Shudder has released the trailer for its upcoming horror filmDeath Valley,and it’s giving off seriousResident EvilandAlienvibes. The film is about a group of mercenaries who head to an underground facility to rescue a scientist after a secret experiment goes wrong, but find themselves trapped and at the mercy of a terrifying creature. Sounds familiar? But don’t be too quick to judge.Death Valleyfeatures some of the best creature designs you’ll ever see in indie horror films. There seems to be plenty of gore and high-octane action as well.
Death Valleyis written and directed by Matthew Ninaber, who is best known for playing the titular monster inPG: Psycho Goreman. Ninaber seems to have an inclination towards transforming into bloodthirsty monsters because he’ll be playing one inDeath Valleyas well. Playing the lead roles in the film are Jeremy Ninaber (Transference), Ethan Mitchell (Transference), and Kristen Kaster (If I Should Die). You can check out the trailer below.
While the minute-long trailer didn’t give away too much information, it did reveal the fearsome monster, and the practical effects look impressive. LikePsycho Goreman,Death Valleyis also made on alow budgetand features lesser-known actors; however, it doesn’t seek to elicit laughs from the viewers. Instead,Death Valleyemploys a somber and claustrophobic atmosphere.
Coming to the action and creature designs, the filmmakers have extensively utilizedpractical effects instead of CGI. The passion and commitment with which Ninaber and team have madeDeath Valleyis truly commendable. As of now, we can only wonder how the movie will fare with the audience. But judging by the trailer,Death Valleypromises to deliver all the gore-filled monster mayhem viewers expect from such movies. Here’s the plot synopsis forDeath Valley.
“When a secret experiment goes horribly wrong, bioengineer Dr. Chloe (Kaster) becomes trapped inside a secret underground facility. With only 24 hours before a fatal decontamination protocol destroys the entire lab, Chloe deploys an emergency distress signal before a terrifying creature (Matthew Ninaber) of unknown origin can consume what’s left of her. Alerted by the distress beacon, battle-weary guns for hire, Marshall (Mitchell) and Beckett (Jeremy Ninaber), are commissioned to carry out a covert operation to extract the imprisoned scientist. Upon deployment, the team is ambushed by another heavily armed militia hell-bent on finding a way into the compound themselves. Severely outnumbered, the mercenaries find entry to the bunker through an unsealed emergency hatch, only to find themselves in a horrific fight for survival. With time and ammunition running out, the team must locate Dr. Chloe while also navigating the underground maze of corridors before they’re hunted down one by one.”
Shudderhas become the go-to streaming platform for horror aficionados in recent years due to its vast and mostly amazing filmography. From arthouse and indie horror films likeHostandV/H/S/94to the Oscar-nominatedLa Llorona,Shudder is home to several acclaimed movies. Hopefully,Death Valleywill prove to be another worthy addition to the streamer’s already impressive roster.Death Valleywill be released in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand exclusively on Shudder on August 02, 2025.
As for those in the mood for more mainstream creature features, be sure to check outResident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,releasing in theaters worldwide on November 24.
