The Dead Northern Horror and Fantasy Festival is coming back in 2024 – Expect a huge line up of new feature films, classic feature films, short films from some of the worlds best up and coming horror film makers, Q&A’s, live music, awards and our signature HORROR THEMED LIVE EVENTS.
Dead Northern is a Film Festival that pushes the boundaries and puts the FESTIVAL in the Film Festival! VIP Weekend Passes, day passes and individual screening tickets are available.
Details of the full line up released August 2024, limited VIP tickets available at a discount until 31 May 2024.
Spring’s new psychological horror feature ‘Immaculate’ sees Sydney Sweeney star as Sister Cecelia, a devout nun who finds herself trapped in a secluded convent in the Italian countryside. Fighting for her life, Sister Cecelia finds herself subjected to experiments orchestrated by the church in an attempt to bring about the second coming.
‘Immaculate’ explores themes of isolation, misplaced faith, and the duplicitous nature of the seemingly beautiful. Sweeney provides an electric performance that encapsulates the tipping point between sheer terror and blind rage, carrying the audience with her through a dark and at times gruesome journey of Sister Cecelia’s self discovery and relationship with her faith.
Sister Cecelia, a young, fresh faced religious girl, embarks on a new chapter of her life as she travels to Italy to work as a carer providing end of life care for old, sick nuns. She found her faith after a near death experience in her childhood; she now follows God as she believes that he saved her that day to serve a purpose, but she is yet to discover what that purpose may be. Upon arrival in Italy, Sister Cecelia detects an unsettling atmosphere which shrouds the convent.
After blacking out on her first night she soon discovers that she has become pregnant through a seemingly Immaculate conception. Sister Cecelia was guided to the convent by her faith in God and was consequently expected to put her trust into his representatives on earth. However, after it is discovered that she is the subject of a cruel and inhumane experiment, it is clear that Sister Cecelia’s faith was misplaced, not with God, but with those who follow him and twist their beliefs to justify their own heinous agendas.
(Variety 2024)
We learn early on that Father Tedeschi – the Priest who summoned Cecelia to the convent in the first place – devoted two decades of his life to the field of biology before he found his own place amongst the church. It isn’t until later that we discover Father Tedeschi was shunned from the profession due to conducting unethical experiments.
Once we learn the truth behind Sister Cecelia’s pregnancy it is clear that the purpose which Father Tedeschi and the rest of the convent serve is not in fact God’s but their own. They attempt, in the name of God, to engineer a biologically perfect replication of Christ and believe that he will be their saviour and wash away their sins. The convent firmly believes what they’re doing is for the greater good because, as stated by the Cardinal, “If this is not the will of God, why does he not stop us?”.
Yet, the fact that Father Tedeschi uses eugenics to force the creation of a Messiah opposes the Christian belief that Christ will rise again at the right time. We can also then see how the title, ‘Immaculate’ serves two meanings: firstly, it denotes the idea of an immaculate conception and secondly, it represents the attempt to design a genetically perfect foetus carried by the perfect vessel – Sister Cecelia – destined to become a faultless religious figure.
(Screenrant, 2024)
The setting of ‘Immaculate’ is another important element of the film as it embodies one of the main motifs – darkness masked by beauty. We are provided with a plethora of shots both inside and outside of the convent, depicting both the architectural and natural beauty of the Italian scenery. These shots however are lengthy and linger in certain rooms and corridors. This gives us the foreboding impression that there is something lurking in the convent, a malevolent force or motive hiding amongst the picturesque dressing of this religious building.
Similarly, when Sister Cecelia first arrives at the convent she is sweet, innocent and devout. However, once under threat she is capable of embracing the darkness emanated by the convent and doing whatever it takes in order to survive. Finally, a bible quote hidden on the wall of Sister Cecelia’s bedroom – “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” – foreshadows the duplicitous nature of Sister Cecelia’s baby suggesting that it has the potential to be a force of evil, disguised as a miracle.
(Discussing Film, 2024)
‘Immaculate’ provides a thrilling cinematic experience bringing audiences along for a ride full of gut wrenching twists and abhorrent revelations. The film emphasises the idea that a person’s faith is uniquely their own; a relationship with God should be an individual experience, not dictated by anyone or by an alternative motive. Sydney Sweeney perfectly captures Sister Cecelia’s journey in discovering that God’s purpose for her is to choose her own path. ‘Immaculate’ is a must-see new horror flick and a perfect combination of a harrowing conspiracy and the prevail of a person’s faith in themself.
Hope Lelliott-Stevens
Want more top horror lists and reviews? Check out our blog here..
After running down their funds from their wild and party oriented travels through Australia, backpackers Hannah (Julia Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick) accept a desolate bar job located in a mining town in the Outback. Once they arrive however, an uneasy atmosphere settles in and follows the girls as they try to navigate an unknown, strange environment devoid of any means of escape. The Royal Hotel provides an excruciating commentary on the pros and cons of travelling around the world; specifically the dangers of travelling as a woman. Director Kitty Green severs her characters’ contact with the world they know and thrusts them into a society with different rules, rules they would have to adhere to in order to survive.
The driving force of the film is the relationship between Hannah and Liv. The two portray a friendship in which one friend is reckless and impulsive and the other is sensible and paranoid. It is Liv who encourages Hannah to accept the bar job despite its isolated location, convincing her that it’s a necessary task given their financial situation. However, after one night of working the bar Hannah begins to feel on edge and senses that she and Liv might not be safe. Liv on the other hand brushes past these signs and even encourages Hannah to be more spontaneous – for example, spending time with Matty (Toby Wallace) whom they had only just met and experienced unwanted attention from the night before.
The relationship between the girls highlights the somewhat universal experience in friendships where one friend feels they are being forced into uncomfortable situations and the other feels they are being held back or not allowed to have fun. Coupled with an unfamiliar environment, the cracks begin to show in Hannah and Liv’s relationship and we gain an insight into how people can feel alone even amongst friends. Despite their rocky journey however, Hannah and Liv pull together when their situation elevates. The Royal Hotel illustrates how difficult it can be to travel with a friend who has a different level of awareness than yourself. Furthermore, Hannah and Liv emphasise the importance of banding together despite differences and emphasise the power of women who stand as one.
