Shudder Content Guide – Sept. 2021 – “61 Days of Halloween”
Shudder’s biggest two months begin this September as they kick off the 61 Days of Halloween. This yearly celebration spans September and October and features new premieres, Shudder originals, and some fun events. Let’s look at some of the overall announcements as well as the scheduled releases across regions for September.
The 61 Days of Halloween
First, direct from Shudder:
NEW YORK – September 1, 2021 – The “most wonderful time of the year” for Shudder kicks off today with its “61 Days of Halloween” annual event, featuring a slate of weekly new movie premieres and original series debuts, a new Halloween special with Joe Bob Briggs (and more specials to be announced), horror film favorite added to the Shudder library from Brian De Palma’s Carrie to Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist, a new editionof Shudder’s beloved “Ghoul Log,” a 24/7 streaming jack-o’-lantern, and the return of Shudder’s Halloween Hotline, where members can receive live, personalized movie recommendations from Shudder’s head curator Samuel Zimmerman.
“Shudder is the ultimate destination for horror all year long, but every Halloween, we try to outdo ourselves. Last year, we supersized the season, expanding our celebration to 61 days, and this year, we’re going even bigger by bringing Shudder members an unbeatable lineup of new original series and exclusive movie premieres every week, along with new specials and timeless horror favorites, starting September 1. Whatever you’re in the mood for this Halloween—old or new, creepy fun or truly terrifying—Shudder has you covered,” said Shudder General Manager Craig Engler.
Shudder Originals and Exclusives
Here is a list of upcoming Shudder Originals and Exclusives up through October that you have to look forward to.
Superhost – Premieres September 2
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA, Shudder UKI and Shudder ANZ)
In Superhost, travel vloggers Teddy (Osric Chau, Supernatural) and Claire (Sara Canning, Nancy Drew) share their experiences in and around vacation homes with their subscribers while maintaining a moderate level of internet fame. When their follower count starts to dwindle, they pivot to creating viral content around their most recent host, Rebecca (Gracie Gillam, Z Nation). With all eyes turned towards their “superhost,” Rebecca, they slowly start to realize something isn’t right and as they investigate further, they unlock a horrifying truth. Written and directed by Brandon Christensen (Z, Still/Born). Starring Chau, Canning, Gillam, and Barbara Crampton (Jakob’s Wife).
Martyrs Lane – Premieres September 9
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA, Shudder UKI and Shudder ANZ)
In this unsettling ghost story, Leah, 10, lives in a large, old house with her family but can’t quite work out why her mother seems so distant. At night she is visited by a mysterious guest, who might be able to give her some answers. With a new challenge every night, Leah is rewarded with bits of knowledge that, when pieced together, threaten to shine a dangerous light on both the truth in her nightmares and of the world she lives in. Directed by Ruth Platt (The Lesson). Starring Denise Gough (Colette, The Kid Who Would Be King), Steven Cree (Outlaw King, A Discovery of Witches), Kiera Thompson (His Name Was Gerry), and Sienna Sayer (Silent Night).
Seance – Premieres September 29
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA, Shudder UKI and Shudder ANZ)
Camille Meadows is the new girl at the prestigious Edelvine Academy for Girls. Soon after her arrival, six girls invite her to join them in a late-night ritual, calling forth the spirit of a dead former student who reportedly haunts their halls. But before morning, one of the girls is dead, leaving the others wondering what they may have awakened. Written and directed by Simon Barrett (You’re Next, The Guest). Starring Suki Waterhouse (Assassination Nation, The Divergent Series: Insurgent), Madisen Beaty (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ella-Rae Smith (Into the Badlands, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Inanna Sarkis (Boo 2! A Madea Halloween, After Franchise), Seamus Patterson (Channel Zero) and Marina Stephenson-Kerr (Channel Zero).
V/H/S/94 – Premieres October 6
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA, Shudder UKI and Shudder ANZ)
A Shudder Original Film, V/H/S/94 is the fourth installment in the hit horror anthology franchise and marks the return of the infamous found footage anthology with segments from franchise alumni Simon Barrett (Séance) and Timo Tjahjanto (May the Devil Take You Too) in addition to acclaimed directors Jennifer Reeder (Knives & Skin), Ryan Prows (Lowlife) and Chloe Okuno (Slut). In V/H/S/94, after the discovery of a mysterious VHS tape, a brutish police swat team launch a high-intensity raid on a remote warehouse, only to discover a sinister cult compound whose collection of pre-recorded material uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.
