CategoryFilm Festivals
Horror film festivals worldwide — lineups, awards and the titles that break out of the festival circuit.
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Official synopsis Eighteen-year-old Trina plans to escape her toxic mother, but the arrival of mysterious relatives from Kashubia disrupts her plans. The unexpected guests bring long-buried family secrets to light and force Trina to confront her dark legacy, introducing her to unsettling rituals rooted in old Kashubian folklore. Review Director Marta Giec crafts not just one of the best folk horror films of the year, but one of the best fright-fare offerings overall with Òpi (Poland, 2026). This supernatural shocker blends a coming-of-age story with strong family drama and occult wildness galore. Krystyna (Wiktoria Kruszczynska in an amazing performance) is living a put-upon life courtesy of her domineering Catholic mother Urszula (Gabriela Muskala), who treats the young woman poorly, including forcing her to destroy her art, which is very much on the darker side of things. Just as Krstyna — who also goes by Trina, which her mother despises — is set to run away from her home in Poland
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Latino filmmaker Andrew Jara is celebrating massive online success with his latest short horror film titled The Shadow. The chilling short garnered over seventy-two thousand views within just one week of being uploaded to his official YouTube channel. Genre fans are eagerly sharing the digital release and praising its atmospheric supernatural tension. The project marks another impressive milestone for the independent director following his acclaimed cosmic horror feature The Empty Space. A Creeping Supernatural Threat The suspenseful narrative focuses on a security guard working inside a haunted house attraction who discovers a mysterious entity. Actress Valerie Alene stars as the guard, whose routine shift turns terrifying as the dark manifestation appears. Although she tries to ignore the malevolent presence, the shape gradually expands and dominates her surroundings. Ultimately, she must confront the growing darkness directly before it completely consumes her world. Reconnecting Creative Partners The short film officially reunites director Andrew Jara with lead actress Valerie Alene following their prior
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNewsTrailers
A thrilling new indie slasher film, The Only One, is officially preparing for a major festival debut. The Australian horror movie is a loving homage to early-2000s slashers. The film will have its official international premiere as the closing-night selection at the SOHO Horror Film Festival. Festival attendees can look forward to a deadly, sexy romp down under to close out the event. An Awkward Homecoming Turns Deadly The story follows a struggling actress named Zoe who returns home to small-town Australia. Ten years after moving to Los Angeles and failing to launch her Hollywood career, she attends a high school wedding. When she arrives, she awkwardly confronts a flurry of her former romantic flames. However, the tense reunion quickly turns into a bloody nightmare when someone begins murdering her exes one by one. Because all the victims share a connection to Zoe, local suspicion falls directly on the returning protagonist. Therefore, Zoe must team up with a ragtag group
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Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsSci-FiThriller
Serena (U.S., 2026) Official synopsis An unemployed father-to-be is offered a job beta testing a revolutionary new AI chatbot, but as the trial progresses, he realizes that the technology may not be as benevolent as it appears. Review Director Rob Alicea and screenplay writers P.T. Hylton and Jonathan Benecke deliver a riveting, screenlife-driven psychological science fiction tech-noir thriller with Serena. Andi Matichak (Blumhouse’s Halloween trilogy) does an excellent job of portraying the titular chatbot, which father-to-be Chris Sadowski (Steven Strait, The Expanse) — a musician who has gone from being in a popular band to having to record birthday greetings for paying customers — reluctantly agrees to help test to help offset some of the large amount of debt that he has accrued with pregnant girlfriend Vicki Martinez (Maria Gabriela Gonzalez). Serena takes over Chris’s computer, and eventually much of his life as she/it grows increasingly dangerous, all behind a smiling facade of concern. Matichak invests the chatbot with a
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
The Curse of Tahu’a (La Malédiction des Tahu’a; France, 2026) Official synopsis On a small Pacific island, as a storm approaches, an air traffic controller is contacted by a plane — that no radar can show. Review Director Benjamin Busnel crafts a lean, mean supernatural fear-fare feature with The Curse of Tahu’a. Busnel, who cowrote the screenplay with Myriam Dupuis, strips things down to largely one performer on screen most of the time, with much of the action taking place through radio and phone contact. The aural approach is reminiscent of horror radio plays, of which I am a huge fan, so this style really worked for me. Sometimes leaving things to our imagination can be just as strong, if not more so, then experiencing graphic violence onscreen. Moea (Marie Kauffmann) is a troubled air traffic controller who drinks on the job after losing her pilot husband in an accident. When a massive storm hits her area, a pilot in
