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

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Spoiler-Free Film Review: LAST STRAW (Sitges Film Festival and Beyond Fest)

Spoiler-Free Film Review: LAST STRAW (Sitges Film Festival and Beyond Fest)

Alan Scott Neal delivers an outstanding slice of genre cinema with his feature-length directorial debut Last Straw. Combining home invasion horror with siege thriller elements, the film takes viewers on a wild, blood-soaked ride reminiscent of now-classic 1970s and 1980s drive-in fare with a decidedly modern approach. Nancy (Jessica Belkin) is a fast-living, foul-mouthed young woman worried about turning 20 years old soon — and courtesy of a roadside pregnancy test, she has some new things weighing on her mind, as well. Living in a small town, she is the manager of a roadside diner, the employees of which point out is only because she is the owner’s (Jeremey Sisto) daughter. After Nancy stands up to four masked ruffians who threaten to come back later after she kicks them out of the place, she wields her managerial power and fires long-standing cook Jake (Taylor Kowalski, who also serves as a producer on the film). Jake takes the other three members

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 7, 2023
'It's A Wonderful Knife' Scores New Poster Before Slashing Its Way Into Theaters

RLJE Gifts Horror Fans New Trailer For Holiday Slasher ‘It’s A Wonderful Knife’

RLJE Films, has justed gifted horror fans with the new trailer for the holiday horror film It’s A Wonderful Knife, which will make its world premiere at Beyond Fest on October 8, 2023. In the film, “a year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers’ life is less than wonderful — but when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality.” Directed by Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls; V/H/S/99), and written by Michael Kennedy (Freaky). The film stars Justin Long (Barbarian), Joel McHale (“Community”), Jane Widdop (“Yellowjackets”), Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps), Jess McLeod (“One of Us is Lying”) and Cassandra Naud (Influencer). It’s A Wonderful Knife was produced by Seth Caplan (Brooklyn 45),

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 6, 2023
'The Strangers: Chapter 1' Will Invade Theaters In 2024

First Images Surface From The New ‘The Strangers’ Trilogy

Ahead of its release in 2024 and the upcoming panel at New York Comic Con, we have the first images from the upcoming Strangers franchise reboot that will span a trilogy, with the first film being The Strangers: Chapter 1, directed by Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, The Exorcist: The Beginning). In Chapter I, Madelaine Petsch (TV’s “Riverdale”) stars as a young woman starting a new life with her fiancé (Foy Gutierrez). Suddenly, during a road trip stop in a remote vacation rental in the woods, they become the prey of a mysterious gang of masked strangers who attack without warning or reason. What begins as a fight to stay alive becomes one woman’s journey of courage and cunning in this horror series bridging three compelling films written by Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland. It appears from the images, that the reboot will feature the same villains from the original, including the man in the mask, Pinup Girl,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 5, 2023
'Terrifier 2' Actress Stars In Brutal Horror 'The Well' - Heading to Screamfest

‘Terrifier 2’ Actress Stars In Brutal Horror ‘The Well’ – Heading to Screamfest

Iperuranio Film has just announced that following the World Premiere at the Sitges Film Festival, director Federico Zampaglione’s latest film, a graphic supernatural horror, The Well, will be screening at Screamfest LA. The Well stars Lauren LaVera (Terrifier 2), as Lisa Gray. “When novice art restorer Lisa Gray goes to a small Italian village to bring a medieval painting back to its former glory after fire damage, little does she know she is placing her life in danger from an evil curse and a monster born of myth and brutal pain.” Starring alongside LaVera is Claudia Gerini (Diabolik, Love and Bullets, John Wick: Chapter 2), Giovanni Lombardo Radice (City of the Living Dead), Taylor Zaudtke (Sadistic Intentions), Linda Zampaglione (Time Is Up), Jonathan Dylan King (From Scratch), Lorenzo Renzi (Romanzo Criminale), Gianluigi Calvani (The New Pope), Yassine Fadel (FBI: International), Melanie Gaydos, Stefano Martinelli and newcomer Courage Oviawe. The Well is an Iperuranio Film production, directed by Federico Zampaglione (Shadow,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 5, 2023
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Portland’s H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival Delivers Cosmic Horror and Cryptids

