Mandatory Streamers: Cursed Films Explores Real Movie Horrors

Mandatory Streamers: Shudder’s Cursed Films Explores Real Movie Horrors

Welcome to Mandatory Streamers, our column covering the best new streaming content coming your way every week! For the week of March 30, writer and director Jay Cheel’s Cursed Films, the five-part documentary series that explores the myths and legends behind some of Hollywood’s notoriously “cursed” horror film productions, is debuting on Shudder (which is now offering an extended free trial). Check out the best shows debuting and returning online this week as well as the latest renewal announcements below and be sure to visit our mother site Mandatory by clicking here!

Shudder

Cursed Films, Documentary Series Premiere: From plane accidents and bombings during the making of The Omen to the rumored use of real human skeletons on the set of Poltergeist, these stories are legendary amongst film fans and filmmakers alike. But where does the truth lie? Cursed Films reveals the events that haunted these productions through interviews with experts, witnesses and the cast, directors, and producers who lived through the real-life events. Were these films really cursed, as many believe, or just the victims of bad luck and bizarre circumstances? The series will premiere on Thursday, April 2, with The Exorcist episode.

Amazon Prime Video

Tales from the Loop, Series Premiere: Based on the acclaimed art of Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, the series explores the town and people who live above “The Loop,” a machine built to unlock and explore the mysteries of the universe, making things possible that were previously relegated only to science fiction. In this fantastical, mysterious town, poignant human tales are told that bare universal emotional experiences while drawing on the intrigue of genre storytelling. Tales from the Loop will begin streaming on Friday, April 3.

Apple TV+

Home Before Dark, Series Premiere: Hilde Lysiak is a child reporter in Selinsgrove, PA, who received fame two years ago when she reported on the murder of one of her neighbors and received criticism for being such a young reporter covering a grisly crime, to which she’s defended herself by pointing out not only how dedicated she is to journalism, but also to the fact she had appropriate quotes and sources for her story. The series is inspired by the life of 11-year-old, who will be played by Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project), and follows her as she moves to a small lakeside town with her family and unearths a cold case that the town and her father have worked hard to keep buried. The mystery drama, directed and executive produced by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), will debut on Friday, April 3.

Hulu

Future Man, Season 3 Premiere: Convicted of time crimes and sentenced to death by entertainment, Josh (Josh Hutcherson), Tiger (Eliza Coupe), and Wolf (Derek Wilson) become fugitives, on the run through time, trying desperately to evade capture while clearing their names and fixing the big mess of history they’ve made along the way. The third and final season will launch on Friday, April 3.

DC Universe

Harley Quinn, Season 2 Premiere: The second season of DC Universe’s adult-animated series starring Kaley Cuoco features a new Gotham City without the Justice League as our titular villain continues to prove herself to other male villains. The new season will premiere on Friday, April 3.

HBO

Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children, Documentary Series Premiere: The five-part documentary series offers a never-before-seen look at the abduction and murder of at least 30 African American children and young adults that occurred over a two-year period in Atlanta in the late-‘70s and early-‘80s, from the initial disappearance and discovery of two murdered teenage boys and the fear that gripped the city, to the prosecution and indictment of 23-year-old Atlanta native Wayne Williams and the rush to officially shut down the case. With unprecedented access and a treasure trove of archival material, this timely documentary series brings new evidence to light as the cases are reopened, providing a powerful window into one of America’s darkest chapters. The docuseries will debut on Sunday, April 5, and will be available on HBO’s streaming platforms.

BritBox

The Mallorca Files, Season 1 North American Series Premiere: Set amongst the vibrant international community of the eponymous Spanish island, The Mallorca Files centers around Detective Miranda Blake played by Elen Rhys (Broadchurch, Silent Witness), an introvert who is used to living by the rules, and Julian Looman as her German counterpart, Max Winter, whose approach to policing is based on gut-instinct and little regard for protocol. Their dynamic – sometimes in sync, but mostly not – sets the playful tone of the series. The first season will begin streaming on Wednesday, April 1 with the first two episodes.

Renewals

Castlevania, Season 4: Netflix has renewed its animated series for a fourth season! Based on the hit video game series, Castlevania was adapted by comic book scribe Warren Ellis and stars Richard Armitage as Trevor Belmont, with James Callis as Alucard, and Alejandra Reynoso as Sypha Belnades. Jaime Murray also stars as the vampire Carmilla, with Adetokumboh M’Cormack as Isaac, and Theo James as Hector. Additionally, the third season introduced Bill Nighy as Saint Germain, as well as Toru Uchikado and Rila Fukushima as Taka and Sumi. The first three seasons are available to stream now.

Locke & Key, Season 2: Netflix’s series adaptation and coming-of-age mystery has been renewed for a second season! Locke & Key is based on the comic book franchise of the same name by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez and stars Connor Jessup (American Crime) as Tyler Locke, Emilia Jones (Utopia) as Kinsey Locke, Jackson Robert Scott (It) as Bode Locke, Sherri Saum (How to Get Away with Murder) as Ellie Whedon, Darby Stanchfield (Scandal) as Nina Locke, Griffin Gluck as Gabe, Laysla De Oliveira as Dodge, Petrice Jones as Scot, Thomas Mitchell Barnet as Sam Lesser, Steven Williams as Joe Ridgeway, Kevin Alves as Javi and Asha Bromfield as Zadie. The first season is available to stream on Netflix.

Shrill, Season 3: Hulu’s Aidy Bryant-led comedy has been greenlit for an eight-episode third season! The small-screen adaptation is written by Lindy West, Ali Rushfield, and Bryant, who plays Annie, a young woman who wants to change her life, but not her body. You can stream the first two seasons on Hulu now.