THE CREEP TAPES Season 2 on Shudder gives us six new episodes with the wild and crazy adventures of Peachfuzz the serial killer. As a fan of horror-comedy, this is my jam, and I hope for many more seasons. Read our review of The Creep Tapes S2 here!

THE CREEP TAPES Season 2 is coming to Shudder, and if you enjoyed the first season, you should like this second season as well. Mark Duplass as Peachfuzz is an absolute treat for fans of horror-comedy, and I love that he even goes after people in a Dexter-style.

To me, the Creep universe has always been a perfect example of how to do the whole found footage mockumentary hybrid genre perfectly. With weekly releases on Fridays, they’re the perfect little genre snack on Shudder.

Continue reading our The Creep Tapes S2 review here. Start watching on Shudder from November 14, 2025.

The six new episodes of Creep Tapes season 2

With season 2 of The Creep Tapes, you will be treated to all kinds of horror pop culture references. And even another family member, who was an absolute highlight of Season 1, where we met his mom. This season 2 episode is an equally crazy treat!

These are the season 2 episodes you can look forward to, and they’re still named after the guest character (often the victim) of the episode.

Joseph

“Joseph” is Episode 201: It premieres Friday, November 14, on Shudder and AMC+

Plot: A copycat killer (David Dastmalchian) going by the name of “Joseph” meets his match.

Wes

“Wes” is Episode 202: Premiering on Friday, November 21, on Shudder and AMC+

Plot: Wes (Diego Josef) takes a job shooting a TV pilot for a house-flipping show hosted by a bizarre man.

Mark

“Mark” is Episode 203: Watch from Friday, November 28, on Shudder and AMC+

Plot: Mark (Robert Longstreet) wakes up chained to another man in a dilapidated room and is forced to solve a series of puzzles.

A wonderful SAW reference episode that horror fans should enjoy much more than Peachfuzz does due to his victim not being a good “contestant”.

Ava

“Ava” is Episode 204: It premieres Friday, December 5, on Shudder and AMC+

Plot: Ava (Taylor Garron) has been hired to make a salacious documentary, but is foiled by her deeply uncomfortable subject.

Nick

“Nick” is Episode 205: Premiering Friday, December 12, on Shudder and AMC+

Plot: Nick (Timm Sharp) is confronted by his therapist’s increasingly odd behavior and alternative treatment suggestions during an emergency therapy session on Christmas Eve.

Angela

“Angela” is Episode 206: Premieres Friday, December 19, on Shudder and AMC+

Plot: Joseph AKA Peachfuzz is visiting an estranged family member (Katie Aselton), and it all goes haywire. The family resemblance is both uncanny and differs wildly.

Fun fact: Katie Aselton has been married to Mark Duplass since 2006, which explains their deliciously twisted chemistry and obvious joy in portraying these crazy characters.

Watch Season 2 of The Creep Tapes on Shudder and AMC+

The second season of The Creep Tapes still comes from creators Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice. Fortunately, we have many more tapes to check out in the vast collection in the secret vault of Peachfuzz.

We all know that he is probably the world’s deadliest serial killer. He is certainly the most socially uncomfortable serial killer. However, he is also amazing at blending in by standing out. So much so that even facing the police won’t deter him.

These six new episodes of The Creep Tapes season 2 are as wild, crazy, funny, and creative as season 1. If you have liked any of the previously wild adventures of Peachfuzz, then check out these episodes as they’re released on Shudder and AMC+.

Enjoy the wild ride – I know I did!

The Creep Tapes S2 begins on Shudder & AMC+ on November 14, 2025.

Plot

The Creep Tapes continues to expose a collection of video tapes from the secret vault of the world’s deadliest and most socially uncomfortable serial killer (Duplass). Unfortunately, as the tape rolls, the killer’s questionable intentions surface with his increasingly odd behavior and the victims will learn they may have made a deadly mistake. 

SEW TORN on Shudder is a new thriller with a darkly comedic twist and an absolutely fascinating way to tell a story. It’s a sort of “choose your own adventure,” where we see three different outcomes for our protagonist. Read our full Sew Torn movie review here!

SEW TORN is a new Shudder Comedy-Thriller that turned out to be a real delight to watch. It’s difficult to explain exactly why this movie works so well, but it’s obviously the combination of the plot, its execution, and the actors bringing it all together.

This is mostly a thriller, but that darkly comedic element also plays a huge role. The cast is fairly small, and we see three different outcomes play out, so only our protagonist plays a lead role in all three. The remaining characters never last quite as long.

Continue reading our Sew Torn movie review below. Find it on Shudder from November 1, 2025.