Portland’s H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival Delivers Cosmic Horror and Cryptids

The 28th Annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival of Cosmic Horror brings eldritch terror to viewers with U.S. and regional premieres of Lovecraftian and weird-tales films. The fest runs from October 6–8, 2023, in Portland, Oregon. Following is the official press announcement. For more information, visit https://hplfilmfestival.com/. The 28th Annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival of Cosmic Horror returns to all 3 screens of Portland, Oregon’s Hollywood Theatre October 6th-8th with Author Guest of Honor CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN (What Kind of Mother) and Filmmaker Guest of Honor REBEKAH MCKENDRY (Glorious 2022). Dennis Paoli, screenwriter and longtime collaborator with Stuart Gordon, will introduce the highly anticipated Pacific Northwest Premiere of SUITABLE FLESH, and do Q&A afterward. The new Lovecraftian erotic body-swapping horror feature directed by Joe Lynch, stars Barbara Crampton, Heather Graham, and Judah Lewis. The genre bending cosmic horror feature THE VEIL makes its World Premiere on Saturday with Director Cameron Beyl and lead actor Sean O’Bryan in attendance. The

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 4, 2023
Spoiler-Free Film Review: SUBURBAN TALE (Fantastic Fest)

Spoiler-Free Film Review: SUBURBAN TALE (Fantastic Fest)

Director Stephen Alexander’s Suburban Tale (AKA Tamso; India, 2023) is a dark, brooding film that becomes increasingly disturbing as it continually reveals new puzzle pieces throughout its running time. Its original Indian title Tamso means “from darkness,” which is quite fitting. Radhika (Rashmi Somvanshi, who also produced the film) is the estranged daughter of a family. Other extended family members refer to her as “that woman” and make it clear that they do not want her anywhere near the wedding preparations that are happening, although her father calls her back home because he wants her to watch over the youngest member of the family, a boy who seems to be possessed by a demon. When the boy, who emits a poisonous gas and snarls and rages, attacks the bride-to-be, Radhika is left alone in charge of him — and matters grow increasingly eerie and deadly. Alexander paces the film nicely, slowly divulging information as to why Radhika is shunned by

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 4, 2023
Spoiler-Free Short-Film Review: FCK’N NUTS (Fantastic Fest)

Spoiler-Free Short-Film Review: FCK’N NUTS (Fantastic Fest)

In writer/director Sam Fox’s short film Fck’n Nuts, teenager Dan (Vincent Stalba) is crazy in love with Sandy (Maddie Nichols), so much so that he doesn’t heed her initial advice about not meeting her parents (Michele Rossi and William E. Harris). Viewers already have a pretty good idea about the parents being odd thanks to some of their dialogue and Sandy’s remarks, but once Dan steps inside the family’s home, things go absolutely insane. I had a strong feeling that things were going to be bonkers when I saw that auteur Joe Badon (The Wheel of Heaven; The God Inside My Ear; Sister Tempest) was a coproducer on this horror comedy, and my assumption was correct. Fox crafts a fun, surreal short that blends a nostalgic feel with absurd comedy, and there’s a set piece boasting great-looking practical gore effects sure to bring on the heaves for some viewers. You can check out the short’s trailer at https://vimeo.com/845566547/b39329d86e. Fck’n Nuts

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 28, 2023
Shudder Acquires Holiday Horror 'It's A Wonderful Knife' Starring Justin Long

Shudder Acquires Holiday Horror ‘It’s A Wonderful Knife’ Starring Justin Long

RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, along with Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, have acquired the rights to the holiday horror film, It’s A Wonderful Knife which will make its world premiere at Beyond Fest on October 8, 2023. In the film, “a year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers’ life is less than wonderful — but when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality.” Directed by Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls; V/H/S/99), and written by Michael Kennedy (Freaky). Tthe film stars Justin Long (Barbarian), Joel McHale (“Community”), Jane Widdop (“Yellowjackets”), Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps), Jess McLeod (“One of Us is Lying”) and

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 28, 2023
Screamfest Horror Film Festival Announces First-Wave of Fright Fare

