The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival has officially revealed the complete lineup for its 2026 edition, promising an absolute bloodbath of genre cinema.
Running from October 15 through October 22, the East Coast festival will take over Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg with a stacked schedule of world premieres, retro screenings, and special events. Badges are officially on sale, with individual tickets dropping this Friday at 10 AM EST.
Opening with Vampires and Honoring Genre Royalty
The festival kicks off with the U.S. Premiere of Nicky Murphy’s award-winning vampire mockumentary I Love Paris, presented by MUBI. The story follows an aspiring underground singer whose hustle turns extra bloody after she is turned into a creature of the night. Following the screening, Dark Sky Films will host the official Opening Night Party across both levels of Nitehawk.
This year’s prestigious Leviathan Award, presented by Arrow Video to honor luminaries of horror, will be presented to indie filmmaking powerhouses John Adams and Toby Poser (The Adams Family). The festival will also host the New York Premiere of their latest feature, The Glorious Dead, an unsettling story about a small-town sheriff facing mysterious disappearances and fleshy monsters.
Centerpiece, Closing Night, and Highlighted Premieres
Serving as the festival’s Centerpiece is the New York Premiere of Marion Le Corroller’s Species (Sanguine), a body-horror thriller following a French ER intern who develops disturbing bodily symptoms while investigating a strange new disease.
The festival closes on a chaotic note with the New York Premiere of Nick Kozakis’s single-location siege thriller Kick On, which follows four partygoers forced into a fight for survival against a mobster’s unhinged son. The night caps off with ALTER presenting the official Closing Night Halloween Party.
Other premiering highlights include Larry Fessenden’s Trauma, or Monsters All, marking the conclusion of his Universal-Monster-inspired series, and Michael Schwarz’s early-2000s throwback slasher The Only One, celebrating its World Premiere. Documentary lovers can look forward to two major deep dives: Rubberhead: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson and Full Moon Rising: The Charles Band Story.
Curated Sidebars and Anniversary Retrospectives
This year’s festival introduces a “Dark Suburbia” sidebar featuring suburban nightmares like American Dollhouse, the Russell Goldman-directed Sender starring Britt Lower and produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, and the surrealist Little Doors.
Program staples also return in full force. The “Culture Shock” section—the festival’s official Black Horror program—will host 35mm anniversary screenings of 1976’s J.D.’s Revenge (50th Anniversary) and Wes Craven’s 1991 classic The People Under the Stairs (35th Anniversary), alongside a dedicated shorts block. The “Fear in Focus” program tackles Cyber Horror, showcasing 35mm screenings of Rachel Talalay’s Ghost in the Machine, 2013’s webcam shocker The Den, and Jane Schoenbrun’s breakout We’re All Going to the World’s Fair.
Special events round out the retrospective slate, including a 35mm screening of Michael Dougherty’s Trick r Treat, preceded by his restored 4K short Season’s Greetings and a live director Q&A. The festival will also present a rare screening of the 1928 silent masterpiece The Passion of Joan of Arc, accompanied by a live original score from The Flushing Remonstrance.
Get your tickets for The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival now. For more film festival news, follow HorrorFuel.com.
I LOVE PARIS
OPENING NIGHT FILM
PRESENTED BY MUBI
Australia, France | 2026 | 120 Min. | Dir. Nicky Murphy
Aspiring underground singer Paris is bitten and turned into a vampire, but instead of letting her dreams of music stardom die, her hustle only goes harder and bloodier.
| OPI
North American Premiere
Poland | 2026 | 96 Min. | Dir. Marta Giec
Shortly before her 18th birthday, a young woman’s already complicated home life is upended by the arrival of an aunt and grandmother she’s never met, triggering her family’s downward spiral into nightmarish folk horror.
THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (with live score)
France | 1928 | 81 Min. | Dir. Carl Theodore Dreyer
A towering achievement of the silent-film era, THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC equals and oftentimes eclipses the horror of any other masterwork from the 1920’s. Live music accompaniment by The Flushing Remonstrance.
THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS
USA | 1991 | 103 Min. | Dir. Wes Craven
Two criminals and their teenage accomplice find themselves stuck inside the booby-trap-riddled home of their ghetto neighborhood’s evil landlords in Wes Craven’s massively entertaining marriage of horror-comedy and social commentary.
POSTHUMOUS
East Coast Premiere
Australia | 2026 | 110 Min. | Dir. Josh Tanner
After returning to her childhood home, a troubled woman becomes enamored with VHS birthday tapes left behind by her late mother that gradually reveal a secret family connection to the occult.
