MASTEMAH JOINS A THRILLING LINE-UP OF SHUDDER ACQUISITIONS SELECTED TO SCREEN AT THE UK’S BIGGEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, has acquired the horror film Mastemah ahead of its FrightFest premiere in London in August. Shudder will release the film exclusively in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. From co-writer and director Didier D. Daarwin, Mastemah will debut on the service in 2023.
The film joins a line-up of nine Shudder acquisitions and originals premiering at FrightFest, the UK’s largest fantasy and horror film festival which takes place 25-29 August. The titles include A Wounded Fawn from co-writer-director Travis Stevens; Dark Glasses from the iconic director and co-writer Dario Argento; Deadstream, written and directed by Joseph Winter and Vanessa Winter; Raven’s Hollow from co-writer-director Christopher Hatton; Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge, from directors Aaron B. Koontz, Alexandra Barreto, Anthony Cousins, Jed Shepherd, and Rachele Wiggins; Sissy, written and directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes; Who Invited Them from writer-director Duncan Birmingham, all of which will premiere on Shudder later in 2022. Sorry About the Demon from writer-director Emily Hagins and The Lair from writer-director Neil Marshall will premiere in 2023.
General manager of Shudder, Craig Engler, commented: ‘We’re absolutely thrilled to have so many of our new releases screen at this year’s FrightFest, the perfect audience for our movies. And we’re looking forward to bringing Shudder members exclusive access to this fantastic line-up of new horror films in the coming months and into 2023.’
A Wounded Fawn – International Premiere
Meredith Tanning is a local museum curator, dipping her toe back into the dating pool. But unbeknownst to Meredith, she is being targeted by a charming serial killer. When a romantic getaway turns into a tense game of cat and mouse, both must confront the madness within themselves. Inspired by surrealist art and Greek mythology, the latest shocker from Travis Stevens of Jakob’s Wife (which is available now on Shudder) and Girl on the Third Floor fame is another visually arresting nightmare, in equal parts gripping, unexpected and surprisingly funny.
With: Sarah Lind, Josh Ruben, Malin Barr, Katie Kuang. Written by Nathan Faudree and Travis Stevens. Directed by Travis Stevens.
Dark Glasses – UK Premiere
In Rome, a serial killer is targeting high-class sex workers with cello strings. Three have already been garrotted and upmarket escort Diana is next on the list. One night, the maniac causes her car to crash which leaves her blind but determined to fight for her life. However, she is no longer alone: defending her and acting as her eyes is a little boy, Chin, who also survived the car accident. But the killer is unwilling to forgo his victim…
With: Ilenia Pastorelli, Asia Argento, Andrea Gherpelli, Mario Pirrello. Written by Dario Argento and Franco Ferrini. Directed by Dario Argento.
Deadstream – International Premiere
Co-director Joseph Winter stars as disgraced YouTube celebrity Shawn Ruddy. Desperate to reclaim his influencer infamy, he locks himself inside the reportedly haunted Death Manor that once belonged to lovesick 1800s poet Mildred Pratt. Shawn breaks every horror movie rule to get ever more follower spikes, and accidentally angers a vengeful spirit which tiurns his big comeback event into a real-time fight for his life.
With: Joseph Winter, Melanie Stone, Jason K. Wixom, Pat Barnett. Written and directed by Joseph Winter and Vanessa Winter.
Mastemah – World Premiere
After a traumatic accidental death during a hypnosis session, young psychiatrist Louise leaves the big city to open a new consultancy in the small village of Aubrac. She hopes that the past will not follow her, but her new patient Theo comes with dark and mysterious secrets that plunge Louise into a downward spiral. As her life becomes a living hell she starts to suspect something truly Satanic about Theo. This stylish and erudite chiller smartly oscillates between schizophrenia, possession and pure psychological horror.
