Official synopsis: Four eerie tales re-imagine H.C. Andersen’s stories as a chilling anthology, where lost souls confront fate, love, and the darkness lurking beneath the surface.
Put the kiddies to bed because this Danish anthology of Hans Christian Andersen adaptations is decidedly not for them. Adorable Humans is abundant with sex, drugs, and yes, rock and roll — not to mention no shortage of violence — with each segment deserving of the description “macabre.” Boasting top-notch acting and impressive directing and technical aspects throughout, this portmanteau offering should be considered must-see viewing for fright-fare devotees of the weird and the wild.
“The Dead Man”
Writer/director Anders Jon kicks off the anthology with a story of lust and obsession. Jonas (Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt) is a professional caretaker newly in charge of an elderly man (Knud Klausen) seemingly near death, but his desire for a young woman (Sus Wilkins) who he has been warned is “crazy” has him looking for ways to spend more time with her and less watching over his charge. Snooping around the older man’s abode isn’t a wise decision, either.
“The Story of a Mother”
This meditation on grief from writer/director Michael Kunov is as heartbreaking as it is horrific. Maj (Mille Maria Dalsgaard) does everything she can — everything — to keep her ailing son (Marinus Refnov) alive as he suffers from survivor’s guilt after the accidental death of dozens of his classmates.
“The Snow Queen”
Gerda (Mie Gren) is going through some devastating mental health issues that her partner Kaj (Adam Ild Rohweder) tries to help her through in writer/director Kasper Juhl’s gruesome shocker. Hiding the fact from him that she is in possession of a mirror coveted by a mysterious masked figure doesn’t help matters.
“Auntie Toothache”
Benny (Peter Høgsbro) is the new vocalist for an established rock band, but he is suffering from intense writer’s block in writer/director Michael Panduro’s segment. His aunt (Iben Skau) has mystical powers that may help him overcome his block and realize his dream of becoming a rock star — but he’ll have to go through some insane steps to get there.
Adorable Humans is deliciously dark and features plenty of jaw-dropping gore and practical effects work. If you’re in the mood for classic fairy tales revised for modern-day horror aficionados, you need to see this anthology.
Adorable Humans has its world premiere as part of Dark Nights Film Fest, which runs October 9-12, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. For more information, visit https://www.darknightsfilmfest.com/.
