Shudder Launches Guest Curator Program

19 Feb, 2016 By: Erik Gruenwedel

---

, the upstart $4.99 horror streaming service backed by AMC Networks, has begun a guest curator collection beginning with filmmakers Robert Eggers (The Witch), Karyn Kusama (The Invitation) and Alexandre Aja (High Tension).

The program enables filmmakers to develop lists of favorite horror movies and share them with Shudder subscribers.

“Shudder prides itself on providing carefully selected horror films that speak to all types of horror fans,” said Colin Geddes, lead curator for Shudder. “Including 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.”

Indeed, curated content is a way over-the-top video services are establishing brand awareness in the crowded direct-to-consumer video market. , the $4.99 SVOD service co-owned by Lionsgate, features a line-up of curated films selected by newsmakers such as Martha Stewart, Tyler Perry, Abigail Spencer, Alec Baldwin, Kelly Le Brock, Tahj Mowry and talk show host Wendy Williams.

Eggers, who won the directing award in the domestic drama category at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival for The Witch, offers comments to a movie selection that includes:

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

“For 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. I’m getting chills remembering the close up of his awakening as I write this.”
 
Kill List (2011)

“Ben 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.”
 
Magic (1978)

“Anthony Hopkins is so good in this film, it¹s hard to believe. He’s one of the greatest actors of the century, and it's a pleasure to see him younger and raw. And man, he is creepy.”
 
Nosferatu (1922)

“It was an indie horror in its day, a bit rough around the edges ­ yet it’s 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.”
 
The Snowtown Murders (2011)

“One 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.”

Bookmark it: