales of terror inspired by frighteningly familiar modern trends including dark web mystery boxes, dash cam footage and Insta-fame hungry vloggers. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK, and Shudder ANZ)

Shudder Deadhouse Dark

Nicholas Hope as David – Deadhouse Dark _ Season 1, Episode 4 – Photo Credit: Shudder

Horror Express: While travelling on the Trans-Siberian Express, an anthropologist and his rival must contain the threat posed by the former’s cargo: a prehistoric ape which is the host for a lifeform that is absorbing the minds of the passengers and crew. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK, and Shudder ANZ)

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‘Immaculate’ Stars Reveal Which Horror Villains They Would “F, Marry, Kill”

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Sydney Sweeney is just coming off the success of her rom-com Anyone But You, but she’s ditching the love story for a horror story in her latest film Immaculate.

Sweeney is taking Hollywood by storm, portraying everything from a love-lusting teenager in Euphoria to an accidental superhero in Madame Web. Although the latter got a lot of hate among theater-goers, Immaculate is getting the polar opposite.

The film was screened at SXSW this past week and was well-received. It also gained a reputation for being extremely gory. Derek Smith of Slant says the, “final act contains some of the most twisted, gory violence this particular subgenre of horror has seen in years…”

Thankfully curious horror movie fans won’t have to wait long to see for themselves what Smith is talking about as Immaculate will hit theaters across the United States on March, 22.

Bloody Disgusting says that the movie’s distributor NEON, in a bit of marketing smarts, had stars Sydney Sweeney and Simona Tabasco play a game of “F, Marry, Kill” in which all their choices had to be horror movie villains.

It’s an interesting question, and you might be surprised at their answers. So colorful are their responses that YouTube slapped an age-restricted rating on the video.

Immaculate is a religious horror movie that NEON says stars Sweeney, “as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.”

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Michael Keaton Raves About “Beetlejuice” Sequel: A Beautiful and Emotional Return to the Netherworld

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Beetlejuice 2

After more than three decades since the original “Beetlejuice” film took audiences by storm with its unique blend of comedy, horror, and whimsy, Michael Keaton has given fans a reason to eagerly anticipate the sequel. In a recent interview, Keaton shared his thoughts on an early cut of the upcoming “Beetlejuice” sequel, and his words have only added to the growing excitement surrounding the film’s release.

Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice

Keaton, reprising his iconic role as the mischievous and eccentric ghost, Beetlejuice, described the sequel as “beautiful”, a term that encapsulates not only the visual aspects of the film but its emotional depth as well. “It is really good. And beautiful. Beautiful, you know, physically. You know what I mean? The other one was so fun and exciting visually. It’s all that, but really kind of beautiful and interestingly emotional here and there. I wasn’t ready for that, you know. Yeah, it’s great,” Keaton remarked during his appearance on The Jess Cagle Show.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Keaton’s praise did not stop at the film’s visual and emotional appeal. He also lauded the performances of both returning and new cast members, signaling a dynamic ensemble that is sure to please fans. “It’s great and the cast, I mean, Catherine [O’Hara], if you thought she was funny last time, double it. She’s so funny and Justin Theroux is like, I mean, come on,” Keaton enthused. O’Hara returns as Delia Deetz, while Theroux joins the cast in a yet-to-be-disclosed role. The sequel also introduces Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s daughter, Monica Bellucci as Beetlejuice’s wife, and Willem Dafoe as a dead B movie actor, adding new layers to the beloved universe.

“It’s just so fun and I’ve seen it now, I’m gonna see it again after a couple little tweaks in the editing room and I confidently say this thing is great,” Keaton shared. The journey from the original “Beetlejuice” to its sequel has been a long one, but if Keaton’s early rave is anything to go by, it will have been worth the wait. Showtime for the sequel is set for September 6th.

Beetlejuice

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‘The Unknown’ From Willy Wonka Event is Getting a Horror Movie

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Not since the Fyre Festival has an event been so lambasted online as Glasgow, Scotland’s Willy Wonka Experience. In case you haven’t heard about it, it was a children’s spectacular that celebrated Roald Dahl’s offbeat chocolatier by taking families through a themed space that felt like his magical factory. Only, thanks to cellphone cameras and social testimony, it was actually a sparsely decorated warehouse filled with flimsy set designs that looked like they were bought on Temu.

The famous disgruntled Oompa Loompa is now a meme and several hired actors have spoken out about the inelegant party. But one character seems to have come out on top, The Unknown, the mirror-masked emotionless villain who appears from behind a mirror, terrifying younger attendees. The actor who played Wonka, at the event, Paul Conell, recites his script and gives some backstory to this frightening entity.

“The bit that got me was where I had to say, ‘There is a man we don’t know his name. We know him as the Unknown. This Unknown is an evil chocolate maker who lives in the walls,'” Conell told Business Insider. “It was terrifying for the kids. Is he an evil man who makes chocolate or is the chocolate itself evil?”

Despite the sour affair, something sweet may come out of it. Bloody Disgusting has reported that a horror movie is being made based on The Unknown and may get a release as early as this year.

The horror publication quotes Kaledonia Pictures: “The film, gearing up for production and a late 2024 release, follows a renowned illustrator and his wife who are haunted by the tragic death of their son, Charlie. Desperate to escape their grief, the couple leave the world behind for the remote Scottish Highlands – where an unknowable evil awaits them.”

@katsukiluvrr evil chicolate maker who lives in the walls from willies chocolate experience in glasgow x #glasgow #willywonka #wonkaglasgow #scottish #wonka #theunknown #fyp #trending #foryou ♬ its the unknown – mol💌

They add, “We are excited to begin production and look forward to sharing more with you as soon as possible. We are actually only a few miles from the event, so it is quite surreal to see Glasgow all over social media, worldwide.”

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