As a seasoned horror enthusiast who’s spent countless nights huddled under the covers, I can’t help but feel a thrill of anticipation for these two upcoming Shudder originals. Rita, with its unique blend of real-world horrors and fantastical creatures, seems to be a daring leap into the unknown, much like my first encounter with a ghost in the attic when I was a kid (spoiler alert: it was just my dad). The international collaboration and focus on an untested director make it all the more intriguing.
Established in 2015, Shudder’s primary concept was straightforward: it offered a year-round streaming service specifically catering to horror enthusiasts. For those who crave their dose of fright outside of October, Shudder serves as the perfect solution. Over almost a decade, this streaming platform has earned a remarkable reputation for featuring classic horror films and exclusive movies that are only available on Shudder.
Take a look at the 55 finest films on Shudder, and you’ll quickly realize the impressive collection this service has gathered. With titles such as “Late Night with the Devil” and blockbuster hit “Skinamarink,” which astonishingly earned 60 times its budget – Shudder’s original movies are producing content at an unprecedented rate. It’s no surprise that the platform is now acquiring a number of upcoming exclusive films to fuel the excitement.
These films span a wide variety of topics, ambitious themes, and geographical origins. One is a follow-up to one of Shudder’s top-earning films at the box office, while another is one of the most talked-about modern Irish horror productions. A third brings together two Academy Award nominees for a gory retirement home massacre, and a fourth features a well-known “Daredevil” cast member delving into a chilling confrontation with the past. Reflecting the diverse nature of horror cinema, Shudder original movies come in many shapes and sizes, offering enormous potential to uphold the streamer’s impressive track record. It’s high time to explore the numerous Shudder exclusive films that you might not have known were about to premiere.
Grafted
Since the surprise success of “Late Night with the Devil,” IFC Films and Shudder have been consistently releasing a horror movie into theaters almost every month. In the half year following its release, films like “Oddity,” “Skincare,” “Late Night with the Devil,” and “Azrael” all went straight to wide release, while “Get Away” marks IFC/Shudder’s last theatrical release for 2024.
By the year 2025, there are existing strategies aimed at maintaining the successful run of Shudder’s theatrical releases in the horror genre. The movie titled “Grafted,” which revolves around a botched skin-grafting procedure, is slated for a cinema premiere on January 24, 2025. It remains to be determined if it will uphold the tradition of profitable January horror films such as “The Devil Inside” and “M3gan.
The film titled “Grafted,” created by independent filmmaker Sasha Rainbow, has been filmed in New Zealand, a place known for horror films such as “What We Do in the Shadows” and “Black Sheep.” Some media outlets have started to compare it with another indie horror movie focusing on women’s body images, called “The Substance.” It remains unclear whether “Grafted” will be able to escape the shadow of the 2024 Demi Moore starring film. At this point, what’s certain about “Grafted” is its unique plot and that it will be Shudder’s initial big-screen release in 2025.
The Rule of Jenny Pen
In horror films, dolls are almost always associated with negative or frightening events. From the ventriloquist dummy in “Magic,” to Chucky in various movies, and even the modern doll M3GAN, dolls have a knack for causing gruesome turmoil in horror cinema. The independent film “The Rule of Jenny Pen” written and directed by James Ashcroft seems to follow this pattern.
In a retirement home, Geoffrey Rush plays a recently paralyzed resident who uncovers that a fellow inhabitant (John Lithgow) is misusing a therapy doll for nefarious purposes. This intriguing premise seems to blend elements from “Rear Window” and a reimagining of “Night of the Living Dummy”. Such an unique blend could captivate many horror enthusiasts. Notably, unlike previous Shudder-exclusive films that often starred lesser-known actors, “Jenny Pen” boasts a pair of Oscar nominees in its cast. Remarkably, one of these talented individuals (Rush) actually took home an Oscar for his performance in “Shine” in 1997. The presence of such esteemed leading men could potentially draw more viewers than usual to this film, and the persistent appeal of horror stories involving puppets or dolls might further boost its popularity.
As a thrilled fan, I’m excited to share that ahead of its Fantastic Fest premiere in September 2024, “The Rule of Jenny Pen” has found its distribution home with Shudder! Although no specific theatrical release date has been set, it’s clear that Shudder intends to give this high-profile production a grand debut. I can hardly wait!
In a Violent Nature 2
Shudder’s movie library is diverse, encompassing various countries and unique styles of horror storytelling. Unlike many other streaming services, it doesn’t focus heavily on franchises. Instead, it tends to pick up art-house festival films like “Skinamarink” and “Saloum”. However, the company primarily avoids lengthy horror series. That being said, in 2024, there was an interesting exception: “In a Violent Nature”, a film acquired by IFC Films/Shudder at Sundance 2024, managed to be a modest box office success towards the end of May 2024.