The Medium – Premieres October 14
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA, Shudder UKI and Shudder ANZ)
A documentary team follows Nim, a shaman based in Northern Thai, the Isan area, and encounters her niece Mink showing strange symptoms that seem to be of inheritance of shamanism. The team decides to follow Mink, hoping to capture the shaman lineage passing on to the next generation, but her bizarre behavior becomes more extreme. From director Banjong Pisanthanakun (Shutter) and producer Na Hong-jin (director of The Wailing). Winner Best Film, Bucheon International Film Festival 2021.
Horror Noire – Premieres Thursday, October 28
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA, Shudder UKI and Shudder ANZ)
A new Shudder Original anthology film, Horror Noire is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2019 documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror and features new work from both established and emerging talents, showcasing stories of Black horror from Black directors and screenwriters. Anthology writers featured include Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, Victor LaValle, Shernold Edwards, Al Letson, and Ezra C. Daniels. The cast featured include Lesley-Ann Brandt (Lucifer, Spartacus), Luke James (The Chi, Thoughts of a Colored Man), Erica Ash (Survivor’s Remorse, A Black Lady Sketch Show), Brandon Mychal Smith (Four Weddings and a Funeral, You’re the Worst), Sean Patrick Thomas (Macbeth, The Curse of La Llorona), Peter Stormare (American Gods, Fargo,) Malcolm Barrett (Genius: Aretha Franklin, Timeless) and Rachel True (The Craft, Half & Half), among others.
Shudder Original Series
Shudder’s Original Series offerings for September and October promise some major fun as well. We have the conclusion of Slasher: Flesh & Blood, the return of Creepshow, and the brand new season of Dragula.
Slasher: Flesh & Blood – New Episodes Premiere Every Thursday through September 16
Slasher: Flesh & Blood follows a wealthy, dysfunctional family lead by patriarch Spencer Galloway (David Cronenberg) that gathers for a reunion on a secluded island only to learn they’ll be pitted against one another in a cruel game of life and death, all while being stalked by a mysterious masked killer. Nothing is what it seems and no one is safe as the tension – and body count – ratchets up.
Creepshow Season 3 – Premieres September 23
Based on the 1982 horror-comedy classic, the anthology Creepshow returns for a third season and is still the most fun you’ll ever have being scared! From showrunner Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead), 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. Guest stars include Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead), James Remar (Dexter), Johnathon Schaech (Legends of Tomorrow), Reid Scott (Veep), Hannah Fierman (V/H/S), King Bach (When We First Met), and Ethan Embry (Empire Records).
The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Season 4 — Premieres October 19
The groundbreaking Shudder Original series follows ten drag artists from around the world competing for a $100,000 grand prize – the largest in show history. Season four will feature a spectacular lineup of guest judges including Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical film series), Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones), Misha Osherovich (Freaky), Queer country music icon Orville Peck, pop-metal star Poppy, Ray Santiago (Ash vs. The Evil Dead), Bob the Drag Queen (We’re Here), and more, with additional judges to be announced later. Dubbed one of “the 19 best LGBTQ+ shows everyone needs to watch” by Cosmopolitan, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula is
written and produced by the Boulet Brothers with Executive Producer David Sigurani and director Nathan Noyes.
Behind the Monsters — Premieres October 27
The new original docu-series Behind the Monsters takes a deep dive into cinematic horror icons, including Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Candyman, Chucky, and Pinhead, and features interviews with horror experts and the writers, directors, and actors from the original films that made each character the stuff of genre legends. Written and directed by Gabrielle Binkley and Anthony Uro and produced by Stage 3 Productions, Behind the Monsters is executive produced by Phil Nobile Jr., Kelly Ryan, and Mark Shostrom.
Shudder Specials
“The 61 Days of Halloween” also presents a number of fun specials, all of which are staples to the season on Shudder at this point.
