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Details
This special limited edition slipcover (designed by Adam Maida) is limited to 1,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Called “one of the best streaming services in the world” by RogerEbert.com and described by Thrillist as “pretty much everything a horror fan could want,” Shudder is a premium streaming service offering the best selection of horror, thriller and supernatural movies, series and specials.
Tsidi, a single mother, is forced to move in with her estranged mother Mavis, a live-in domestic worker caring obsessively for her catatonic white ‘Madam’. As Tsidi tries to heal her family however, a sinister spectre begins to stir.
directed by: Jenna Cato Bass starring: Chumisa Cosa, Nosipho Mtebe, Kamvalethu Jonas Raziya, Sanda Shandu, Khanyiso Kenqa 2021 / 92 min / 2.39:1 / Xhosa, English DTS-HD MA 5.1, Dolby Atmos
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
Commentary with director, cinematographer, co-writer and co-producer Jenna Cato Bass, with co-writer and co-producer Babalwa Baartman, and actress and co-writer Chumisa Cosa
Video Interview with Jenna Cato Bass
Video Interview with Chumisa Cosa
Video Interview with Babalwa Baartman
Video Interview with co-writer and actress Nosipho Mtebe
Video Interview with musicians Kanyi Mavi and Nasfa Ncanywa
Theatrical Trailer
Booklet with new writing by film critic Jourdain Searles
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.586207 / 5 from 29 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Good Madam, a limited edition slipcover designed by Adam Maida, is a highly acclaimed horror film available exclusively on Shudder. Customers praise the film's restoration and powerful performances, creating a sense of dread. The film is limited to 1,000 units and includes special features such as commentary and interviews.
"Good Madam is a gripping and atmospheric film, with a powerful performance and smart social commentary." — Pablo R.
"Great atmosphere and performances." — Bryan K.
"The two female leads give great performances and there's a general sense of dread throughout." — Nathan L.
Reviews
A Haunting and Thoughtful Social Horror
"Good Madam is a tense and socially charged horror drama that blends psychological unease with meaningful themes. What stands out most is how grounded it feels. The tension builds from character interactions and underlying history rather than jump scares, giving it real emotional impact. The visuals are clean and natural, and the overall presentation supports the film’s restrained but powerful storytelling. It’s a thoughtful, unsettling watch that stays with you long after it ends."
— Tim L. (5/5)
Horror Noire from South Africa
"Horror can lean heavily on generational trauma, but for better or worse, it remains a vital strand in the DNA of Black horror. South Africa is no stranger to inherited wounds, and they haunt every frame of Good Madam, writer-director Jenna Bass’ quietly devastating feature. After a cruelly indifferent socioeconomic separation, an estranged mother and daughter reunite under the roof a white employer, where the story unfolds with deliberate restraint, privileging atmosphere over spectacle. This is horror that chills rather than jolts; it demands patience, but the reward is a slow-burn dread that seeps in and refuses to leave. The Shudder–Vinegar Syndrome partnership delivers another thoughtfully assembled release. The reimagined artwork is spare and unsettling, perfectly aligned with the film’s tone. Supplements are substantial: a director and actor commentary, multiple cast and crew interviews, and a beautifully illustrated booklet. Like His House, it situates supernatural unease within a legacy of historical trauma, making it essential viewing for those interested in the evolving landscape of African horror."
— Shawn P. (5/5)
Love this witchy film
"So I really enjoyed this witchy film, definitely a slow burn to a climactic end. Fans of hereditary will enjoy this one."
— Zachery M. (5/5)
So good!!
"First movie I’ve seen like this"
— Adam R. (5/5)
Good madam
"Worth the watch"
— Andrew D. (4/5)
Great!
"Great!"
— Richard L. (5/5)
Interesting Themes Not Often Tackled By Horror
"Fairly weighty themes of generational trauma and the lasting legacy of apartheid in this slow burn horror that covers themes very rarely touched on by genre films. Lots of atmosphere and dread but ultimately pulls its punches in favour of introspection and a sense of hope future. There’s some minor subtext involving the Egyptian book of the dead and witchcraft that the film doesn’t really commit to, which is a shame. Overall - interesting, I’m all for expanding the boundaries of the horror genre across World film."
— Mark S. (3/5)
Good Madam
"A real slow burn psychological thriller A youn girl is forced to move in with her separated mother, a domestic worker who obsessively cares for her catatonic white "Madame" in the wealthy suburbs of Cape Town."
— Hansi L. (4/5)
Good Madam
"Great thriller from Shudder."
— Erich H. (5/5)
Good Madam
"Another great Shudder release. They are one of the few streaming services I pay for and look forward to their physical media release. This is a great release and a great restoration. The slipcover is an interesting work of artwork."
— John W. (5/5)
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