A Shudder original, Cursed Films is a five-part documentary series which explores the myths and legends behind some of Hollywood’s notoriously “cursed” horror film productions. From plane accidents and bombings during the making of The Omen, to the rumored use of real human skeletons on the set of Poltergeist, these stories are legendary amongst film fans and filmmakers alike. But where does the truth lie?

Cursed Films reveals the real-life events that haunted these productions through interviews with experts, witnesses and the cast, directors and producers who lived through them. Were these films really cursed, as many believe, or just the victims of bad luck and bizarre circumstances?

Below is a list of the episodes in this Shudder original series, when they air, and some background on each one.

EPISODES

• The Exorcist — Premieres April 2
  The release of The Exorcist was surrounded by controversy, as reports of fainting theatre-goers
  and mysterious on-set accidents raised questions as to whether or not the film itself was evil.
• Poltergeist — Premieres April 9
  Untimely deaths connected to the making of the Poltergeist films inspire rumors that the
  production was cursed, stoked by stories that real human skeletons were used during the
  making of the film.
• The Omen — Premieres April 9
  A series of unfortunate events plague the cast and crew during the making of The Omen, raising
  fears that the film might be cursed by the devil himself.
• The Crow — Premieres April 16
  Years after Bruce Lee’s mysterious death is attributed to the “Lee Family Curse,” his son
  Brandon’s life was cut short due to a tragic on-set accident during the making of The Crow.
• Twilight Zone: The Movie — Premieres April 16
  A horrific on-set accident during the production of Twilight Zone: The Movie leaves those
  involved in the making of the film cursed by the memory of the incident they witnessed.

I watched two episodes of Cursed Films and it’s an interesting and informative series. While I don’t believe any artistic endeavor is truly cursed, it’s still fun to go along for the ride and hear about all of the crazy stories associated with these movies. I watched episodes about Poltergeist and The Omen, and I was fascinated by how there was commentary from those who felt these projects were cursed and those who thought that anything that went wrong was an unfortunate coincidence. Which side is right? Tune in on April 2 to watch the first episode of Cursed Films and decide for yourself.