Shudder has officially granted a series order to a brand new documentary series titled Behind the Monsters, centering around cinematic horror icons including Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Candyman, Chucky, and Pinhead. The six-episode series is scheduled to make its debut on October 26, with episodes premiering weekly.
“In the history of film, only a handful of stars and characters like Mickey Mouse or Marilyn Monroe have risen to the heights of fame to become instantly recognizable the world over,” Shudder’s General Manager, Craig Engler said in a statement. “Yet somehow, a small group of monsters who got their start in low-budget horror movies have transcended their humble beginnings to become international pop culture icons. Behind the Monsters will tell the story of their unlikely rise to fame, from the ideas that inspired them to the indelible mark they’ve left on the world.”
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From Stage 3 Productions, Behind the Monsters hails from writers and directors Gabrielle Binkley, and Anthony Uro. The docuseries is expected to take a deep dive into cinematic horror icons. Each of the series’ six episodes will focus on a single horror character. It will feature interviews with horror experts and the writers, directors, and actors from the original films that made each character the stuff of genre legends.
The first installment will focus on six horror legends. The full details of each episode are listed below:
- Episode 1, Candyman – will feature interviews from the original team of the 1992 film including director Bernard Rose, and stars Tony Todd & Virginia Madsen; Nia DaCosta, the director of the upcoming horror reboot; and Horror Noire’s Tananarive Due, among others.
- Episode 2, Chucky – featuring interviews with Child’s Play franchise creator-writer Don Mancini along with the first film’s director Tom Holland and star Catherine Hicks. It will also include franchise alum Brad Dourif, the voice of Chucky, and more.
- Episode 3, Jason Voorhees – will feature interviews with Kane Hodder, actor/stuntman from Friday the 13th Parts VII & VIII, Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X, and Tom Savini, special effects creator on Friday the 13th Parts I & IV, among others.
- Episode 4, Michael Myers – will include interviews with actor Nick Castle from Halloween and the new Halloween films from Blumhouse, as well as Halloween (2018) stunt actor James Jude Courtney, among others.
- Episode 5, Freddy Krueger – will include interviews with A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) stars Heather Langenkamp and Lin Shaye, as well as Special Effects Designer Jim Doyle, among others.
- Episode 6, Pinhead – will feature an interview with Hellraiser actor Doug Bradley and others.
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Behind the Monsters is executive produced by Phil Nobile Jr., Kelly Ryan, and Mark Shostrom. Other experts from the within genre set to appear throughout the series include Blumhouse producer Ryan Turek and filmmakers Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination), April Wolfe (Black Christmas, 2019), David Bruckner (Hellraiser reboot), and more.
A brand new Candyman movie is set to premiere this August, and the first Chucky series is expected to debut this coming October. Meanwhile, Blumhouse’s Halloween Kills is also set to arrive in theaters later this year, and a new Hellraiser movie is currently in the works.
