Mandy and other Shudder Exclusives get physical with new Steelbook releases

Since 2015, Shudder has been the go-to streaming site for horror fans. Now, Mandy and some of their popular “exclusives” will get physical releases.

Since its humble beginnings in 2015, Shudder has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity. Offering a diverse streaming selection of horror and sci-fi for a more than reasonable subscription fee, it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

The service has become the home of exclusive series (the recent Creepshow) and movies seeing their streaming premiere (The Ranger, for instance). In a world where the battle for licensure determines the service you’ll watch something on, Shudder has helped corner the market on exclusive horror content.

And for those who prefer their media streaming, it’s a great place to dive into offerings from horror-friendly boutique labels like Severin and Arrow (among others) without blind-buying a $30 disc.

Still, maybe it’s my age (staring down the barrel of 40), but the physical-media itch is something I grew up with. From purchasing previously-viewed VHS tapes at Blockbuster, to the revelation of DVD (where widescreen was the norm, not the exception), and my current comfort zone of Blu-ray, there’s always been a certain giddy pleasure in being able to take something off a shelf, admire the sleeve art, and pop in an actual disc.

On that note, it pleases me to report that some recent “Shudder Exclusives” will be making their way to Blu-ray over the next month in very appealing Steelbook editions. The titles include:

• Tigers Are Not Afraid – Issa Lopez’s tale of children orphaned by the Mexican drug cartel blends elements of Sicario and Guillermo Del Toro-style dark fantasy. (Released May 5)
• Mandy – Cults, Nic Cage, and (more) tigers, oh my! Panos Cosmatos’ sophomore effort follows Red Miller (Cage) as he navigates an increasingly psychedelic landscape to avenge the loss of a loved one. My favorite horror of 2018. (Releases May 19)
• One Cut of the Dead – One of the most surprising sleeper hits of recent years, this seemingly amateurish found-footage zombie romp pays big dividends to those who stick with it past the 30-minute mark. (Releases June 2)

Steelbooks have been a collector craze for some time, and have amassed enough popularity for certain companies to acquire hundreds of exclusive titles.

Here’s hoping Shudder has a successful run with these releases, as it may encourage other streaming services (*cough* Netflix *cough*) to ease up on the exclusivity of virtual presentation and offer fans something tangible for their collections at home.

Are you excited for Mandy and all of the other Shudder Steelbooks? Let us know in the comments.