What’s The Deal With Shudder, The New Streaming Service For Horror Fans?

Between the main streaming options, it’s not hard to find something you want to watch – unless you’re looking to get your fear fix. At times, the big three of streaming (Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon) leave something to be desired when it comes to truly terrifying viewing experiences. Enter Shudder, AMC’s new streaming service for horror fans.

Shudder was launched through a partnership with AMC and DramaFever, but it isn’t AMC’s first foray into the realm of cult viewerships. The recently relaunched and positively reviewed SundanceNow Doc Club streaming service gives members access to an extensive library of Sundance-approved documentaries, complete with collections curated by notable names. Currently, Shudder is still in Beta mode, but I’m going to try and answer the most pressing streaming service question: Is Shudder worth the $4.99 a month cost?

THE GOOD

Shudder gets the biggest scream for its collections (In this case, I’m screaming in joy). Whereas other services haphazardly throw together monster flicks and terrifyingly comical spoofs, Shudder’s collections lets you know exactly where you can find the haunted-house-themed gems you’ve been craving. From the underappreciated “A-Horror” to the sub-genre within a sub-genre of “Not Your Ordinary Bloodsuckers,” these collections are a lot of fun and have clearly been curated by a team that probably loves nightmares just as much as you.

The service also gets credit for its price and selection. $4.99 a month is definitely doable for anyone sick of paying at least that much per movie on Amazon or iTunes. As for the selection, classics, such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Evil Dead, are mixed with cult favorites (A Tale of Two Sisters and Cannibal! The Musical) and hidden gems (the gory, A-Horror Dream Home and the horror documentary, Nightmares in Red White, and Blue)

However, my favorite part of the service may be Shudder TV, where the service plays a select portion of its movie collection on a streaming loop. As an avid proponent of streaming miles apart, I enjoy this simultaneous watching experience the service offers even to non-members. As long as you’re not picky about the film, you don’t need Rabbit for Shudder.

THE BAD

There is no search bar. None. Not even a hint of one.

Hopefully, this lack of search capabilities is only a symptom of Shudder’s beta state, but as the service stands now, you really have to hunt to figure out if Shudder has the movie you want to watch. Even then, you may overlook it. It took me far longer than I expected to find The Evil Dead. (It’s under “Haunted Habitations” and “Spectral Encounters,” not “Possessions: The Devil Made Me Do It!”)

Also, there’s the issue of the service’s collection. While there are quite a few gems, the collection’s ratio of good to gimmicky fear flicks is not working in Shudder’s favor. As the service grows and gains more members, hopefully this will be remedied, but for now my options feel a bit lacking.

Speaking of the collection, there is a severe lack of classic 80s slasher films (Nightmare on Elm Street, Michael) and late 90s to 2000s adaptations of paranormal Japanese classics (The Ring, The Grudge). There is also a lack of “scary” fake documentaries, but I count that as a positive. We all know that gimmick only worked once.

SHUDDER VS. AMAZON VS. NETFLIX

While Amazon Instant’s thriller collection leaves much to be desired, the good news is almost every horror film you can imagine is available for purchase on either VOD or to be shipped. The bad news is those $5-a-movie purchases add up.

Shudder’s real competitor is going to be Netflix’s screaming collection, and right now, it doesn’t look like a winning battle for the new service. Shudder and Netflix share many of the same classics (Hellraiser, Nosferatu), but Netflix is also home to more classic thrills than Shudder (Rosemary’s Baby, Scream, Michael) and hosts quite a few hidden horror gems itself (Creep, The Babadook, Olivia Armstrong’s beloved Zombeavers).

What may end up hurting Netflix is inconsistency and lack of promotion. Sure, the collection is great now, but it’s been a bit horrifying in the past (and I mean that in the bad, Human Centipede way). Also, because there are so many straight to DVD films thrown in with smart, underrated works, navigating through the sheer volume of Netflix’s unorganized horror genre is daunting.

THE VERDICT

If you consider yourself to be a horror aficionado, Shudder is definitely worth the cost. It even comes approved by celebrity-status horror-lover, Elijah Wood. However, if you’re like me and horror is just on your top three film genre interests, I recommend checking out the free trial then deciding from there. Ultimately, I caved to remedy my “Foundations of Horror” and “Eurohorror” blind spots.

Check out Shudder here.

Kayla Cobb is a proud graduate of Clemson University and loves her cat and TV shows more than some people love their kids. You should really follow her on Twitter at @KaylCobb.

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