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Dogs Reign (France, 2026) Official synopsis Léa, a young deaf woman, is approached by Raph and Julien, two insistent men whose ‘friendly’ invitation feels slightly off — yet she accepts it. As the night unfolds, their intentions grow increasingly unclear, and the tension rises. Review Axel Zeltser won Dark Nights Film Fest’s Best Short Film Director Award for Dogs Reign, and for good reason. The short uses horror to shine a light on predatory behavior. Léa (Chiara Corbetta) is approached by two young men (Julien Crampon and Julien Le Lons) with bad behavior on their minds. She takes them up on their offer and invites them to her home. Giving away anything further would be a disservice to future viewers, but suffice it to say that Zeltser, who also wrote the screenplay, has plenty of shocking surprises in store. Corbetta gives an excellent lead performance and Crampon and Le Lons add solid support. The pacing is perfect and the payoff
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesReviews
The Exit State Official synopsis Set in a United States spiraling toward authoritarian collapse, The Exit State follows a group of Americans fleeing south toward Mexico. Taking refuge in what they believe is a safe house in neutral territory, they soon learn the shelter is anything but safe, and that escape will come at a terrifying cost. Review With The Exit State, director Gabriela Ledesma serves up a fear-fare feature that combines horror and political thriller elements. The film has its share of surprise reveals, which I won’t discuss here. Suffice it to say that Ledesma, working from a screenplay that she cowrote with stars Josh George and Callie Schuttera, does a keen job of ramping up the suspense and delivering the unexpected while getting the film’s political message across. Claire (Schuttera) and Vince (George) are a brother and sister who provide a safe house for American refugees fleeing the state of martial law in the U.S. as they attempt
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsGamingHalloweenInterviewsMoviesNews
Moviegoers and haunt enthusiasts usually rely on personal opinion when rating horror films and haunted houses. Past experiences, distinct preferences, and personal fears shape their reactions. However, a revolutionary new platform, the first of its kind, called Scream Score® aims to judge horror through direct scientific measurement. Designed by creator Heather Doggett, the innovative application measures real human fear responses to determine how scary an attraction or film truly is. Biometrics and Fear Tracking The Scream Score app downloads to any modern smartphone and connects seamlessly to standard smartwatches. While a user watches a terrifying film or walks through a haunted attraction, the app tracks vital biometrics. It monitors subtle physiological changes, such as sudden heart rate spikes and shifts in walking pace, to calculate fear intensity. Afterward, users can upload their biometric data to see an accurate, objective measurement of their scare response. Social Features and Complete Privacy Users can easily compare their fear metrics with friends, family, and
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNewsTrailers
Cinephobia Releasing has officially dropped a new trailer for Marcel Walz’s Brute 1986. The highly anticipated sequel follows last summer’s cult hit Brute 1976. It snagged the rights just ahead of the blood-soaked feature’s World Premiere at Tubi FrightFest Halloween on October 31. A Retro Evolution from Gritty Seventies Homage to Eighties Excess While Brute 1976 honored seventies classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this follow-up shifts decades. Brute 1986 embraces beloved eighties slasher tropes, heavy metal aesthetics, and practical gore. The plot follows glam metal band Leather Kobra as they shoot a music video in a deserted town. Unfortunately, the violent Birdy family resides nearby, turning the video set into a bloody nightmare. Star-Studded Cast Delivers Practical Gore and Rock Aesthetics Tokio Hotel’s Bill Kaulitz stars in the film and also contributes original music alongside Swedish band CRAZY LIXX. Returning cast members Dazelle Yvette, Sarah French, and Gigi Gustin from Brute 1976 are also joined by horror veteran
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Film FestivalsIndieMoviesReviews
My Love for You Is Deep But the Devil Loves Me Deeper (U.S., 2026) Official synopsis Alice, a young woman shattered by heartbreak after being dumped from her nebbish boyfriend Ryan, encounters the Devil and makes a deal for “all the love in the world.” Review If you have memories of encountering light-night cable TV movies involving “sex from out of nowhere” scenarios and the occasional erotic thriller or offbeat horror outing, you’ll have a decent idea of the vibe that director Casey Donahue has conjured up for My Love for You Is Deep But the Devil Loves Me Deeper. Alice (Emily Whittemore) has had it with her noncommittal ex, and somewhat unknowingly enters a Faustian pact with a stranger in a bar. Poor choice for her but a good one for viewers, as we are treated to her escalating descent into the realm of the demonic. Donahue delivers on his vision, from the opening cable TV announcement to