ROMA ELASTICA
Presented by MUBI
New York Premiere
France, Italy | 2026 | 107 Min. | Dir. Bertrand Mandico
A struggling French actress travels to Rome to work on a science fiction film that sends her spiraling and threatens to be her last film.
RUBBERHEAD: THE LIFE & MONSTERS OF STEVE JOHNSON
East Coast Premiere
USA | 2026 | 106 Min. | Dir. Nick Taylor
Tracks the spectacular rise and swift fall of practical SFX master Steve Johnson while taking viewers on an impressively candid and revealing overview of the glory days of special effects makeup.
SENDER
New York Premiere
USA | 2026 | 94 Min. | Dir. Russell Goldman
A newly sober woman begins to find a disturbing number of daily packages she never ordered on her doorstep, setting her off on a paranoid and dizzying investigation to discover her tormentors.
SLAY
East Coast Premiere
Presented by MUBI
USA | 2026 | 89 Min. | Dir. Kyra Elise Gardner
After her friend is brutally murdered, a young social media star heads to a cabin in the woods with friends for what’s meant to be a distracting good time but turns into a bloodbath when a masked killer crashes the party.
SPLIT ROCK
North American Premiere
Canada | 2026 | 98 Min. | Dir. Ryan Glover
A group of geologists discovers a strange anomaly in the desert. As they continue their research, their thirst for knowledge threatens to put them in grave danger from an ancient horror.
SUNDOWN
East Coast Premiere
USA | 2026 | 79 Min. | Dir. Rebekah McKendry
A trio of blood-related women seeking vengeance kidnaps a man only to discover that his darkest secret is far worse than what they thought.
Screening with: Bloodsuckers, dir. Rosie Brear (USA, 10min)
TRAUMA, OR MONSTERS ALL
New York Premiere
USA | 2026 | 118 Min. | Dir. Larry Fessenden
Larry Fessenden’s down-and-dirty, blue-collar universe of Universal-Monster-inspired films (HABIT, DEPRAVED, BLACK OUT) comes to its masterful conclusion in this clash of nightmarish titans set in a small town harboring its own dark past.
TRICK’ R TREAT (35mm) w/SEASON’S GREETINGS
USA | 2007 | 86 Min. | Dir. Michael Dougherty
It’s the ultimate Halloween season event with everyone’s favorite little pumpkin-headed demon, Sam: a special 35mm screening of Michael Dougherty’s classic Samhain-minded omnibus gem TRICK’ R TREAT (2007), preceded by the filmmaker’s handmade animated short that inspired it, SEASON’S GREETINGS (1996), and capped off by a conversation with Dougherty to discuss it all.
WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR
USA | 2021 | 86 Min. | Dir. Jane Schoenbrun
A teen loses her sense of reality as she is drawn into a popular online role-playing game.
Secret Screening
2026 | > 100 Min. | Dir. ???
Get your best guesses ready, scary movie lovers—Brooklyn Horror is excited to present a mystery film you won’t want to miss! And sorry, we won’t give any easy-to-solve hints to all you proud cinema sleuths out there!
Okay, fine, we’ll give you a little something: Our “Secret Screening” film will be a must-see new gem that’ll make NYC’s horror fans kick themselves for missing it if they aren’t in the building for it at Nitehawk. Sorry, that’s all you’re going to get. Now let the speculation begin! |
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Breeder, dir. Sapphire Sandalo
NIGHTMARE FUEL
These frightening folktales, body horrors, and monsters in the machine will haunt your dreams and keep you from sleeping again!
Bagman, dir. Connor Gaston, Vaughn Gaston (Canada); Stuck, dir. Jan van Gorkum (Netherlands); Wax, dir. Alexandre Forgues, (Canada); Breeder, dir. Sapphire Sandalo (USA); YAOGUAI, dir. Mimi Lee (USA); Don’t Go, dir. Talon Darren Winsnes, (Norway); Tsume Kill: The Clapper Claw, dir. Shinsuke Fujioka (Japan); Ceiling King, dir. Mats Udd (Sweden).
HEAD TRIP
Open your mind to genre-bending terror and find the fear in everyday things like your sewing projects, mancaves, and headphones. Embrace the bizarre.