After that announcement, it was revealed at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con that “In a Violent Nature 2” was in development. Given its potential for both box office success and franchise expansion, this decision seems fitting. The character of Johnny from “Violent Nature,” who is similar to other infamous slasher villains like Jason, Michael Myers, Chucky, and numerous other bloodthirsty antagonists, could easily carry a sequel or two. In fact, even movies with the most unusual slasher storylines have spawned multiple follow-ups. So, just because “Johnny” was part of a movie with more artistic cinematic elements doesn’t exclude him from starring in a sequel or two.
In “Vicious Nature 2,” it isn’t only Johnny’s return to slaughter again on the silver screen, but also marks a unique exploration by Shudder into the realm of serial filmmaking. With such a title, Shudder further cements its growing reputation in the horror film industry.
The Cycle
Instead of “Beyond turning ‘In a Violent Nature’ into a franchise,” consider saying “Expanding its horizons beyond just one property, such as creating a franchise for ‘In a Violent Nature,’ Shudder has recently demonstrated its active growth by acquiring the domestic rights to the upcoming horror film ‘The Cycle.’ Typically, Shudder secures domestic rights for titles following their successful festival premieres. Many of the top movies on Shudder have followed this path, including recent hits like ‘Late Night with the Devil’ and ‘In a Violent Nature,’ which were completed before Shudder obtained their distribution rights.
Initially, Shudder focused on previously released films, but that changed when they acquired “The Cycle” before its production started. Now, Shudder was involved from the start in producing horror movies based on ideas, rather than relying on the excitement surrounding festival premieres. What made this project unique is that it featured Deborah Ann Woll, a well-known actress from shows like “Daredevil” and films such as “Escape Room,” taking the lead role.
The project led by Jordan Downey (co-writer with Kevin Stewart) narrates the story of Woll, a woman who delves into her father’s past when his body mysteriously resurfaces. If everything goes smoothly, “The Cycle” might become the type of high-profile movie that prolongs Shudder’s current success streak. In this case, it would also demonstrate Shudder’s active involvement in hit productions earlier in the process rather than later during post-production.
Menace
2025 Shudder isn’t just counting on one ready-to-go feature with “Grafted,” as they also acquired “Menace” last May 2024. In his directorial debut, Randall Okito tells the story of a young woman tormented psychologically who moves to a small town where people mysteriously disappear. However, her tenuous hold on reality makes it challenging for her to help solve this issue. This is where the chills come from in this film, starring Isabel May, best known for her role in “1883.
As of now, there’s no set launch date announced for the film “Menace,” which falls under the category of sci-fi/horror and offers an intriguing contrast to the recent Shudder releases that predominantly focus on supernatural frights (“Late Night with the Devil”) or slasher villains (“In a Violent Nature”). Instead, choosing a production more akin to the cult classic “Lifeforce” than the all-time best slasher film “Halloween” marks a bold move for Shudder, showcasing their ambition to showcase diverse horror cinema genres.
Unlike “Grafted” or “The Rules of Jenny Pen,” the film titled “Menace” has yet to be screened at any film festivals. This lack of initial exposure lends an enigmatic atmosphere to the production, which could intensify the shock factor in the completed movie. The uncertainty surrounding this project also extends to its release date, with only a confirmed year of 2025, a year that’s already brimming with exciting Shudder theatrical releases.
Satan’s Slaves 3
Similar to how dolls often appear in various horror films as a common antagonist, Satan also frequently appears as the main adversary in these movies. This is evident in global horror productions like the 2017 Indonesian production “Satan’s Slaves,” which is a remake of the original 1980 Indonesian horror film of the same name by writer-director Joko Anwar. By the time Anwar released “Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion,” this series had grown significantly beyond mere rebranding, gaining its own unique identity. It’s no surprise that Shudder secured distribution rights for this sequel across numerous significant territories.
Few horror series, apart from occasional exceptions like “Happy Death Day”, usually have more than two installments. Franchises such as “Paranormal Activity” and “Saw” tend to continue indefinitely until they run out of steam. After the release of “Communion” in Indonesian cinemas, Anwar was well aware that there might be a chance for “Satan’s Slaves” to carry on. In fact, he openly talked about the possibility of making a third “Satan’s Slaves” film if this first sequel attracts large audiences. Given the massive success of “Communion,” it seems almost certain that we will see another modern installment of “Satan’s Slaves.
Although no specific details about the sequel have been revealed yet, it won’t be away for too long before this profitable brand name resurfaces. Once it does, Shudder is certain to maintain its connection with this series, underscoring the omnipresence of Satan in global horror movies.