Choices and their consequences

Barbara Duggen (Eve Connelly) is “The Mobile Seamstress,” and she is struggling to keep her shop open. It’s a fabric shop that offers a very specific product, as well as being just a “regular” seamstress.

I’ll let you discover her unique product for yourself. I’m just saying, she would be a huge hit on Etsy, but the world in Sew Torn isn’t really set in our world as we know it.

Anyway, after a sewing appointment (for a particular awful client) goes sideways, Barbara needs to go back to the shop to replace a lost button. This is what will set her on the path of disaster.

On the drive back, Barbara stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad. Real bad. Drugs, guns, two injured men, and a very interesting-looking suitcase are all elements of the scene.

Barbara finds herself torn as she contemplates her options: commit the perfect crime, call the police, or drive away. All three choices have consequences, and we’re about to learn what those consequences are.

A magician with a needle and thread

As Sew Torn progresses, we will see the consequences and repercussions of all three decisions. Not least the deadly confrontations that each choice will inevitably result in.

However, what no one was counting on was just how much of a magician with a needle and thread Barbara is. Sure, she’s called The Mobile Seamstress, but it turns out she’s much more of an actual MacGyver.

Watching her use thread to get herself out of the craziest situations is simply brilliant. Both in terms of storytelling and for entertainment purposes. You find yourself trying to figure out what she’s getting at and absolutely rooting for her.

Eve Connelly (The Other Lamb) is perfect as Barbara Duggen. She’s such a peculiar character, but full of heart and an absolutely brilliant problem solver. Supporting Eve Connelly in the cast are John Lynch (The Watchers), Colum Worthy (Pieces of Her), Thomas Douglas, and K Callan.

Constantly getting in the way of our main protagonist is Caroline Goodall’s character. Werner Biermeier’s Melvin doesn’t try to create trouble… but he still might.

Watch Sew Torn on Shudder

Sew Torn was directed by Freddy Macdonald, who also wrote the screenplay with Fred Macdonald. And no, that’s not a mistake, Fred and Freddy Macdonald are two different people.

This is the feature film debut of Freddy Macdonald, and it’s based on his own short film from 2019. Fortunately, he has quite a lot of short films on his IMDb resume, so I’m hoping he can crank out another feature film version of a few more.

Also, I have to mention that I loved the somewhat strange world-building of having it play out in Switzerland, but people speak English with various dialects. A gorgeous backdrop, perfect for the story, but with none of the issues of making a “foreign” (as in “not in English”) film.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of following a protagonist actively living her choices in a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style, then check out Sew Torn.

Sew Torn begins streaming on Shudder on November 1, 2025.

Details

Director: Freddy Macdonald
Writers: Fred Macdonald, Freddy Macdonald
Stars: Eve Connolly, Calum Worthy, John Lynch, K Callan, Caroline Goodall, Werner Biermeier

Plot

A seamstress gets tangled in her own thread after stealing a briefcase from a drug deal gone bad. In an escalating game of cat and mouse, her different choices lead to drastically different outcomes along the way.

📺 Watch trailer

HELL HOUSE LLC: LINEAGE on Shudder is the latest in the HELL HOUSE LLC franchise and the first one that isn’t found footage. I don’t mind that fact, if the story or vibe was good, but it just isn’t. Read our full Hell House LLC: Lineage movie review here!

HELL HOUSE LLC: LINEAGE is a new Shudder horror movie. If the title seems familiar, it’s because there are a lot of movies that begin with Hell House LLC due to it being a franchise. I would say that it’s a found footage horror movie franchise, because it has been so far.

YOU MIGHT LIKE…

Our review of the previous Hell House LLC installation on Shudder >

However, that stops with this one, which is shot like a straight-up horror movie, but in the same universe and even with repeat characters. Just like I don’t mind remakes by default, I can’t blame a filmmaker for wanting to try something new within the franchise they’ve created. It just doesn’t do much good here.

Continue reading our Hell House LLC: Lineage movie review below. Find it on Shudder from October 30, 2025.

Discover the origin of Hell House LLC

The tagline of Hell House LLC: Lineage is “A blood bond rooted in evil, ” which (along with the full title) gives us an idea of how some familial bond will come into play in this story. Before we get to this, we follow Vanessa Shepherd (Elizabeth Vermilyea), who is struggling after a near-death experience years earlier.

Vanessa is haunted by visions and tormented by recurring nightmares, but still finds herself living in the town of Abaddon, which has a strange hold on her.

KEEP UP WITH HELL HOUSE LLC

The second movie in this franchise was titled Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel. The character of Vanessa was in the third movie titled Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire.

In any case, we’re following Vanessa’s struggles, which are about to get a whole lot worse. Soon, people around her begin to die. As she tries to discover how it’s all connected to her, she must confront the terrifying truth.