Joe Bob’s Halloween Hoedown — October 8 at 9 pm ET on Shudder TV
In what has become an annual tradition, iconic horror host and foremost drive-in movie critic Joe Bob Briggs returns with a special The Last Drive-In double feature just in time for Halloween, premiering live on the Shudder TV feed. You’ll have to tune in to find out what movies Joe Bob has selected, but you can count on something scary and perfect for the season, with special guests to be announced. (Also available on-demand beginning October 10.)
The Ghoul Log – 2021 Edition
The “Ghoul Log” is Halloween’s answer to the Christmas Yule Log: a 24/7 streaming jack-o’-lantern providing the perfect ambiance for all your Halloween festivities. Fan favorites The Ghoul Log and Return of the Ghoul Log are back, along with a spooky new edition for 2021 premiering October 1.
Shudder’s Halloween Hotline – 2021 Edition
Every Friday in October from 3-4 pm ET, members are invited to call Samuel Zimmerman, Shudder’s head of programming, to discuss all things horror: from their favorite genre films of all time to the most highly-anticipated horror releases of the year. From those conversations, Sam will then use his horror expertise to offer customized viewing recommendations from Shudder’s expansive film collection.
Fans can call Sam at 914-481-2239 during Hotline Hours. (No calls will go through outside those hours.)
**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.**
Leaving Shudder
As far as what is leaving Shudder in September we only have two that we know. UK subscribers will need to catch Intruder and M.F.A. while they still can before September 8th.
Coming to Shudder CA in September
A lot arrives in September for Canadian streamers, but the highlight is a mostly complete collection of the Phantasm movies, including the original, three, four, and the most recent chapter, Ravager.
Originals and exclusives will be marked with bold text. All dates are presented regionally.
9/1
Carrie
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Lifeforce
9/2
Superhost
9/6
Resolution
9/7
Jug Face
They Look Like People
9/9
Martyrs Lane
9/13
The Guest
#Like
Ms. 45
Silent Hill
9/14
The Columnist
The House of The Devil
Kriya
The Stuff
Woe
9/20
The Devil’s Rain
Extraordinary Tales
Pan’s Labyrinth
Snowpiercer
9/21
13 Cameras
Creepshow 2
Stitches
9/23
Creepshow Ep. 301
9/27
Phantasm
Phantasm III
Phantasm IV
Phantasm Ravager
9/29
Seance
9/30
Creepshow Ep. 302
Coming to Shudder US in September
The US is fortunate enough to enjoy the Hammer House of Horror this month. It is a classic anthology series of British horror and well worth spending a few hours on.
Originals and exclusives will be marked with bold text. All dates are presented regionally.
9/1
Carrie
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Lifeforce
The Haunting
Poltergeist
9/2
Superhost
Slasher: Flesh & Blood Ep. 5
9/6
Grave Encounters
Grave Encounters 2
Resolution
9/7
Jug Face
They Look Like People
9/9
Martyrs Lane
Slasher: Flesh & Blood Ep. 6
9/13
#Like
Ms. 45
9/14
The Columnist
The House of The Devil
Kriya
The Stuff
Woe
9/16
Slasher: Flesh & Blood Eps. 7 & 8
9/20
Hammer House of Horror (Series)
The Devil’s Rain
Extraordinary Tales
9/21
13 Cameras
Creepshow 2
Stitches
9/23
Creepshow Ep. 301
9/27
Phantasm
Phantasm III
Phantasm IV
Phantasm Ravager
9/29
Seance
9/30
Creepshow Ep. 302
Coming to Shudder UK in September
Horror fans in the UK get quite a collection of content this month. We suggest checking out the Shudder Original Superhost.
Originals and exclusives will be marked with bold text. All dates are presented regionally.
1/9
Anna and the Apocalypse
The Stuff
2/9
Superhost
Slasher: Flesh & Blood Ep. 5
6/9
Ben
Willard
Every Time I Die
The Lesson
Splinter
Sword of God
9/9
Martyrs Lane
Slasher; Flesh & Blood Ep. 6
13/9
Lawnmower Man
Lawnmower Man 2
The Prey
14/9
Kriya
16/9
Slasher: Flesh & Blood Eps. 7 & 8
21/9
Creepshow 2
23/9
Creepshow Ep. 301
27/9
Phantasm
Phantasm II
Phantasm III
Phantasm IV
Phantasm Ravager
Level 16
Mercy Black
29/9
Seance
30/9
Creepshow Ep. 302
Coming to Shudder ANZ in September
Streamers from Australia and New Zealand should check out Possessor this month.
