Shudder is a go-to place for horror fans, so it makes sense that the broadcaster continues to do clip shows—you know the formula: interviews and movie scenes interspersed with a mix of cinematic talk and fan updates—that celebrate the genre. The Greatest Horror takes a broader approach than previous Shudder Original documents in this format (think Horror Noire, Cursed Moviesagain Queer for Fear), although it reduces the feeling again spread by identifying five themes.
If we look at the genre as a whole, there are More different subheadings The Greatest Horror it would have focused on, even leaving out those already covered in the previous series listed above. But The Greatest Horror does a good job with five of its picks: “Tropes and Cliches,” “Super Monsters,” “Japanese Horror,” “Horror Comedies,” and “Stephen King Adaptations.” The episodes are self-contained, so if you’re just looking for, say, an overview of Japanese horror cinema, you know where to start and end your watch.
That said, because the episodes are only an hour long, they won’t read you an encyclopedia. Not all of your best monster friends will be told, though you should The Greatest Horror credit for ripping out the rogues gallery of most Japanese and American critics, and exploring why we’re so obsessed with them—even if you wonder if perhaps more is included in sci-fi than horror (including a glut of Godzilla movies).
And while the details provided by the interviewees (just a sample: Joe Hill, Tananarive Due, Axelle Carolyn, the Boulet Brothers, Alex Winter, Tom Holland) are often spot on, there can be too much plot summary at times— especially considering The Greatest Horror it is aimed at people who have probably seen most of the films in question. (We know the thought of M3GAN!)
Overall, however, the series is a fun combination of entertainment and education, with the selection and editing of accurate clips, and a list of thought-provoking episodes (for example: recommended titles to watch, memorable one-liners, the best cameos of Stephen King) included by. spooky stop-motion animation. All the talking heads—be they filmmakers, actors, film scholars, or writers—are all enthusiastic and passionate, which makes it fun.
Like horror, the standout episodes were “Tropes and Cliches,” a kind of mini-film school lesson that not only breaks down some of the most common horror tropes — in slasher films and beyond — but also explains how and why they came to be. be it that way; and “Japanese Horror,” which digs deep into the archives and casts a wide but finely tuned net, Kwaidan, The house, Examination, The Pulseagain Call it they all get equal time in the spotlight, just to name a few.
If The Greatest Horror gets another round, there’s a lot of turf to cover, and it would be nice to see Shudder become more stealthy and specific. Everyone loves it Evil Dead II (the cornerstone of “Horror Comedies”), but what about highlighting a series of films that many fans have never been exposed to but can enjoy just as much? More international selections—including the wonderful but often overlooked Indonesian horror scene—would get my vote for a second season.
The Greatest Horror debuts August 27 on Shudder.
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