CategoryFilm Festivals
Horror film festivals worldwide — lineups, awards and the titles that break out of the festival circuit.
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Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Matapanki (Chile, 2026) Official synopsis A punk kid gets superpowers from alcohol and tries to reshape society, but a violent error sparks global tensions with him at the center. Review “Punk’s not dead!” goes the battle cry, and writer/director Diego Fuentes follows that spirit with his action comedy/fantasy feature Matapanki. Punk rock fan Ricardo (Ramón Gálvez) accidentally discovers a bottle of the titular fictitious drink and finds that ingesting the beverage gives him superpowers. With nods to Spider-Man, the film takes him on an origin-story journey where he is reluctant to use his powers despite his friends’ encouragement. Naturally, nefarious forces are at work, which Fuentes uses to skewer local and international political figures and movements. He also uses colorful animation and drawing effects to complement Cinematographer Vicente Correa’s impressive black-and-white work. Fueled with punk soul, a driving soundtrack, and all-in performances, Matapanki is a unique slice of genre-cinema fare. The Thing Inside Her (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis After removing
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Film FestivalsMoviesNewsTrailers
Cinephobia Releasing has officially acquired North American and UK distribution rights to Marcel Walz’s Brute 1986. The highly anticipated sequel follows last summer’s cult hit Brute 1976. It snagged the rights just ahead of the blood-soaked feature’s World Premiere at Tubi FrightFest Halloween on October 31. A Retro Evolution from Gritty Seventies Homage to Eighties Excess While Brute 1976 honored seventies classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this follow-up shifts decades. Brute 1986 embraces beloved eighties slasher tropes, heavy metal aesthetics, and practical gore. The plot follows glam metal band Leather Kobra as they shoot a music video in a deserted town. Unfortunately, the violent Birdy family resides nearby, turning the video set into a bloody nightmare. Star-Studded Cast Delivers Practical Gore and Rock Aesthetics Tokio Hotel’s Bill Kaulitz stars in the film and also contributes original music alongside Swedish band CRAZY LIXX. Returning cast members Dazelle Yvette, Sarah French, and Gigi Gustin from Brute 1976 are also joined
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNews
The Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the largest horror festival in the United States, officially announced its 2026 award winners. The premier event took place from October 6 through October 15 at Hollywood’s famous TCL Chinese Theater. The festival wrapped up with Briarcliff Entertainment’s festive premiere of Christmas at the Kringles. Directed by Kevin Lewis, the closing film featured stars Ron Livingston, Rachel Bilson, and Rob Riggle. Australian Thriller Kick On Dominates Main Categories Australia’s high-octane feature Kick On emerged as the festival’s biggest winner, taking home the coveted Best Picture award. Director Nick Kozakis also earned top honors for Best Director and Best Make-Up. The intense film captivated judges with its visceral storytelling and exceptional practical effects. Standout Acting and Technical Achievements Recognized Meanwhile, individual artistic achievements shone brightly across multiple international features throughout the ten-day celebration. Javier Botet secured Best Actor for Gummy, while Laura Im won Best Actress for Valley View Motel. Santiago Otoya claimed Best Cinematography for
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Insecta (Uruguay, 2026) Official synopsis A horror writer returns to an isolated estate to say goodbye to her dying father, only to suspect that the monstrous insect she imagined as a child may have been real all along. Review With Insecta, director Martín Florio crafts a highly entertaining chiller that combines creature feature and gothic horror elements, with engaging family drama for good measure. Renowned horror writer Mercedes (Mayra Hermosillo) returns to her childhood home to visit her estranged elderly father Jaime (Luis Felipe Tovar), who is close to death. He has been taken care of as of late by Mercedes’ stepsister Belen (Rocío De La Mañana), who alternates between seeming pleased and unwelcoming about Mercedes’ presence. Mercedes has nightmares about a traumatic incident from her childhood about her brother’s death and about an oversized insect that haunted him, along with sexual fantasies about Belen. Much intrigue ensues, and Florio, working from a screenplay that he cowrote with Leonel D’Agostino
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsThriller
Split Rock (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis While conducting survey work in the remote badlands, geologists and lovers Lauren (Clark Backo) and Ben (Drew Ray Tanner) uncover a mysterious block of magnetic stone embedded in the earth. As their team investigates, their equipment begins to fail and a violent unseen force emerges. Lauren becomes obsessed with the ancient block, convinced that an eternal consciousness is using her mind to reach the surface. When Ben attempts to stop it, the outcome leaves the duo and their team forever altered. Review Bearing the enigmatic qualities of classic Nigel Kneale fare (The Stone Tape, Quatermass and the Pit), Picnic at Hanging Rock, and a dash of The Monolith Monsters, Split Rock is a slow-burn chiller that boasts an ever-increasing atmosphere of dread. Geology students Lauren (Clark Backo) and Ben (Drew Ray Tanner) uncover an out-of-place stone fragment that begins to affect their survey team and its equipment and vehicles. Lauren is especially impacted by