Get Away
The film “Get Away” portrays a family’s vacation turning into a perilous ordeal. Instead of the usual bickering and tension, this family finds themselves on an island inhabited by hostile locals and a serial killer. This trip promises to be more harrowing than your typical family holiday. The movie is helmed by director Steffen Haars and features Nick Frost, who not only stars as the father but also penned the screenplay.
Nick Frost, known primarily for writing feature-length movies like “Paul,” steps into new creative realms with the film “Get Away.” This marks a fresh endeavor for the “Shaun of the Dead” star, and although it remains to be seen if “Get Away” will meet the high standards set by Frost’s previous successful horror-comedies, fans of the genre won’t have to wait long to witness the outcome of his work. Streaming platform Shudder has scheduled a domestic theatrical release for early December, so horror enthusiasts can look forward to spending part of their holiday season enjoying “Get Away.” Here’s hoping the experience is more delightful than most family vacations!
MadS
If you appreciated the single-take approach in the movie “1917” and wished it could be used for a horror film, then you’re in luck! David Moreau’s new horror project titled “MadS” is filmed in exactly the same style. The story revolves around a teen whose casual visit to his drug dealer takes an unexpected turn when he picks up a stranger. This encounter sets off a series of strange and chaotic events on what was initially a typical summer night for our protagonist, who’s just graduated from high school. It seems like this movie will offer a spine-tingling cinema experience, and it might even serve as inspiration for an anti-drug public service announcement from the 1980s.
One interesting facet about “MadS” is it doesn’t hail from a totally unknown filmmaker, like so many Shudder original horror movies. Instead, Moreau is a horror genre veteran and even helmed the high-profile 2008 remake “The Eye.” This French artist has been toiling away in various capacities in the film industry for over 25 years and is now taking his visual ambitions to a new level with “MadS.”
To date, the reception to “MadS” following its showings at festivals like Fantastic Fest has been predominantly favorable, albeit with some equally strong criticism also being voiced. Starting soon, Shudder subscribers will have an opportunity to share their thoughts on the daring concept of creating a horror film in one continuous take.
Rita
Streamers often release popular original movies around holidays, as people tend to have more leisure time to watch content during these periods. For instance, Netflix released expensive titles such as “Bird Box” and “Don’t Look Up” near Christmas, while Prime Video debuted “The Tomorrow War” over the 2021 Fourth of July weekend. In a similar vein, Shudder plans to launch director Jayro Bustamante’s “Rita” around Thanksgiving 2024.
For the first time ever, a unique collaboration between Guatemalan and American production studios has resulted in the creation of “Rita”, a captivating story about a 13-year-old girl named Giuliana Santa Cruz. Escaping from an abusive father, Rita finds herself in a special institution filled with fantastical creatures. These magical beings possess foretelling abilities and believe that Rita holds the key to stopping evil forces that rule over the world.
Bustamante’s upcoming movie seems to blend real-world fears with the scary tales found in classic literature. It’s a daring approach that may not appeal to everyone due to its intense nature, but it could make “Rita” a unique horror film when it releases in November 2024. It’s worth noting that Shudder, unlike other platforms, is choosing to premiere an original horror movie for Thanksgiving that’s from an international, lesser-known director instead of relying on a familiar franchise. While others opt for safe choices during holidays, Shudder is focusing on something distinct and unusual like “Rita.
Frewaka
In July 2024, Shudder premiered the Irish horror film “Oddity” in movie theaters nationwide. For one of its 2025 horror releases, Shudder intends to draw from Ireland once more. The streaming service has obtained distribution rights for “Frewaka” across various regions (including North America), following its successful run at film festivals. Similar to “The Quiet Girl” and “Kneecap,” which were released in the 2020s, “Frewaka” will also contribute to the growing collection of films told primarily in Ireland’s native language. This nearly-extinct means of communication is experiencing a resurgence on the big screen.
“Frewaka” explores the realm of Irish folklore, focusing on the Na Sidhe and a woman tormented by her inner conflicts as she contemplates their reality. Akin to other haunting dark fantasy films, “Frewaka” promises an enticing blend of horror and myth, creating a spine-tingling cinematic experience. The film’s backdrop, the breathtaking landscapes of Ireland, offers a visually striking canvas, ensuring that this movie won’t lack stunning visuals.
The movie “Frewaka” is highly anticipated, coming from director Aislinn Clarke who received mainly positive reviews for her 2018 film “The Devil’s Doorway.” This upcoming horror production from Ireland’s vibrant horror industry will likely scare Shudder subscribers in the year 2025.
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2024-10-21 23:30