(Discussing Film, 2023)
Reinforcing the idea of sticking together, The Royal Hotel supplies an honest and at times difficult to watch criticism of the systemic misogyny present in bar culture. When they are first offered the job, Hannah and Liv are warned that they should expect unwanted male attention, especially because they will be based in a mining town. Moreover, after a few nights Hannah is told by Billy (Hugo Weaving) – the owner of the bar – that her attitude and lack of smiling is bad for business and drives his customers away.
This demonstrates the expectation of both bar staff and customers for the female employees to be part of the service the bar is providing. For example, Dolly (Daniel Henshall) is a regular who expects Hannah’s company as well as her bartending service when he hangs around after hours and tries to buy her drinks. He insists that he is just being nice despite elevating the situation with aggression when she declines and he subsequently doesn’t get his way.
There are several narrative piques similar to this in the film where one of the male characters becomes problematic by suggesting they are going to act violently towards one of the girls. These situations are always diffused however meaning that the film never comes to a clear climax. This choice works from a social commentary perspective as it highlights that female travellers can always feel an air of vulnerability even if they are never directly threatened or put into an obviously dangerous situation. From an entertainment perspective however the narrative falls flat without building to a satisfactory crescendo and cannot end with an adequate equilibrium as the story didn’t deviate from one to begin with.
(In Review, 2023)
The choice to use the landscape of the Australian Outback as the setting for The Royal Hotel is a metaphor for the loneliness and isolation that many people feel whilst travelling. We experience this isolation predominantly through the eyes of Hannah. As aforementioned Hannah and Liv exhibit significant differences and desires meaning that whilst Hannah for example feels threatened by the persistent and overly familiar male clientele, Liv sees them as harmless and cannot empathise with Hannah’s plight.
Throughout the film the walls begin to close in on the girls when they realise – as personified by the location of the Outback – they have nowhere to run to. Subsequently when Hannah stops a susceptible Liv from leaving the bar with Dolly they have nowhere but the bar to barricade themselves into. The Royal Hotel utilises the small building stood alone amongst a vast desert to convey the feeling of being trapped; a feeling familiar to many travellers who experience loneliness or homesickness when spending too much time isolated in unfamiliar environments.
(Indie Wire, 2023)
The Royal Hotel at times provides an excellent observation on the experience of travelling and working as a woman using Liv and Hannah to paint a picture of how even the closest of friends can feel alone in each others’ company, especially when you are away from home. The film also dives into the problematic system of many service industries who rely on the sexualisation and submission of women in order to entice customers and maximise sales. Having said this however, it feels that many desirable elements for a good film narrative are sacrificed in order for the social commentary to be made. Other than our central protagonists many of the secondary characters feel one dimensional and have no other purpose than to act as devices for the plot.
The Royal Hotel drives home the dangers of exploitation that many female travellers are confronted with and encourages awareness of foreign surroundings in order to avoid being taken advantage of as everyone deserves to feel safe when exploring new places.
Hope Lelliott Stevens
Want more top horror lists and reviews? Check out our blog here..
Breathing new life into the franchise, Saw X provides a never before seen piece of John Kramer’s history and gives audiences an insight into the man who created the Jigsaw legacy. In this new instalment we see John Kramer (Tobin Bell) participate in an innovative new cancer treatment that promises a full recovery from the brain tumour which currently plagues him. All is not what it seems however when the true nature of this treatment is revealed and Kramer takes matters into his own hands, not to exact revenge, but to rehabilitate those who have wronged him. Saw X not only reinforces the morally ambiguous atmosphere that runs through the veins of the franchise, but provides an empathetic origin story for Kramer and creates an argument to justify the necessity for Jigsaw’s tests.
A primary theme in Saw X is that of seeing and perceiving. Jigsaw has always found ways to observe his games and sometimes even insert himself into them. This allowed him to watch his subjects without making himself seen or known. For the first time however, Saw X presents us with a situation in which Kramer not only reveals himself to his subjects as their captor, but moves amongst the games so he can be seen up close by his subjects just as well as he can see them. We know that Jigsaw’s games always reflect the immoral actions of his subjects; Kramer makes himself known and personable in the same way the people involved in his treatment did in order to lull him into their con. The only difference is instead of their lives being in his hands, they are in their own. Furthermore Kramer and returning apprentice Amanda (Shawnee Smith) watch the games from a room above through a large glass window. This also highlights the way that the con artists involved in the treatment would watch their patients on the operating table knowing full well they were going to die, and do nothing to help them. Saw X emphasises how perception is power and gives Kramer an almost omniscient ability, allowing him to provide his subjects with their own personal judgement day.
(Bloody Disgusting 2023)
Speaking of power, another first for the Saw Franchise is the power struggle engaged by Kramer and one of his subjects Cecelia (Synnøve Macody Lund). Kramer appears to lose control of his game when another variable – Cecelia’s con partner Parker (Steven Brand) – shows up to rescue her. As a result Kramer and Amanda end up in their own trap and the power shifts from the puppeteers to the puppets. After besting their opposition however, Cecelia and Parker do not take the opportunity to escape. In fact, they decide the best course of action is to exact revenge on Kramer and Amanda.
Cecelia wishes to make Kramer regret what he did to them and take responsibility by forcing an innocent into the trap alongside him. This portrays to the audience that Kramer was right to put Cecelia in the trap in the first place as she does not regret how she behaved, and given the chance would continue her con. The power struggle continues as unbeknownst to Cecelia and Parker, Kramer wanted them to believe they were in control up until the last moment when he takes it back. This power struggle gives perspective to Jigsaw’s purpose as it shows, given the opportunity, the subjects would not take the moral high ground and therefore deserve to be tested.
