Phil Roberts 
Feast your eyes on the devilishly good box of treats heading to the Premium Horror Streamer SHUDDER this January
Christmas may be fading into memory but there’s still a wealth of wickedly good treats heading to Shudder this January. After the festive mayhem of Christmas Bloody Christmas and the devilishly good Crystal Lake Memories, horror fans might be in need of a palette cleanser. And right on cue, Shudder has dropped another bounty of horror to appease the appetite of any horror fan. And believe me, these treats are far more tantalizing than any Christmas treat! If you were hoping for a really good post-festive scare, you’re in for a real treat!
NEW RELEASES
Ushering us into a fresh new year of horror awesomeness is Sorry About the Demon, a fresh take on the haunted house phenomenon. After being dumped by his girlfriend Amy, brokenhearted Will is offered a massive house at a very low rent. What’s the catch? The restless spirit haunting the place needs a human sacrifice and the prior owners must find one or else their young daughter is toast. So if human sacrifice and ghostly hauntings are your thing, mark January 19th in your calendar.
And if that isn’t enough to have you sharpening your fangs, January 26th heralds the arrival of The Lair, a real-world adventure featuring half-human, half-alien creatures in the heart of Afghanistan. You heard right, an abandoned underground bunker in a war-torn country houses a deadly man-made biological weapon that has the power to create monsters. So when Royal Air Force pilot Lt. Kate Sinclair (Charlotte Kirk) is shot down and stumbles across the bunker – mayhem ensues!
But don’t take my word for it. Grab the arm of your chair; move to the edge of your seat, and grab the cushions because Shudder’s January horror watchlist is the gift that keeps on giving…jump scares!
Sorry About the Demon – A Shudder Exclusive
After being dumped by his girlfriend Amy, broken hearted Will is offered a massive house at a very low rent. What’s the catch? The restless spirit haunting the place needs a human sacrifice and the prior owners must find one or else their young daughter is toast. So, Will must figure out how to make things right with his ex-girlfriend AND banish the sacrifice-seeking demon residing in his house.
Starring Jon Michael Simpson, Paige Evans, Jeff McQuitty and Sarah Cleveland. Written and directed by Emily Hagins. Premieres Thursday 19 January.
The Lair – A Shudder Exclusive
Royal Air Force pilot Lt. Kate Sinclair (Charlotte Kirk) is shot down over Afghanistan and finds refuge in an abandoned underground bunker where deadly man-made biological weapons – half human, half alien – are awakened. Directed by Neil Marshall (Game of Thrones, The Descent) and written by Marshall and Kirk (The Reckoning). Premieres Thursday 26 January.
NEW ADDITIONS TO SHUDDER’S FILM LIBRARY
Undead
An onslaught of meteorites crash-lands in the small country town of Berkeley. The bombardment brings with it an otherworldly infection. The living dead are awoken and a small band of desperate survivors led by local beauty pageant winner René (Felicity Mason), and town looney Marion (Mungo McKay), fight for survival in a world gone mad. Packed with action, loaded with laughs, and filled with wild twists and turns, defining it as an Aussie cult classic. Directed by Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig. Streaming January 2.
We Need to Do Something
After Melissa and her family seek shelter from a storm, they become trapped. With no sign of rescue, Melissa comes to realise that she and her girlfriend Amy might have something to do with the horrors that threaten her family. Directed by Sean King O’Grady and starring Sierra McCormick, VanessaShaw and Pat Healy. Streaming January 2.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
A twisted mystery based on the acclaimed novel by Shirley Jackson, author of The Haunting of Hill House. Merricat (Taissa Farmig, The Nun) lives with her sister Constance (Alexandra Daddario, The White Lotus, Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches) and her Uncle Julian (Crispin Glover, Back to the Future). The trio are survivors of an arsenic poisoning that killed everyone else in the family five years prior. Despite being hated by the townspeople, the sisters live an idyllic life, until cousin Charles (Sebastian Stan, Avengers: Endgame) arrives and dark secrets are unravelled that will change their lives forever. Streaming January 9th.