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNews
The wait is officially over for horror enthusiasts and thrill-seekers across Florida. Celebrating its 21st year, the FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival has revealed its official selections for the upcoming 2026 event. The iconic gathering takes place October 23-24 at Orlando’s modern Epic Theatres at Lee Vista. Known locally as the city’s best Halloween event, the festival highlights innovative, blood-curdling works from global independent filmmakers. Record Submissions Yield Four Major World Premieres Organizers processed a record-breaking number of submissions from talented horror writers and directors this year. The curated lineup features a relentless mix of psychological dread, classic slashers, paranormal nightmares, and creature features. Notably, the festival hosts four major world premieres, offering attendees an exclusive first look at anticipated genre titles on the big screen: Feature Film Slate High Moon at Blackwood – Directed by Jon Binkowski (USA) — World Premiere The Doppelganger – Directed by Joseph O’Connor (USA) — World Premiere The Snitch – Directed by Trystan Kaunda
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official synopsis A family is terrorised by a dark presence after they move into a quaint cottage, and discover it lies on the site of a medieval prison which once housed women accused of witchcraft. Review Writer/director Jeffrey Scott Collins’ supernatural shocker The Caged (U.K., 2026) may follow some tropes with which seasoned fright-fare devotees will be familiar, but there are plenty of original spins on those expected elements to have it rise above the pack. Fine performances and impressive work at the helm are also on display. In the late 1980s, recovering alcoholic fiction writer Robert (Edmund Kingsley), his wife Emily (Tamzin Merchant), teen stepdaughter Isabella (Raffiella Chapman), and young son Liam (Callen Carter) move into a remote mansion-sized abode in the English rural countryside. It had gone unsold and vacant for at least a decade so Robert and Emily got it dirt cheap, which we know means that there is a dark history behind it. As events ranging
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsIndieMoviesReviewsThriller
Valley View Motel Official synopsis After a 1977 diamond heist goes sideways, two small-time crooks take refuge at a remote Pennsylvania motel, where a pair of bizarre sibling owners, a ruthless hitman and a night full of bad decisions turn their getaway into a desperate fight to survive the night and make it to their rendezvous before it’s too late. Review Cowriters/codirectors/stars Kevin Ignatius and Nick Psinakis serve up neo noir thrills and slaughter aplenty with Valley View Motel. Set in the 1970s and boasting an aesthetic that wonderfully fits crime cinema of that era without overdoing things, the film features Ignatius as Cliff, the more reluctant half of a diamond thieves duo with the more hotheaded and desperate Reg (Soulo Smith), and Psinakis as Hal, math teacher by day and hitman by night who is hot on the trail after the thieves abscond with the diamond they were meant to hand over to their employer. Sunny Kang (Laura Im)
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Film FestivalsMoviesReviews
Processing Charlie Official synopsis With his marriage about to fall apart, Charlie gets a surprise visit from his long-lost cousin. Charlie offers Cole a place to stay, but as his dark secrets bubble to the surface, Charlie realizes too late that no good deed goes unpunished. Review Writer/director David Harari serves up a jaw-dropping indie chiller with his black-and-white feature Processing Charlie. As if Charlie (Michael Ursu) wasn’t having enough trouble between arguing with his wife Anika (Kelly Pantaleoni) about his desire to not have children with her and his fear of entering his deceased younger sister’s locked bedroom, along comes his cousin Cole (Asa Fris). Cole has left his parents’ home where he was homeschooled and Charlie reluctantly lets him stay at the house he shares with Anika. From here, Harari steadily builds up suspense as Cole’s odd behavior grows increasingly disturbing and invasive. The ensemble cast members, which also include Sophia Guillen as Anika’s flirtatious friend Carmen, give
Continue reading →
ClipsConventionsFilm FestivalsMoviesNewsTrailers
Filmmaker Nicolas Curcio is riding an incredible run after winning last year’s inaugural Fantastic Pitches competition. He brought his small-budget horror film Play House to this year’s festival and earned glowing reviews from early critics. Major Seven-Figure Studio Acquisition Building on that fantastic momentum, Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster officially acquired the distribution rights for a 2027 release. According to Deadline, the distribution deal closed in the seven-figure range. As a result, Deadline reports the deal values the movie at least ten times its modest $100,000 production budget. Unsettling Analog Horror Premise Co-written by Curcio and Kirby Gladstein, the film follows a desperate young man. He tries to reclaim his past by renovating a crumbling house in a last-ditch effort to win back his ex-girlfriend. But his attempt at reconciliation takes a sinister turn when he stumbles upon a collection of forgotten VHS tapes. The tapes contain episodes of a strange, unaired television show from decades past. However, as he