(We Got This Covered 2023)
Not only do we see the vindictive spirit of the game’s subjects but we learn of a compassionate side to our game’s runners. A stand out player in Saw X is Amanda who is aforementioned, Kramer’s apprentice. Those who are familiar with the franchise will know that when Amanda eventually takes over from Kramer her games are unwinnable and her motives vengeful. This movie gives us an insight into what shapes Amanda’s motives and why she becomes this way. One of the players in the game, Gabriela (Renata Vaca) is a young drug addict, similar to the person Amanda was before she was subjected to her own test.
Amanda empathises with this girl and tries to help her by delaying her test. Seeing herself in Gabriela, Amanda begins to question if she herself deserved to be tested and whether aligning with Kramer was the correct decision. However, after Cecelia proves that even in the face of almost certain death she would not change her ways, Amanda begins to realise that these people don’t need to be rehabilitated but in fact punished. Saw X drives home Kramer’s strict rules for his games as it shows how other people would abuse his power should they have it for themselves.
(The Mary Sue 2023)
Saw X contributes yet another tale of morality into the franchise emphasising Kramer’s importance as Jigsaw by showing us how the games might be run if the shoe were on the other foot. The purpose of this instalment is to convince us – if we weren’t already – that Kramer is not a villain but an anti-hero. It has always been a question in the Saw universe whether or not it is morally wrong to test the immoral. Saw X gives reason and meaning to who Kramer becomes in the later films; the movie does not try to justify Jigsaw’s behaviour by saying it is wrong, but says it’s right and shows us why.
Hope Lelliott-Stevens
Want more top horror lists and reviews? Check out our blog here..
Here’s your guide to every screening, event and dark delight at this years Dead Northern Horror and Fantasy Film Festival 2023!
Friday – 29th September
As you join the queue in to the city screen with your fellow horror lovers, check in at our front desk with Josh, Gareth and Dave and grab your festival pass.
Head through to the main lobby and pick up any provisions you need with Cath and the team at City Screen Picture house, and head up to Screen one for your first day of spooky screenings…
11:00am – Student Short Films
‘Swine’ – one of the brilliant short films you can see in this showcase
A King in Yellow -A brother attempts to bring his sister’s sense of hearing back by performing an occult ritual involving vinyl records.
…And Again, And Again – Opening right amidst the action, a knife wielding maniac pursues his terrified victim home. Bloodshed ensues, but things are far from what they appear to be…
Serpentine Petrol Product reel No.7 ”Skin Cream” – A snake oil salesman with the latest in beauty products: A skin cream that melts away your skin.
Swine – Witness the death of society as two powerful men, driven entirely by their greed, gorge themselves on pork and wine before revealing their true nature.
Ariane’s Baby – Ariane is a single and lonely woman who craves love after a history of abusive relationships. The birth of her child represents a chance to start everything anew and form her own happy family, but she worries about not being up to the task.
Morto Rossa – A dance school organizes a mysterious casting to select a dancer for a future show. Suzie, after passing the audition, will be chosen as the lucky one.
The Machine – Alexis is a college student in her early 20s. One night while gathering with her friends she takes interest in the pinball machine in the arcade room…
Lucid – Lucid follows a protagonist, Wes, who becomes obsessed with the concept of lucid dreaming and spirals into a chase for power in his sleep.
Yokai In My House – Miyako a girl in her 20’s inherits a house in Japan. Unbeknown to her it is haunted by the Mokumokuren. Will she survive the night or will she succumb to the same fate as her predecessor?
12:30pm – ISAAC (Feature film) -Sci-fi Horror – Northern Premier with Q&A
In the near future a company specialising in cellular meat trial its synthetic technology in a bid to create the perfect child. Nicholas and Sarah are guinea pigs to this trial and are provided with a seemingly healthy son, after losing their own child to a genetic disease. As their new son, Isaac, develops he becomes increasingly violent and dangerous, leaving the parents with no choice but to lock him away and keep him hidden while they try to uncover the truth as to what is driving him insane.
2:30pm – The Good Times (Mini Feature) – Post Apocalyptic Horror
Fantastic short feature film, made by brilliant local talent and filmed in and around York!
A young man lives alone in a dystopian future, trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world and his own conscience.
One bashful vicar… One haunted nudist camp… Prepare to get the willies. In this paranormal comedy from the makers of 2018 festival-hit Paul Is Dead, BAFTA-nominee Spencer Jones leads a star cast (alongside veteran actors from ‘Hot Fuzz’, ‘Game Of Thrones’ & ‘Spaced’) as Rev Howard Lee Jr, a bashful local vicar who is called upon to save a haunted nudist camp from the prudish poltergeist covering their privates.
4:00pm – Folk Horror and Mystery Short Films
Kicking off our Folk Horror themed afternoon is a mixture of eerie short films…
‘Find You Here’ Folkloric Horror set at an abandoned scare attraction
Kiddo – On a rickety bus trundling through wilting countryside, a mysterious older woman named ‘Kiddo’ and a cohort of overexcited teenagers meander towards Wonderland, a theme park like no other. Sinister secrets await as Kiddo and her compatriots face off with their hosts and draw closer to discovering the truth of their journey.
Creulon – High in the mountains above the sleepy town of Creulon, a charismatic Radio DJ and a malicious Serial Killer share a sinister connection.
No Such thing – An obsessed alcoholic and his reluctant grandson search the Mourne Mountains for the fabled Banshee. Synopsis: Decades after his Father’s death, Paddy’s search for the mythical ‘Banshee’ is unwavering. Conor loved his grandfather’s stories when he was a child, but now an adult, he’s tired of the camping trips and the unhealthy obsessions. As the two set off into the mountains, their real struggle isn’t a ghost story, but their own decayed relationship.
The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras – Early one winter morning in the rural town of Rhuthun in North Wales, three men are called upon once again to carry out a terrible assignment on the Bwlch Pen Barras mountain pass. Shot on 16mm by cinematographer Sean Price Williams (Good Time, Her Smell) and featuring a score by Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan from The Super Furry Animals, The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras is a Welsh language folk horror film about modern Wales, rooted in the country’s rich mythology.