With: Camille Razat, Olivier Barthelemy, Feodor Atkine, Bruno Debrandt. Written by Thierry Aflalou, Didier D. Daarwin and Johanne Rigoulot. Directed by Didier D. Daarwin.
Raven’s Hollow – World Premiere
Autumn, 1830. West Point Military Cadet Edgar Allan Poe and four other cadets are on a training exercise in upstate New York when they come upon an eviscerated man on a bizarre wooden rack. His dying words direct them to a forgotten community that may be guarding sinister secrets. Enthralled by the Innkeeper’s beautiful and mysterious daughter Charlotte and fuelled by the town residents’ refusal to speak of the murder, Poe determines to uncover the truth, but his determination brings him face to face with the terrifying creature that will haunt him forever.
With: William Moseley, Melanie Zanetti, Kate Dickie, David Hayman. Written by Christopher Hatton and Chuck Reeves. Directed by Christopher Hatton.
Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge – World Premiere
Horror guru ‘Rad’ Chad Buckley’s funeral turns into an elaborate series of hilarious death traps, forcing the guests to band together with only the rules of horror to guide them through the bloody diversions. In this highly anticipated sequel to 2020’s hit horror comedy anthology, the genre references fly as thick and fast as the bone-chilling splatter. Would you like to play a game?
With: Jeremy King, Zoe Graham, Rich Sommer, Graham Skipper. Aaron B. Koontz. Written by Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, Alexandra Barreto and Jed Shepherd. Directed by Aaron B. Koontz, Alexandra Barreto, Anthony Cousins, Jed Shepherd and Rachele Wiggins.
Sissy – UK Premiere
Nothing would come between tween-age BFFs Cecilia (aka Sissy) and Emma until Alex arrived on the scene. Twelve years later, Cecilia is a successful social media influencer, until she runs into Emma for the first time in over a decade. Their reconnection leads to Emma inviting Cecilia on her bachelorette weekend at a remote cabin in the mountains, where Alex turns Cecilia’s weekend into anything but relaxing.
With: Aisha Dee, Yerin Ha, Lucy Barrett, Emily De Margheriti. Written and directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes.
Sorry About the Demon – World Premiere
Broken-hearted after being dumped by his girlfriend Amy, Will is offered a massive house at a very low rent. Wouldn’t you know it, the catch is that the restless spirit haunting the place needs a human sacrifice and if the prior owners fail to find one their young daughter is for the chop! Will must figure out how to make things right with Amy AND banish the demon residing in his house.
With: Jon Michael Simpson, Paige Evans, Jeff McQuitty, Sarah Cleveland. Written and directed by Emily Hagins.
The Lair – World Premiere
On her final combat mission in Afghanistan, RAF pilot Kate Sinclair is shot down over a rebel stronghold. Chased by insurgents, she finds refuge in an abandoned bunker where Russians once created a deadly biological weapon by crossing human organs with alien DNA. When they escape their giant test tubes, the ‘ravagers’ invade a local US army outpost where the squad must fight the mutant monsters to the bitter end. British director Neil Marshall calls his latest action-packed gore shocker ‘The Dirty Half Dozen meets The Thing’.
With: Charlotte Kirk, Jamie Bamber, Jonathan Howard and Hadi Khanjanpour. Written and directed by Neil Marshall.
Who invited Them – International Premiere
Adam and Margo’s house-warming party is winding up. However, long after all the other guests have left, one mysterious couple lingers. This peculiar duo reveals themselves to be Tom and Sasha, wealthy next-door neighbours with after-party thoughts on their minds. But a single nightcap is never enough, and small talk turns to harsher topics, leading Adam and Margo to suspect there is more to these new best friends than meets the eye.
With: Ryan Hansen, Melissa Tang, Timothy Granaderos, Perry Mattfeld. Written and directed by: Duncan Birmingham.
Shudder will be a presenting sponsor at FrightFest 2022. The Super screen at FrightFest venue the Cineworld Leicester Square will be known as The Shudder Screen.
AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit www.shudder.com.