Man Eating Pussy, dir. Emily Lawson (Canada); Summer Project, dir. Yuki Hara (Japan); Headphones, dir. Steven Arriagada (Australia); Rusalka, dir. Mykita Bulgakov, Vlad Fishez, Oleg Batrakov (Ukraine); Prosthetika, dir. Brandon Chi-Wei Chen (USA); Needle, Sofie Somoroff (USA); Mancave dir. Fredrik S. Hana (Norway)
CULTURE SHOCK
Our latest permanent program section strives to uplift Black filmmakers and serve as a launchpad for new excellence in genre cinema. Join us in celebrating Black stories with our very first Culture Shock: Black Horror shorts block.
The Inheritance, dir. Destinee Stewart (USA); Night Feeds, dir. Rana Roy (USA); Angels Pull Your Hair, dir. Gabby Beans (USA); Dread, dir. Loren Loubser, Gabe Gabriel (South Africa, UK); The Keeper, dir. Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes (USA); Grampa, dir. Justice Smith (USA)
SLAYED
Presented by MUBI
Brooklyn horror explores the gamut of queer experiences in this shorts block, from messy lesbian relationships to taboo sexual experiences.
By Yourself, dir. Elaine Frost (USA); Crash Season, dir. Audrey Rosenberg (USA); Four Itchy Boys, dir. Andrew Hebert (USA); Internet Boy, dir. Joseph Demaria (USA); Embrace, dir. Matthew Rush (USA); Tooth, dir. Max Wren (USA); Mine, dir. Jaclyn Moore (USA); Scissors, dir. Hannah Alline (USA)
LAUGH NOW, DIE LATER
Horror and comedy are sisters – both build up tension for a satisfying relief. After all, isn’t death the final punch line?
Knitting Club, dir. Diogo Abrantes, João Rito (Portugal); Baby Fever, dir. Katrina Vergara (USA); Udders!, dir. Michael Spencer (USA); CHÄIR, dir. Chris McInroy (USA); A Stable Marriage, dir. Josephine Decker (USA); Matches, dir. Jake Delaney (USA); Open Mic, dir. Jano Pita (Spain); Vape Glow, dir. Steven Schloss (USA); Gloss, dir. Leah Shore (USA); House Cat, dir. Kyle Spleiss (USA)
DEATH GRIP
These shorts will grab a hold of you, won’t let go, and love to watch you squirm. Enjoy slow-burn horror and explore the dark recesses that hide in quiet moments.
Bruised Sky, dir. Gary James Kent (UK); Down the Length, dir. Milo Ed (UK); Primus the Robot, dir. Max Delagrave (France); Devourer, dir. Nirvana Nagi; Living Grounds, dir. Émile Lavoie (Canada)
HOME INVASION 1
Hometown heroes and fresh faces alike showcase their newest works. Enjoy the work of our locals and let their creativity inspire you!
The Crying Man, dir. Emily Bennett; Richard Goes On a Date, dir. Johnny Frohman; Imprint, dir. Ran Jing; PRIME, dir. Meagan Coyle; Viewfinder, dir. Clay von Carlowitz; Packages, dir. Nick Barat; Crib Club, dir. Jordan Freeman Klaja; Walter Wuz Here, dir. Ben Duff
HOME INVASION 2
The category is so nice; they made it twice. Our community is bursting at the seams with talented creatives; we can’t fit everything into one block.
Echelon, dir. Sebastian DiNatale; Book U Can Ask ???s, dir. Casimir Nozkowski; No Free Brains, dir. Ciara Sergi; Behind This Locked Door, dir. Matthew Brennan; Carousel, dir. Christopher Kosakowski; Hand, dir. Jennifer Winterbotham; The Fool, dir. Adjahni Dèsirè; In My Blood, dir. Alex Bendo |
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SPECIAL EVENTS
Final Exam Horror Trivia
Presented by Dark Sky Films
Do you think you know more about horror films than the rest of Gotham? Then it’s time to prove it with five blistering rounds of expert-level creepy trivia, hosted by Ted Geoghegan (director of We Are Still Here and Shudder’s Brooklyn 45) and journalist Michael Gingold (of Fangoria and Rue Morgue fame)! Meet new friends, win amazing prizes, and learn more about horror cinema exclusively at Final Exam!
Certified Forgotten Podcast
Certified Forgotten is a 60-minute, bi-weekly horror movie podcast focused on underseen films. Hosts Matt Donato and Matt Monagle speak with creators, filmmakers, and critics about their lifelong relationships to the horror genre. Each episode also highlights another unique genre title with ten or fewer reviews on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes that’s picked by the guest, letting them champion each episode’s title to their heart’s content. |
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SPECIES (SANGUINE)
CENTERPIECE FILM
New York Premiere
France | 2026 | 103 Min. | Dir. Marion Le Corroller
A young intern at a prestigious ER struggles to keep up with the fast-paced environment, and when a strange disease begins appearing in a number of her patients, she starts suffering from her own bodily symptoms.