The Lure – Late at night, a lone fisherman discovers he is not the only one hoping to hook something.
Find You Here – Find You Here is a gnarly piece of folkloric horror about what happens when a toxic couple find themselves at an abandoned scare event built on evil land. Will they survive the night?
My Dreams Have Been Dark of Late – A knight finds himself at the mercy of his armour.
BREAK
A chance to come out of the darkness and find nourishment before the second half of day one…
6:00pm – Folk Horror Panel (Hosted by London Horror Society)
One of the chats talks from Dead Northern 2022
Chris and the team from LHS will be joining us all weekend and bringing some special guests from across the film industry for a good old chat about Friday afternoons theme ‘ FOLK HORROR’.
7:00pm – Sins of the Father (Feature Film) – UK Premiere – Folk Horror
After the death of his father, Aden and his mother, Sarah, find themselves responsible for the sale of his family home – a place they thought they’d left behind. When Sarah’s friends arrive to help, the task seems almost manageable. However, as they clear out the house, they uncover secrets in Sarah’s past and the sinister nature of the cultivated community Aden was raised in…. And his father’s family is not so eager to let the sins of the past go unpunished.
9:00pm – The Wicker Man (50th Anniversary Screening)
One of the original trilogy of British Folk Horror films that established the sub genre, join us in a celebration of the iconic film on a very special anniversary.
The plot centres on the visit of a police officer, Sergeant Neil Howie, to the isolated Scottish island of Summerisle in search of a missing girl. Howie, a devout Christian, is appalled to find that the inhabitants of the island have abandoned Christianity and now practise a form of Celtic paganism. The Wicker Man is well-regarded by critics. Film magazine Cinefantastique described it as “The Citizen Kane of horror movies”, and in 2004, Total Film magazine named The Wicker Man the sixth-greatest British film of all time. It also won the 1978 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film. The final scene was number 45 on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Movie Moments, and during the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, it was included as part of a sequence that celebrated British cinema. The film brought the wicker man into modern popular culture.
10.00pm – Till Late – Welcome Social with London Horror Society (Pitcher and Piano)
For those ready to party and meet some like minded horror folk, head just 30 seconds across the road to Pitcher and Piano where we welcome horror fans to the 2023 festival!
Whether you’re a seasoned horror aficionado or a curious newbie, at our indie horror mixer you’ll have the perfect opportunity to connect with friendly and talented people, and share your passion for all things spooky! The mixer will run from 10:00pm till late, giving you plenty of time to grab a drink, mingle and make new friends in the horror community.
Freshly bleary eyed from day 1, we’ll be welcoming you back to the City Screen (Bloody Mary in Hand) for day 2 of the fest!
11:00am – Satanic & Spooky Short Films
Opening Saturdays is a fantastic group of short films celebrating everything ghostly and demonic!
‘The Unquiet Dead’ jump scares and amazing practical effects in this scary short film!
La Nueva – Maria is the new teacher who arrives at an old religious school. On her first day, she will have to teach a group of rebellious kids who are part of a punishment class. An unexpected event will turn the classroom into a real hell.
Death Date – Boy Meets Girl on the Day of His Death
Fuse – An electrician finds himself stalked by a ghostly presence as he attends a night call at an elderly woman’s house.
Sylvie Made it – In hell, the dead work in call centers under the illusion of earning a place in heaven by satisfying the living. This is not worth the money for some, except when their loved ones suddenly disappear for heaven…
The Unquiet Dead – A therapist treats an unstable young woman who claims to be harassed by an assortment of malevolent spirits – who are demanding something from her.
Ghost Insurance – Stressed about the supernatural? Paul is selling ghost insurance policies, but one family isn’t convinced.
12:30pm – Haunted Ulster Live (Feature film) – Norther Premiere with Q&A – Paranormal Mockumentary
On Halloween night 1998, TV veteran Gerry Burns, teams up with popular children’s presenter Michelle Kelly to investigate poltergeist activity in a haunted house in Belfast. A seance causes the broadcast to descend into chaos. When the youngest child is mysteriously abducted by an unseen force, the two presenters must face their greatest fears on live TV.
2:30pm – Creature & Body Horror Shorts
‘The Heritage’ sure to creepy an gross you out in equal measures
The Heritage – After growing up adopted, a man makes a gargantuan discovery when meeting his biological father.
Dead Skin – Disgruntled teenager Jess has an itch she just can’t scratch and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to be rid of it.
Wormies – In 1980s suburbia, a distant family is forced to come together when the Summer’s hottest new toy, a cute aquatic pet, mutates into a repulsive monster.
Dinghy – After barely making it ashore onto the English coastline, a refugee and the man who smuggled him seek safety after a treacherous channel crossing, both pursued by and summoned to a place of darkness.
Growing Horns – On the verge of adulthood, Alva is studying meat cutting at a butchering school. Alva is severely bullied and her fellow students turn her daily life into torment. To control at least one aspect of her life, Alva has stopped eating. As the bullying escalates and her hunger grows, Alva begins to lose control of herself and sees red.
Forever – Shani and Amar are two half-dead girls, being sex-trafficked with a high price tag. When the thugs transporting them head to get food, the pair are hungry too and escape. They dodge the men in the shadows, but with hunger and dawn rising something has to give.
4:00pm – Video Shop Tales of Terror (Feature film)- Northern Premiere – Anthology Horror
A sinister video shop holds the key to a collection of terrifying VHS related tales, told by a collective of the best UK indie horror filmmakers including MJ Dixon (Pandamonium), Michael Fausti (Exit), Andrew Elias (The Numbers), Tom Lee Rutter (Day of the Stranger), Sam Mason Bell (The Millenial Killer) & Alexander Churchyard (The Allotment). With fake trailers from Tony Mardon & Geoff Harmer.
