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Horror events, screenings and experiences — premieres, festivals and one-night-only shows.

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Spoiler-Free Review: ODDITY (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Review: ODDITY (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Horror films that deserve to be called truly macabre and that evoke a real sense of supernatural eeriness are a rarity, so I’m thrilled to state that writer/director Damian McCarthy’s incredible Oddity more than lives up to those standards. The Irish shocker recalls the mesmerizing ambience of classic 1970s occult horror while maintaining a thoroughly modern flavor. Psychiatric hospital doctor Ted (Gwilym Lee) and his wife Dani (Carolyn Bracken) move into a remote country house not far from Ted’s place of work. A patient from the hospital named Olin (Tadhg Murphy) comes to the couple’s door one night when Ted is at work, claiming that Dani needs to let him in because he saw someone inside the house. Dani is then viciously murdered, and Olin is soon found dead. Fast forward one year. Dani’s blind, psychic twin sister Darcy (Bracken in a dual role), a purveyor of supposedly cursed curios, shows up unannounced to Ted’s home, which he now shares

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 17, 2024
Spoiler-Free Review: “House of Sayuri” (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Review: “House of Sayuri” (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

If you watch J-horror, you have likely heard of director Kôji Shiraishi. He has 95 directing credits on IMDB, with his most well-known film to Western audiences perhaps being the 2016 phantom face-off Sadako vs. Kayako. With his latest feature House of Sayuri (AKA Sayuri; Japan, 2024), he pulls off remarkable magic with tonal shifts to deliver a wholly satisfying haunted house spookfest. Head of the household Akio Kamiki (Sen Kajihara) has worked hard to move his wife, three children, and parents from a cramped city apartment into a spacious house all their own. Alas, the angry spirit of Sayuri, a girl who was murdered there, isn’t as happy about the situation as the new residents, and she would just as soon see them dead. Teen son Norio (Ryoka Minamide), his grandmother who suffers from dementia (Toshie Negishi), and his new school friend Sumida (Hana Kondo) — who happens to have a special sense about supernatural occurrences — need to

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 15, 2024
London's Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 Unveils Its Amazing Lineup

London’s Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 Unveils Its Amazing Lineup

Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 is already renowned for being the U.K.’s top horror film festival, but the fest’s programmers have outdone themselves for this 25th edition. From the creepy to the comical, the festival has fear-fare fans of all stripes covered. Peruse the official press announcement following, and then check out www.frightfest.co.uk. Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024, the UK’s No.1 horror & fantasy film festival, will, for the first time, present its five-day extravaganza at The ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, London, taking over all seven screens, including the two ODEON Luxe West End screens. Running from Thursday August 22 – Monday 26 August, Pigeon Shrine FrightFest will showcase sixty-nine features from across the world, including twenty-five main screen premieres and forty-five Discovery Screen titles, embracing the famed ‘First Blood’ strand, the latest genre documentaries, and some exciting restorations and retrospectives. Plus, there’s the regular short-film showcase (to be announced later), panels, and some surprise 25th edition extras. This year there are

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 12, 2024
Spoiler-Free Reviews: “Indera” and “Help, I’m Alien Pregnant” (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Reviews: “Indera” and “Help, I’m Alien Pregnant” (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Indera (Malaysia, 2024) Although Malaysian horror Indera is, according to the official film description, “set against the backdrop of the violent Memali Incident in 1985,” director Ming Jin Woo’s feature should work fine for viewers with little-to-no prior knowledge of the event. Handyman Joe (Shaheizy Sam) does his best to raise his young daughter Sofia (Samara Kenzo) after her mother (Ashira Shafinaz) — who was also his wife — died in a tragic accident. Penniless and evicted, Joe takes on the position of caretaker for an older Javanese woman (Ruminah Sidek) who is raising three young orphans. The locals give the woman a wide berth for mysterious reasons. Fans of supernatural cinema should find plenty to be impressed with here, with top-notch performances from the main cast members, and although Indera contains some tried-and-true horror tropes, it puts an intriguing local flavor on matters, and Woo directs with a fine sense of building mystery and delivering chills. Help, I’m Alien

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 11, 2024
First-look Trailer Revealed for Shocking Fantasia Premiere Black Eyed Susan

