Movies
Shiver Studios: Craig Engler and The Cartel Join Forces to Make 10 Horror Movies for Theaters Each Year
The former GM of AMC’s Shudder, Craig Engler is sticking to the horror genre, with Variety reporting that Engler and The Cartel (“Creepshow”) have formed a new horror shingle.
Dubbed Shiver Studios, the plan is to “make and finance up to 10 horror films a year.”
“Based in Los Angeles, Shiver Studios will focus on a theatrical-first approach,” Variety details. The report continues, “The overall plan is for Shiver to follow its theatrical releases with a TVOD, SVOD, AVOD, linear and physical windowing strategy, working with partners that include both streamers and traditional distributors, the nascent studio specified in a statement.”
The first projects on the Shiver Studios slate include…
Incident at Joshua Tree – From “NCIS: Hawai’i” and “Colony” writer/producer Noah Evslin, “the chiller involves a trail of cryptic social media posts used as clues by a 30-year-old guidance counselor who travels to Joshua Tree to locate her fiancé who vanished while on an overnight camping trip with his three best friends.”
Bloody Mary – From writer/producer Cameron Larson (The Legend of La Llorona), “this one sees six soon-to-be college students trapped in a creepy, plantation home in Louisiana during a hurricane. They decide to play the film’s titular scary game involving standing in front of a mirror in the dark holding a candle, and spinning three times saying “Bloody Mary” with each spin. Soon, one by one, the teens are mysteriously murdered.”
“When Craig Engler approached The Cartel about partnering on a new horror studio, we jumped at the opportunity,” said Stan Spry, Co-CEO of Cartel Pictures, in the statement.
“Craig’s knowledge and relationships in the horror space and horror community are unparalleled,” Spry added. “His expertise combined with Cartel’s production, financing and distribution infrastructure makes Shiver Studios a very exciting opportunity.”
“The theatrical experience has always been key to the success of great horror franchises, and with theaters back in full swing we’re seeing a huge demand from people who want to see scary movies in person again,” said Engler. “At Shudder we focused on curating movies for the streaming audience, but Shiver Studios is going to curate films for a theater-first approach, with an emphasis on smart concepts that can create future horror franchises.”
An eccentric poodle breeder is the villain in the upcoming horror movie Breeder, and Variety reports that Independent Film Company and Shudder have acquired the film.
Breeder is the feature debut of director Alex Goyette.
Variety details, “The film is about an eccentric poodle breeder who lures a broke college student to her remote ranch with a promise of research funding.
“As he soon learns, there’s a catch.”
Daniel Doheny, Dot Marie Jones, Maddie Phillips, and Tanaya Beatty star.
Expect to see the release of Breeder in Fall 2026.
Breeder will first premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this month.
“Independent Film Company and Shudder have always been a dream home for us,” Alex Goyette said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to partner with them to bring Breeder to audiences following its world premiere at Tribeca. As conversations around eugenics continue to resurface, our film confronts those ideas through the eyes of a deranged poodle breeder.”
“Breeder is the kind of movie that makes you lean forward and ask, ‘How did they get away with this?’” said Mark Ward of IFC Entertainment Group. “It’s provocative and constantly surprises you just when you think you’ve figured it out. We knew the moment we saw it that audiences will be talking about it long after they leave the theater, and we can’t wait to shock audiences on the big screen later this year.”