Horror legends Dani Thompson (My Bloody Banjo), Laurence R. Harvey (The Human Centipede II) join the cast, along with Martin W Payne (Monstrous Disunion), Hannah Paterson (Horrorscopes: Vol 1), Ayvianna Snow (Vampire Virus), Annabella Rich (Hacker), Chris Mills (Terror at Black Tree Forest), Cy Henty (Cleaver: Rise of the Killer Clown), Eve Oliver (Mask of Thorn), Charlie Bond (Powertool Cheerleaders vs The Boyband of the Screeching Dead), James Hamer-Morton (Dead Air) & Glyn Angell (Tales From the Great War).
BREAK
Saturday is all about pacing yourself so have a wonder around our Bizarre Bazaar marketplace in the City Screen basement and refresh your eyes for some unmissable evening events!
7.30pm- Spirits with Spirits (Live event) Sponsored by Sinners Gin
Back by popular demand Dead Northern’s resident ghost whisperer Paul Forster will be sharing some of York’s dark secrets and spooky stories and invite the audience to tell some of their own.
Partnered with a campfire cocktail courtesy of our sponsor Sinners Gin, who will have mixologists creating you delicious drinks throughout the spooky event.
9:00pm – How to Kill Monsters – Northern Premiere with Q&A (Feature film)
Our first ever fully sold out feature at the festival, and a brilliant gore fest to round of the second day of screenings!
The sole survivor of a blood-drenched massacre must team up with a rag-tag bunch of rookie cops and lawbreakers to fight off an invasion of monsters from another dimension. With a menagerie of monsters realised entirely with practical effects and buckets of fake blood and guts thrown in for good measure, HOW TO KILL MONSTERS will scratch the itch of horror fans craving a throwback popcorn horror movie that delivers thrills, kills and laughs in equal measure.
11:00pm – Awards party
Fresh out of the sold out screening and Q&A, VIPs and filmmakers will head down into the main lobby to celebrate all the amazing creators at this years festival for one hell of a party!
Awards, live music and lots of new horror pals made, you’ll stumble home after (just about) surviving day two of Dead Northern 2023.
Sunday – 1st October
For festival goers looking to recover from Saturday night or just fuel up, there will be some amazing brunch available to keep you going for the final day!
11:00am – Thriller Short Films
‘Shut’ a spine tingling short film screening as part of the thriller shorts
Suspense filled thrillers kick of our final day, and are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Caterpillar – Luke’s world is rocked when a stranger shows up claiming to be his partner. Luke descents into madness as he struggles to get the bottom of who the imposter is while also experiencing his own terrifying metamorphosis.
Shut – When Jonas visits his father after a long time, he’s shocked to find him in a confused state. Has his father’s mental state badly deteriorated or is something more sinister going on?
Morgue – Working the late shift at an old city morgue, the night porter passes the time playing pranks on the corpses. His usual party tricks come to an horrific end when after a delivery of eight new bodies earlier in the day, they vanish in the middle of a power cut…
Illusion – A delicious dinner, a stage, a magic show – what can go wrong? When Lisa accompanies the nice magician home after the show, she has to learn that some tricks are better not to be questioned.
The Family Man – Roger is the perfect Family man, but he keeps secrets , secrets that must be buried deep.
12:45pm – Dead Talks (Live Event)
Way back when we first started Dead Northern in 2020 we wanted to bring our own live horror podcast to the event, finally 4 years later we pilot ‘Dead Talks’.
Talks from industry professionals on spooky subjects, all will be revealed when you take your seat…
1:30pm – Dead on the Vine (Feature film) – Northern premiere with Q&A – Thriller
As two men leave a small rural town one of them has a seizure forcing the other to pull into the nearest place – A vineyard. The women owners are deep into prep for a make or break wine tasting but the men are welcomed in. But after recovering from his seizure one man throws a violent spanner into the works, leaving his friend and the women with choices that may destroy not only their business but themselves.
3:30pm – It be an Evil Moon (Feature film) – UK Premiere with Q&A – Werewolf horror
Brilliantly endearing feature from first time director Ben Etchells.
Set in the highlands of Scotland and Northern England, a disgraced scientist develops a hair growth formula derived from pickled wolfsbane which turns him into a bloodthirsty werewolf.
5:30pm – Music Videos
Fantastically disturbing ‘Flesh’ one of many brilliant northern submissions this year
Crooks Heart of Vengance – The story of a scientist inventing the key to eternal life. A couple of thugs steal his invention and leave him and his daughter for dead. In order to come back to life he sells his soul to the devil. Armed only with a heart of vengeance, and an Axe, he hunts down the crooks one by one. . . . They picked the wrong man to kill!!
Hoodie On – The fantasies of a serial killer. A car driver going fast on the highway. A murder has been committed.
Old Flames – A haunting portrayal of a recovering addict learning to live with her demons.
Subvisions – Flesh – Joshua is walking his dog into a dark tunnel and is attacked by a gang of carnivorous old people. They want his flesh.
The Windstorm
Candlestick Maker – Alien Chicks
BREAK
Almost reaching the end of Dead Northern 2023 and your final chance to enjoy the fantastic venue and city we call home for the weekend. Grab yourself some scran and then settle in for a brilliant final double feature!
7:00pm – Perfectly Good Moment (Feature film) – UK Premiere – Sci-fi Thriller
This psychosexual thriller asks the question: what happens when the things that make your relationship passionate and exciting are the same things that make it toxic? Ruby and David have been together on-and-off for 8 years, since she was 19 and he 34. Six months after Ruby last ran out on him, she has returned. Once the initial bliss of the reunion wears off, old toxic patterns re-emerge. Is David too demanding and controlling or is Ruby just too sensitive? Is Ruby as delicate and demure as she appears to be…or is there something more sinister behind the surface? Why did Ruby really come back? Perfectly Good Moment is Lauren Greenhall’s narrative directorial debut. It features Broadway star Stephen Carlile in his cinematic debut and Amanda Jane Stern (1 Angry Black Man, Lifetime’s Amish Witches). It marks Stern’s first feature screenwriting credit, and boasts an original score by Mdou Moctar’s Mikey Coltun.
