April brings a packed line-up of new horror films and series to Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural.
Highlights include:
- The season two premiere of the Shudder Original series Creepshow
- The Power starring British actress Rose Williams (Sanditon) and written and directed by BAFTA-nominated British filmmaker Corinna Faith.
- Christopher Smith’s The Banishing starring Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) and Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible franchise).
- 2020 CANNESERIES Horror Short Form contender, Australian anthology series Deadhouse Dark.
- The 2021 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards, hosted by actor and writer David Dastmalchian (Ant-Man and the Wasp).
NEW SHUDDER ORIGINALS & EXCLUSIVES
CREEPSHOW, SEASON 2 – Premieres 1 April (New Episodes Every Thursday)
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. Executive produced by showrunner Greg Nicotero, Creepshow’s second season will feature guest stars Kevin Dillon, Iman Benson, Josh McDermitt, Keith David, Molly Ringwald, Barbara Crampton, Justin Long, and D’Arcy Carden, among others.
THE POWER– Premieres 8 April
Shudder Exclusive Film
London, 1974. As Britain prepares for electrical blackouts to sweep across the country, trainee nurse Val (British actress 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.
THE BANISHING – Premieres 15 April
From acclaimed director Chris Smith (Creep, Severance, Triangle) 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.
2021 FANGORIA CHAINSAW AWARDS – Premieres 18 April
Shudder TV Exclusive Event
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 Man, Freaky, Relic, Color Out of Space and Possessor as well as actors Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton and Elisabeth Moss. Since 1992, the Chainsaw Awards have honoured top achievements in horror film and television, with past recipients including Jonathan Demme, Sam Raimi, Robert Eggers, Toni Collette and George Romero.
IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS: PART II – Premieres 26 April
Building on the hit 2019 superdoc that Forbes called “a scary good magnum opus,” 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-favourite titles of ‘80s horror, year-by-year, expanding its scope to cover more international releases and spotlighting horror-career retrospectives.
DEADHOUSE DARK – Premieres 29 April
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. Deadhouse Dark is a giant mystery box of chocolates – while there is something in there to suit a variety of different tastes, in the end chocolate is still chocolate. And who doesn’t love chocolate?
NEW ADDITIONS TO SHUDDER’S MOVIE LIBRARY
5 April
Zombie for Sale (2019)
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.
Baskin
In this surreal Turkish horror, a police squad answer a distress call from a strange local town and find themselves plunged into a living nightmare when they’re captured by a cult and taken to an abandoned building. Navigating the labyrinthian nature of the building, the group seemingly descend further and further into the depths of hell. Originally a short from 2012, Baskin was developed into a feature length film after it received rave reviews from the horror community. Notable for its nightmarish feel, Baskin has been compared to the films of Lucio Fulci and the A Nightmare on Elm Street series.
12 April
The McPherson Tape (1989)
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.
19 April
The Children
When two British families gather together over Christmas, a mysterious illness befalls one of the children, and quickly spreads. But this is no ordinary flu. Something about this sickness turns the tots into nihilistic murderers who’d think nothing of stabbing mom or splitting dad’s head open. Kids can be so cruel! After the surviving adults and teenager Casey realize what’s happening, escape soon becomes the only option. Tom Shankland’s terrifying chiller earned critical raves and a cult following upon its release in 2008. Put the kids to bed before watching, or else you may regret it.
Goodnight Mommy
In the heat of the summer lays a lonesome house in the countryside where nine-year-old twin brothers await their mother’s return. When she comes home, bandaged after cosmetic surgery, nothing is like before, and the children start to doubt whether this woman is actually who she says she is. What ensues is a terrifying observational struggle with fatal consequences on par with The Shining and Dead Ringers.
26 April
Wake Wood
A grieving couple are given the chance to resurrect their daughter in this Irish horror film starring Aidan Gillen of “Game of Thrones” fame. After Alice’s accidental death, her parents move to a quaint village to make a fresh start. But when a local offers to perform a ceremony that will temporarily bring their daughter back, they can’t resist. But when Alice returns, she isn’t quite herself, of course. One of the best offerings from the new Hammer Films, this supernatural scarefest should please fans of The Wicker Man, Don’t Look Now and Village of the Damned.
29 April
Horror Express (1972)
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.