Continue reading →
More from Film Festivals
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsShort Films
Matapanki (Chile, 2026) Official synopsis A punk kid gets superpowers from alcohol and tries to reshape society, but a violent error sparks global tensions with him at the center. Review “Punk’s not dead!” goes the battle cry, and writer/director Diego Fuentes follows that spirit with his action comedy/fantasy feature Matapanki. Punk rock fan Ricardo (Ramón Gálvez) accidentally discovers a bottle of the titular fictitious drink and finds that ingesting the beverage gives him superpowers. With nods to Spider-Man, the film takes him on an origin-story journey where he is reluctant to use his powers despite his friends’ encouragement. Naturally, nefarious forces are at work, which Fuentes uses to skewer local and international political figures and movements. He also uses colorful animation and drawing effects to complement Cinematographer Vicente Correa’s impressive black-and-white work. Fueled with punk soul, a driving soundtrack, and all-in performances, Matapanki is a unique slice of genre-cinema fare. The Thing Inside Her (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis After removing
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNewsTrailers
Cinephobia Releasing has officially acquired North American and UK distribution rights to Marcel Walz’s Brute 1986. The highly anticipated sequel follows last summer’s cult hit Brute 1976. It snagged the rights just ahead of the blood-soaked feature’s World Premiere at Tubi FrightFest Halloween on October 31. A Retro Evolution from Gritty Seventies Homage to Eighties Excess While Brute 1976 honored seventies classics like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this follow-up shifts decades. Brute 1986 embraces beloved eighties slasher tropes, heavy metal aesthetics, and practical gore. The plot follows glam metal band Leather Kobra as they shoot a music video in a deserted town. Unfortunately, the violent Birdy family resides nearby, turning the video set into a bloody nightmare. Star-Studded Cast Delivers Practical Gore and Rock Aesthetics Tokio Hotel’s Bill Kaulitz stars in the film and also contributes original music alongside Swedish band CRAZY LIXX. Returning cast members Dazelle Yvette, Sarah French, and Gigi Gustin from Brute 1976 are also joined
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNews
The Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the largest horror festival in the United States, officially announced its 2026 award winners. The premier event took place from October 6 through October 15 at Hollywood’s famous TCL Chinese Theater. The festival wrapped up with Briarcliff Entertainment’s festive premiere of Christmas at the Kringles. Directed by Kevin Lewis, the closing film featured stars Ron Livingston, Rachel Bilson, and Rob Riggle. Australian Thriller Kick On Dominates Main Categories Australia’s high-octane feature Kick On emerged as the festival’s biggest winner, taking home the coveted Best Picture award. Director Nick Kozakis also earned top honors for Best Director and Best Make-Up. The intense film captivated judges with its visceral storytelling and exceptional practical effects. Standout Acting and Technical Achievements Recognized Meanwhile, individual artistic achievements shone brightly across multiple international features throughout the ten-day celebration. Javier Botet secured Best Actor for Gummy, while Laura Im won Best Actress for Valley View Motel. Santiago Otoya claimed Best Cinematography for
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Insecta (Uruguay, 2026) Official synopsis A horror writer returns to an isolated estate to say goodbye to her dying father, only to suspect that the monstrous insect she imagined as a child may have been real all along. Review With Insecta, director Martín Florio crafts a highly entertaining chiller that combines creature feature and gothic horror elements, with engaging family drama for good measure. Renowned horror writer Mercedes (Mayra Hermosillo) returns to her childhood home to visit her estranged elderly father Jaime (Luis Felipe Tovar), who is close to death. He has been taken care of as of late by Mercedes’ stepsister Belen (Rocío De La Mañana), who alternates between seeming pleased and unwelcoming about Mercedes’ presence. Mercedes has nightmares about a traumatic incident from her childhood about her brother’s death and about an oversized insect that haunted him, along with sexual fantasies about Belen. Much intrigue ensues, and Florio, working from a screenplay that he cowrote with Leonel D’Agostino
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsThriller
Split Rock (Canada, 2026) Official synopsis While conducting survey work in the remote badlands, geologists and lovers Lauren (Clark Backo) and Ben (Drew Ray Tanner) uncover a mysterious block of magnetic stone embedded in the earth. As their team investigates, their equipment begins to fail and a violent unseen force emerges. Lauren becomes obsessed with the ancient block, convinced that an eternal consciousness is using her mind to reach the surface. When Ben attempts to stop it, the outcome leaves the duo and their team forever altered. Review Bearing the enigmatic qualities of classic Nigel Kneale fare (The Stone Tape, Quatermass and the Pit), Picnic at Hanging Rock, and a dash of The Monolith Monsters, Split Rock is a slow-burn chiller that boasts an ever-increasing atmosphere of dread. Geology students Lauren (Clark Backo) and Ben (Drew Ray Tanner) uncover an out-of-place stone fragment that begins to affect their survey team and its equipment and vehicles. Lauren is especially impacted by