Especially her own connection to the Abaddon Hotel, the Carmichael Manor, and the decade-long mysterious murders. Sure, this all sounds intriguing enough, and the story isn’t bad as such. The execution, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired, and it gets in the way of the story.

If there’s one thing you can get away with in a found footage movie, it’s lingering shots. After all, the concept of found footage is that something has been recorded, and that’s what we get to see. Slow and strange as it may be.

Once you lose the found footage element, you ought to also tighten up on those lingering shots.

Does Hell House LLC work without found footage?

With Hell House LLC: Lineage shaking it up and making the shift from found footage to classic horror movie, it begs the question: Does the found footage horror movie franchise still work without the found footage element?

Well, first, I have to say that I have absolutely no problem with this change in style. As a rule, I mean. Just like I’m okay with remakes, sequels, and requels. My only demand is that it should only be done if the story can handle it.

So, is Hell House LLC: Lineage as good as the previous movies in the franchise?!

Well, that’s a loaded question, as they have differed quite a bit in quality already. And as someone who liked the first one from 2016 for what it managed on a minimal budget, I don’t think this latest Lineage installation lives up to that.

Watch Hell House LLC: Lineage on Shudder

Stephen Cognetti is the writer and director of Hell House LLC: Lineage, just as he has been the director of the previous four movies in the franchise. Just before this latest, and non-found footage installation, he also directed the Shudder horror movie 825 Forest Road (2025), which you’ll want to check out as well.

For me, this is the weakest of the franchise, but mostly because I felt it had lost some of the nerve it otherwise excelled at. Sure, those creepy clowns are still creepy, but seeing them in this different light didn’t do much good for me.

Also, the ending of Hell House LLC: Lineage felt like a let-down. I won’t go into the how and why of it (to avoid spoilers), but it just didn’t reach the creepiness of previous movies. Much of it also felt strangely choppy, and it suffered from the earlier-mentioned “lingering shots syndrome“.

Hell House LLC: Lineage is on Shudder from October 30, 2025.

Details

Director/Writer: Stephen Cognetti
Cast: Elizabeth Vermilyea, Searra Sawka, Mike Sutton, Joe Bandelli, Cayla Berejikian, Victoria Andrunik, Gideon Berger

Plot

After a near-death experience, Vanessa Shepherd faces nightmares in Abaddon. As mysterious deaths occur around her, she discovers her connection to the Abaddon Hotel, Carmichael Manor, and decades of unexplained murders.

OTHER on Shudder is a new horror movie starring Olga Kurylenko. In fact, while other people are in the movie, you won’t see their faces. This movie was surprising in so many deliciously creepy ways, and absolutely brilliant. Read our full Other movie review here!

OTHER is a new Shudder Original horror movie, and what a movie it is. I had no real expectations outside a solid horror movie, as I’ve come to expect a certain level from Shudder Original. Well, this one did not disappoint either.

Quite the opposite!

NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH…

The horror movie The Other (2025) >

Before it even truly began, I was surprised to see that Disney+ was credited as a producer as well. I can only guess this means it will be released on Disney+ in countries that still can’t get Shudder. Well, wherever you can watch this, make sure you do!

Continue reading our Other movie review below. Find it on Shudder from October 17, 2025.

The face in focus is Alice

I loved how we only get to see the face of Alice (Olga Kurylenko) for almost the entire runtime of this movie. At first, you don’t notice it, but then it becomes obvious as everyone else has their face obscured in some way.

Either by choice, coincidence, or accident. If you want your horror movie-watching audience to root for someone, just make sure she’s the one who gets all the focus.

We follow the character of Alice when she returns to her childhood home. She hasn’t been there since she left as a teenager. Also, she has had no contact with her mother, who was found dead on her property recently.

That’s why the police call Alice: Both to inform her of her mother’s passing and because she’s the only heir. However, there’s something very strange about this house. Well, many things actually.

Avoid spoilers and enjoy the awesome ending

You really shouldn’t know too much about Other before watching this movie. This needs no further introduction. Just go on this journey alongside Alice as she discovers her childhood home is now rigged with surveillance and tracking devices.

Olga Kurylenko (Extraction 2, Thunderbolts*, Mara) is perfectly cast as Alice for several reasons. Again, not to be revealed here, though her origin does come into play in a roundabout way.

Throughout the movie, there is a sinister presence, but it’s difficult to determine whether it’s the memories of Alice’s childhood or something else. I will give you this: Other is not a supernatural or paranormal horror movie.

It’s much more brutal than that!

Watch Other on Shudder as soon as you can

Other comes from writer-director David Moreau, who was joined by Jon Goldman in writing the movie. This is the feature film debut for Jon Goldman as a writer. However, David Moreau is a name I am quite familiar with.

