Halloween enthusiasts are in the midst of a month of thrills, chills, and cinematic delights. AMC Networks' annual "FearFest," a beloved tradition for horror aficionados, is in full swing, and it's spookier than ever. "FearFest" began 26 years ago, and now with Shudder, the event has expanded to include AMC Networks' entire portfolio of networks and streamers. The renamed spectacle, "FearFest, Shocked by Shudder," actually began in September—setting the stage for two months and 700 hours of Halloween terror-filled content.
Courtney Thomasma, executive vice president of streaming for AMC Networks, told "Vulture": "We have this in-house horror brand [Shudder], and they are the experts in the space who live and breathe and sleep this stuff." She continued that it became "a really organic collaboration between the great minds at AMC, who have built out FearFest over the years, and the experts of Shudder."
Here are just a handful of highlights of what this new collaboration is bringing horror fans this season.
A Spooky Lineup
- Frightful Fridays in September: Every Friday night throughout September, AMC aired "Shudder's 101 Scariest Movie Moments of All Time."
- The Grand Finale in September: The final week of September featured classic horror films, including iconic entries from the "Scream" and "Halloween" franchises, and Stephen King adaptations like "The Shining" and "Firestarter."
- October's Fiendish Fridays: In October, AMC unleashed new Shudder movies and series every Friday night, including a double feature of films from the "V/H/S" franchise, and the premiere of the fourth season of the acclaimed anthology series "Creepshow."
- Thrills Unleashed: Additional highly anticipated new thrillers included "Perpetrator," starring Alicia Silverstone, and "When Evil Lurks," which premieres tonight.
- Terrifying Moments in Spanish: Shudder also aired its first Spanish-language Original, "Terrified," from Demian Rugna.
- A Drag Monster Spectacle: The new season of "The Boulet Brothers' Dragula," which follows horror's new icons on the hunt to find the world's next drag monster superstar in a reality competition format, will premiere on AMC+ and Shudder on October 31.
Anniversary Celebrations
Anniversary movie tributes have been an integral part of this year's FearFest, which include:
- The 50th Anniversary of "The Exorcist"
- The 55th Anniversary of "Rosemary's Baby"
- The 45th Anniversary of "Halloween"
A Wider Network of Horror
All of AMC Networks' linear channels and streaming services are giving their own unique spin to "FearFest" and showcasing horror-centric content. Examples include:
- BBC America's "Bloody Good Fear": Every Sunday in October, BBC America has conjured up a collection of sci-fi and supernatural movies.
- WE TV's "Fear After Dark": WE TV released "Fear After Dark," where every Thursday in October, Shudder films and documentaries spotlight the intriguing world of Black horror.
- ALLBLK's Terrifying Duos: ALLBLK co-premiered "The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster," in collaboration with Shudder. Additionally, the network also released the second season of the ALLBLK Original Series "Wicked City."
- Sundance Now's Supernatural Treat: Sundance Now has unchained the first season of the fan-favorite supernatural series "Being Human."
With a spine-chilling lineup and a showcase of iconic anniversaries, AMC Networks' "FearFest, Shocked by Shudder" is proving to be an epic celebration of all things horror.