Shudder is #killingIt and pushing the boundaries of what we call horror.
I signed up for Shudder almost two years ago when they were just starting out. Their site design immediately said, "made by horror fans for horror fans" and the line-up of movie offerings were everything I was missing from Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. Although the site was in its infancy, and the streaming back then wasn't consistent in quality, while others complained I hung in there. I knew Shudder might really have something. I'm happy to say I wasn't wrong. They quickly made the smart move of positioning themselves under the umbrella of AMC, which gave them the money for consistent streaming quality, current content, and most importantly, original series. (*A word on original series and its importance in another post.)
Above: Giving a whole new meaning to "trapped in the closet" - Katherine Parkinson is forced, with the rest of the cast, into a wardrobe containing
a horrible secret.
Today's short post is my pick this week for what to see on Shudder. I remember back in 2000, League of Gentleman was airing on BBC America. I never really got into that show, but this effort by the writers/stars of League is well worth your time, especially for those who are looking to expand their definition of the genre. World weary and dark with a sharp wry wit, it somehow all adds up to horror. I've noticed that now more than ever we are seeing an emerging trend of "every day horror.” It's the horror of the things we do to ourselves and to each other. American Horror Story may have been the show to really put this style on the map, but the Brits have thrown in their signature style of dark humor with this weekly anthology. If you follow British comedy of the past fifteen years, the guest spots by actors like Katherine Parkinson, The IT Crowd, and Tamsin Greig, Blacks Books will have you gasping with fan joy.
Above: Tamsin Greig guest stars in an episode about a dying girl's wish gone inhumanly wrong when the adults in her life quickly turn cold-bloodedly greedy. A prime example of why this show has been compared to Black Mirror.
I've always said that horror is a very personal genre. What is terrifying for one person does nothing for another. Shudder is expanding its content to reflect the diverse palate of its fans and horror is all the better for it.