Originals and exclusives will be marked with bold text. All dates are presented regionally.
2/9
Superhost
Slasher: Flesh & Blood Ep. 5
3/9
Possessor
7/9
Ben
Willard
9/9
Martyrs Lane
Slasher: Flesh & Blood Ep. 6
14/9
Lawnmower Man
Lawnmower Man 2
15/9
Kriya
16/9
Slasher: Flesh & Blood Eps. 7 & 8
23/9
Creepshow Ep. 301
29/9
Seance
30/9
Creepshow Ep. 302
That seems to be everything for now. Keep following Haunted MTL for Shudder news as we get updates. Let’s enjoy the next 61 days of Halloween together, shall we?
We’ve reached the penultimate episode of Original Sin. This season has been a bloody delight so far, but of course, the endings usually ruin anything related to Dexter.
See the original series ending, book series ending and New Blood ending.
But so far this ending has been good. Let’s discuss.
The story
We begin this episode with the whole force worrying over Bobby, Harry’s partner. They decide to have a blood drive, which is a really good way to respond to a tragedy.
In a flashback scene, we see that Harry and Doris took in both boys. Doris is, by the way, a living saint. She takes these two boys into her home and heart. Until that is, Brian almost kills Deborah.
Not for the last time.
Meanwhile Dexter is planning to take out Captain Spencer. The only problem is that, through a series of rather heartwarming events, he’s given blood twice on the same day. So when it comes time for the kill he isn’t at his best.
Even so, Dex almost makes the kill. The only problem is that Nicky is still alive. And Dexter, proving again that he is a strange and gentle monster, cares more about saving the son than killing the father.
What worked
I first want to shine some well-deserved light on the casting in this series one last time. Because Roby Attal, who played Brian, did a fantastic job. He looks very much like Christian Camargo, who played Brian in the original series. But of course, the important thing is the facial and body language. He smiles like Brian, moves like Brian. And, of course, kills like Brian. He was the perfect choice.
I also really enjoyed the scenes between Dexter and Captain Spencer. They were well done and emotional. I loved the passion and anger in Dexter’s voice when he confronted Spencer. I loved Dex playing a video game and putting in Nicky’s initials. And I really loved Dex stabbing Spencer with a hypodermic needle through his hand and into his neck. It was well-written, well acted and cathartic.
Now, in the interest of fairness, I owe Sarah Michelle Gellar an apology. Because she was great in this episode. Her character, Tanya, was passionate and perfectly well-acted. Best of all, she looked her age.
And she looked beautiful.
So often in media women’s ages are hidden like dirty secrets. Even more so when she was popular in her youth. So to see her look her age, look haggard and tired, was fantastic.
What didn’t work
All of that being said, this was not a perfect episode. The worst thing, in my opinion, was that we found out why Captain Spencer abducted his son. Why he killed an innocent boy. Why he kidnapped these boys and tortured them for days before he killed them. And why he slaughtered an entire houseful of people.
I have no intention of spoiling the reveal for you. But when you watch it, I’m sure you’ll share in my disgust. I was expecting some deep dark secret, maybe some sort of corruption or betrayal.
But that’s not it. And the reason he had doesn’t make sense. Why torture these boys with his intention was, well, what it was?
I have some hope that this reveal was false. After all, all we have is the word of a man plastic wrapped to a table. I guess we’ll have to wait until the next episode to find out.
Finally, I do want to point out one thing that is a little disappointing about the series as a whole.
It’s kind of hard for there to be a lot of suspense for the coming episode. We already know that nothing very bad can happen to our dear demented Dexter. He will not be caught. He will not go to jail. He will not die. Neither will Deb, Brian, or any of the other beloved characters from the original series. So much of the tension we might have felt just isn’t there. This is a struggle for a prequel series and one that I don’t think this series has done enough to address.
Despite the slight letdown of the killer’s motivation, this was a good episode. It set up the finale with a great cliffhanger and left us with more questions than answers. I’m cautiously optimistic about the last episode of Dexter Original Sin.
(4 / 5)
Good news to my nonbinary pals – we no longer exist!
