David Farnor | On 22, Apr 2021

Who says springs can’t be scary? Certainly not Shudder, which has a bumper crop of bumps in the night in store for May, including the trippy Fried Barry, the haunting and moving Relic, the latest from Neil Marshall and horror-comedy Psycho Goreman, not to mention classics such as Witchfinder General and Blood on Satan’s Claws. And, of course, there’s the final episode of Creepshow Season 2 dropping on 5th May.

Here’s what’s coming soon to Shudder UK in May 2021:

Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971) – 3rd May

When a mysterious corpse is accidentally dug up by a boy in a small town, a group of local teens starts acting very strangely. The adolescents, led by a girl named Angel (Linda Hayden), are convinced the corpse was once possessed. Hoping to get in touch with the devil through the body, the teens act out a series of demonic rituals that causes a stir among the townspeople. When word of the satanic activity spreads, certain parents start trying to lock up the kids behind the spooky stunts. Directed by Piers Haggard, starring Linda Hayden and Patrick Wymark.

Witchfinder General (1968) – 3rd May

A disturbing tale of evil set during the English Civil War. When Matthew Hopkins is appointed Witchfinder General by the Puritans under Cromwell, he is empowered to travel the countryside with his henchmen and collect a fee for each witch from whom he extracts a confession – a policy which is exploited to the full. Directed by Michael Reeves, starring Vincent Price.

Fried Barry – 7th May

Fried Barry follows the story of a drug-addled degenerate who, after yet another bender, gets abducted by aliens. Barry takes a backseat as his alien visitor assumes control of his body and takes it for a joyride through Cape Town. What follows is an onslaught of drugs, sex and violence as Barry’s alien tourist enters the weird and wonderful world of humankind.

The genre pushing, acid-washed, sci-fi horror is the feature directorial debut of award-winning music video director Ryan Kruger and stars newcomer Gary Green.

Climate of the Hunter (2019) – Date TBC

Two sisters compete for the affections of a man who may be a vampire.

Relic – 11th May

A deeply unsettling psychological horror, Relic is the unforgettable debut feature from writer and director Natalie Erika James who brings a fresh and profoundly human twist to the genre. When elderly mother Edna (Robyn Nevin), inexplicably vanishes, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) rush to their family’s decaying country home, finding clues of her increasing dementia scattered around the house in her absence. After Edna returns just as mysteriously as she disappeared, Kay’s concern that her mother seems unwilling or unable to say where she’s been clashes with Sam’s unabashed enthusiasm to have her grandma back. As Edna’s behaviour turns increasingly volatile, both begin to sense that an insidious presence in the house might be taking control of her.

The Reckoning – 13th May

After losing her husband during the Great Plague, Grace Haverstock (Charlotte Kirk, Ocean’s 8) is unjustly accused of being a witch and placed in the custody of England’s most ruthless witch-hunter, Judge Moorcroft (Sean Pertwee, Dog Soldiers). Forced to endure physical and emotional torture while steadfastly maintaining her innocence, Grace must face her own inner demons as the Devil himself starts to work his way into her mind. Directed by Neil Marshall (The Descent, Dog Soldiers, Game of Thrones) and written by Marshall, star Charlotte Kirk and Edward Evers-Swindell.

The Funeral Home (2020) – 17th May

Bernardo is an undertaker who runs mortuary business in the same house where he resides. In the front he has his clients. And in the back, his dysfunctional family lives among coffins, wreaths and mischievous supernatural entities that visit on a daily basis. They attribute the paranormal manifestations to the dead bodies from their mortuary work but finding the real source of all this madness will be their quest, and what they might find is a terrifying truth.

I Trapped the Devil (2019) – 17th May

Hoping for a joyful family reunion, Matt and his wife pay a surprise visit to the home of his estranged brother, Steve, to celebrate Christmas. To their shock, they soon learn that Steve has a hostage in his basement – a man he claims is the devil.

Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968) – 18th May

An expert in the supernatural collects torture devices and helps a man exact revenge on the descendants of those responsible for burning his ancestor at the stake. Directed by Vernon Sewell, starring Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff.

Def by Temptation (1990) – 18th May

An evil succubus is preying on libidinous Black men in New York City, and all that stands in her way is a minister-in-training, an aspiring actor, and a cop who specializes in cases involving the supernatural.

Black Roses (1988) – 18th May

Demons hypnotize the general public by posing as a rock and roll band.

PG: Psycho Goreman – 20th May

In PG: Psycho Goreman, young siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was entombed on Earth millions of years ago after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. They nickname the evil creature Psycho Goreman (or PG for short) and use the magical amulet they discovered to force him to obey their childish whims. It isn’t long before PG’s reappearance draws the attention of intergalactic friends and foes from across the cosmos and a rogues’ gallery of alien combatants converges in small-town suburbia to battle for the fate of the galaxy.

Written and directed by Steven Kostanski (The Void, The Divide, Father’s Day), PG: Psycho Goreman stars Nita-Josee Hanna (Books of Blood, 4teen), Owen Myre (NOS4A2, Alternate Ground), Adam Brooks (The Return, Father’s Day), Alexis Hancey (Silver Tongue), and Matthew Ninaber (Transference).

Dr Terror’s House of Horrors (1965) – 24th May

Five chilling stories are linked by the character of a strange fortune-telling doctor who predicts the bizarre deaths of five fellow passengers on a train using a pack of tarot cards. Directed by Freddie Francis, starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

The Whip and the Body (1963) – 24th May

A sadistic nobleman terrorizes his family, but the relief that the family members feel upon his death is short-lived when his ghost continues the reign of terror. Directed by Mario Bava, starring Christopher Lee.

Skull: The Mask – 27th May

In this splatter-filled supernatural slasher, a Pre-Columbian artifact contains the spirit of Anhangá, the executioner of the god Tahawantinsupay. Whoever wears the masked is possessed by Anhangá and compelled to commit sacrifices to resurrect his god. It’s up to a museum assistant and a policewoman to stop the slaughter before the ritual is completed. A throwback treat for fans of ‘80s slashers and gory practical effects.

Written and directed by Armando Fonseca and Kapel Furman, who previously co-directed 2016’s Uptake Fear, Skull: The Mask stars Brazilian wrestling champion Rurik Jr., Wilton Andrade, Natallia Rodrigues, Ivo Müller, Ricardo Gelli Guta Ruiz, Gilda Nomacce and Tristan Aronovich.

The Asphyx (1972) – 31st May

A gentleman photographer in Victorian England tries to trap the human spirit at the moment of death. Directed by Peter Newbrook, starring Robert Stephens.

The Sorcerers (1967) – 31st May

A sinister story of mind control in which an amiable old professor creates a device enabling one person to direct the thoughts of another and experience the sensations they feel. Using a young man as a guinea pig for his experiment, he and his wife live out their twisted fantasies. Directed by Michael Reeves, starring Boris Karloff.

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