We are currently accepting submissions for the Dead Northern Horror Film Festival in Harrogate, North Yorkshire October 2020 via Film Freeway
The deadline for features and shorts is the 7th of September 2020. We are open to short films, feature and documentary, fantasy, thriller, and horror films of all production techniques, forms, and budgets.
We look forward to seeing your submissions –
The Dead Northern Team
We’ve all got a little bit more time on our hands nowadays, but it’s not all bad!
Here are our top 8 horror flicks worth watching on Netflix right now:
A Stephen King classic, with a very different tone to its predecessor; it ticks all the boxes for a great horror movie – Fantastic cast and team, great special effects and a solid well-developed plot. Skaarsgard fills Pennywise’s oversized clown shoes with his own sinister brand of fear (although Tim Curry still has the edge in our opinion).
It’s not the scariest film out there, but what it does well is spend time and care on the depth of the characters providing some satisfying frights and major payoffs.
‘IT’ smashed all the box office records for a reason – Enjoyable creepy fun for the avid fans and newcomers to horror alike.
Blumhouse contribute a mighty pile of horror for us every year, Hush is one of their greats. Acclaimed director Mike Flanagan champions this horror-thriller, telling the story of a deaf writer who retreats to the woods for a solitary life, when a masked psychotic killer appears in her window.
What unfolds is a tense game of cat and mouse between Maddie (Kate Siegel) and the killer, pushing her mental and physical limits to survive the night.
We highly recommend this heart pumping thriller!
Another brilliant film for those dipping their toe in the pool of horror, John Krasinski (The Office US) stars and directs this post apocalyptic/thriller and genuine parent’s nightmare.
Giant creatures have taken over the world as we know it, and even the smallest sound brings death to everything near it.
Krasinski spend all his waking moments trying to keep his family alive with on- and off-screen wife Emily Blunt. All the cast have genuine chemistry and within minutes you are rooting for them.
With the sequel coming later this year it is the perfect time to watch/re-watch this monster horror.
Another Blumhouse film and part of James Wan’s solid directorial catalogue (Saw, The Conjuring, Annabelle), Wan is a master of psychological horror. This supernatural flick sees an American couple and three small children move to a new house where paranormal happenings ensue.
Apart from a shaky final act, Insidious packs some big scares which pay off all the more for it’s slow pace. Haunted house, creepy kids, possessions, and things that go bump in the night well worth a watch!
This is one for the horror geeks out there, Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) team up for this meta gory horror – giving nods to many classics of the genre, from the more obvious Evil Dead references to a very special cameo from a certain xenomorph slaying legend.
It’s a story as old as time, teenage kids go for a weekend away in a secluded cabin and things take a turn for the worst, all the classic characters are there; the jock, the geeky one, the pretty girl, the stoner – it all seem pretty standard but the creative twists and turns delivered in devlish ways makes it a really fun watch.
It is really a love/hate letter from Goddard and Whedon about the state of the horror genre, turning all the common tropes on their collective head.
Oh and it’s also a great film for persuading your partner to watch a horror movie, it’s gory yes, but it also stars Chris Hemsworth so there is something for everyone…
Samuel Bayer takes a run at the 80’s dream invading slasher, providing a darker tinge to its predecessor.
Having re-watched both the original and the 2010 reboot recently, I have got to say Jack Earle Hayley fills the bladed gloves brilliantly. Compared to Englund more charismatic and more humorous baddie, Hayley is downright creepy and more realistic Kruger. He is unfortunately let down by a mediocre re-telling of the Freddy origin story.
There are some visually stunning scenes, including all those classic claw in the bath, wall stretching moments. Overall Elm Street does not fail to entertain and is a solid addition to the franchise.
If you see the word exorcist and think this movie is going to be all projectile green vomit and spinning heads, think again!
Scott Derrickson delivers an art house horror, which negates gore for a courtroom style telling of the death of a young girl during an exorcism – made all the more terrifying that it is loosely based on real events.
I was actually only 13 when this movie came out but stole a copy from my friends’ older brothers room one Saturday night and it scared us all so bad I slept with the light on for days after!
I recommend watching this one by yourself in the dark, so it really gives you the chills.
The idea that death is chasing you constantly after unnaturally surviving a disaster is a brilliant concept, after watching the first Final Destination over a decade ago I was genuinely freaked out for weeks after watching it.
By the time the 5th addition to the franchise comes along however, I am just here eagerly waiting, popcorn in hand, for the next hilariously gruesome death – each more ridiculous than the next. This one should satisfy those looking for the blood gore and guts for sure.
Ingredients
50ml measure of Dead Mans Finger Spiced Rum
200ml bottle of Coca Cola Signature Woody
A handful of crushed ice
A large glass – Ideally a glass skull called Walter
Method
Pre Chill the Rum, Coca Cola Signature Woody and Glass
Stick the crushed ice in the glass
Pour the 50ml of Dead Mans Fingers Spiced Rum over the ice
Pour in the Coca Cola Signature Woody
A quick stir
Enjoy!
The original scream queen Jaime Lee Curtis will make her directorial debut with ‘Mother Nature’ a horror film as part of a three-year deal with Comet Pictures (Lee Curtis’s own company) and Blumhouse Productions.
It should come as no surprise to horror fans that Lee Curtis is working with Blumhouse, as they produced the 2018 reboot of Halloween a direct sequel to the 1978 classic, forming a new trilogy.
Very few details have been revealed about the project, we do know the movie is centred around climate change.
Jason Blum, Blumhouse CEO and founder, said: “Jamie is a force of nature and was a real partner on Halloween. So it’s both an honour and incredibly apt that she’s making her first feature film as a director with ‘Mother Nature’.”
Here at Dead northern we cannot wait to see how it turns out!
Cider and Hibiscus Summer Cocktail.
So, being our first post I think we should start with something simple. A nice cider cocktail made up of a few simple ingredients. Cider (obviously), I’ve used Thatchers Haze Cider, Monin Hibiscus syrup, and some crushed ice. Oh, and don’t forget the Walter Dead Northern Glass Skull, you’ll see a lot of him around here and there’s a story to be told about him at a later date.
It’s worth mentioning this is a drink for those with a really sweet tooth, you could tone it down with a dry cider. No matter how you make it this is a drink that goes down far too easy on a summer day.
So without further ado, Dead Northern presents –
Walters Brain Freeze.
Ingredients
Thatchers Haze Cider (Or cider of your choice)
Monin Hibiscus syrup
Crushed Ice
Large Glass – Ideally a glass skull called Walter
Method
Chill Everything, no point in starting with warm ingredients.
Crack open the can or bottle of your chosen cider and pour into an oversized glass. Walters head space is 1 litre so more than enough space for the drink and ice.
Crush up some ice. If you’re lucky enough to have a fancy fridge then good for you but we had fun using the smash the crap out of ice from the tray method. Once you have a good amount of ice stick it in the glass with the cider.
Take your Hibiscus syrup and slowly pour on top of the crushed ice. We just eyed the measure but it was about a single 25ml measure.
Let the Hibiscus flow through the broken ice and settle at the bottom.
Enjoy!
