This month, explore Shudder's spine-chilling collection "Teen Terror," featuring five movies filled with high school drama and knife-wielding maniacs.
Clown in a Cornfield (2025)
Quinn Maybrook and her father, Glenn, have moved to the small town of Kettle Springs, Missouri, following the tragic death of her mother. In an attempt to begin their healing process, Glenn has taken a job as the town physician, hoping it will help both him and Quinn cope with their loss.
However, Kettle Springs is facing its own tragedy: the town has experienced financial difficulties since the sudden closure of the Maypen Corn Syrup Factory, which was destroyed by an arson fire set by a local boy named Cole Hill. As a result, the town is divided between conservative adult figures and teenagers who are primarily focused on their YouTube channel popularity.
When Quinn finds herself in detention with Cole Hill and his group of friends—"Queen Bee" Janet, Ronnie, Matt, and Tucker—she quickly bonds with them. They share stories about Kettle Springs' mysterious history and its Founder's Day celebration, which honors that history. Although their science teacher has banned them from attending the celebration, Quinn decides to join her new friends at the event and the cornfield party planned after the annual parade.
However, things take a dark turn when Frendo the Clown, the mascot, comes to life and begins to kill off Quinn's classmates and new friends one by one. Based on Adam Cesare's 2020 novel of the same name, Clown in a Cornfield is a must-read for those seeking thrilling teen slasher fun.
Urban Legend (1998)
Nobody explored teen slashers quite like the '80s and '90s. After the release of Wes Craven's Scream in 1996, there was a surge of slasher films aiming to become the next big hit. One of those was Urban Legend, released in 1998 and starring Jared Leto and Alicia Witt. Although it is often seen as a blatant rip-off of Scream, Urban Legend offered something that Scream did not: it brought urban legends to life on the big screen. Many folklore scholars consider it one of the first major films to delve into this topic.
The story begins with an intense urban legend: a student is murdered by someone hiding in the back seat of her car. For those familiar with urban legends, this scenario is predictable, as it relates to the popular warning to "always check your backseat" before getting in, because you never know who might be hiding there.
Next, we meet Natalie Simon, who is deeply disturbed by the news of Michelle's murder, which spreads through the college campus like wildfire. Soon, tragedies continue to unfold around Natalie: a student is found hanging from a tree, referencing the "The Hook" urban legend, and another is strangled in their bed, accompanied by a note that reads, "Aren't you glad you didn't turn off the light?"
Natalie and her friends come to the horrifying realization that someone is using urban legends as the blueprint for these murders. But the question remains: why is this happening, and why now? To find out the answer, watch Urban Legend and its 2000 sequel, Urban Legend: Final Cut, on Shudder today.
Prom Night 2: Hello Mary Lou (1987)
Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II is described as the Blue Velvet of high school horror films by Kevin Thomas, a reporter for the L.A. Times. In 1987, he praised this supernatural sequel to the well-received 1980 slasher film Prom Night. Many have argued that it surpasses the original classic featuring Jamie Lee Curtis.
Unrelated to the previous story, we find Mary Lou Maloney, a promiscuous "bad girl," who is brutally murdered after winning the title of Prom Queen in 1957. Thirty years later, Vicki Carpenter, a young student living in a situation reminiscent of Carrie due to her overbearing religious parents, discovers a trunk filled with Mary Lou's belongings while searching for a prom dress.
After taking the original Prom Queen cape and crown that Mary Lou never got to wear, Vicki inadvertently releases her vengeful spirit. What unfolds is a gory, violent, and sometimes hilarious ride that is Prom Night II.
Tragedy Girls (2017)
Best friends McKayla (Alexandra Shipp) and Sadie Cunningham (Brianna Hildebrand) are on a mission to gain social media fame. To boost their following, they are determined to capture serial killer Lowell Orson Lehmann and will go to great lengths to attract more followers.
However, once they successfully capture him, they devise an even more outrageous plan: to hold Lehmann hostage, commit the murders themselves, and use him as the scapegoat. After all, it would be more entertaining that way.
As chaos unfolds in the town, McKayla and Sadie quickly become an internet sensation with their channel. With every murder, they get closer to achieving a verified account. But will anyone uncover their secret? Can the girls continue to work together amidst bloodshed and fame? And will prom end in flames this year? Most likely.
This wild horror buddy comedy is the perfect choice for a back-to-school night flick.