Robert Eggers (The Witch), Karyn Kusama (The Invitation), and Alexandre Aja (High Tension)
Set as First Guest Curators for AMC Networks-Backed Streaming Service
Shudder, the diabolical horror streaming service backed by AMC Networks, has unveiled a new way to bring the best horror content to genre fans. As part of Shudder¹s guest curator initiative, which launches today, horror filmmakers Robert Eggers (The Witch), Karyn Kusama (The Invitation, Jennifer¹s Body), and Alexandre Aja (High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes [2006]) will personally curate collections of top horror films based on their personal taste for the benefit of Shudder members.
Shudder, which houses a variety of films that span all decades and subgenres of horror, already provides detailed collections from lead curators Colin Geddes and Sam Zimmerman, to promote easy discovery. For example, Shudder¹s ³Love Sick² collection — which presents tales of love gone horribly awry, and hit the service just in time for Valentine¹s Day — includes films like Audition, Nekromantik and Let The Right One In.
The new guest curator program will permit horror experts and world-renowned genre filmmakers like Eggers, Kusama, and Aja to develop their own lists and share their picks with Shudder members.
Shudder prides itself on providing carefully selected horror films that speak to all types of horror fans,² said Colin Geddes, lead curator for Shudder. ³Including the filmmakers we respect and admire in to this process is a natural evolutionary step for our service, and a way of celebrating the breadth and overall excellence of top creative voices in horror.²
The full collection by Robert Eggers, now available on Shudder, is detailed below (with comments from the filmmaker):
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
³For me, this is the most iconic of the German Expressionist silent films. The design is immaculate and incredible the strange stylized performance by Conrad Veidt is mesmerizing. I¹m getting chills remembering the close up of his awakening as I write this.²
Kill List
³Ben Wheatley continues to be one of the most original voices in contemporary film. I love all of his work and look forward to his next film. This is one of the few horror films in recent films that actually scared me. And the performances are fantastic.²
Magic
³Anthony Hopkins is so good in this film, it¹s hard to believe. He¹s one of the greatest actors of the century, and it¹s a pleasure to see him younger and raw. And man, he is creepy.²
Nosferatu
³It was an indie horror in its day, a bit rough around the edges yet it¹s one of the greatest and most haunting films ever made. The newly restored color tinted versions are really impressive, but I still prefer the poor black and white versions made from scraps of 16mm prints. Those grimy versions have an uncanny mystery to them and helped build the myth of Max Shreck being a real vampire.²
The Snowtown Murders
³One of the best debut features I have seen. The light, the atmosphere, the fantastic naturalistic performance, and the uncompromising truth, makes for a film that it more horrific than horror. It is not to be missed and impossible to be forgotten.²
Collections from Karyn Kusama and Alexandre Aja will be announced in the upcoming months.
Robert Eggers
Robert Eggers is a Brooklyn-based writer and director. Originally from New Hampshire, Eggers got his professional start directing and designing experimental and classical theatre in New York City. Eggers eventually transitions to film, directing several short films and throughout his twenties, worked extensively as a designer for film, television, print, theater, and dance. The Witch, his feature film debut as writer and director, won the Directing Award in the U.S. Dramatic category at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered to critical acclaim. Eggers is currently in development on the medieval epic fantasy The Knight, with Jeff Robinov¹s Studio 8 and Parts & Labor. Also on his slate is a reimagining of FW. Muranu¹s classic, Nosferatu.
Further details on the guest curated collections and the program can be found at www.shudder.com
The addition of guest curator collections on Shudder follows the recent announcement of Shudder Labs, the service¹s weeklong horror workshop for aspiring filmmakers. More details can be found at labs.shudder.com
About Shudder
Shudder is a diabolical premium streaming video service, serving horror fans with curated worldwide programming ranging from hard-to-find independent fare to cult grindhouse classics to Hollywood blockbusters. Shudder has something for everyone, from the casual fan to the hardcore horror devotee. Backed by AMC Networks, Shudder¹s growing library of curated horror is available ad-free and for unlimited viewing on Shudder¹s website, mobile apps for iOS and Android, Chromecast, Apple TV, and the Roku platform with a free 14-day trial or $4.99 monthly/ $49.99 yearly membership. To sign up or learn more about Shudder, visit www.shudder.com