“But Brannyk,” you may be thinking, “what am I supposed to do now that I am no longer a real being? How shall I spend my days?”
Unfortunately, the government has not released a handbook for this occasion, so I thought we could brainstorm together.
BECOME A GHOST
There are some benefits to being a ghost, for sure.
No rent or insurance payment. No corporate job, no cleaning cat litter, no AT&T trying to sell you another line after repeatedly telling them that you just want to make sure that your autopayment is on, but they’re all like, ‘Why would you pass up such a bargain on a second line? Are you an idiot? Why wouldn’t you need another phone line?‘ and so you have to tell them, “Because I’M DIVORCED, ASSHOLE, THANKS FOR REMINDING ME OF THAT!”
Ahem. I digress.
Yeah, you may not be able to venture out, much like Adam and Barbara in Beetlejuice. You may need to put up with someone else crashing your place and moving around all of your shit. Or Ryan Reynolds trying to sell you Mint Mobile. Or some toxic couple taking your creepy doll that you spent years on trying to possess.
Or, my absolute biggest pet peeve, when you’re practicing for the ghost speed chair-stacking championship and the normies just don’t appreciate your cool skills.
But the advantages are that you get to stay home, watch tv, stack your chairs and hope whoever buys your house/visits your creepy woods/gentrifies your neighborhood is a cool person, too.
(2 / 5)
It’s a good choice, but has a lot of drawbacks.
BECOME A CREATURE
Look, if you’re not going to exist, go big or go home, I’d say.
Monsters are cool. They play by their own rules. Sometimes they cause havoc. Sometimes they come around and help people. Sometimes they work alone. And other times, they have a lot of friends. Sometimes they just need some affirmation. And sometimes they’re…in high school, apparently?
The cool thing is that they come in all shapes and sizes.
Monsters are generally misunderstood. Some have their fans. Others are hated.
So basically, just like people, except with more tentacles.
The only downsides are that you might be too big or too “ick” for some people (these can also be pluses), you may have a taste for human flesh (no judgement), or the biggest issue – there are too many choices.
You could get stuck trying to figure out what kind of monster you are. If you’re not into labels, it’s an absolute nightmare. Or if you’re like me, it’ll be like standing in Subway for 15 minutes trying to figure out what toppings and dressings you want while the “sandwich artist” is openly judging you.
(4 / 5)
I like the customization, but it can be a bit too overwhelming.
BECOME A CRYPTID
Hear me out. I know it seems a lot like the monster category, but it’s not quite.
Cryptids are weird and mysterious. They keep to themselves. They have people who are fascinated by them and post on Reddit about them. Some have people making documentaries about them.
They’re like monsters’ quieter cousin who reads books in the corner at family gatherings. They collect shiny things they find by the side of the road. Sometimes they’ll steal a peanut butter sandwich or two.
Ever so often, they might scare a human just by existing or by politely asking for their stuff back.
Each one kinda has their own goals and priorities. Their own hangouts and interests. But unlike monsters, they’re not looking to rock any boats-
Never mind, I stand corrected.
(5 / 5)
I like the freedoms of being a cryptid and also dig the cottage-core vibe I get from them.
CONCLUSION: LET’S BE REAL FOR A SECOND…
I know it’s hard right now. It’s going to be hard. You may not exist to some assholes, but you are real. You have real feelings and thoughts and dreams. You have a real future. You have real decisions. Real actions that affect this world.
You have the real ability to wake up tomorrow and choose to exist. And for whatever reason you choose. Use it. Ghosts and monsters and cryptids are powerful, just like you are, even when you don’t feel like it. They have a place in our human world, just like you do. You make this world interesting and important.
You are part of this world, you are real, and you are not alone.
The horror community is one of acceptance, diversity, creativity and passion. In these times, it needs to be. We need to rely on each other. We need to cultivate and protect each other, as much as we need to protect ourselves.
And it looks like I’ll be coming out of my own cryptid hovel I’ve spent the past few years in to remind you that. My job isn’t done. Not by a longshot. And neither is yours.
You exist to me. Today, tomorrow, and forever.
Be safe out there, friends.
Breaking News
Joe Bob’s Christmas Carnage: A Bloody Good Holiday Special Fri. December 13th – 9pm ET!