Screamfest Horror Film Festival Announces First-Wave of Fright Fare

Aficionados of high quality independent horror, take note: Los Angeles’s Screamfest® Horror Film Festival has unleashed its first wave of offerings. The fest, which runs October 10, features an outstanding lineup with selections from the gothic to the ghoulish and beyond. Following is the official press announcement. Screamfest® Horror Film Festival, the largest and longest-running horror film festival in the United States, today announced its first-wave lineup of competitive features and shorts for its 23rd edition. Running October 10 through 19 at the TCL Chinese Theater, Screamfest® welcomes horror cinephiles to experience twisted tales and frightening films together on the big screen. Tickets will be on sale soon and can be purchased via the festival website: https://screamfestla.com/ Considered the “Sundance of Horror,” Screamfest® is proud to showcase new work from independent filmmakers from across the globe. This past year the festival screened the following films, which acquired distribution including KillHer, Sung Kang’s Shaky Shivers, 8 Found Dead, and Goldsmith. The

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 27, 2023
Spoiler-Free Film Reviews: DID I? and SAVING GRACE (A Night of Horror International Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Film Reviews: DID I? and SAVING GRACE (A Night of Horror International Film Festival)

DID I? (United States, 2023) When viewers first meet Genevieve (Alexandra Pica), the main character of director Sarah Tice’s DID I?, she wakes up disoriented, disheveled, and mysteriously bruised. She is also having a tough time at work, where she is an editor and aspiring writer. We learn that the relatively mild-mannered and introverted Genevieve is struggling with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and her alter Stevie, who is no fan of Genevieve’s therapist Rachel (Raven Wynn), has a decidedly wild side to her. Tice, who cowrote the screenplay with Zachary Beckler, does an admirable job of focusing on more realistic depictions of DID rather than just presenting the sensational, though naturally any horror or thriller film attempting to tackle mental issues walks a fine line. The third act packs a highly disturbing, harrowing wallop that reveals the reason for Genevieve’s trauma. Tice, who worked with a microbudget, does fine work that belies the film’s meager budget, including digital wizardry, quick

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 27, 2023

More from Events

Spoiler-Free Film Review: LAST STRAW (Sitges Film Festival and Beyond Fest)

Spoiler-Free Film Review: LAST STRAW (Sitges Film Festival and Beyond Fest)

Alan Scott Neal delivers an outstanding slice of genre cinema with his feature-length directorial debut Last Straw. Combining home invasion horror with siege thriller elements, the film takes viewers on a wild, blood-soaked ride reminiscent of now-classic 1970s and 1980s drive-in fare with a decidedly modern approach. Nancy (Jessica Belkin) is a fast-living, foul-mouthed young woman worried about turning 20 years old soon — and courtesy of a roadside pregnancy test, she has some new things weighing on her mind, as well. Living in a small town, she is the manager of a roadside diner, the employees of which point out is only because she is the owner’s (Jeremey Sisto) daughter. After Nancy stands up to four masked ruffians who threaten to come back later after she kicks them out of the place, she wields her managerial power and fires long-standing cook Jake (Taylor Kowalski, who also serves as a producer on the film). Jake takes the other three members

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 7, 2023
'It's A Wonderful Knife' Scores New Poster Before Slashing Its Way Into Theaters

RLJE Gifts Horror Fans New Trailer For Holiday Slasher ‘It’s A Wonderful Knife’

RLJE Films, has justed gifted horror fans with the new trailer for the holiday horror film It’s A Wonderful Knife, which will make its world premiere at Beyond Fest on October 8, 2023. In the film, “a year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers’ life is less than wonderful — but when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality.” Directed by Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls; V/H/S/99), and written by Michael Kennedy (Freaky). The film stars Justin Long (Barbarian), Joel McHale (“Community”), Jane Widdop (“Yellowjackets”), Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps), Jess McLeod (“One of Us is Lying”) and Cassandra Naud (Influencer). It’s A Wonderful Knife was produced by Seth Caplan (Brooklyn 45),

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 6, 2023
'The Strangers: Chapter 1' Will Invade Theaters In 2024