KICK ON
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
New York Premiere
Australia | 2026 | 91 Min. | Dir. Nick Kozakis
What starts as a wild night of partying devolves into a brutal fight for survival when four friends cross paths with a mobster’s unhinged son in this gruesome new entry in the single-location siege horror canon.
THE GLORIOUS DEAD
Presented by Arrow Video
Leviathan Award
New York Premiere
USA | 2026 | 80 Min. | Dir. John Adams, Toby Poser
What should be a typical day in the life for a small-town sheriff quickly turns sinister as people begin to disappear and fleshy creatures begin popping up all around them.
AMERICAN DOLLHOUSE
New York Premiere
USA | 2026 | 87 Min. | Dir. John Valley
A woman living a drama-riddled life returns to her childhood home for what she hopes can be a clean start but, no thanks to her psychotic and homicidal new neighbor, doesn’t go as planned.
CORPUS
Presented by MUBI
USA | 2026 | 102 Min. | Dir. Corrin Evans
A photographer takes a trip to Upstate NY with his longtime friend and unrequited love, but the trip takes a turn when their three mysterious hosts begin to reveal their ulterior motives.
THE CYCLE
East Coast Premiere
UK | 2026 | 112 Min. | Dir. Jordan Downey
When her estranged father’s corpse is discovered at a grisly crime scene, Meg is dragged into the investigation to uncover why—when he’s been missing for over three decades.
THE DEN
USA | 2026 | 77 Min. | Dir. Zachary Donohue
While studying the behaviors of webcam users, a sociology student witnesses a murder and becomes the killer’s next target in this early and underrated entry in the “screenlife” horror canon.
ERIE
East Coast Premiere
USA | 2026 | 89 Min. | Dir. Alison-Eve Hammersley
Aided by her skeptical older brother, a young girl launches her own investigation into their sister’s mysterious death, connecting it to a string of local suicides whose explanations may or may not be supernatural.
Full Moon Rising: The Charles Band Story
North American Premiere
UK | 2026 | 94 Min. | Sarah Appleton
From revolutionizing the home video market to producing classics like FROM BEYOND and RE-ANIMATOR and running the influential Full Moon Features, indie maverick Charles Band’s illustrious career is front and center in this entertaining, inspiring documentary.
GHOST IN THE MACHINE (35mm)
USA | 1993 | 95 Min. | Dir. Rachel Talalay
After he’s killed in a car accident, a serial killer’s soul is uploaded into a computer system, enabling him to find technological ways to try to kill the woman he was targeting before his death.
GODHEAD
East Coast Premiere
USA | 2026 | 98 Min. | Dir. Mark H. Rapaport
A pair of oddball, possibly dangerous twins force a priest to make a series of painful and potentially Biblical decisions in this singular blend of pitch-black comedy and surrealist horror.
J.D.’S REVENGE (35mm)
USA | 1976 | 95 Min. | Dir. Arthur Marks
Hell-bent on getting some long-overdue revenge, the ghost of a New Orleans gangster inhabits the body of a young black law student in this Blaxploitation horror gem.
LITTLE DOORS
New York Premiere
USA | 2026 | 77 Min. | Dir. Anthony Oberback
A woman doing her best to survive day to day in an apocalyptic world finds a small door on her side and contemplates opening it to see what’s inside.
MOUNTAIN KING
East Coast Premiere
USA | 2026 | 94 Min. | Dir. Gabrielle Christensen
Surprising her boyfriend unannounced at his family home in Scandinavia, Hannah is determined to prove she can be part of the family, no matter how increasingly dark their traditions seem.
NIGHT AFTER NIGHT
East Coast Premiere
USA | 2026 | 86 Min. | Dir. Josh Lobo
When his fellow security guard vanishes, Andy becomes paranoid about their enigmatic workplace’s intentions and the disturbing phenomenon hidden in the building’s new wing.
THE ONLY ONE
World Premiere
Australia | 2026 | 99 Min. | Dir. Michael Schwarz
When her exes are suddenly being murdered one by one, suspicion falls on Zoe, and it’s up to her and a ragtag team of old friends to prove her innocence and figure out the identity of the masked Prince Charming killer.
