Shudder hosts a block party on Elm Street in August

Shudder is bringing us Elm Street realness in August, along with NOS4A2 and its usual mix of old and new horror and thrillers. There are also a couple of horror documentaries and some 80’s classics, so let’s dig in and see what’s new.

July 29:

Moon (added too late for inclusion in Shudder’s July schedule)– Sam (Sam Rockwell) has been stationed on the moon for three years, where he is the lone operator of Sarang Station, his only companion  a robot named GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey). Two weeks before his planned return to Earth, Sam experiences some strange events.

El Gigante – In this 2014 short film,  Armando wants to cross the US/Mexican border to seek a better life. He wakes up in a strange room with a Lucha Libre mask sewn on his face, tormented by people he does not know.

The Quiet Room – This is another short, in which Michael is hospitalized after a suicide attempt. An entity named Hattie (played by Ru Paul’s Drag Race’s Alaska) starts to haunt Michael, and he has to find a way to exorcise her.

August 1:

Nightmares on Elm Street Collection – Shudder is streaming the first six movies in the Nightmare on Elm Street series: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy’s Revenge, Dream Warriors, The Dream Master, The Dream Child and Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.

Rounding out this awesome collection is the 2010 documentary Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy. I watched the doc a couple of years ago, and found it to be fascinating.

Raising Cain – Brian DePalma’s 1992 film stars John Lithgow as a disturbed child psychologist who suffers from multiple personality disorder. When he begins to exhibit obsessive behavior towards their daughter, his wife starts to worry.

August 5:

The Slumber Party Massacre – In this 1982 “slashic”, a group of high school girls plan a slumber party when Trish’s parents go out of town. Unfortunately for them, there is an escaped lunatic in the area, and his weapon of choice is a power drill.

Slumber Party Massacre II – This is the 1987 sequel to The Slumber Party Massacre. Courtney still has nightmares about the first massacre, and when she and her friends plan a weekend getaway, her dreams become more violent and realistic. It’s worth noting that there was another sequel released in 1990, making this the first horror franchise in history to be directed exclusively by women.

 August 8:

NOS4A2 – Episode 1 of AMC’s horror series debuts on August 8, with new episodes added each Thursday. The finale begins streaming on October 10.

 August 12:

Chopping Mall – This is another 80’s classic, about a group of teens who decide to have an after-hours party at the mall. A lightning strike wreaks havoc with the security robots, causing them to go on a killing spree.

Get My Gun – After a violent rape results in pregnancy, Amanda finds herself at risk of being victimized once again, by a wealthy woman who desperately wants Amanda’s unborn child.

Why Horror? – Horror journalist Tal Zimmerman tries to get to the bottom of why some people (including himself) enjoy horror. He interviews genre filmmakers, scientists, writers and psychologists in his search for answers. Filmmakers interviewed include George A. Romero, Eli Roth, the Soska sisters, and John Carpenter (among others).

August 15:

Incident in a Ghostland (Shudder exclusive) – A woman with two daughters inherits a house, and moves in. On the first night in her new home, intruders break in, and she must fight to save all of their lives. Sixteen years later, the three women return to the house.

August 19:

Bad Moon – Janet’s brother Ted was attacked by a monster when he was working in Nepal, and while Ted survived, his girlfriend did not. Now Janet has started to believe that her brother was attached by a werewolf, and must protect herself and her son.

Hell Night – We go back to the 80’s again with this 1981 slasher, starring Linda Blair and Vincent Van Patten. As a hazing ritual, sorority and fraternity pledges must spend a night inside creepy Garth Manor, which has a murderous back story.

August 26:

Humanoids From the Deep – Horrible creatures appearing to be half human / half fish begin attacking the men and raping the women in a fishing village. Oh, the horrors of science meddling in the world of nature!

The Love Witch – In this comedy horror film, Elaine is a witch trying to start a new life after her husband’s death. In an attempt to find a new love, Elaine casts a spell, which causes men to fall madly in love with her. Unfortunately, she grows tired of their devotion. The Love Witch is a tribute to  technicolor horror films of the 60s.

August 29:

Belzebuth (Shudder Original)– Special Agent Emmanuel Ritter investigates the mysterious deaths of children at the US / Mexico border.

The investigation takes an unexpected turn when a priest links a demon named Belzebuth to the murders.

I think there are some interesting additions to Shudder in August, particularly Why Horror?, Incident in a Ghostland and The Love Witch. Let me know what you think in the comments section.