The Dead Lands, Child’s Play, and more Shudder February additions

February is the month of love, and there is much to love on streaming service Shudder this month, including a new series and the Love Sick Collection.

The Dead Lands – The first two episodes of this supernatural adventure series are currently available on Shudder, with new episodes added each Thursday through March 5. Described by Shudder as “part Ash vs Evil Dead/part Xena: Warrior Princess,” The Dead Lands tells the story of warrior Waka Nuku Rau, who returns to the land of the living to redeem himself. Together with a young woman named Mehe, they work to fix a world that may be permanently broken.

January 30:

Bliss – Dezzy, a painter suffering from artist’s block, becomes desperate and takes a hallucinogenic drug. Although the drug brings back her creativity, she begins to crave blood. Is Dezzy now a vampire, or is she just suffering after-effects of the drug?

February 1:

Child’s Play (Original version) – Murderer Charles Lee Ray uses a spell that transports his soul into red-haired Good Guys doll Chucky. Poor little Andy is given Chucky as a birthday gift, and soon he and his mom are in mortal danger.

Escape From New York – In the future, Manhattan has become a maximum-security prison. When Air Force One crashes on the island, Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is sent to rescue the President (Donald Pleasence). If you have never seen this classic action flick, you’ve been missing out!

The Fog (Original version) – Antonio Bay, California is beset by a creepy, glowing fog and revenge-seeking ghostly sailors on the 100-year anniversary of a mysterious ship wreck. The Fog was John Carpenter’s follow-up to Halloween, and stars Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Leigh Curtis, Tom Atkins, Janet Leigh and John Houseman.

My Bloody Valentine (2009 remake) – A mining accident in Harmony killed five men, and left Harry in a coma.  When Harry awoke, he went on a killing rampage with a pick ax. Wounded by the Sheriff, Harry escaped into the mine and disappeared. Ten years later, a crazed killer in a miner’s mask is killing people with a pickax. Could it be the missing Harry?

Night of the Comet – When a comet passes near Earth, nearly everyone on the planet is turned to red dust. The only survivors are some horrible zombies and a handful of people who escaped obliteration because they were in steel structures when the comet hit.

February 3:

Like Me – Kiya (Addison Timlin) is a loner seeking attention by posting videos of herself committing crimes while wearing a mask. As her crimes become more dangerous, she acquires followers, and ends up kidnapping a sleazy motel owner, played by Larry Fessenden.

The Whistler (short) – While babysitting one night, Lindsey reads her younger sister Becky a creepy bedtime story called about a man who takes children into the woods, where they never grow up. Lindsey tries to scare Becky by telling her the story is true, and that The Whistler actually killed the children. When Lindsey wakes up later, Becky is missing, and she must go into the woods in an attempt to find her.

February 6:

Dogs Don’t Wear Pants (Shudder Original) – This 2019 film was named Best Picture at both Fantastic Fest and Sitges International Film Festivals. Ten years after heart surgeon Juha loses his wife, he is still grieving. When he takes his daughter to get her tongue pierced, he encounters a dominatrix and becomes involved with her.

February 7:

Horror Noire: Uncut (Podcast) – Last year, Shudder released Eli Roth’s History of Horror: Uncut as a podcast consisting of the full conversations Roth had with the likes of Stephen King during the filming of his AMC docuseries. The podcast was very popular, and Shudder is now giving the same treatment to their original documentary about the history of black horror. All six episodes will be available exclusively to members on February 7, but non-subscribers can catch one episode twice a week on podcast platforms.

Guests include Tony Todd, Ken Foree and Rachel True. Having watched the documentary, I can highly recommend this podcast without having heard it yet.

February 10

Catcalls (short) – A creepy guy flashes a couple of young girls, but finds himself the prey instead of the predator.

The Golden Glove – This film tells the story of real-life German serial killer Fritz Honka, who met women in a red light district bar called The Golden Glove, then murdered them.

The Hills Have Eyes (1977 original version) – A vacationing family are hunted by an inbred, cannibalistic family of killers in the desert. This brutal, bloody flick was Wes Craven’s directorial debut, and was loosely based on the legend of the Sawney Bean family.

Prom Night – A group of kids are responsible for the death of a 10-year-old girl, and vow to never tell anyone that they were involved. But someone knows the truth, and the young people are stalked and slaughtered on the night of their high school prom. Prom Night features Jamie Leigh Curtis and Leslie Nielsen.

Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II – Hot to trot Mary Lou is named Prom Queen in 1957, but is then burned alive when her jealous boyfriend throws a stink bomb at her. 30 years later, cheerleader Vicki is possessed by Mary Lou, and goes after the boyfriend, now the school’s principal.

February 13:

3 From Hell (Shudder Exclusive) – If you thought Baby Firefly, Captain Spaulding and Otis Driftwood were actually shot to death by the law at the end of The Devil’s Rejects, you were mistaken. The three miraculously made it out alive, and were imprisoned. After Otis escapes, he and half-brother Wilson set out to free Baby. Spoiler alert: A blood bath ensues.

February 17

Seoul Station – This is an animated prequel to the excellent Korean film Train to Busan, and introduces us to a father trying to find his runaway daughter in a homeless area close to Seoul Station. What would be a difficult task anyway is made worse when the zombie apocalypse happens.

Return of the Living Dead III – You just can’t trust the US government! They continue to experiment with Trioxin, which, as we know from the first and second movies, causes bodies and body parts to reanimate.

February 20:

Jessica Forever (Shudder Original) – Set in a violent future, this film introduces us to Jessica and her “family” of orphans who kill to survive. Described as a feminist sci-fi action story, the film includes plenty of drone strikes and parachuting.

February 24:

Dog Soldiers – Before writer/director Neil Marshall brought us the terrific The Descent, he released this werewolf story involving a group of soldiers in the Scottish Highlands.

Empathy, Inc. – Joel invests his and his in-laws’ money in Empathy, Inc., a virtual reality company that claims to give wealthy people the chance to see what it is like to be among the less fortunate. Of course, the company isn’t what it seems.

Wendigo – George, Kim and their young son Miles are heading for a winter vacation in a cabin in the woods (never a good idea). When George  hits a deer that was being tracked by some local hunters, a sinister force seems to invade the woods – a force that may be the fabled Wendigo.

Love Sick Featured Collection – Shudder’s ode to the month of Valentine’s Day is jam-packed with films that explore the dark, often bloody side of love, and will include the following:

Dogs Don’t Wear Pants, Lizzie and Beast, My Bloody Valentine, Audition, The Love Witch, Spring, Ganja and Hess, Double Lover, November, Are We Not Cats, Honeymoon, Little Deaths, Kiss of the Damned, Return of the Living Dead III, Night of the Living Debs, A Discovery of Witches (series), Prom Night and Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II. 

Though February is the shortest month of the year, there are plenty of films to keep you entertained on Shudder. You can subscribe by visiting shudder.com.

Though February is the shortest month of the year, there are plenty of films to keep you entertained on Shudder. You can subscribe by visiting the website. 

Are you a Shudder subscriber? If not, do the February additions inspire you to check out the streaming service? Give us your thoughts in the comments section.