First-look Trailer Revealed for Shocking Fantasia Premiere Black Eyed Susan

Think you’ve seen it all, jaded fright-fare fanatics? You may want to rethink that, considering the upcoming premiere of the sci-fi horror shocker Black Eyed Susan, legendary underground filmmaker Scooter McCrae’s return to features after 21 years. The film debuts at Montreal’s superb Fantasia 2024 film festival on August 2, but you can get a sneak peek at what’s in store with today’s trailer reveal. Following is information from the official press release. A Vinegar Syndrome Production in association with Not the Funeral Home and Moose + Squirrel, Black Eyed Susan was filmed on Super 16mm film and features a luscious musical score from legendary Italian composer Fabio Frizzi (THE BEYOND, ZOMBIE). The film’s cast includes Damian Maffei (THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT, 2023’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Game), model Yvonne Emilie Thälker, Marc Romeo, and ex-WWE Superstar Scott Fowler. Legendary underground filmmaker Scooter McCrae (SHATTER DEAD, SIXTEEN TONGUES) returns after a 21-year absence from feature filmmaking with the

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 11, 2024
Eight Fear-Filled Films to Watch for at Fantasia’s 2024 Edition

Eight Fear-Filled Films to Watch for at Fantasia’s 2024 Edition

Fantasia, Canada’s premiere genre-film festival, has announced all of the selections for its upcoming 28th edition, running from July 18 through August 4, 2024 at Montreal’s Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screens and events at Cinémathèque québécoise and Cinéma du Musée. Following are recommendations for eight of the more than 125 feature films scheduled. I have seen the first three listed below and can highly recommend them. The other five have me champing at the bit to get a peek at. Below are Fantasia’s official descriptions, each one followed in italics by thoughts from yours truly. HOUSE OF SAYURI MARKS THE RETURN OF J-HORROR MASTER KOJI SHIRAISHI Legendary J-horror director Koji Shiraishi (NOROI: THE CURSE) brings the genre to new levels of fun with HOUSE OF SAYURI. A vengeful ghost disseminates a family until a counterattack from a bold grandma brings a startling new dynamic into the house. Shifting tones in surprising and destabilizing ways, this

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 8, 2024
Watch an Exclusive Clip from 'In Our Blood' Ahead of Its Fantasia Premiere

Watch an Exclusive Clip from ‘In Our Blood’ Ahead of Its Fantasia Premiere

The 2024 Fantasia Film Festival is approaching. We have an exclusive new clip from the psychological thriller In Our Blood ahead of its world premiere. The story follows filmmaker Emily Wyland (Brittany O’Grady, “The White Lotus”) as she embarks on a complex journey. After a decade of estrangement, she reunites with her mother for an intimate documentary project, teaming up with cinematographer Danny (E. J. Bonilla, “The Old Man”) to capture the experience. However, their quest for reconciliation takes a horrifying turn when Emily’s mother vanishes without a trace. Suspicion swirls around her mother’s past struggles with addiction. Emily and Danny are left to decipher a web of cryptic clues. However, a desperate race against time ensues as they fight to find her before it’s too late. In Our Blood marks the narrative feature film debut of acclaimed documentary filmmaker Pedro Kos, known for his Oscar-nominated work on Rebel Hearts and Lead Me Home. Kos masterfully weaves a suspenseful narrative,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 5, 2024
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE: A Ghoulishly Fun Afterlife Experience Comes To LA

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE: A Ghoulishly Fun Afterlife Experience Comes To LA

Calling all Beetlejuice fans! Get ready to enter the strange and spooky world of Tim Burton‘s film with the new BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE: The Afterlife Experience. Opening August 23rd at Los Angeles’ Ovation Hollywood, this immersive experience brings the afterlife to life just in time for the premiere of the highly anticipated sequel. This 11,000-square-foot extravaganza throws you headfirst into the afterlife. Guests will encounter recreated sets from the movie, enjoy live entertainment, and capture unforgettable photo ops. Knock three times to enter the waiting room, grab your exclusive passport, and prepare to meet Beetlejuice himself alongside a kooky cast of ghosts. The experience goes beyond scares. Grab a bite at the Afterlife Diner, themed with food and drinks to tantalize your taste buds. For the ultimate memento, visit the Afterlife Souvenir Shop, brimming with limited-edition merchandise inspired by the film. Tickets start at $25 and go on sale July 3rd at 10:00 AM PDT exclusively on Fever. For pre-sale access,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jun 29, 2024
Spoiler-Free Reviews: “Listen Carefully” and “Princeton’s in the Mix” (Dances with Films 2024)