Not only did he direct a one-shot horror movie that we gave a top rating last year, but he also directed Them from 2006. A movie that essentially gave me my ScreamQueen nickname because I screamed so much during the first jump scare of the movie!

MORE SHUDDER HORROR STARRING OLGA KURYLENKO

Check out The Room on Shudder… even if it isn’t as good as this one >

This new Shudder Original Horror movie is one of those rare surprises that remind you why you loved genre movies. Well, it was for me anyway, and I hadn’t even noticed who the director was. I just knew it was a Shudder movie starring Olga Kurylenko.

See, sometimes it’s better not to know too much and just let the movie do the talking. That’s something David Moreau excels at, and with this 2025 Other, he once again hit my horror sweet spot.

OTHER will start streaming on Shudder on October 17, 2025. Via Shudder, it will be available in the US, CA, AU, NZ, and UKI. I hope and expect that with Disney+ producing, it will mean a release on their platform soon as well.

Details

Director: David Moreau
Cast: Olga Kurylenko, Jean Schatz, Lola Bonaventure, Jacqueline Ghaye, Anne-Pascale Clairembourg, Julie Maes, and Philip Schurer

Plot

Alice returns to her childhood home after her mother’s death, only to find the house is rigged with surveillance tracking her every move, as a sinister presence lurks, driving her towards a terrifying revelation.

V/H/S/HALLOWEEN on Shudder is the latest installment of the found footage horror anthology. This time, it takes place on Halloween and features some truly amazing segments. Be sure to check it out during Spooky Season. Read our full V/H/S/Halloween review here!

V/H/S/HALLOWEEN is a new Shudder horror anthology in the V/H/S found footage anthology. This time, the release is perfectly timed for Spooky Season, and it takes place during Halloween.

WANT MORE FROM THE V/H/S?

Check out our review of the previous release in the franchise here >

As always, there are some segments I like better than others, but the quality overall is impressive. Even though I wasn’t crazy about the wrap-around segment, it was still entertaining.

Continue reading our V/H/S/Halloween review below. Find it on Shudder from October 3, 2025.

Finally, a Halloween installment of V/H/S

As soon as I heard this new V/H/S installment of the franchise would take place on Halloween, I found myself wondering why it didn’t happen sooner. I mean, this is the 8th movie in the V/H/S franchise.

Also, this is one of the best V/H/S installments in my book. Of course, that’s why I’m particularly fascinated with the idea of why it took them so long.

Also, Trick ‘r Treat (the 2007 Halloween-themed horror anthology from Michael Dougherty) is a must-watch during spooky season for me. Maybe that’s why I felt making a Halloween version of V/H/S was long overdue.

Then again, I didn’t really think about it until I watched this… and loved it!

A new Shudder Halloween tradition? I hope so!

A yearly V/H/S/Halloween could easily be a new Shudder tradition. In fact, I truly hope it will be. Especially, if the overall quality is as impressive as with this one.

Again, the segments do differ quite a lot in style and tone, so surely everyone will have some they prefer over others, but I never found myself losing interest. That in and of itself is no small feat with a horror anthology.

Watch V/H/S/Halloween on Shudder

With this Halloween installment of the V/H/S horror anthology, we’re getting some very diverse segments – or horror short films, if you will.

This 8th installment of the V/H/S franchise gives us a collection of Halloween-themed videotapes that feature varied twisted, blood-soaked tales. In short, trick-or-treat is turned into various struggles for survival.

The horror anthology features a wrap-around segment and five Halloween-themed short films. Below are the titles and directors of each:

• DIET PHANTASMA directed by Bryan M. Ferguson (wrap-around)
• FUN SIZE directed by Casper Kelly
• HOME HAUNT directed by Micheline Pitt-Norman and R.H. Norman
• KIDPRINT directed by Alex Ross Perry
• UT SUPRA SIC INFRA directed by Paco Plaza
• COOCHIE COOCHIE COO directed by Anna Zlokovic

Just like the iconic Trick ‘r Treat Halloween horror anthology from 2007, this V/H/S/Halloween installment has a little something for most horror fans. Not least delicious horror references and lots of practical effects.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a V/H/S/Halloween sequel to be greenlit for a 2026 release. Also, plenty of other holiday-themed installments are up for grabs. From Christmas to Valentine’s Day. Just sayin’.

V/H/S/Halloween is Streaming Exclusively on Shudder from October 3, 2025.

Plot

A collection of Halloween-themed videotapes unleashes a series of twisted, blood-soaked tales, turning trick-or-treat into a struggle for survival.