8:30pm – Puzzle Box (Feature film) – UK Premiere – Found Footage Horror
Puzzle Box follows the story of a struggling drug addict, Kait (Boyé), and her younger sister, Olivia (Denne). Running from a violent incident in her past and not wanting to go back to rehab, Kait flees to a remote house in the woods to self-rehabilitate, where Olivia joins her to document the process. But they quickly find that the house isn’t what it seems and the internal layout is constantly changing, trapping them inside an inescapable puzzle box of a house. As they attempt to solve the mystery and find a way out, they discover there are far worse things in this house to be afraid of.
We hope you brought a spare pair of trousers… DN Alumni Jack Dignan returns with a punchy found footage horror leaving you terrified just before we send you back home on Sunday night!
Check out the full festival programme and get your tickets here!!
Have you ever watched someone run upstairs, when you know that you would have run outside? Have you yelled at the screen, because there’s a killer stalking right behind those happy campers? Do you secretly want to be in your own scary movie? Then there’s good news – because we did too.
Parable Games is proud to present to you: SHIVER – the Horror Movie Role-playing Game! Now you and your friends can find out once and for all who would survive a rampaging killer at summer camp, who would make it through the zombie apocalypse, and which one of you is most likely to use the others as bait for a hissing alien monster!
SHIVER is a tabletop role-playing game, or an “RPG” – but what does that actually mean? Well, it means that it’s a game where you play as individual characters, playing out a story created by another player – known as the Director, and the other players make up the cast of characters.
These characters are the kind you’d usually find in a horror movie: a jock, a cheerleader, an Antarctic scientist, a space marine… Whatever, wherever or whenever your story takes place, SHIVER gives you simple tools to make sure your characters fit in to your world.
“This sounds a little complicated” you might be thinking, and you’d be right. It does “sound” complicated – but it actually isn’t! Parable Games loves games (surprise-surprise), but what we love more is getting new people to play games. SHIVER is designed to be a game that you can pick up and have fun with, even if you’ve never played anything more complicated than snakes and ladders.
So, how does it work? SHIVER uses an intuitive symbol dice system, where each symbol represents a different “skill” – or to put it a different way, a different way your characters might solve problems. Solving problems with your fists? Then you’re lying on your Grit skill. Maybe you face your challenges more with your brain than your brawn? Then that’s Smarts. Different characters have different skill strengths and weaknesses based on their personality, but each of them can try anything – here’s nothing like learning a new skill when your (fictional) life is on the line!
Why not gather your friends round for a scary movie night, but this time you’re all going to be in the movie! All you need to get started is the SHIVER Core Rulebook. With this simple and easy to read guide to the dark and unknown (world of RPG rules), you’ve got all you need to get started. We have a free online digital dice roller so if you wanted to roll ‘dem bones virtually, go ahead and give it a try.
With the SHIVER Core Rulebook you can run stories anywhere from a cabin in the woods to the International Space Station, and any-when from the dawn of mankind to the space faring future. Whatever your imagination can conjure up, SHIVER can help you turn it into an interactive, spooky experience.
Of course, horror is a varied and many headed beast. We know that. That’s why we’re always working on expansions for the game – new books themed around some of our favourite horror sub-genres…
Gothic horror – with Vampires, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolfman fighting supernatural horrors in Victorian London? We’ve got it covered in SHIVER Gothic.
Maybe your tastes lie less in the fantastical – maybe you’re more of a “nothing’s scarier than a guy with a knife who just… SNAPS” type. If that’s your modus operandi, then you’d need to keep an eye out for SHIVER: Slasher. A decades spanning story where the killers always come back, but the survivors aren’t guaranteed as much.
If you struggle with the hardcore violence in horror, or maybe you want a more safe way to introduce your love of the genre to sceptical friends or family – then SHIVER: Blockbuster is the answer you’re looking for. Giant Sharks, Spaceship Adventures, Ghost Pirates and Skeletal Dragons? Launch your own mega-horror-franchise with bang!
We love horror, and we love horror movies. It’s why we’re proud to sponsor Dead Northern, and why we can’t wait to be there, but most of all it’s why we made SHIVER to begin with. We wanted to play our favourite horror movies, but also make our own – and besides, how many games can you play where you actually get to kill your friends and still get to keep your friends? Not many, I’ll tell you!
Want to give SHIVER a try? You can sign up to our mailing list and receive a copy of our QuickStart version of the game!
Created in 2020, ‘Unusual Horror’ has been bringing the brutality of underground horror and metal to market, giving fans of slam, death metal and extreme horror a means to express themselves. The brainchild of someone whose two obsessions of extreme metal and horror have culminated in the creation of brutal apparel and accessories for the community.
‘Unusual Horror’ focuses on 3 main areas: Horror inspired prints, slam & death metal merchandise and underground/extreme horror licensed merchandise. Through collaborating with underground bands, directors and independent artists, you are guaranteed to get a once in a lifetime piece of merchandise. From the likes of t-shirts, hoodies and other apparel donning edgy death metal script and independently designed artworks, those in the alternative community have a new way to express themselves.
Initially starting with a handful of pieces that donned edgy prints of Nuns in illicit situations and other quintessential metal-like prints, like Baphomet at a ritual, etc, the brand has grown significantly. With popular designs such as the ‘Sisters of …’, ‘Ritualistic Offering’ and ‘GoreChrist’ being repeatedly re-printed due to high demand – the want for more extreme prints is simply growing. It appears that people in the alternative circle are sick of the tame designs from the likes of Killstar and are now hunting down these sorts of designs, which ‘Unusual Horror’ are serving up to the masses. They pride themselves in collaborating with independent artists to offer the best quality and unique pieces, which give the buyers a unique item and the artist more exposure for their work. With new designs very much on the way, ‘Unusual Horror’ fans are in for a hell of a ride with their new signature collections and not to mention new additions to the ‘Sisters of…’ collection.
On top of their signature pieces, ‘Unusual Horror’ also gives a home to those fans of extreme & underground horror; creating licensed collections of some of cinema’s most controversial titles. With titles like ‘Deathgasm’, ‘Septic’, ‘Nekromantic’ & ‘American Mary’, the store’s collection only seems to grow with each release. Boasting a huge accomplishment with their latest release, their ‘A Serbian Film’ collection is classed as the only licensed merchandise collection for the film (worldwide) and has received a huge amount of interest since its pre-order release.