Continue reading →
More from Film Festivals
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official synopsis Eighteen-year-old Trina plans to escape her toxic mother, but the arrival of mysterious relatives from Kashubia disrupts her plans. The unexpected guests bring long-buried family secrets to light and force Trina to confront her dark legacy, introducing her to unsettling rituals rooted in old Kashubian folklore. Review Director Marta Giec crafts not just one of the best folk horror films of the year, but one of the best fright-fare offerings overall with Òpi (Poland, 2026). This supernatural shocker blends a coming-of-age story with strong family drama and occult wildness galore. Krystyna (Wiktoria Kruszczynska in an amazing performance) is living a put-upon life courtesy of her domineering Catholic mother Urszula (Gabriela Muskala), who treats the young woman poorly, including forcing her to destroy her art, which is very much on the darker side of things. Just as Krstyna — who also goes by Trina, which her mother despises — is set to run away from her home in Poland
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNewsShort FilmsStreaming TVYouTube
Latino filmmaker Andrew Jara is celebrating massive online success with his latest short horror film titled The Shadow. The chilling short garnered over seventy-two thousand views within just one week of being uploaded to his official YouTube channel. Genre fans are eagerly sharing the digital release and praising its atmospheric supernatural tension. The project marks another impressive milestone for the independent director following his acclaimed cosmic horror feature The Empty Space. A Creeping Supernatural Threat The suspenseful narrative focuses on a security guard working inside a haunted house attraction who discovers a mysterious entity. Actress Valerie Alene stars as the guard, whose routine shift turns terrifying as the dark manifestation appears. Although she tries to ignore the malevolent presence, the shape gradually expands and dominates her surroundings. Ultimately, she must confront the growing darkness directly before it completely consumes her world. Reconnecting Creative Partners The short film officially reunites director Andrew Jara with lead actress Valerie Alene following their prior
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNewsTrailers
A thrilling new indie slasher film, The Only One, is officially preparing for a major festival debut. The Australian horror movie is a loving homage to early-2000s slashers. The film will have its official international premiere as the closing-night selection at the SOHO Horror Film Festival. Festival attendees can look forward to a deadly, sexy romp down under to close out the event. An Awkward Homecoming Turns Deadly The story follows a struggling actress named Zoe who returns home to small-town Australia. Ten years after moving to Los Angeles and failing to launch her Hollywood career, she attends a high school wedding. When she arrives, she awkwardly confronts a flurry of her former romantic flames. However, the tense reunion quickly turns into a bloody nightmare when someone begins murdering her exes one by one. Because all the victims share a connection to Zoe, local suspicion falls directly on the returning protagonist. Therefore, Zoe must team up with a ragtag group
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsSci-FiThriller
Serena (U.S., 2026) Official synopsis An unemployed father-to-be is offered a job beta testing a revolutionary new AI chatbot, but as the trial progresses, he realizes that the technology may not be as benevolent as it appears. Review Director Rob Alicea and screenplay writers P.T. Hylton and Jonathan Benecke deliver a riveting, screenlife-driven psychological science fiction tech-noir thriller with Serena. Andi Matichak (Blumhouse’s Halloween trilogy) does an excellent job of portraying the titular chatbot, which father-to-be Chris Sadowski (Steven Strait, The Expanse) — a musician who has gone from being in a popular band to having to record birthday greetings for paying customers — reluctantly agrees to help test to help offset some of the large amount of debt that he has accrued with pregnant girlfriend Vicki Martinez (Maria Gabriela Gonzalez). Serena takes over Chris’s computer, and eventually much of his life as she/it grows increasingly dangerous, all behind a smiling facade of concern. Matichak invests the chatbot with a
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
The Curse of Tahu’a (La Malédiction des Tahu’a; France, 2026) Official synopsis On a small Pacific island, as a storm approaches, an air traffic controller is contacted by a plane — that no radar can show. Review Director Benjamin Busnel crafts a lean, mean supernatural fear-fare feature with The Curse of Tahu’a. Busnel, who cowrote the screenplay with Myriam Dupuis, strips things down to largely one performer on screen most of the time, with much of the action taking place through radio and phone contact. The aural approach is reminiscent of horror radio plays, of which I am a huge fan, so this style really worked for me. Sometimes leaving things to our imagination can be just as strong, if not more so, then experiencing graphic violence onscreen. Moea (Marie Kauffmann) is a troubled air traffic controller who drinks on the job after losing her pilot husband in an accident. When a massive storm hits her area, a pilot in
