AMC’s ‘FearFest’ Turns To Shudder for Scares as TV Amps Up Halloween Fare

Shudder's 'When Evil Lurks'
(Image credit: Shudder)

AMC Networks will lean on its horror-themed streaming service Shudder to help facilitate its annual AMC FearFest programming stunt as the television industry looks to scare up audience viewership during the traditional Halloween season.

AMC’s two-month "FearFest, Shocked by Shudder" celebration, which officially kicked off in September with AMC’s airing of Shudder’s 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of all Time special, will feature more than 700 hours of films, series, and specials within the genre across AMC, AMC Plus and Shudder, according to AMC Networks Executive VP of Streaming Courtney Thomasma.   

“Shudder is the [horror genre] content leader in the streaming space, so we reached out to their producers to help program FearFest,” she said.

Along with airings of classic films from such horror films as Halloween, Rosemary’s Baby, and The Exorcist, AMC will also feature original programming from Shudder, including the season four premiere of Creepshow. 

Thomasma says AMC Networks will also offer FearFest-branded movies and specials for its other networks, including IFC, WEtv, Acorn TV, and Sundance Now. Earlier this month Shudder teamed with Black audience-targeted streaming service ALLBLK to premiere its original horror film The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster.

Now in its 26th year, Thomasma says the FearFest stunt — launched originally as MonsterFest — has endured throughout the years as the horror genre has become more popular with viewers on multiple platforms. 

“Everything is so fragmented these days, but when this season comes around, everyone has a shared interest in the content and the genre,” she said. 

She also welcomes competition in the horror genre both on the linear and streaming front, adding that FearFest continues to curate an expansive lineup of horror content for fans to devour.

“FearFest has continued to deliver what audiences want to see during the season,” she said. 

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October’s Horror TV Highlights (Partial Listing)
DateProgramNetwork/Streamer
Oct. 2AppendageHulu
Oct. 5Monster High 2 Paramount Plus
Oct. 6Totally KillerPrime Video
Oct. 6Pet Sematary: BloodlinesParamount Plus
Oct. 6V/H/S/85Shudder
Oct. 12The Fall of the House of the UsherNetflix
Oct. 13 The PuppetmanShudder
Oct. 13GoosebumpsDisney Plus
Oct. 13John Carpenter’s Suburban ScreamsPeacock
Oct. 18Living for the DeadHulu
Oct. 20Night of the HauntedShudder and AMC Plus
Oct. 26Stay OutBET Plus
Oct. 27Five Nights at Freddy’sPeacock
Oct. 27When Evil LurksShudder and AMC Plus
Oct. 27The Enfield PoltergeistApple TV Plus
Oct. 30Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael ManorShudder and AMC Plus
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.