Shudder: Romero doc, Penny Lane is Dead, and everything coming in August
As we start to edge towards Halloween, Shudder continues to add great horror content to its streaming service, and August is no exception. Look for an interesting George A. Romero documentary, two Tales From the Crypt films, and some new exclusives and originals next month.
Let’s take a look at everything being added to Shudder in August:
August 1:
What Happened to Dorothy Bell? – Premiering at Fantastic Fest in 2024, What Happened to Dorothy Bell is a found footage horror movie. Ozzie Gray is trying to grapple with a traumatic childhood event that involved her Grandmother Dorothy, and ends up investigating the library where her grandmother used to work.
George A. Romero’s Resident Evil – Did you know that the legendary George A. Romero had a vision for a film adaptation of Resident Evil? This doc takes a deep dive into said vision, with interviews with people who were in the know.
Salt Along the Tongue – When Mattia’s mom passes away, she moves in with her aunt, who happens to be mom’s identical twin. When Mattia begins to channel her mother’s spirit using food as a gateway, dark secrets are unleashed.
The Living and the Dead – “British aristocrat Donald (Roger Lloyd Pack) has lost his wealth and is desperate to find treatment for his cancer-stricken wide, Nancy (Kate Fahy). In order to give her proper medical care, Donald plans to sell the family mansion. However, his troubled and mentally ill son, James (Leo Bill) decides he’s going to look after his mother. When Mary (Sarah Ball), the nurse assigned to Nancy, tries to care for the ailing woman, she ends up clashing with the volatile James.”
The Book of Sijjin and Illiyyin – Yuli was a kind and gentle person until a string of bad events happened. Her parents are now dead, she has lost her home and been accused wrongly of having an affair, and now the thought of vengeance has taken hold. When she casts a black magic spell, she must suffer the consequences.
Baxter – In this dark comedy, the story is told from the perspective of Baxter, a white bull terrier who has a dark side. As he moves to and from different households, he ends up with a boy who is a sociopath.
And Soon the Darkness – In this British thriller, two young British nurses go on a cycling vacation in France. When one of them vanishes, her friend tries desperately to find her, but distrusts the people in town, who keep urging her to just leave.
Bruiser – “After years of being tread upon and cheated on, a man awakens to find his face has been replaced by a blank, white mask. Directed by George A. Romero.”
They Came Back – Something strange has happened in a small French town; people who have died in the past ten years have returned, and while they do not behave like stereotypical zombies, they are definitely changed.
Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight – “High-level demons collect low-level demons as warriors in attempt to obtain a key containing the blood of Christ. The key is guarded by immortal warriors called Demon Knights.”
Tales From the Crypt: Bordello of Blood – PI Rafe is hired by Katherine to look for her missing brother Caleb, and ends up investigating a brothel operated by vampires.
The Frighteners – This Peter Jackson film stars Michael J. Fox as Frank, who has discovered he has psychic abilities after the murder of his wife. At first, he uses his ability to coax ghosts into haunting people, then charging the hauntees money to get rid of the ghosts. But when the ghost of a mass murderer shows up, he uses his abilities to help stop him.
August 3:
Devils Stay – Cha Seung-Do’s daughter dies from a heart attack while undergoing an exorcism, but he refuses to believe she is dead. A priest who is assisting with the girl’s funeral thinks the demon still exists within her body.
The Priest – Paul Bettany stars as a priest in a future where a war has gone on for centuries between humans and vampires. When his niece is kidnapped by vamps, he breaks his vows in order to rescue her.
Dark Nuns – When a boy is possessed by an evil spirit, some nuns try to save him, joined by a priest who wants to perform an exorcism.
13 Exorcisms – A teenager named Laura participates in a séance, and soon after, she starts to display some very odd behaviors. Her family calls in a priest.
Exorcismo – “A young woman participates (unknowingly) in a satanic ceremony and gets possessed by the spirit of her late father.”
The Devil’s Exorcist – “When a teenage girl begins exhibiting disturbing behavior, only one entity can cast out the vile evil within her.”
Shudder is breaking out new originals in August, including The Yeti
August 7:
The Yeti (Shudder Exclusive) – An oil tycoon (Corbin Bernson) and an adventurer (William Sadler) disappear when they venture into a remote area of northern Alaska in the winter. A rescue team sets out to find them and end up in the territory of the dreaded Yeti.
August 10:
The Bell From Hell – This tale of a young man recently released from an insane asylum has a morbid back story: The original director Claudio Guerin Hill fell from the bell tower portion of the set and died, leaving Juan Antonio Bardem to complete the film.
The People Who Own the Dark – A group of wealthy men partying with prostitutes in a mansion manage to survive a nuclear bomb blast. Upon leaving the mansion, they discover that the townspeople have been blinded and are out for blood.
Morbus – “A scientist has discovered a formula that brings the dead back to life. Meanwhile, a prostitute who dreams of writing a book in a brothel meets a true writer with whom she falls in love – and a satanic sect will cross into their lives.”
Rostros – A sculptor begins to suffer from hallucinations that include people with no facial features. Desperate for the hallucinations to stop, he leaves for the Canary Islands, where he meets a mysterious woman.
The House in the Outskirts – A couple expecting their first child make the decision to rent a house just outside of Madrid, where the woman hopes to spend the final months of her pregnancy in peace. But instead, she realizes that this house is one she visited as a teen to have an illegal abortion – something that her husband knows nothing about.
Creation of the Damned – Set in “the near future”, this film visits two couples who are living in an apartment that was set up as an atomic shelter. In this world, nuclear war has devastated the entire planet, and our couples are waiting it out until the radioactivity dies down.
Supernatural – Julia’s awful husband has died, but resumes tormenting her when he comes back as a ghost. Though she seeks help from paranormal experts and friends, nothing seems to work.
Poppers – “A guy named Santos is released from prison after having killed his best friend. The dead friend’s father then organizes a manhunt to kill Santos. But things soon turn around and he starts hunting the hunters.”
August 14:
Hellcat (Shudder Original) – Lena (Dakota Gorman) is initially disoriented when she comes to in a camping trailer with a severe wound on her arm. Clive, who is driving, tells her the wound is even more serious than she imagines, and he must get her to a doctor within an hour. Should she trust him? And what is really going on here?
August 17:
Threads – This British film was made for television, and in the years since its release in 1984, it has become notorious. Filmed in documentary style, it looks at the after effects of a nuclear holocaust in Sheffield.
August 21:
Buffet Infinity (Shudder Exclusive) – “Echoing the Canadian comedy classic SCTV, crosscutting between original, low-budget TV ads to tell the sinister tale of two restaurants battling it out in the fictional town of Westridge County.”
August 28:
Penny Lane is Dead (Shudder Original) – It’s 1986 in Australia, and a 17-year-old girl named Penny Lane is about to start college her girlfriends. When Penny’s cousin plays a mean prank, the night becomes violent, and blood is shed.
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