‘Nightmare Cinema,’ each story ranked -

Halloween III: Season of the Witch really was a head of its time.

The idea of an anthology series, much less a major motion picture, was unheard of nearly 40 years ago. Today, however, it’s essential to the pop culture lexicon. From American Horror Story and Channel Zero to Shudder’s Creepshow reimagining (which has just been renewed for a second season), an “anthology” not only allows for richer creative freedom but wider appeal. Horror fantastics ranging from those that delight in blood, guts and gore to others who might lean into psychological terrors can find something onto which to chomp.

New to Shudder this week, anthology film Nightmare Cinema frames around the premise of a collection of strangers being enticed, or tricked, into entering an all but abandon movie theatre. A sinister-looking Projectionist (played by Mickey Rourke) flicks on their worst possible nightmares, images of savagery and carnage candy splashing on the screen, and they must contend with demons they may not even realized they had possessed. The two-hour popcorn thriller brings together some of the most talented creative filmmakers of the past 40 years, as well as actors you probably already know quite a bit. The five separate tales of mayhem are only linked by one thing: evoking an overwhelming sense of fear.

Below, B-Sides & Badlands ranks each chapter, from worst to best.

Editor’s Note: There may be spoiler-y tidbits tossed in the mix. You’ve been warned.

5. The Thing in the Woods

Director: Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead)

Starring: Eric Nelsen (A Walk Among the Tombstones, The Affair), Sarah Withers (Play by Play), Kevin Fonteyne (Sun Records, Melissa & Joey), Chris Warren (The Fosters, Grand Hotel)

Quick Synopsis: A woman named Samatha (Withers) is soaked in blood. Darting through the woods, she fights for her life from a relentless manic dressed in welder’s clothing. This grisly slasher is not what you may think it is at first. Samantha and her friends take a much needed camping trip out to a secluded cabin, but things soon go awry when an unknown object hurls the earth’s atmosphere and crashes into the ground. What emerges from the smoke will make your skin crawl.

Primary horror sub-genre: Slasher, Invasion

What Worked: The revelation of who the killer is and what his intentions are is the most compelling layer to an otherwise ho-hum slasher movie.

What Didn’t: The tone shifts quite erratically from Friday the 13th campiness to coolly serious, and it never sticks the landing, except in the last five minutes.

4. Mashit

Director: Ryūhei Kitamura (The Midnight Meat Train)

Starring: Maurice Benard (General Hospital, Joy), Stephanie Cood (Ghosted, The Mustard Seed), Mariela Garriga (Bloodline)

Quick Synopsis: A dark entity descends upon a Catholic school. Sister Patricia (Garriga) and Father Benedict (Benard) are not only tangled in a sordid love affair, but they must battle against forces they’ve never before witnessed. The cast of school children are easy pickings, and and the demon quickly moves from host to host in a race against time. They say good always wins, but that’s not exactly the case.

Primary horror sub-genre: Possession, Demonic

What Worked: Fantastic camera work (angles, lighting) drip with mood and impending doom. Even when you can predict the jump scares, the cinematography has a way of unsettling you down to the bone.

What Didn’t: The possession and demonic sub-genre has been done to death. There’s little left to mine that hasn’t already been explored to much greater effect. Even the twist doesn’t quite punch as hard as you might expect.

3. Dead

Director: Mick Garris (The Stand)

Starring: Faly Rakotohavan (The Mick), Annabeth Gish (The Haunting of Hill House), Daryl C. Brown, Lexy Panterra (Boo! A Madea Halloween), Orson Chaplin (Ray Donvan, American Horror Story: Season 7)

Quick Synopsis: A random act of violence leaves a family of three dead and bleeding in the street. Piano prodigy named Riley is brought back to life through the marvel of modern medicine. While in recovery, Riley’s present reality and the otherworld begin to blend together (think The Sixth Sense), and he struggles to make sense of it all. Another patient named Casey (Panterra) might be the key in combating the underworld. Meanwhile, Riley’s bloodthirsty killer returns to finish the job he started. Will he survive…again?

Primary horror sub-genre(s): Paranormal, Slasher

What Worked: Rakotohavan gives a superstar performance here, aided by Gish’s commanding work. It’s very much grounded in wonderfully raw emotions, and you’re instantly sucked into Riley’s turmoil whether you want to be or not.

What Didn’t: There are a few story beats that don’t mess, and there often seems to be too many parts trying to move to opposing ends.

Still from ‘This Way to Egress’ / Courtesy of Shudder / AMC Networks

2. Mirare

Director: Joe Dante (Gremlins, The Howling)

Starring: Richard Chamberlain (Dr. Kildare, Towering Inferno), Zarah Mahler, Mark Grossman

Quick Synopsis: Mahler’s Anna suffered an automobile crash when she was very young, and her facial scares are ever a reminder of tragedy. She has also wrestled with self-worth and self-loathing her entire life. Her boyfriend (Grossman) assures her that looks don’t matter to him, and in the same conversation, he convinces her that she might look into getting plastic surgery. Anna books an appointment at the clinic with Dr. Mirari (Chamberlain), who is both compassionate and intimidating, and things nosedive into disturbing territory pretty rapidly.

Primary horror sub-genre: Psychological, Thriller

What Worked: This entry smothers with tension. You know there’s something not quite right when Anna’s boyfriend urges her to get plastic surgery. But when the story goes further off the rails, and Anna is ultimately trapped, it’s enough to crawl right under your skin ⏤ much like 1979’s Tourist Trap.

What Didn’t: n/a

1. This Way to Egress

Director: David Slade (30 Days of Night, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch)

Starring: Elizabeth Reaser (The Haunting of Hill House), Adam Godley (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Breaking Bad), Ezra Buzzington (Fight Club, The Hills Have Eyes), Bronwyn Morrill, Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring, The Phantom of the Opera)

Quick Synopsis: A woman named Helen (Reaser) has a doctor’s appointment, and she drags her two young boys along for the day. Her reality quickly begins to deteriorate, and in only bit-sized nuggets does the viewer get some exposition. There’s a shroud of mystery that lies between her world and the next, and the viewer never really comes to grips with what is actually happening.

Primary horror sub-genre: Psychological, Thriller

What Worked: In one of the year’s best pieces of horror, Reaser continues to prove she’s a national treasure. Her work in Haunting was astonishing and rich in human suffering and nuance. In this 20-minute segment, she absolutely steals the whole show with a performance that, once again, delves deep into human psychology and effects of trauma. We could watch her boil water, and it’d be Oscar worthy.

What Didn’t: n/a

Nightmare Cinema hits Shudder this week.