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 distress makes calls for help, with something mysterious on board that perhaps only her family members can help with — and she has a strained relationship with them. Kauffmann is terrific in the lead role, and Busnel paces the suspense and surprises fantastically.
Making Music From Monsters
Official synopsis
Making Music from Monsters follows the unexpected creative journey behind The Return of the Vampire Hustlers from Hell, a fictional 1970s-style exploitation film that exists only through its artwork and music.
Review
The short-film documentary Making Music from Monsters, from director Mark Andrew Hamer, chronicles a collaborative art and music project that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Artist Derek “D-WREX” Zimmerman crafted a poster for the imaginary horror movie The Return of the Vampire Hustlers from Hell, and composer Silas Hite created a full-length soundtrack to that fictitious film. Hite traveled to Rome’s Forum Studios, legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone’s recording studio, to record a good deal of the music. It was a quite fitting place to do so as Hite’s inspiration was music of classic Italian shockers. Aficionados of fright fare and devotees of film scores will want to give Making Music from Monsters a watch, and here’s hoping we get to see The Return of the Vampire Hustlers from Hell become a full-fledged film soon.
The Curse of Tahu’a and Making Music From Monsters screened as part of Nightmares Film Festival, which ran October 15–18, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio.
