Trending PR Campaigns
Stephen King Calls The Cycle “Special”
Ahead of its 23 October release, Shudder’s horror film The Cycle received a public endorsement from Stephen King, who called it “special” and urged fans to put it on their calendars. The campaign’s hook is pairing King’s rarely given horror recommendation with the film’s unsettling premise and early festival praise.
Why it worked: A scarce, high-credibility third‑party endorsement (Stephen King) timed to a one‑week countdown and 100% RT score created urgent, coverable news.
The lesson: Consider securing a hard‑to‑get authority’s on‑record quote, pair it with an imminent drop date and proof point, and pitch the countdown.
Coverage over time
How this story spread across the media
| Publication | Headline | Date |
|---|---|---|
| parade.com | Stephen King Calls 'The Cycle' a Must-See Horror Film Premiering on Shudder This October | Monday 14th September, 2026 |
| rogerebert.com | The Cycle: Shudder creature feature has bite | Monday 21st September, 2026 |
| fangoria.com | THE CYCLE Trailer: Stephen King-Approved Horror Looks Grisly As Hell | Monday 28th September, 2026 |
| screenrant.com | We're Officially Just 1 Week Away From The Perfect-Rated New Horror Movie Stephen King Called "Special" | Friday 16th October, 2026 |