Inspired by Eric’s post about the new film St. Maud, I thought I’d take a look at the Shudder original Shook which debuted this week, and then write about it as a freebie for JUDGEMENT. Why not offer up more short reviews of niche horror stuff as it comes out? WTF else is there to do?
Shook starts strong, with a fun soundtrack featuring the Chromatics, and a campy axe to grind about the phoniness of “influencer” culture and the unique social illness that befalls those who are Extremely Online but also not terribly self-aware.
However — and here’s where many will run aground instantly — the movie is also about a “serial dog murderer” and this plot is introduced not only with early scenes featuring dogs in peril, but also with gory crime scene photos of (playing!) dead dogs.
This is such an established sticking point among horror fans, many of whom love animals much more than people, I was shocked at this extremely avoidable device. Especially since this isn’t ultimately what the movie’s about: it’s just the hook used to lure our heroine into danger, via a dog-sitting gig at her sister’s house.
Reader, I persisted. What unfolds from there is part Scream and part Saw, in which smartphone-tethered characters become pawns in a gruesome game of Truth or Dare. Or do they? Is it all just a stunt to get more Likes?
I’ll never know for sure, because an hour into the film, the heroine is presented with a briefcase full of syringes loaded with mystery fluid and commanded (via telephone) to inject herself with all of them if she wants her friends to survive.
“No thanks,” I said out loud, laughing as I reached for the remote control. But you know, I’m sure this movie is for someone, and they’ll be happy to know it’s out there. If this is you, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Comment with your thoughts! (Hashtag blessed, hashtag dogs of instagram, hashtag dogstagram.)
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