First Images Surface From The New ‘The Strangers’ Trilogy

Ahead of its release in 2024 and the upcoming panel at New York Comic Con, we have the first images from the upcoming Strangers franchise reboot that will span a trilogy, with the first film being The Strangers: Chapter 1, directed by Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2, The Exorcist: The Beginning). In Chapter I, Madelaine Petsch (TV’s “Riverdale”) stars as a young woman starting a new life with her fiancé (Foy Gutierrez). Suddenly, during a road trip stop in a remote vacation rental in the woods, they become the prey of a mysterious gang of masked strangers who attack without warning or reason. What begins as a fight to stay alive becomes one woman’s journey of courage and cunning in this horror series bridging three compelling films written by Alan R. Cohen & Alan Freedland. It appears from the images, that the reboot will feature the same villains from the original, including the man in the mask, Pinup Girl,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 5, 2023
'Terrifier 2' Actress Stars In Brutal Horror 'The Well' - Heading to Screamfest

‘Terrifier 2’ Actress Stars In Brutal Horror ‘The Well’ – Heading to Screamfest

Iperuranio Film has just announced that following the World Premiere at the Sitges Film Festival, director Federico Zampaglione’s latest film, a graphic supernatural horror, The Well, will be screening at Screamfest LA. The Well stars Lauren LaVera (Terrifier 2), as Lisa Gray. “When novice art restorer Lisa Gray goes to a small Italian village to bring a medieval painting back to its former glory after fire damage, little does she know she is placing her life in danger from an evil curse and a monster born of myth and brutal pain.” Starring alongside LaVera is Claudia Gerini (Diabolik, Love and Bullets, John Wick: Chapter 2), Giovanni Lombardo Radice (City of the Living Dead), Taylor Zaudtke (Sadistic Intentions), Linda Zampaglione (Time Is Up), Jonathan Dylan King (From Scratch), Lorenzo Renzi (Romanzo Criminale), Gianluigi Calvani (The New Pope), Yassine Fadel (FBI: International), Melanie Gaydos, Stefano Martinelli and newcomer Courage Oviawe. The Well is an Iperuranio Film production, directed by Federico Zampaglione (Shadow,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Oct 5, 2023
Portland’s H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival Delivers Cosmic Horror and Cryptids

Portland’s H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival Delivers Cosmic Horror and Cryptids

The 28th Annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival of Cosmic Horror brings eldritch terror to viewers with U.S. and regional premieres of Lovecraftian and weird-tales films. The fest runs from October 6–8, 2023, in Portland, Oregon. Following is the official press announcement. For more information, visit https://hplfilmfestival.com/. The 28th Annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival of Cosmic Horror returns to all 3 screens of Portland, Oregon’s Hollywood Theatre October 6th-8th with Author Guest of Honor CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN (What Kind of Mother) and Filmmaker Guest of Honor REBEKAH MCKENDRY (Glorious 2022). Dennis Paoli, screenwriter and longtime collaborator with Stuart Gordon, will introduce the highly anticipated Pacific Northwest Premiere of SUITABLE FLESH, and do Q&A afterward. The new Lovecraftian erotic body-swapping horror feature directed by Joe Lynch, stars Barbara Crampton, Heather Graham, and Judah Lewis. The genre bending cosmic horror feature THE VEIL makes its World Premiere on Saturday with Director Cameron Beyl and lead actor Sean O’Bryan in attendance. The

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 4, 2023
Spoiler-Free Film Review: SUBURBAN TALE (Fantastic Fest)

Spoiler-Free Film Review: SUBURBAN TALE (Fantastic Fest)

Director Stephen Alexander’s Suburban Tale (AKA Tamso; India, 2023) is a dark, brooding film that becomes increasingly disturbing as it continually reveals new puzzle pieces throughout its running time. Its original Indian title Tamso means “from darkness,” which is quite fitting. Radhika (Rashmi Somvanshi, who also produced the film) is the estranged daughter of a family. Other extended family members refer to her as “that woman” and make it clear that they do not want her anywhere near the wedding preparations that are happening, although her father calls her back home because he wants her to watch over the youngest member of the family, a boy who seems to be possessed by a demon. When the boy, who emits a poisonous gas and snarls and rages, attacks the bride-to-be, Radhika is left alone in charge of him — and matters grow increasingly eerie and deadly. Alexander paces the film nicely, slowly divulging information as to why Radhika is shunned by