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Dogs Reign (France, 2026) Official synopsis Léa, a young deaf woman, is approached by Raph and Julien, two insistent men whose ‘friendly’ invitation feels slightly off — yet she accepts it. As the night unfolds, their intentions grow increasingly unclear, and the tension rises. Review Axel Zeltser won Dark Nights Film Fest’s Best Short Film Director Award for Dogs Reign, and for good reason. The short uses horror to shine a light on predatory behavior. Léa (Chiara Corbetta) is approached by two young men (Julien Crampon and Julien Le Lons) with bad behavior on their minds. She takes them up on their offer and invites them to her home. Giving away anything further would be a disservice to future viewers, but suffice it to say that Zeltser, who also wrote the screenplay, has plenty of shocking surprises in store. Corbetta gives an excellent lead performance and Crampon and Le Lons add solid support. The pacing is perfect and the payoff
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesReviews
The Exit State Official synopsis Set in a United States spiraling toward authoritarian collapse, The Exit State follows a group of Americans fleeing south toward Mexico. Taking refuge in what they believe is a safe house in neutral territory, they soon learn the shelter is anything but safe, and that escape will come at a terrifying cost. Review With The Exit State, director Gabriela Ledesma serves up a fear-fare feature that combines horror and political thriller elements. The film has its share of surprise reveals, which I won’t discuss here. Suffice it to say that Ledesma, working from a screenplay that she cowrote with stars Josh George and Callie Schuttera, does a keen job of ramping up the suspense and delivering the unexpected while getting the film’s political message across. Claire (Schuttera) and Vince (George) are a brother and sister who provide a safe house for American refugees fleeing the state of martial law in the U.S. as they attempt
Continue reading →
EventsFilm FestivalsGamingHalloweenInterviewsMoviesNews
Moviegoers and haunt enthusiasts usually rely on personal opinion when rating horror films and haunted houses. Past experiences, distinct preferences, and personal fears shape their reactions. However, a revolutionary new platform, the first of its kind, called Scream Score® aims to judge horror through direct scientific measurement. Designed by creator Heather Doggett, the innovative application measures real human fear responses to determine how scary an attraction or film truly is. Biometrics and Fear Tracking The Scream Score app downloads to any modern smartphone and connects seamlessly to standard smartwatches. While a user watches a terrifying film or walks through a haunted attraction, the app tracks vital biometrics. It monitors subtle physiological changes, such as sudden heart rate spikes and shifts in walking pace, to calculate fear intensity. Afterward, users can upload their biometric data to see an accurate, objective measurement of their scare response. Social Features and Complete Privacy Users can easily compare their fear metrics with friends, family, and
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNewsTrailers
Cinephobia Releasing has officially dropped a new trailer for Marcel Walz’s Brute 1986. The highly anticipated sequel follows last summer’s cult hit Brute 1976. It snagged the rights just ahead of the blood-soaked feature’s World Premiere at Tubi FrightFest Halloween on October 31. A Retro Evolution from Gritty Seventies Homage to Eighties Excess While Brute 1976 honored seventies classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this follow-up shifts decades. Brute 1986 embraces beloved eighties slasher tropes, heavy metal aesthetics, and practical gore. The plot follows glam metal band Leather Kobra as they shoot a music video in a deserted town. Unfortunately, the violent Birdy family resides nearby, turning the video set into a bloody nightmare. Star-Studded Cast Delivers Practical Gore and Rock Aesthetics Tokio Hotel’s Bill Kaulitz stars in the film and also contributes original music alongside Swedish band CRAZY LIXX. Returning cast members Dazelle Yvette, Sarah French, and Gigi Gustin from Brute 1976 are also joined by horror veteran
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsIndieMoviesReviews
My Love for You Is Deep But the Devil Loves Me Deeper (U.S., 2026) Official synopsis Alice, a young woman shattered by heartbreak after being dumped from her nebbish boyfriend Ryan, encounters the Devil and makes a deal for “all the love in the world.” Review If you have memories of encountering light-night cable TV movies involving “sex from out of nowhere” scenarios and the occasional erotic thriller or offbeat horror outing, you’ll have a decent idea of the vibe that director Casey Donahue has conjured up for My Love for You Is Deep But the Devil Loves Me Deeper. Alice (Emily Whittemore) has had it with her noncommittal ex, and somewhat unknowingly enters a Faustian pact with a stranger in a bar. Poor choice for her but a good one for viewers, as we are treated to her escalating descent into the realm of the demonic. Donahue delivers on his vision, from the opening cable TV announcement to
Continue reading →
