Every Fall, Shudder “frights” up our streaming screens with a slew of original and fan-favorite content, from films and TV to reality series and more. Naturally, 2023 is no exception, as they’re bringing out the Halloween horror heavyweights to make sure this Spooky Season is as entertainingly eerie as it gets. Read on for just a few of the feature film highlights coming your way in this year’s annual FearFest:
V/H/S/85
Directed by David Bruckner, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Natasha Kermani, Scott Derrickson, Mike P. Nelson
Streaming on Shudder October 6 (Available in US, CA, UKI, ANZ)
The next installment in the infamous found footage anthology franchise, V/H/S/85 is an ominous mixtape blending never before seen snuff footage with nightmarish newscasts and disturbing home video to create a surreal, analog mashup of the forgotten 80s. Starring Freddy Rodriguez, Dani Deetté, Justen Jones and Rolando Davila-Beltran.
THE PUPPETMAN
Directed by Brandon Christensen
Streaming on Shudder October 13 (Available in US, CA, UKI, ANZ)
The Puppetman is a convicted killer on death row. He has always maintained his innocence saying it was an evil force controlling his body as he slaughtered his victims. Now Michal, the killer's daughter, begins to suspect that there may be some truth to her father’s claim when those around her begin to die in brutal ways. All hope rests on her shoulders to break The Puppetman's curse. Written and directed by Brandon Christensen and starring Michael Paré, Caryn Richman, Alyson Gorske.
WHEN EVIL LURKS
Directed by Demián Rugna
Streaming on Shudder October 27 (Available in US, CA, UKI, ANZ)
Shudder’s first Spanish-language Original from Demián Rugna (Terrified) is a rural possession thriller revolving around timeless horror concepts and adding contemporary twists. Set in a remote village, two brothers find a demon-infected man just about to give birth to evil itself. After warning the neighbors in town, they decide to get rid of the man but merely succeed in helping him to deliver the inferno. Starring Ezequiel Rodríguez, Eduardo Salomón and Silvia Sabater.
HELL HOUSE LLC ORIGINS: THE CARMICHAEL MANOR
Directed by Stephen Cognetti
Streaming on Shudder October 30 (Available in US, CA, UKI, ANZ)
In 2021, a group of internet sleuths travel to the remote Carmichael Manor, deep in the woods of the Rockland County, NY, site of the infamous 1989 Carmichael family murders have gone unsolved to this day. What they discover are secrets that have been hidden away for decades and a terror that has been lurking in the shadows long before Hell House LLC.
NIGHT OF THE HUNTED
Directed by Franck Khalfoun
Streaming on Shudder October 20 (Available in US, CA, UKI, ANZ)
When an unsuspecting woman (Camille Rowe, No Limit) stops at a remote gas station in the dead of night, she’s made the plaything of a sociopathic sniper with a secret vendetta. To survive she must not only dodge his bullets and fight for her life, but also figure out who wants her dead and why…
At least the movie only runs 70 minutes, though I suppose that extra 10 technically disqualifies it from being a literal amateur hour.