NIGHT OF THE REAPER on Shudder is a new horror slasher with a retro vibe, a battle for survival, and even a delicious revenge plot. In other words, this one is a true slasher gem. Read our full Night of the Reaper movie review here!

NIGHT OF THE REAPER is a new Shudder horror movie made in the classic slasher vein. Even the title almost gives as much away. Fortunately, the content of the movie also lives up to the title.

Before I get any further, I want to highlight that it has already won the Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2025 “Scariest Feature Film” award. Also, this is a Shudder Original. They know horror fans, so expect plenty of fan service… done right.

Continue reading our Night of the Reaper movie review below. Find it on Shudder from September 19, 2025.

The Golden Age of Slasher

To get the slasher vibe just right, Night of the Reaper is set in a 1980s suburb. You know the kind: Everyone knows their neighbor and the sheriff, and a girl home from college is taking on a last-minute babysitting job.

However, the movie actually starts before this event as another murder sets things into motion. It results in everyone being a little more on edge, and with this being Halloween season, there are echoes of the iconic Halloween franchise.

In any case, Deena (Jessica Clement) is the college student who has returned home and is now spending her night babysitting the sheriff’s cute son. Before long, someone keeps calling the house, and something goes bump in the night.

Oh yes, the iconic horror movie When a Stranger Calls (1979) is another good reference for this Shudder Original.

A mystery of survival and revenge

I don’t want to do spoilers for Night of the Reaper in any way, so I won’t. However, I will say that you may guess a few twists and turns along the way. I know I did, and this Shudder slasher was still a fun watch.

The horror slasher plays out as a mystery, which begins when the local sheriff (Ryan Robbins) receives a cryptic package. This turns out to be just the first package of the night, which will turn into a sick form of scavenger hunt.

Ultimately, this is a deliciously retro-styled slasher, where a mystery unravels as survival and revenge merge. It’s a lot of fun and should please most genre fans!

Also, having Jessica Clement (amazing in season 2 of Gen V) in the lead as Deena is absolutely perfect. Also in Night of the Reaper are Max Christensen, Ben Cockell, Matty Finochio, Keegan Connor Tracy, and Summer H. Howell.

You’ll want to remember the name Summer H. Howell. She will be playing Carrie White in Mike Flanagan‘s upcoming Prime Video horror series. Yes, as in the one based on Stephen King‘s iconic horror novel Carrie.

Watch Night of the Reaper on Shudder now

The director of Night of the Reaper is horror director Brandon Christensen. Full disclosure: I have yet to watch anything by Brandon Christensen (Superhost, Still/Born) that I didn’t at least enjoy to some degree.

Actually, sorry, that’s selling this horror director short. I am always happy to watch and review movies made by him. They are always made with a passion for the genre and an honest desire to make entertaining horror movies.

For this movie, Brandon Christensen also co-wrote the screenplay with Ryan Christensen (Shudder Original The Puppetman). The runtime is 93 minutes, which works perfectly for a retro-styled slasher movie. Enjoy!

Night of the Reaper is out on Shudder from September 19, 2025.

Details

Director: Brandon Christensen
Written by: Brandon Christensen and Ryan Christensen
Cast: Jessica Clement, Ryan Robbins, Summer H. Howell, Keegan Connor Tracy, Matty Finochio, Max Christensen, Ben Cockell, David Feehan

Plot

In the heart of a quiet, 1980s suburb, college student Deena returns home and reluctantly takes on a last-minute babysitting job. That same night, the local sheriff receives a cryptic package that pulls him into a sinister scavenger hunt that sets off a game of cat and mouse with a dangerous killer. As the clues unravel, Deena finds herself ensnared in a nightmarish mystery that she may not survive.

THE TWIN on Shudder is a new psychological horror movie about grief, and with a folklore plot working in the background. It’s a very sad and scary movie that could have been a bit shorter, but it still works overall. Read our full The Twin horror movie review here!

THE TWIN is a new horror movie on Shudder. While this may sound like just a classic paranormal horror movie, it has the added layer of being a story about grief. We’ve come across quite a few of those recently, and (due to personal circumstances) they hit hard.

ALSO READ

Our review of the 2022 Shudder horror movie The Twin >

This horror movie is equal parts psychological horror and supernatural folklore horror, which means it should be entertaining for most. It is quite sad due to the traumatic loss that sets everything off in the plot, but ultimately, it’s more like a sinister horror movie.

Continue reading our The Twin (2025) horror movie review below. Find it on Shudder from August 29, 2025.

From one loss to the next

When The Twin opens, it’s with a man living his best life. He’s working from home as an artist (painting) while taking care of his son, and his wife works outside the home and has a good career.

