What should I watch on Shudder?

November 3, 2022 8:08 PM

I'm planning to subscribe to Shudder to watch the "Queer for Fear" documentary. Based on what else I've previously watched and liked, what other movies should I watch while I'm subbed?

Horror/horror-adjacent movies I have watched and like: The Vvitch, Get Out, Nope, An American Werewolf in London, Poltergeist, Barbarian, The Thing, Cabin in the Woods, Mandy, Suspiria (the remake), Don't Look Now, the new Candyman, Jennifer's Body, Midsommar, Black Christmas (2019 remake), Prey, the last two episodes of The Cabinet of Curiosities, The Ring

Horror movies I thought were ok: V/H/S Viral, V/H/S 94, The Void, Phantasm

Horror movies I watched but will probably never watch again: Us, Hereditary, The Lighthouse

I am interested in great practical effects, awesome final girls, movies that are attempting to be about larger themes, creepy psychological horror, 80s "family" horror (like Poltergeist). Less into tons of jump scares, straight slasher flicks, sexual assault.

posted by skycrashesdown to Media & Arts (13 answers total)

Response by poster: (Forgot to add that I love everything Mike Flanagan has done for Netflix - Midnight Mass was my favorite piece of screen media I consumed last year.)
posted by skycrashesdown at 8:12 PM on November 3, 2022 [1 favorite]

I haven't done it yet, but I'm planning to use at least part of my Shudder trial on Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror.
posted by jameaterblues at 8:29 PM on November 3, 2022 [7 favorites]

Have a look at Resurrection. One of the most interesting horror movies I’ve seen in a long time, with a great performance by Rebecca Hall.

I’ll also go ahead and recommend They Look Like People, one of my favorite horror movies ever and a beautiful, human picture (truly) about friendship.
posted by holborne at 8:59 PM on November 3, 2022 [1 favorite]

Ginger Snaps.
posted by Champagne Supernova at 9:25 PM on November 3, 2022 [4 favorites]

Housebound (2014) and Viy (1967) are favorites available on Shudder but also on Tubi for free here and here.

Horror Noire (2019) is only on Shudder.
posted by Wobbuffet at 9:55 PM on November 3, 2022 [2 favorites]

Seconding Resurrection, it's one that didn't get a ton of buzz when it was out in theaters earlier this year, but was pretty interesting and Rebecca Hall is fantastic.

Also if you like the queer horror doc, I strongly suggest checking out Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, which has a lot of great interviews and clips.

Looking at what else is on the channel right now, I can heartily recommend in the following loose categories:

MODERN CLASSICS: Newer horror, with an emphasis on slow-burns and artful direction
The Invitation
La Llorona (this one was actually on the Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature a couple years back)
Tigers Are Not Afraid
The House of the Devil (by Ti West, who also directed the excellent duo-logy of X and Pearl from this year)
A Field in England (throwback folk horror from Ben Wheatley)
The Love Witch
Host (a haunted Zoom meeting horror movie, shot in the first month of the pandemic)

HIGHBROW CLASSICS:
Nosferatu the Vampyre (remake by Werner Herzog with Klaus Kinski as Dracula)
Viy (the first Soviet horror film, made in the 60s)

LOWBROW CLASSICS: look like trash but are actually treasure, either thanks to fun performances and direction, or with some interesting social subtext.
The Slumber Party Massacre
Re-Animator
Frankenhooker
Brain Damage
Basket Case
Tammy & the T-Rex
Black Christmas (original)
House on Haunted Hill
Psychomania

WEIRD STUFF: Wild arthouse horror, grindhouse comedy, and macabre animation
Tetsuo: The Iron Man and Tetsuo II: Body Hammer
The Wolf House
Mad God
Kuso
Santa Sangre
Dave Made A Maze
Psycho Goreman
Phenomena

DROP EVERYTHING AND WATCH NOW:
One Cut of the Dead: At first glance it's just a Japanese found-footage zombie movie, but it evolves into something else entirely that I will not spoil. Be prepared to not be impressed by the first 30 minutes, it's all part of the show.
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:11 PM on November 3, 2022 [5 favorites]

(Since I kind of buried the lede on One Cut of the Dead: Just watch that first, I guarantee you will be delighted or at least entertained.)
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:34 PM on November 3, 2022 [4 favorites]

Speak No Evil came to Shudder recently and your probably enjoy it!
posted by cakelite at 8:28 AM on November 4, 2022

One Cut of the Dead is great!

I'd also recommend:

Saloum

The Wailing

This is GWAR (documentary, quite well done)
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:24 AM on November 4, 2022 [1 favorite]

Psycho Goreman is not really horror but throwback Troma-style grossout horror-comedy, but it hit me like a freight train and my wife and I still yell lines at each other daily. Mileage may vary dramatically; it has the most obnoxious tween protagonist in the history of cinema, it's overstuffed with weird sub-Power-Rangers costumed villains, and the plot makes no sense. But we loved it.

AAARRGH GO SOUTH ON PRESCOTT ROAD AND TAKE THE SECOND SET OF LIGHTS ARRRRGHHH!!!!!

will make a lot more sense once you've watched it.
posted by Shepherd at 9:32 AM on November 4, 2022 [2 favorites]

Triangle is excellent, maybe my favorite horror movie. It's one that comes with a strong recommendation to skip trailers etc. I will say it's very smart psychological horror, strong female protagonist.

The Descent. Strong female protagonist, all female cast. Psychological horror, excellent acting and effects. VERY scary!

Not currently on shudder, but keep an eye out, maybe it will be added:

The Babadook, also excellent. Psychological horror, strong female protagonist.
posted by Illusory contour at 10:45 AM on November 4, 2022 [1 favorite]

Speak No Evil is very, very rough. Don’t watch it unless you’re ready to be ripped up one side and down the other.
posted by holborne at 1:42 PM on November 4, 2022

I think you'll really like Hellbender--it's got those feminist and family themes, and it's pretty original. I also liked Pure a lot--you could kind of tell it was a first-time director but I thought it was thematically strong.

If you haven't seen The Love Witch yet, you might enjoy that--it does have some (not-super-graphic) references to sexual assault, but otherwise I think it fit your criteria and it's pretty special, though it isn't everyone's cup of tea (I think you'll know if it is or isn't from the trailer).
posted by Nibbly Fang at 7:18 PM on November 5, 2022