Spoiler-Free Reviews: “Listen Carefully” and “Princeton’s in the Mix” (Dances with Films 2024)

Listen Carefully (U.S., 2024) Writer/director/star Ryan Barton-Grimley’s feature Listen Carefully follows a harrowing night in the life of Assistant Bank Manager Andy (Barton-Grimley), and it’s an entertaining, sometimes head-scratching, ride. As Andy’s wife Allie (Simone Barton-Grimley) skeptically leaves her husband in charge of their baby for a girl’s night out with his promise that he will prioritize the wellbeing of their child ahead of his work from home, Andy’s job anxiety becomes the least of his worries after the baby is kidnapped. A mysterious voice (Ari Schneider, who costarred with with Ryan Barton-Grimley in the latter’s writing/directing feature Hawk and Rev: Vampire Slayers) on the other end of a baby monitor sends Andy on a wild quest to gather enough money — in an illicit, dangerous manner — for ransom. Listen Carefully sends both Andy and viewers down a path in which reality and dreams intermingle to the point of being unsure which is which. Ryan Barton-Grimley keeps Andy’s anxiety

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jun 25, 2024
Chattanooga Film Festival Offers a Hybrid Eleventh Edition This Month

Chattanooga Film Festival Offers a Hybrid Eleventh Edition This Month

Chattanooga Film Festival (https://www.chattfilmfest.org/) celebrates its 11th edition with a hybrid edition, so you can catch either in-person screenings from June 21–23 or relax at home with a virtual version from June 21–28, 2024. The lineup is a cornucopia of fright fare and other genre-film offerings. Lots of amazing features are scheduled, from Swedish religious horror In the Name of God to Dutch high-strangeness documentary The UFOs of Soesterberg to the sumptuous French vampire film The Vourdalak, and beyond. I’ve had the good fortune to watch and review four of the fest’s features from previous festivals for Horror Fuel, all of which I can recommend for Chattanooga Film Festival viewing. As always, you needn’t be concerned about spoilers in my reviews. Film descriptions are from the Chattanooga Film Festival website. Blind Cop 2 When an influx of illegal weapons trafficking explodes onto the scene, a grieving blind police officer must purge the city streets or risk mass chaos breaking loose.

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jun 20, 2024

More from Events

Spoiler-Free Review: ODDITY (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Review: ODDITY (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Horror films that deserve to be called truly macabre and that evoke a real sense of supernatural eeriness are a rarity, so I’m thrilled to state that writer/director Damian McCarthy’s incredible Oddity more than lives up to those standards. The Irish shocker recalls the mesmerizing ambience of classic 1970s occult horror while maintaining a thoroughly modern flavor. Psychiatric hospital doctor Ted (Gwilym Lee) and his wife Dani (Carolyn Bracken) move into a remote country house not far from Ted’s place of work. A patient from the hospital named Olin (Tadhg Murphy) comes to the couple’s door one night when Ted is at work, claiming that Dani needs to let him in because he saw someone inside the house. Dani is then viciously murdered, and Olin is soon found dead. Fast forward one year. Dani’s blind, psychic twin sister Darcy (Bracken in a dual role), a purveyor of supposedly cursed curios, shows up unannounced to Ted’s home, which he now shares

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 17, 2024
Spoiler-Free Review: “House of Sayuri” (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Review: “House of Sayuri” (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

If you watch J-horror, you have likely heard of director Kôji Shiraishi. He has 95 directing credits on IMDB, with his most well-known film to Western audiences perhaps being the 2016 phantom face-off Sadako vs. Kayako. With his latest feature House of Sayuri (AKA Sayuri; Japan, 2024), he pulls off remarkable magic with tonal shifts to deliver a wholly satisfying haunted house spookfest. Head of the household Akio Kamiki (Sen Kajihara) has worked hard to move his wife, three children, and parents from a cramped city apartment into a spacious house all their own. Alas, the angry spirit of Sayuri, a girl who was murdered there, isn’t as happy about the situation as the new residents, and she would just as soon see them dead. Teen son Norio (Ryoka Minamide), his grandmother who suffers from dementia (Toshie Negishi), and his new school friend Sumida (Hana Kondo) — who happens to have a special sense about supernatural occurrences — need to

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 15, 2024
London's Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 Unveils Its Amazing Lineup

London’s Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 Unveils Its Amazing Lineup

Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 is already renowned for being the U.K.’s top horror film festival, but the fest’s programmers have outdone themselves for this 25th edition. From the creepy to the comical, the festival has fear-fare fans of all stripes covered. Peruse the official press announcement following, and then check out www.frightfest.co.uk. Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024, the UK’s No.1 horror & fantasy film festival, will, for the first time, present its five-day extravaganza at The ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, London, taking over all seven screens, including the two ODEON Luxe West End screens. Running from Thursday August 22 – Monday 26 August, Pigeon Shrine FrightFest will showcase sixty-nine features from across the world, including twenty-five main screen premieres and forty-five Discovery Screen titles, embracing the famed ‘First Blood’ strand, the latest genre documentaries, and some exciting restorations and retrospectives. Plus, there’s the regular short-film showcase (to be announced later), panels, and some surprise 25th edition extras. This year there are

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 12, 2024
Spoiler-Free Reviews: “Indera” and “Help, I’m Alien Pregnant” (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Reviews: “Indera” and “Help, I’m Alien Pregnant” (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Indera (Malaysia, 2024) Although Malaysian horror Indera is, according to the official film description, “set against the backdrop of the violent Memali Incident in 1985,” director Ming Jin Woo’s feature should work fine for viewers with little-to-no prior knowledge of the event. Handyman Joe (Shaheizy Sam) does his best to raise his young daughter Sofia (Samara Kenzo) after her mother (Ashira Shafinaz) — who was also his wife — died in a tragic accident. Penniless and evicted, Joe takes on the position of caretaker for an older Javanese woman (Ruminah Sidek) who is raising three young orphans. The locals give the woman a wide berth for mysterious reasons. Fans of supernatural cinema should find plenty to be impressed with here, with top-notch performances from the main cast members, and although Indera contains some tried-and-true horror tropes, it puts an intriguing local flavor on matters, and Woo directs with a fine sense of building mystery and delivering chills. Help, I’m Alien

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 11, 2024
First-look Trailer Revealed for Shocking Fantasia Premiere Black Eyed Susan

First-look Trailer Revealed for Shocking Fantasia Premiere Black Eyed Susan

Think you’ve seen it all, jaded fright-fare fanatics? You may want to rethink that, considering the upcoming premiere of the sci-fi horror shocker Black Eyed Susan, legendary underground filmmaker Scooter McCrae’s return to features after 21 years. The film debuts at Montreal’s superb Fantasia 2024 film festival on August 2, but you can get a sneak peek at what’s in store with today’s trailer reveal. Following is information from the official press release. A Vinegar Syndrome Production in association with Not the Funeral Home and Moose + Squirrel, Black Eyed Susan was filmed on Super 16mm film and features a luscious musical score from legendary Italian composer Fabio Frizzi (THE BEYOND, ZOMBIE). The film’s cast includes Damian Maffei (THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT, 2023’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Game), model Yvonne Emilie Thälker, Marc Romeo, and ex-WWE Superstar Scott Fowler. Legendary underground filmmaker Scooter McCrae (SHATTER DEAD, SIXTEEN TONGUES) returns after a 21-year absence from feature filmmaking with the

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 11, 2024
Eight Fear-Filled Films to Watch for at Fantasia’s 2024 Edition

Eight Fear-Filled Films to Watch for at Fantasia’s 2024 Edition

Fantasia, Canada’s premiere genre-film festival, has announced all of the selections for its upcoming 28th edition, running from July 18 through August 4, 2024 at Montreal’s Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screens and events at Cinémathèque québécoise and Cinéma du Musée. Following are recommendations for eight of the more than 125 feature films scheduled. I have seen the first three listed below and can highly recommend them. The other five have me champing at the bit to get a peek at. Below are Fantasia’s official descriptions, each one followed in italics by thoughts from yours truly. HOUSE OF SAYURI MARKS THE RETURN OF J-HORROR MASTER KOJI SHIRAISHI Legendary J-horror director Koji Shiraishi (NOROI: THE CURSE) brings the genre to new levels of fun with HOUSE OF SAYURI. A vengeful ghost disseminates a family until a counterattack from a bold grandma brings a startling new dynamic into the house. Shifting tones in surprising and destabilizing ways, this

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jul 8, 2024
Watch an Exclusive Clip from 'In Our Blood' Ahead of Its Fantasia Premiere