One day, a tragic accident happens, and their son, Jacob (Tripp Toupal), dies in an instant. It’s a pain that tears apart the married couple, so it’s one loss on top of the next. Though, to be fair, the man, Nicholas (Logan Donovan), is the first to give up.

His wife, Charlie (Aleksa Palladino), wants him to first and foremost get better and take care of himself. If he can find his way back, she’s not against giving them a chance again, but for the time being, she needs distance.

To help make sure Nicolas is safe, psychiatrist Dr. Beaumont (Robert Longstreet) visits him every day to talk about the future and whatever makes him happy or sad on any given day.

When grief takes hold

For Nicholas, there seems to be only darkness for a while. He blames himself for the death of their little boy, and this is only made worse by terrifying visions of a shadowy figure. A figure that looks eerily like himself.

And also, a figure that blames him for the death of little Jacob. It’s pure torture, and it’s happening in a house where Nicholas also experienced darkness as a child. Something he is reminded of by both a neighbor and a book that suddenly appears.

It has a story about the “Fetch” (a sinister copy of oneself), which appears to be taking hold of Nicholas. If he is to have any chance of fighting back, he must confront his past (both from when he was a child and more recently losing his child).

If he doesn’t, this supernatural force could consume him completely. Much like grief has been consuming him already.

Watch The Twin (2025) on Shudder

The Twin comes from director J.C. Doler, who appears to be getting his feature film debut here. He previously worked on several short films and even an episode of Bloody Bites. Plus, he has edited a lot of movies in the past – including Cabin Girl (2023).

J.C. Doler also co-wrote The Twin with Paul Petersen (writer and star of A Chance Encounter), and despite feeling it could’ve been a little shorter, I liked the overall plot and storytelling of this horror movie.

Previously, The Twin was titled “The Fetch”, like the evil entity trying to take over someone grieving. Instead, the concept of The Fetch is now a part of the plot, while the title became the more generic “The Twin”. A shame, but I can imagine it was a decision that was battled over.

The Twin is streaming on Shudder from August 29, 2025.

Details

Director: J.C. Doler
Writers: Paul Petersen, J.C. Doler
Stars: Logan Donovan, Aleksa Palladino, Robert Longstreet, Shannon Cochran, Tripp Toupal

Plot

After the tragic loss of his son, Nicholas (Logan Donovan) struggles with his grief and a strained relationship with his wife Charlie (Aleksa Palladino). Under the watch of psychiatrist Dr. Beaumont (Robert Longstreet), Nicholas begins experiencing terrifying visions of a shadowy figure that looks like himself. As reality unravels, Nicholas must confront his past and the supernatural force haunting him before it consumes him completely.

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD on Shudder is a new horror movie where the core plot is in the title. It’s as fun and wild as you’d expect. I had a blast watching this and enjoying it for exactly what it offers. Read our full Clown in a Cornfield movie review here!

CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD is coming to Shudder, and if you didn’t catch the horror slasher in movie theaters, then now’s your chance. And if you’ve already watched it, you can have fun with a rewatch. While I don’t expect to watch this on a yearly basis, I could certainly watch it again.

The plot is as simple as the title, and I, for one, enjoyed that this isn’t a supernatural story, but rather a very simple, straightforward horror slasher. This kind of movie, where characters act like you’d expect, is just the kind of entertainment I want for a fun night.

Continue reading our Clown in a Cornfield movie review below. Find it on Shudder from August 8, 2025.

Welcome to Kettle Springs 1990-ish

Kettle Springs is a small and quiet town that seems to be stuck in the 1990s. Clown in a Cornfield also begins in 1991, where we see a murderous clown killing teens in a cornfield. Yeah, the title really does describe the plot very well if you add the word “kills”.

We follow Quinn (Katie Douglas) and her dad (Aaron Abrams) as they arrive in Kettle Springs, where he has taken a job as the doctor of the small town. Both are hoping for a fresh start, but this community clearly has a lot of issues.

Mostly, the adults aren’t too fond of the teenagers. I’m generalising, of course, but for many of the adults, it really is that simple. They don’t “get” the kids today (just like it’s been the case for generations), and tensions reach a boiling point on the traditional Founder’s Day of the town.

Meet Frendo the Clown

The town of Kettle Springs has exactly one claim to fame: Baypen Corn Syrup. The factory producing their main export of corn syrup burned down fairly recently, and the adults blame kids partying and making videos in the factory.

However, there have been stories of the Baypen Corn Syrup mascot, “Frendo the Clown”, for decades. When Frendo the clown comes out to play, it usually ends in murder. The kind of violent and bloody deaths that are perfect for a horror slasher.

Also, before we get that far, we get to know the characters, which means that, for once, we do care just a little bit about these “kids” before many of them will meet Frendo.