‘Unusual Horror’ prides itself in collaborating with these underground and extreme film makers, to allow them to have the same type of platform that the more mainstream horrors get. Regardless of backlash from people who aren’t fans of the extreme side of horror, it appears that, thanks to ‘Unusual Horror’, the world of extreme horror is simply growing, simply due to people wearing the merchandise and boasting their interests in this type of film – something that many fans have had to suppress due to lack of representation in clothing and also the fear of judgement.
It isn’t just licensed merch that they are passionate about on the front of extreme horror, their newest venture will see them distributing new underground/extreme horrors. They have recently received the distributing rights to up and coming Italian, queer extreme horror films ‘ELDORADO’ and ‘La Perdición’ by renowned director Domiziano Cristopharo, who directed films like ‘House of Flesh Mannequins’ and ‘Xpiation’. Filmed in Gran Canaria, Director Cristopharo boasts that these films are the quintessential watch for any extreme horror fan that has an interest in queer cinema. These are aiming to be released in December 2023 with a brand new range of merchandise for each film that should tantalise any extreme horror fan.
It’s clear that ‘Unusual Horror’ doesn’t just make merchandise, but have now expanded their options by creating distribution options for underground extreme horror; a feat many small brands couldn’t accomplish. Their final pillar of interest is mainly focussed on the slam/death metal/deathcore scene; this has always been a focus for the brand, with their logo invoking similarities to a lot of death metal band logos. This passion for underground music has been a catalyst for the brand, with them creating merchandise for local and home-grown death metal bands and allowing fans to show off their favourite underground metal bands, while also letting these smaller bands have the option to promote themselves. They have created merch for bands like ‘Guttural Slug’ and ‘Devourment’, while also showcasing smaller local bands by the likes of ‘Coprocephalic Mutation’ and ‘357 Homicide’.
‘Unusual Horror’ have been at the forefront of providing good quality pieces with brutal designs that have satisfied the masses of slam and death metal fans world wide, but their efforts to preserve and support the community don’t end with merchandise creation and distribution. ‘Rancid Offal Promotions’ was set up in 2022 by a member in the scene, as a means to get these underground slam, death metal and grindcore bands on stage and touring; there was a knowledge there that there was a huge fan base, who simply didn’t have the opportunity to see these bands live.
‘Unusual Horror’ began to collaborate with the original team of RxOx, in the way of merchandising and advertising and soon was adopted under the brand after the success of their first event. Thanks to RxOx and the collaboration with ‘Unusual Horror’, underground metal has a home for live performance. Starting with their first ever festival ‘Offal Fest’ in March 2023, the event showcased bands like ‘Crepitation’ and ‘Twitch of the Death Nerve’, while also bringing over ‘Guttural Slug’ to perform ‘Megalodon’ in full.
This was a huge moment for the scene, as this was ‘Guttural Slug’s’ debut live show, with them also playing one of the most influential albums in the scene. This event was not some local affair, patrons from overseas came from the likes of America and Canada just to check out the first ever ‘Offal Fest’. Since its creation RxOx has been planning and creating more events for the community to feast their eyes on. They have many upcoming events, like ‘Goremageddon’ and ‘Cannibalising the UK’, showcasing bands like ‘Torsofuck’ and the reunion of ‘Pivorapist’. RxOx are now the heart of the community and are bringing these brutal lineups to the masses, and their reign of terror will not end, as the next ‘Offal Fest’ is looming over the horizon.
In short, ‘Unusual Horror’ is a home for those who have been ostracised because of their interests in extreme horror and music. Their space and apparel are for those who stray between the lines of brutality and extremity, who don’t wish to align with societal norms. Whether you are an extreme horror or music fan looking to showcase your favourite niche band or film, or an alternative person looking for something just a bit more heavy to wear out and about, ‘Unusual Horror’ has it all for you. This is only the beginning for them, not just merchandise wise, but also in the sense of live music and film distribution.
When you buy your first piece from this incredible small brand, you will not just be holding a piece of merchandise, you will now be a part of an ever-growing community of fans who walk to their own beat. Make sure to keep an eye on both ‘Unusual Horror’ and ‘Rancid Offal Promotions’, as you are in for a treat and don’t want to miss out on what’s coming.
Clever and socially provocative, Talk to Me is the horror breakout of not only the summer but the year. It centres around grief stricken teenager Mia (Sophie Wilde) who, along with a group of high school friends, experiments with an embalmed hand that possesses the special ability to connect with the dead and allows users to grant spirits permission to enter their bodies.
This innovative picture comes from the minds of Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou known primarily for their pioneering Youtube content on their channel RackaRacka. Talk to Me premiered at Sundance Film Festival and was rightfully an instant hit with audiences and film companies alike; the movie was picked up by infamous production and distribution company A24. Not only does Talk to Me provide a haunting yet beautiful viewing experience, it dives into the importance of identity and tackles the idea of how a horror movie would play out in the modern, digital age.
The film’s directors have spoken about how Talk to Me explores the theme of connection and how Mia, shrouded in grief from the recent loss of her mother, is yearning for a connection to anyone or anything that will make her feel something (Fandango, 2023). Though what stood out to me the most was Mia’s connection to herself; her sense of identity. As aforementioned, Mia is struggling to cope with the passing of her mother and the consequential grief that has begun to consume her. As a result we realise that a part of Mia has died along with her mother, leaving a gaping hole in her sense of self that she is desperate to fill. Enter the embalmed hand which allows one’s body and soul to be consumed by a relentless cycle of spirits.
This addictive activity works on two levels to fill the void left by Mia’s mother. Firstly, the euphoric feeling of being possessed functions like a drug, providing her with temporary relief from the hopelessness and loss that currently defines her. Secondly, the act of allowing a spirit to physically force itself inside her shows Mia’s desperation to find an identity again, even if it is not her own. Talk to Me follows Mia on her distorted and somewhat futile journey to find herself again and warns that altering your reality – using drugs or possession – cannot change the circumstances under which your identity was broken in the first place.