Watch an Exclusive Clip from ‘In Our Blood’ Ahead of Its Fantasia Premiere

The 2024 Fantasia Film Festival is approaching. We have an exclusive new clip from the psychological thriller In Our Blood ahead of its world premiere. The story follows filmmaker Emily Wyland (Brittany O’Grady, “The White Lotus”) as she embarks on a complex journey. After a decade of estrangement, she reunites with her mother for an intimate documentary project, teaming up with cinematographer Danny (E. J. Bonilla, “The Old Man”) to capture the experience. However, their quest for reconciliation takes a horrifying turn when Emily’s mother vanishes without a trace. Suspicion swirls around her mother’s past struggles with addiction. Emily and Danny are left to decipher a web of cryptic clues. However, a desperate race against time ensues as they fight to find her before it’s too late. In Our Blood marks the narrative feature film debut of acclaimed documentary filmmaker Pedro Kos, known for his Oscar-nominated work on Rebel Hearts and Lead Me Home. Kos masterfully weaves a suspenseful narrative,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 5, 2024
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE: A Ghoulishly Fun Afterlife Experience Comes To LA

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE: A Ghoulishly Fun Afterlife Experience Comes To LA

Calling all Beetlejuice fans! Get ready to enter the strange and spooky world of Tim Burton‘s film with the new BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE: The Afterlife Experience. Opening August 23rd at Los Angeles’ Ovation Hollywood, this immersive experience brings the afterlife to life just in time for the premiere of the highly anticipated sequel. This 11,000-square-foot extravaganza throws you headfirst into the afterlife. Guests will encounter recreated sets from the movie, enjoy live entertainment, and capture unforgettable photo ops. Knock three times to enter the waiting room, grab your exclusive passport, and prepare to meet Beetlejuice himself alongside a kooky cast of ghosts. The experience goes beyond scares. Grab a bite at the Afterlife Diner, themed with food and drinks to tantalize your taste buds. For the ultimate memento, visit the Afterlife Souvenir Shop, brimming with limited-edition merchandise inspired by the film. Tickets start at $25 and go on sale July 3rd at 10:00 AM PDT exclusively on Fever. For pre-sale access,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jun 29, 2024
Spoiler-Free Reviews: “Listen Carefully” and “Princeton’s in the Mix” (Dances with Films 2024)

Spoiler-Free Reviews: “Listen Carefully” and “Princeton’s in the Mix” (Dances with Films 2024)

Listen Carefully (U.S., 2024) Writer/director/star Ryan Barton-Grimley’s feature Listen Carefully follows a harrowing night in the life of Assistant Bank Manager Andy (Barton-Grimley), and it’s an entertaining, sometimes head-scratching, ride. As Andy’s wife Allie (Simone Barton-Grimley) skeptically leaves her husband in charge of their baby for a girl’s night out with his promise that he will prioritize the wellbeing of their child ahead of his work from home, Andy’s job anxiety becomes the least of his worries after the baby is kidnapped. A mysterious voice (Ari Schneider, who costarred with with Ryan Barton-Grimley in the latter’s writing/directing feature Hawk and Rev: Vampire Slayers) on the other end of a baby monitor sends Andy on a wild quest to gather enough money — in an illicit, dangerous manner — for ransom. Listen Carefully sends both Andy and viewers down a path in which reality and dreams intermingle to the point of being unsure which is which. Ryan Barton-Grimley keeps Andy’s anxiety

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jun 25, 2024
Chattanooga Film Festival Offers a Hybrid Eleventh Edition This Month

Chattanooga Film Festival Offers a Hybrid Eleventh Edition This Month

Chattanooga Film Festival (https://www.chattfilmfest.org/) celebrates its 11th edition with a hybrid edition, so you can catch either in-person screenings from June 21–23 or relax at home with a virtual version from June 21–28, 2024. The lineup is a cornucopia of fright fare and other genre-film offerings. Lots of amazing features are scheduled, from Swedish religious horror In the Name of God to Dutch high-strangeness documentary The UFOs of Soesterberg to the sumptuous French vampire film The Vourdalak, and beyond. I’ve had the good fortune to watch and review four of the fest’s features from previous festivals for Horror Fuel, all of which I can recommend for Chattanooga Film Festival viewing. As always, you needn’t be concerned about spoilers in my reviews. Film descriptions are from the Chattanooga Film Festival website. Blind Cop 2 When an influx of illegal weapons trafficking explodes onto the scene, a grieving blind police officer must purge the city streets or risk mass chaos breaking loose.

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Jun 20, 2024
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