shudder.com
Finding good horror movies and series on popular streaming websites can be a challenge. Most of the time, horror media is grouped together as one genre. However, real horror fans know that this is not fair. In the horror genre, there are multiple sub-genres that play an important role in choosing your show. That's where Shudder comes in.
Shudder is a streaming site created for horror fans. It's like Netflix, but with more blood. Thankfully for viewers, Shudder's website is surprisingly easy to use!
The streaming website, AMC Network, fully launched in 2016. It provides content for all horror fans, casual and super-fans alike. They love the fastest growing Horror streaming service provider on the web.
Website Design
Shudder's website design is designed to focus on the viewer's perspective. In fact, the website design reminds me of another streaming website in particular. Shudder mimics similar designs as Netflix, in a few ways.
The Shudder logo is in the same spot as the Netflix N, and their menu is set up similarly. Another similarity is that its library is displayed in boxes almost in the same exact spots.
Despite the website appearing to be a rip-off of another, it's actually very suited. I would call Shudder the Netflix of horror. The site operates in the same manner and puts up older content, along with providing its own original content too.
My favorite thing about the website is the horror-themed navigation system. When you hover over the words on the menu, their text squirms like TV static would. There are also various other Easter eggs around the site, like their social media links. Besides their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter links a small "Stalk Us" is captioned.
Content
There are a lot of different films and series available on Shudder. There are around 500 titles on the website.
Some of the films that are on Shudder are exclusive. They have a long list of items that are exclusive to their sites like Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, Channel Zero: Candle Cove, and Haunt. The site produces its own original content called Shudder Originals. All of the shows like Creepshow, Monster Vision, and The Wrath are only viewable on Shudder.
One of the great things about Shudder is how the curators have broken down the genre even further into sub-genres. You'll find categories like Creature Features, Unhappy Holidays, Smart Slashers, and Flesh-Eating Frenzy. There are many more fun categories as well as collections curated by guests of the website - usually celebrities.
When you sign up for this website, you'll get access to another part of the contentâa live television feed of horror. It's a great way to catch something random, and it's always updated with the latest scares.
The Shudder blog is constantly updated. People can find out what new things are coming soon and also get exclusive information on what goes on behind the scenes.
Desktop & Mobile Accessibility
Desktop accessibility is great. I previously mentioned that Shudder feels almost exactly like Netflix. The major difference is the content. The videos play great. The sound quality is very good.
The mobile browser is a replica of the desktop browser. It works in the same manner as the desktop browser. There are no apparent problems with it, but it is difficult to find a button to download the app, so instead I just searched for it in the app store.
The app is really great. It's got more flavor than the website and it loads quickly. When you open it, the first thing you see is an old wall that looks like the wallpaper is peeling. The layout of the app is different than on the website, but that's a good thing.
The app looks great and has been optimized for efficiency. The top right is the settings and the top right is the search bar. The bottom menu is simple, visually appealing, and easy to use. From left to right, the menu reads featured, shudder tv, collections, and browse. Each category has a small icon that corresponds with its name. My List and Newly Added are the first horizontal lists in view.
Positives
There are many great things about using Shudder. It is a very useful streaming service, especially for horror fanatics. The layout is beautiful and streamlined. It is an easy to use site and application. The overall price of the service is great! $4.99 per month if you buy annually is incredible.
If you're not feeling the holiday cheer, you can always check out Shudder TV's other options. For example, instead of watching a random stream, you can choose to see the Ghoul Log. It's decorated like Halloween and has some spooky noises included.
The new navigation buttons are a great addition. Near the social media links it says "Stalk Us," so that was clever. The top menu has static-like letters when you hover on it, just like TV. The logo is an interesting one- it's the Shudder text with all caps in a text that looks similar to the broken mirror glass. Some of the text also turns blood red when you hover over it.
The blog is great. Being able to keep up with all of the original content is great. The behind the scenes look at shows you like is cool.
There are some good and bad things about the website's title list. Some titles, such as "The Shining" or "Psycho," are well known and many people might prefer to see more mainstream horror titles on the site. However, there are also some obscure titles on the site, which are great for horror fans who want to explore something new. Overall, it's a mixed bag.
The very curated collections are amazing. The creators handpick the titles that go into them. Guests of the website also have a special spot on the site. Filmmakers, actors, and horror icons alike create lists of their favorite horror movies and series to share with viewers.
Negatives
There are really few negatives about Shudder. They have a well put together site with some great features. One thing that I've noticed is that their library isn't exactly small. They have over 500 titles, but we hope it continues to grow in the future. It would be great to see them add some more mainstream titles to their lineup.
Continuing on the point of the library, there are a lot of obscure and unheard-of titles. This can be good or bad. In some cases, it's a bummer not to see more memorable titles. However, categorization makes it easy to find something to watch.
There is no autoplay feature on the series, which can be a bit of a inconvenience for some.
The search function isn't very good. With few exceptions, streaming sites like Shudder will only search for keywords in movies or titles that are related. So if you're looking for a specific movie, you'll need to either type the movie's name directly into the search bar or look for titles with the word you're searching for in it.
Improvements Needed
Some potential improvements for Shudder include optimizing its search engine to be more user-friendly, increasing library content, and more.
Summary
If you're a horror enthusiast, you should definitely subscribe to Shudder. The site has great web browser and app design, and they always have new and exciting content.
There are many good things about using this website. For one, it has a large number of features that can be customized to fit your needs. Some of my favorite features include guest collections, sub-genres, and Ghoul-Log.
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