Camp (Canada, 2025)
Official synopsis
A story of impossible redemption, modern witchcraft, and duels that repeat themselves like cursed cycles.
Review
If you allow yourself to just give in to writer/director Avalon Fast’s trippy dream logic/nightmare logic approach to Camp, you should find yourself highly intrigued. Fast’s sophomore feature takes an unusual approach to coming of age/teen horror movies involving witchcraft, often leaving viewers wondering what in the world is happening almost as much as lead character Emily (Zola Grimmer).
The focus is on overcoming trauma and dealing with emotional fractures rather than shocks and gore. Emily takes a job at a Christian camp after her friend overdoses in Emily’s car — the second death that occurred with Emily behind the wheel. Her experiences at the camp slowly bring her to the realization that although almost everyone at the camp may follow a religion, it is not always Christian.
The ensemble cast members turn in solid performances, including Cherry Moore, Lea Rose Sebastianis and Ella Reece as, respectively, fellow camp counselors Rosie, Nev, and Hope; Sophie Bawks-Smith as former camp attendee and now employee Jo; and Austyn Van de Kamp as head counselor Dan.
Devotees of fear-fare cinema that gravitate toward the eerie and mysterious rather than films that deal in full-on fright should find Camp to be well worth a watch.
The following short films screened as part of Final Girls Berlin’s Folk Horror Shorts Block.
Hafermann (Germany, 2025)
Official synopsis
After losing his sister to the Hafermann as a child, Arthur returns as an adult and faces his greatest fear. But an old acquaintance seems to have unfinished business with him . . .
Review
German writer/director Helena Haverkamp crafts a mesmerizing short that boasts gripping performances and takes full advantage of its beautiful rural setting.
Striya (U.S., 2026)
Official synopsis
In the middle of the night, the beis din of a small medieval town is embroiled in an argument over whether and how to put teenage Gele to death for an unnamed offense. Her father, Ansel, soon arrives to make his case for allowing her to live, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. Meanwhile, Gele escapes and makes her way to the rabbi’s home, where the true horror of her supernatural transformation is revealed.
Review
Writer/director Paige Campbell’s visually striking Jewish folk horror tale of how to deal with a young woman who is a vampire but also the daughter of an important person in the community is wonderfully acted and helmed. Striya works just fine as a stand-alone short but cries out to be made into a feature-length film.
Lok (Bangladesh, 2025)
Official synopsis
In a rural village of Bangladesh, men suddenly start to disappear. The villagers start blaming the reclusive ‘witch’ of the village who is known to practice black magic. But why is she making these men disappear? How is she doing it?
Review
Director Mahmuda Sultana Rima’s film is short and to the point. It’s an effectively chilling slice of the occult.
Camp and the folk horror shorts screened at Final Girls Berlin Film Festival, which took place March 4–8.
