Blumhouse has already found success this year by teaming with other networks and streaming services, with Hulu’s The Purge series and HBO’s Sharp Objects notable successes, so it’s no surprise to hear that they’re doing another collaboration, this time with Amazon.
Specifically, Blumhouse Television has inked a deal with Amazon Studios to produce eight new thriller movies which will be released exclusively worldwide on Amazon Prime Video.
The titles will reportedly come from “diverse and underrepresented filmmakers”, and in perhaps an attempt not to sound too cheap or something, the titles are being described as “elevated thriller/darkly-themed feature-length productions”.
This has been a recent theme among studios, especially Blumhouse, who seem afraid to label their films as “horror” out of fear that they may be viewed as stupid or disposable. Hence why Get Out was marketed as a “social thriller” and not a horror movie. It’s disappointing to still see people turn their nose up at horror, but eight genre films from fresh creative voices is nothing to complain about.
Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke said in a statement: “Jason Blum has built an empire based on fear, shock and all things spine-tingling. He has redefined the horror genre for fans who are hungry for high concept scares. Whether it’s found footage, a socially conscious terror comedy or a pure sinister adrenaline ride, he reinvented and infused the genre with cultural relevancy”.
“We are delighted Amazon is entrusting Blumhouse to deliver its signature thrills and chills to its global audience through this deal”, Blum added. “This is a great opportunity for Blumhouse Television to empower underrepresented filmmakers offering a fresh take on the dark genres loved by fans the world over”.
Blumhouse has grown rapidly as a studio thanks to giving filmmakers relatively small budgets but big creative freedom, which have turned many of their films into hits. They have only recently begun to turn to TV, with Blum making it clear that he views TV as a necessity for continued growth.
Until now, Amazon movies have not followed the model of their Netflix counterpart by releasing films directly to their service. It will be worth tracking to see whether this method also works for them, and it will also be fascinating to see what kinds of interesting new genre-related ideas Blumhouse’s diverse set of filmmakers come up with.
No matter what label the studios use, it’s a great time to be a horror fan.
#Peace.Love.Blumhouse
