Shudder Review: A Horror Lover’s Dream

Intro: Shudder Review

I’ve reviewed a lot of streaming services for this site. While all of them have something to offer, what Shudder has is truly unique. Whereas Netflix may be like the large corporate movie theater of streaming services, Shudder is like the smaller, indie theater that screens midnight movies and has a lot of fun doing it. 

This Shudder review will cover everything you need to know about the premium horror subscriptions service including pricing, the free trial, their movies and shows, the Shudder app, and if Shudder is really worth it.

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Contents

• The Basics: Overview and Pricing
• What's on Shudder?
• The Shudder App
• Final Verdict: Is Shudder Worth It?

The Basics: Overview and Pricing

So first- what is Shudder? Shudder is a streaming service devoted to the horror and thriller genres. It comes from AMC Networks, the company behind cable channels like AMC, IFC, and Sundance TV. 

You’ll find hundreds of spooky movies and shows that are curated by people who love a good scare. Whether you’re a casual or hardcore horror fan, there are a wide range of things to watch on Shudder. From psychological thrillers to splatter films to comedies and documentaries, all fans of the macabre will find something in their niche.

At less than six bucks a month, and with a free trial to boot, Shudder is an affordable way to watch content you won’t find anywhere else. 

The Shudder app is available on a number of devices including smartphones, tablets, Roku players, Apple TV, Fire TV, Samsung TV, and Xbox. You can also watch Shudder on their website at Shudder.com.

What's on Shudder?

Shudder has a wide selection of movies and TV shows, with new content added every week. Like most streaming services, some things rotate in and out so you always have something new to watch.

Film nerds will have a great time not just watching the movies, but taking a deep dive into the genre. There are documentaries and exclusive podcasts that cover everything you need to know about the weird world of horror from a diverse range of perspectives.

Many films and shows on Shudder are either Shudder Originals or Shudder Exclusives, meaning you won’t find them on other streaming services. 

Here is just a small taste of the selection you can find on Shudder. Note that the movies and shows mentioned in this article were available to stream in October 2022. 

Movies

Shudder Originals & Exclusives

By my count, there are close to 150 movies that are either produced by Shudder or distributed exclusively by them. Here are some highlights.

• V/H/S/99: This found footage horror film is the fifth in the V/H/S anthology series. It recently became the most watched debut ever on Shudder.
• Watcher: Not to be confused with Netflix’s The Watcher, this Hitchcockian thriller follows an American couple who move to Romania, where the wife believes she’s being stalked by a serial killer.
• Host: A movie shot in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic about a group of friends who try and summon the dead over a Zoom call.
• Mandy: Action-horror movie starring Nicolas Cage about a couple who are attacked by a vicious cult at their home in the woods. 
• Mad God: Directed by legendary special effects artist Phil Tippett, this adult stop-motion animated film was produced over a period of 30 years. 

Other Originals and Exclusives include:

Horror Classics

You’ll find classic horror movies from throughout the history of cinema, including by acclaimed directors like Dario Argento and Mario Bava. Here are some of the classic films you can find on Shudder.

Mainstream Hits

There’s typically a smaller, rotating selection of some of the more mainstream horror films. At the time of publication these include Halloween (1978), Children of the Corn (1984), Hellraiser (1987), The Descent, The Devil’s Rejects, and The Babadook.

Shows

There’s an electric blend of series and podcasts on Shudder, too. Here’s what you can find.

• The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: This drag queen competition is like RuPaul’s Drag Race meets Fear Factor meets the Cenobites from Hellraiser. An all-star season, dubbed Dragula: Titans, is currently airing.
• A Discovery of Witches: Shudder has the US-distribution rights to this British historical fantasy about a witch and a vampire who must band together to fight magical creatures.
• Creepshow: Horror anthology series based on the 1982 horror comedy film.
• Various Specials from Joe Bob Briggs: The redneck horror host known for his shows in the 80s and 90s has various Shudder-exclusive specials and series.
• Docu-series: Take a nerdy dive into the world of horror with documentary series like Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror, The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time, and Cursed Films. Plus there’s the feature-length Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror and its accompanying podcast.

Live Channels

Can’t decide what to watch? Shudder has three live channels that broadcast movies and shows 24/7. They are:

• It Came from Shudder: General programming from all horror genres.
• The Folk Horror Collection: Focuses specifically on the folk horror sub-genre. Plays a video feed of a jack-o-lantern “ghoul log” around Halloween.
• Slashics: Classic horror movies and slasher films.

One fun thing they did for October 2022 was broadcast a surprise movie on the It Came from Shudder channel. It ended up being the Dario Argento film Dark Glasses, which aired early ahead of its debut on Shudder weeks later.

The Shudder App

The Shudder app is a little more bare-bones than other streaming services. There’s no support for 4K resolution or multiple profiles. 

Despite other conflicting information I read online, I was able to stream from multiple devices- my phone, laptop, and TV- all at the same time. I’ll update this article if I get specific info on restrictions for simultaneous streams.

When it comes to offline downloads, this doesn’t appear to be a feature that’s currently available, either. And there’s no support for parental controls, but let’s get real- this streaming service isn’t for kids, anyway.

Despite that, their programming is top-notch. I watched Shudder on a variety of devices including my iPhone, laptop, Apple TV, and Fire TV stick with no playback issues. I did have some minor technical errors with the Roku app, but Shudder has promised these will be fixed with an upcoming software update.

One other feature that you can access through the Shudder website is the ability to write and read reviews of movies and shows on Shudder. This is helpful when deciding what to watch. 

And that brings up a big difference between Shudder and the competition. Its recommendations are based on human curation rather than a computer algorithm. They even had a phone line you could call recently for personalized recommendations ahead of Halloween. 

Shudder Review Final Thoughts: Is Shudder Worth It?

As a premium subscription service for all things spooky, Shudder is the place to have a spine-chilling good time.

You can do a deep dive into the horror genre, learning about its various subcategories like the Italian Giallo films or folk horror. You can catch up on campy b-movies with Elvira and Joe Bob Briggs. Or watch popular horror flicks, too.

The consistent addition of Shudder Originals keeps things interesting and provides a reason to stick around past Halloween.

If you enjoy watching scary movies and thrillers, Shudder is a must-have and a ton of fun.

To try out Shudder for free, click on the button below!