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Oct 4, 2023
Spoiler-Free Short-Film Review: FCK’N NUTS (Fantastic Fest)

Spoiler-Free Short-Film Review: FCK’N NUTS (Fantastic Fest)

In writer/director Sam Fox’s short film Fck’n Nuts, teenager Dan (Vincent Stalba) is crazy in love with Sandy (Maddie Nichols), so much so that he doesn’t heed her initial advice about not meeting her parents (Michele Rossi and William E. Harris). Viewers already have a pretty good idea about the parents being odd thanks to some of their dialogue and Sandy’s remarks, but once Dan steps inside the family’s home, things go absolutely insane. I had a strong feeling that things were going to be bonkers when I saw that auteur Joe Badon (The Wheel of Heaven; The God Inside My Ear; Sister Tempest) was a coproducer on this horror comedy, and my assumption was correct. Fox crafts a fun, surreal short that blends a nostalgic feel with absurd comedy, and there’s a set piece boasting great-looking practical gore effects sure to bring on the heaves for some viewers. You can check out the short’s trailer at https://vimeo.com/845566547/b39329d86e. Fck’n Nuts

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 28, 2023
Shudder Acquires Holiday Horror 'It's A Wonderful Knife' Starring Justin Long

Shudder Acquires Holiday Horror ‘It’s A Wonderful Knife’ Starring Justin Long

RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, along with Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, have acquired the rights to the holiday horror film, It’s A Wonderful Knife which will make its world premiere at Beyond Fest on October 8, 2023. In the film, “a year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers’ life is less than wonderful — but when she wishes she’d never been born, she finds herself in a nightmare parallel universe and discovers that without her, things could be much, much worse. Now the killer is back, and she must team up with the town misfit to identify the killer and get back to her own reality.” Directed by Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls; V/H/S/99), and written by Michael Kennedy (Freaky). Tthe film stars Justin Long (Barbarian), Joel McHale (“Community”), Jane Widdop (“Yellowjackets”), Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps), Jess McLeod (“One of Us is Lying”) and

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 28, 2023
Screamfest Horror Film Festival Announces First-Wave of Fright Fare

Screamfest Horror Film Festival Announces First-Wave of Fright Fare

Aficionados of high quality independent horror, take note: Los Angeles’s Screamfest® Horror Film Festival has unleashed its first wave of offerings. The fest, which runs October 10, features an outstanding lineup with selections from the gothic to the ghoulish and beyond. Following is the official press announcement. Screamfest® Horror Film Festival, the largest and longest-running horror film festival in the United States, today announced its first-wave lineup of competitive features and shorts for its 23rd edition. Running October 10 through 19 at the TCL Chinese Theater, Screamfest® welcomes horror cinephiles to experience twisted tales and frightening films together on the big screen. Tickets will be on sale soon and can be purchased via the festival website: https://screamfestla.com/ Considered the “Sundance of Horror,” Screamfest® is proud to showcase new work from independent filmmakers from across the globe. This past year the festival screened the following films, which acquired distribution including KillHer, Sung Kang’s Shaky Shivers, 8 Found Dead, and Goldsmith. The

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 27, 2023
Spoiler-Free Film Reviews: DID I? and SAVING GRACE (A Night of Horror International Film Festival)

Spoiler-Free Film Reviews: DID I? and SAVING GRACE (A Night of Horror International Film Festival)

DID I? (United States, 2023) When viewers first meet Genevieve (Alexandra Pica), the main character of director Sarah Tice’s DID I?, she wakes up disoriented, disheveled, and mysteriously bruised. She is also having a tough time at work, where she is an editor and aspiring writer. We learn that the relatively mild-mannered and introverted Genevieve is struggling with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and her alter Stevie, who is no fan of Genevieve’s therapist Rachel (Raven Wynn), has a decidedly wild side to her. Tice, who cowrote the screenplay with Zachary Beckler, does an admirable job of focusing on more realistic depictions of DID rather than just presenting the sensational, though naturally any horror or thriller film attempting to tackle mental issues walks a fine line. The third act packs a highly disturbing, harrowing wallop that reveals the reason for Genevieve’s trauma. Tice, who worked with a microbudget, does fine work that belies the film’s meager budget, including digital wizardry, quick

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 27, 2023
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