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesNews
The wait is officially over for horror enthusiasts and thrill-seekers across Florida. Celebrating its 21st year, the FREAK SHOW Horror Film Festival has revealed its official selections for the upcoming 2026 event. The iconic gathering takes place October 23-24 at Orlando’s modern Epic Theatres at Lee Vista. Known locally as the city’s best Halloween event, the festival highlights innovative, blood-curdling works from global independent filmmakers. Record Submissions Yield Four Major World Premieres Organizers processed a record-breaking number of submissions from talented horror writers and directors this year. The curated lineup features a relentless mix of psychological dread, classic slashers, paranormal nightmares, and creature features. Notably, the festival hosts four major world premieres, offering attendees an exclusive first look at anticipated genre titles on the big screen: Feature Film Slate High Moon at Blackwood – Directed by Jon Binkowski (USA) — World Premiere The Doppelganger – Directed by Joseph O’Connor (USA) — World Premiere The Snitch – Directed by Trystan Kaunda
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Official synopsis A family is terrorised by a dark presence after they move into a quaint cottage, and discover it lies on the site of a medieval prison which once housed women accused of witchcraft. Review Writer/director Jeffrey Scott Collins’ supernatural shocker The Caged (U.K., 2026) may follow some tropes with which seasoned fright-fare devotees will be familiar, but there are plenty of original spins on those expected elements to have it rise above the pack. Fine performances and impressive work at the helm are also on display. In the late 1980s, recovering alcoholic fiction writer Robert (Edmund Kingsley), his wife Emily (Tamzin Merchant), teen stepdaughter Isabella (Raffiella Chapman), and young son Liam (Callen Carter) move into a remote mansion-sized abode in the English rural countryside. It had gone unsold and vacant for at least a decade so Robert and Emily got it dirt cheap, which we know means that there is a dark history behind it. As events ranging
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsIndieMoviesReviewsThriller
Valley View Motel Official synopsis After a 1977 diamond heist goes sideways, two small-time crooks take refuge at a remote Pennsylvania motel, where a pair of bizarre sibling owners, a ruthless hitman and a night full of bad decisions turn their getaway into a desperate fight to survive the night and make it to their rendezvous before it’s too late. Review Cowriters/codirectors/stars Kevin Ignatius and Nick Psinakis serve up neo noir thrills and slaughter aplenty with Valley View Motel. Set in the 1970s and boasting an aesthetic that wonderfully fits crime cinema of that era without overdoing things, the film features Ignatius as Cliff, the more reluctant half of a diamond thieves duo with the more hotheaded and desperate Reg (Soulo Smith), and Psinakis as Hal, math teacher by day and hitman by night who is hot on the trail after the thieves abscond with the diamond they were meant to hand over to their employer. Sunny Kang (Laura Im)
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsMoviesReviews
Processing Charlie Official synopsis With his marriage about to fall apart, Charlie gets a surprise visit from his long-lost cousin. Charlie offers Cole a place to stay, but as his dark secrets bubble to the surface, Charlie realizes too late that no good deed goes unpunished. Review Writer/director David Harari serves up a jaw-dropping indie chiller with his black-and-white feature Processing Charlie. As if Charlie (Michael Ursu) wasn’t having enough trouble between arguing with his wife Anika (Kelly Pantaleoni) about his desire to not have children with her and his fear of entering his deceased younger sister’s locked bedroom, along comes his cousin Cole (Asa Fris). Cole has left his parents’ home where he was homeschooled and Charlie reluctantly lets him stay at the house he shares with Anika. From here, Harari steadily builds up suspense as Cole’s odd behavior grows increasingly disturbing and invasive. The ensemble cast members, which also include Sophia Guillen as Anika’s flirtatious friend Carmen, give
Continue reading →
ClipsConventionsFilm FestivalsMoviesNewsTrailers
Filmmaker Nicolas Curcio is riding an incredible run after winning last year’s inaugural Fantastic Pitches competition. He brought his small-budget horror film Play House to this year’s festival and earned glowing reviews from early critics. Major Seven-Figure Studio Acquisition Building on that fantastic momentum, Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster officially acquired the distribution rights for a 2027 release. According to Deadline, the distribution deal closed in the seven-figure range. As a result, Deadline reports the deal values the movie at least ten times its modest $100,000 production budget. Unsettling Analog Horror Premise Co-written by Curcio and Kirby Gladstein, the film follows a desperate young man. He tries to reclaim his past by renovating a crumbling house in a last-ditch effort to win back his ex-girlfriend. But his attempt at reconciliation takes a sinister turn when he stumbles upon a collection of forgotten VHS tapes. The tapes contain episodes of a strange, unaired television show from decades past. However, as he
Continue reading →