Ghosts of War
Five battle-hardened American soldiers are assigned to hold a French Chateau near the end of World War II. Formerly occupied by the Nazi high command, this unexpected respite quickly descends into madness when they encounter an enemy far more terrifying than anything seen on the battlefield.
Written and directed by Eric Bress and starring Brenton Thwaites, Theo Rossi, Kyle Gallner, Skylar Astin and Billy Zane. Streaming January 9th
Brain Freeze
The affluent residents of Peacock Island want the ability to play golf year-round. Their wish is granted in the form of a new fertilizer that will grow grass even in the iciest conditions, but they soon realise all-year round golfing comes at a cost…the experimental fertilizer makes its way into the water supply, contaminating the population and leading to a spine-chilling zombie outbreak. As the uninfected journey across their quarantined island, they must battle their flesh-eating neighbours to survive. Starring IaniBédard, Roy Dupuis, Marianne Fortier and Claudia Ferri. Streaming January 16th.
Pusher
The gritty directorial debut from Nicolas Winding Refn, visionary director of Drive, The Neon Demon and Only God Forgives. Frank (Kim Bodnia, Killing Eve, The Bridge), a small-time drug pusher is on a sharp countdown to his own destruction when he screws up his latest deal. In just 48 hours, he must scramble to clear his debt before the true justice of Copenhagen’s notorious underworld is exacted by the most horrific means imaginable. Also starring Mads Mikkelson (Hannibal, The Hunt). Streaming January 23rd.
Pusher II
Fresh out of prison, Tonny (Mads Mikkelson, Hannibal, The Hunt), tries to gain respect from his father, a notorious gangster who appears to have only contempt for his son. But Tonny soon learns nothing in his new life comes easy. In trying to repay an old prison debt, he makes misstep after misstep. Batting the scorn of everyone around him, Tonny must forge the path to some form of redemption or perish in the attempt. Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. Streaming January 23rd.
And…Pusher III
The final instalment of the Pusher crime trilogy directed by Nicolas Winding Refn follows Milo, a drug dealer and recovering addict who’s slowly coming unravelled. Whilst trying to prepare for his daughter’s birthday party, he discovers the shipment of heroin he was expecting is actually ecstasy. When Milo tries to sell the pills anyway, all hell breaks loose, and his only chance is to ask for help from his ex-henchman and old friend Radovan. Starring Zlatko Buric, Marinela Dekic and Slavko Labovic. Streaming January 23rd.
In Search of Darkness: Part III
An enthralling documentary exploring ’80s horror cinema. The film focuses on the straight-to-video and shot-on-video horror classics that populated the bottom shelves at the video rental store alongside overlooked theatrical releases. Imaginative, gory, experimental – but always entertaining – these hidden gems are ripe for rediscovery and are now getting the attention they deserve. Directed by David A Weiner, interviewees include Barbara Crampton (Jakob’s Wife). Streaming January 30th.
The Falling
Intense and troubled Lydia and charismatic Abbie are best friends experiencing a sexual awakening at their strict English girls’ school in 1969. Following a tragedy, a mysterious fainting epidemic breaks out. As Lydia’s symptoms worsen, she rallies against the school’s authorities to uncover the underlying cause of the outbreak. Eventually her actions force old secrets to rise to the surface and she finds herself faced with a truth that she never expected. Starring Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), Florence Pugh (Midsommar) and Maxine Peake (Peterloo). Streaming January 30th.
ABOUT THE PLATFORM
AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, with super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment; covering horror, thrillers, and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film; TV series and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Germany. Head to Shudder.com to sign up.
What a devilishly good list of new titles for us to explore. The streamer has cemented itself as the home of premium horror entertainment. And we cannot wait to dive into this haul of horror treats. So check back regularly because our reviews will be coming thick and fast!
Which of these horror goodies will you be exploring this month? Drop a comment below. We won’t bite…hard!
Phil Roberts is the Owner, Daily Content Manager, and Editor-In-Chief of The Future of the Force. He is passionate about Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Follow him on Twitter where he uses the force and babbles frequently!