Katie Douglas (Lazareth, Level 16) has exactly the right kind of attitude for the character of Quinn. She’s a loving daughter (and Aaron Abrams plays a wonderful father), but also seeks independence, and those two elements can co-exist.

In other key roles, we see Carson MacCormac (Locke & Key), Vincent Muller (Smoke), and Verity Marks (Elevator Game) as some of the teens. Also, you’ll see Will Sasso (Boss Level) and Kevin Durand (Abigail) among the adults.

Watch Clown in a Cornfield on Shudder

Clown in a Cornfield comes from director Eli Craig, who also made one of my favorite horror-comedies: the 2010 movie Tucker & Dale vs. Evil. If you haven’t watched that one, I highly recommend it. In fact, I think it’s high time I give it another rewatch myself.

Also, Eli Craig wrote and directed the 2017 horror-comedy Little Evil, starring Adam Scott and Evangeline Lilly. With Clown in a Cornfield, the script comes from Eli Craig and Carter Blanchard. However, it’s based on the Bram Stoker award-winning novel by Adam Cesare.

I didn’t expect much from Clown in a Cornfield, but knowing that it came from the director of Tucker & Dale vs. Evil did come with an expectation for solid entertainment. And this horror slasher dark comedy definitely delivered on that.

Also, the 96-minute runtime is perfect. The only question that remains is this: When can we expect the sequel? Surely, Eli Craig has an idea for a Clown in a Cornfield 2, so we can keep the fun going.

Clown in a Cornfield begins streaming on Shudder on August 8, 2025.

Details

Director: Eli Craig
Script: Carter Blanchard, Eli Craig 
Cast: Katie Douglas, Carson MacCormac, Aaron Abrams, Will Sasso, Kevin Durand

Plot

A fading midwestern town is terrorized by Frendo the clown, a symbol of bygone success.

MONSTER ISLAND on Shudder is a new Creature Feature with sparse dialogue and a story based on actual Malay folklore. It’s set in the Pacific in 1942 and has glorious practical effects. Read our full Monster Island movie review here!

MONSTER ISLAND is a new Shudder horror movie addition. It’s a multinational production with the original title of Orang Ikan. This is also the name of the creature at the heart of the movie. It’s based on Malay folklore, and as a creature feature, I loved the use of practical effects.

Sure, there is CGI as well, but with a movie taking place in 1942 during WWII, I am fine with some CGI being used for various battle scenes and explosions as well. The runtime is just 1 hour and 23 minutes, but I’m sorry to say it was still a tad too slow for me.

Continue reading our Orang Ikan / Monster Island movie review below. Find it on Shudder from July 25, 2025.

Meet the Orang Ikan

In Monster Island, which I have to say is a dreadfully generic title (though it works), we begin on board a Japanese ship. We’re in the Pacific in 1942, so WWII is only about halfway through. The ship is transporting prisoners of war (mostly British soldiers) to occupied territories for slave labor.

Before they get that far, their ship is torpedoed, and all bets are off. A Japanese soldier and a British POW make it onto the nearby island. Very lucky indeed, as the two had just been handcuffed to one another. The Japanese soldier was clearly out of favor as well.

After arriving on the island, they soon discover that something else lives here as well. It’s a creature the British POW, Bronson, doesn’t know. However, the Japanese soldier, Saito, seems to have an idea of what this ferocious mythological creature could be.

It’s the Orang Ikan. A creature not too different from The Creature of the Black Lagoon or the one from The Shape of Water. In other words, a human-fish hybrid of some sort.

While they are very worried about this creature, they spend virtually no time securing drinking water. Now, I’m no Wilderness Queen, but I’ve watched enough Naked and Afraid to know that you need to make sure you have water to drink.

In Monster Island, this is never an issue, and it bothers me. Especially as these two men are sweating profusely and constantly in the middle of some sort of action. They eat something, but water is never on their mind.

The cruelty of “human nature”

There’s no doubt that I wanted to like Monster Island much more than I actually did. From the practical effects of the creature to the multinational production and the plot based on folklore, this movie had a lot going for it.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t crazy about the characters or the overall storytelling. In fact, I really disliked part of the ending. I know it’s a creature feature (so are the Jurassic Park and Kaiju franchises), but I still don’t like it when we humans fail to respect the life of any animal.

MY ANIMAL LOVER REFERENCE…

As much as I loved this movie, I cannot bring myself to watch it again >>>

Whether creatures of an unknown origin or cute little mammals. I felt there was a lot of unnecessary macho BS, and while the bromance (which is very close to being an actual romance as I experience it) worked well, I wasn’t thrilled with the movie as a whole.

Watch Monster Island on Shudder

Monster Island comes from writer-director Mike Wiluan, who previously made the horror mystery Motel Melati (2023). That one was also made in Indonesia, so he has clearly found a niche working on genre movies there while keeping some English in his films.

Of course, subtitles are a good idea for anyone not strong with British dialects. There isn’t too much dialogue overall with Callum Woodhouse (Raven’s Hollow) as Bronson speaking English, and Dean Fukjioka (Fullmetal Alchemist) as Saiti speaking Japanese.

I liked Dead Fukjioka as Saito, while the character of Bronson never did much for me. In the end, I was rooting for the Orang Ikan, and I don’t think that was the intention of the filmmaker.

Again, I can’t let go of that hydration notion, which still bothers me now as I write this. Maybe I’ve just watched too many reality wilderness survival shows because I kept thinking: Forget about the creature, you’ll die of dehydration before it ever catches you!

Monster Island (org. title: Orang Ikan) is streaming on Shudder from July 25, 2025.

Details

Director: Mike Wiluan
Screenwriter: Mike Wiluan
Cast: Dean Fujioka, Callum Woodhouse, Alexandra Gottardo

Plot

After being torpedoed by allied submarines, a Japanese soldier and a British POW are stranded on a deserted island and soon discover that they’re being hunted by a ferocious mythological creature, the Orang Ikan.

PUSH on Shudder is a new Home Invasion Thriller with a pregnant protagonist. A very pregnant protagonist. Also, it plays out a few decades ago, which means no cellphones. It’s tense and intense in all the right ways, but also feels familiar. Read our full Push movie review here!

PUSH is a new Shudder thriller with a Home Invasion plot. Well, not in the actual home of the main character, who is eight months pregnant, but at the house she’s trying to sell. She’s a real estate agent, and there’s an Open House in a very remote location.

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Our review of the Netflix horror-thriller The Open House here >

While this story works very well, it also feels like something we’ve seen before, so it’s strangely familiar. The movie is both tense and intense in all the right ways, but it’s also a little too long. However, if you know the filmmakers behind it, you know it’ll be brutal.

Continue reading our Push movie review below. Find it on Shudder from July 11, 2025.

Grieving and fighting

With Push, we meet Natalie Flores (Alicia Sanz) as she’s trying to find her way back to life. Having lost her fiancé in a brutal accident, she’s now haunted by his memory while trying to focus on taking good care of herself.

Natalie Flores is 8 months pregnant, but cannot slow down if she wants to build a life for herself and her child. That’s why she’s taken on the challenge of trying to sell a very challenging listing: A huge house in a remote location and with a deadly history.

We meet her as she’s getting ready for an Open House. She’s getting the house in pristine condition, and then she waits… for nothing, it seems. However, just before giving up, someone does show up.

One tough realtor

Unfortunately, it turns out to be a sadistic killer (Raúl Castillo), who believes this is already his home.

Now she’s trapped in a remote location, very pregnant, and since this plays out in the 1990s, it’s the age before cellphones. In other words, her survival depends solely on herself.

And then she goes into premature labor, which makes her more desperate… and fierce!

If you haven’t watched any of the previous movies by David Charbonier & Justin Douglas Powell, allow me to offer you a little warning: These two filmmakers do not shy away from the difficult and brutal stories. Push is no exception.

Also, you should know that the ending has a twist that you can (kind of) read into as you please. Depending on how positive your mindset is, the ending of Push could go either way.

It’s not open-ended per se, but it does offer up a few key details that are easily missed. And if you want that happier ending, you’ll want to miss them!

Watch Push (2025) on Shudder

The writer-director duo behind Push consists of David Charbonier and Justin Powell. If these names still aren’t familiar to you, then you’ve been missing out on a few truly brutal genre gems. Be sure to check out The Djinn and (especially!) The Boy Behind the Door.

ALREADY RESULTED IN A REMAKE

Their first feature has already been remade internationally >>>

This home invasion thriller had its world premiere at the iconic Sitges Film Festival in October 2024. This is arguably one of the biggest (and best) genre film festivals in the world. With its Spanish lead actor, it makes perfect sense that it would premiere in Spain.

Now, you can enjoy it on Shudder, and you really should. I know we’re “only” giving it a three out of five, but it was definitely leaning into a four. It’s mostly pacing and the story, which had elements we’ve seen a few too many times. Still, the execution is stellar!

PUSH starts streaming on Shudder on July 11, 2025.

Details

Writers & Directors: David Charbonier, Justin Powell
Cast: Alicia Sanz, Raúl Castillo, David Alexander Flinn, Gore Abrams, Justin McManus, Linc Hand 

Plot

When a violent attack at her open house sends her into premature labor, a pregnant realtor must find a way to escape before she gives birth.