Canadian horror fans are in for a treat as Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror is set to premiere on Hollywood Suite in February.
Narrated by Robert Englund (Freddy in A Nightmare on Elm Street), the five-part documentary series is a retrospective look at iconic horror movie moments from the 1930s to today.
John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing), Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body), Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead), Tobin Bell (Saw), and Blumhouse’s own Jason Blum all appear in the series.
“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Blumhouse to bring another compelling premium horror series to Canadian fans,” Sharon Stevens, Vice President of Programming at Hollywood Suite, said in a release.
“As the driving force in the space for the past two decades, Blumhouse has set the standard for horror in mainstream culture and we can’t think of a better fit to dive into the history of the genre.”
All episodes of Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror will be available to stream on Hollywood Suite on Demand beginning February 1.
The breakdown of each episode along with the dates they will premiere on TV are below (all episodes air on Hollywood Suite at 9 p.m. ET).
Episode 1 – American Monsters
Premieres February 1
In the 1930s, iconic monsters such as Universal’s Dracula and Frankenstein, followed by the Invisible Man, the Wolf Man, and others, launched a horror renaissance when they were reintroduced to moviegoing audiences, offering a shared escape from real-world anxieties of the post-war world and the Great Depression.
Episode 2 – Atomic Nightmares
Premieres February 8
During World War II and the years following, people’s anxieties evolved, and the terror of monsters transformed to fears around unchecked science, nuclear annihilation, and communism (aka “the Red Scare”). Horror filmmakers responded with legendary films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Blob.
Episode 3 – Unholy Dreams
Premieres February 15
The 1960s and 70s were defined by profound changes in cultural norms. Horror films of the era reflected the real and intangible change a younger generation demanded. A new generation of auteur horror filmmakers pushed the envelope with films like Halloween, Carrie, Rosemary’s Baby, and The Exorcist.
Episode 4 – Relentless Evil
Premieres February 22
In the 1980s, 24-hour cable news exposed audiences to seemingly exploitative news, dominated by serial killers and the threat of a new mysterious disease, suggesting new modern terrors. Audiences embraced iconic slashers like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees, and vampire films saw a resurgence. By the 1990s, as Gen X audiences’ taste in horror evolved, Wes Craven took screams to the next level.
Episode 5 – A New Horror
Premieres February 29
In the final episode, the emergence of cellphones and other new technologies in the 2000s exposed us to new and perpetual terrors. Inventive horror filmmakers adapted, and seminal films like The Blair Witch Project opened new doors. And then Blumhouse reinvented the genre with new nightmares.
Hollywood Suite also have a selection of horror films available to stream in February, including Friday the 13th (1980), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Scream (1996), The Babadook (2012), The Purge (2013), and Get Out (2017).
You can subscribe to Hollywood Suite through most TV providers in Canada. It’s also available as a channel add-on for Prime Video Canada members for $4.99 per month. Visit hollywoodsuite.ca for more info.
