It’s called the #1 horror streaming service for a reason. Today I had the opportunity to call Shudder’s Head of Programming, Samuel Zimmerman for a personalized horror recommendation, and boy was I surprised. Shudder tweeted out a phone number, which was open from 1 PM to 3 PM, and if you were one of the lucky ones to get through, you could speak to Samuel Zimmerman. Naturally, the phone was inundated with calls. I started calling at 1 PM on the dot, and after 20 calls, I was finally able to get through! So what did I learn from this call?
Shudder’s Head of Programming Shares Some Movies
The most important thing I learned was just how knowledgeable Samuel is. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get through to write this article and was ready to pivot into covering the thread of live tweets Shudder was tweeting in regard to this. These tweets solidified the fact that if I was lucky enough to get through, I’d get a damn good recommendation. Samuel was incredibly kind, and the call ended up being more of a conversation rather than the single-question-and-answer-for-expediancy-sake call I thought it would be. It’s heartwarming to see how above and beyond a company like Shudder will go to make sure it remains the #1 horror streaming service.
But what did he recommend?
Two Under the Rader Recommendations
When the phone was answered, I was asked my name. Samuel greeted me by name and then asked me what type of film I was in the mood for. I apologized for my crassness and said I was looking for something to scare the shit out of me. A follow-up question was asked, “What scares you?” I froze. I wasn’t expecting a follow-up. The last film I saw in theaters was Malibu Horror Story, and I just couldn’t shake just how terrifyingly unpredictable found footage films could be. So that’s what I responded with.
Noroi: The Curse
Samuel’s first, yeah, I said first, recommendation was a film I had seen once a long time ago but completely forgot about, Noroi: The Curse from acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Kōji Shiraishi. Shiraishi’s 2005 found footage film blends fact with fiction, with actress Marika Matsumoto playing a fictionalized version of herself. Where this conversation took a turn was when Samuel finished talking about Noroi: The Curse and said, “And also…” Who knew I’d get a double feature from Shudder’s Head of Programming?
The Collingswood Story
The second film he recommended was one I had never heard of. Now, that’s not an awful thing, only Samuel recommended one of the most, apparently, influential found footage films…ever. Before Unfriended and Host, there was 2002’s The Collingswood Story. Samuel pitched it as the first real screen-centric found footage film. The Collingswood Story is written and directed by Mike Costanza, a Cannes Film Festival official selection and Palme d’Or nominated filmmaker. The film follows a couple in a long-distance relationship told through webcam chats. One day an online psychic joins the mix, and all hell breaks loose. How have I seriously never heard of this?
My two personalized recommendations aren’t just for me though. They’re a powerhouse of a double feature that any horror fan of found footage can sink their teeth into. When I said found footage, Samuel could have easily said, “Oh, go watch V/H/S/85,” or, “Creepshow Season 4 is streaming now!” But that’s not what happened. Shudder has proven time and time again that they are the premier horror streaming service. From The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs to the most obscure Shudder originals and exclusives, there really is something for everyone.
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