(ScreenRant, 2023)
Elaborating on the subject of reality, Talk to Me further examines a world in which we are perceived and scrutinised through a digital eye. We are introduced to the hand via a snapchat story in which a girl is clearly suffering at the hands of whichever spirit is coursing through her. When the camera draws back we see her distress illuminated by the light of several phone cameras, eager to document her torment. Furthermore at all the parties hosted by Joss (Chris Alosio) and Hayley (Zoe Terakes) – the current owners of the hand – every possession is filmed and made public.
This highlights the significance social media has on an individual’s reputation as, a humiliating experience with the hand would obviously bring with it an embarrassing reputation, later exhibited when Daniel (Otis Dhanji) has a turn with the hand. The film encourages viewers to realise the importance society places on a social media presence and a digital reputation; this generation is so immunised to the pain and suffering of others that they will happily record and publicise it if it promises a positive online reaction for themselves. It is only when Mia requests they use the hand outside the presence of phones and social media that the focus shifts from creating thrills and a viral video to Mia’s dependency on possession in order to feel whole again.
(BlackGirlNerds, 2023)
Talk to Me not only blurs the lines between the real world and the digital one but as the story develops we see Mia’s reality and the spirit world begin to intertwine. In between Mia’s innumerable possessions she begins to encounter spirits outside the use of the hand. Specifically she starts to see her mother who makes her question what is right and wrong and encourages her to inch further away from her own sanity.
Mia is presented with a morally impossible decision in order to save her friend with the manipulative spirit of her mother looming over her shoulder, trying to force her decision. The climax of Talk to Me is beautifully twisted as it portrays a loving mother-daughter relationship ripped apart by death and warped by grief. Here the Philippou brothers stunningly capture the fragility of the human mind and how the death of a loved one can cause our tether to reality to unravel.
Talk to Me exhibits all the shock and exhilaration ever present in Danny and Michael Philippou’s work and presents a unique ability to portray dark, mature and malevolent themes in a heartfelt and delicate way. The film emphasises a modern society’s dependence on a sense of identity established through our connections to one another and governed by how we present ourselves online.
Talk to Me sheds light on the fact that we are all one emotionally wrenching experience away from losing our grip on reality and severing all ties from our own sense of self.
CELEBRATE THE BEST OF INDIE HORROR ON THE BIG SCREEN!
Dead Northern Film Festival returns for a fourth year with a three-day horror and fantasy film festival in the heart of the UK’s spookiest city, York.
The festival will be held from Friday 29 September to Sunday 1 October 2023
The programme will feature a 50th anniversary screening of ‘The Wicker Man’, new short and feature films, live events, Q&As with filmmakers and much more!
Following last years success, which saw over 500 admissions, celebrating the best of the indie horror film genre, the Dead Northern Film Festival returns with a thrill-packed weekend.
Horror and fantasy fans are invited to the York’s City Screen Picturehouse to spend the weekend celebrating frightfully good flicks old and new.
The line-up includes a mixture of specially curated new feature and short films from the best talent in the genre, locally and internationally, as well as a celebration of some classic horrors reaching milestone anniversaries.
Folk horror will take centre stage over the weekend with 50th anniversary screening of Robin Hardy’s ‘The Wicker Man’ accompanied by a panel of special guests and a carefully selected group of folk horror shorts.
Beyond the film – Expect interviews with industry creatives
There will be something for all genre fans from creepy thrillers to blood-soaked slashers.
Joshua Lawson Co-founder and director of festival programming says of the line-up: “We’re really excited to welcome Dead Northerner’s back to our most ambitious festival yet.”
“I can honestly say this is going to be strongest line up we have had in our 4 years growing the festival, with an eclectic mix of extra fringe events and activities”.
Festival goers enjoying the City Screen in between screenings
There will also be other surprises for festival attendees including special introductions, guest speakers and, of course, the live events and awards party that has become a fan favourite.
Dead Northern Festival award winners will join past alumni such as Rob Savage (Host) who won film of the year in 2020, and Erik Bloomquist (Ten Minutes to Midnight). With the most anticipated award “Best Death” won by Liam Regan’s Troma hit in 2022 (Eating Miss Campbell) sponsored by Dead Happy.
Liam Regan accepting the award for ‘Best Death’ in 2023
Brand new to this year is the ‘Bizarre Bazaar’ a unique marketplace dungeon of brilliantly unusual vendors dedicated to fans of the horror and fantasy genre.
VIP Weekend Passes for the festival are now on sale with day passes and individual screening tickets set to be available in August when the full festival schedule is released.
PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY WRAPS ON TOXIC RELATIONSHIP HORROR “KILL YOUR LOVER” WITH SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKE UP ARTIST FROM “WINNIE-THE-POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY”
Married co-directing team Switchblade Cinema, Alix Austin and Keir Siewert (AK), have just wrapped on their debut horror feature KILL YOUR LOVER: A psychological drama with a punk edge and skin-crawling body horror, where ‘Blue Valentine’ meets ‘The Fly’. Known for their stylized cinematography and love of practical make-up effects, Austin and Siewert have joined forces with Special Effects and Prosthetics Artist Rebecca Wheeler from the much-discussed upcoming WINNIE-THE-POOH horror (Other credits include: AQUAMAN 2, BOILING POINT).
Still from ‘Do Not Resuscitate’
Having previously worked with Wheeler on horror short DO NOT RESUSCITATE (linked below), AK are looking to take an even bigger and bolder swing with KILL YOUR LOVER – “Else what would be the point?”, says Austin, “we know there’s a lot of competing content out there and we know we need to cut through the white noise. With a machete if need be!”
With several ‘Best Horror’ and ‘Best FX’ awards under their belt, Switchblade Cinema are tackling the full breadth of the toxic relationship in KILL YOUR LOVER: the good, the bad and the downright ugly. “When Dakota tries to break off her toxic relationship with Axel, it starts transforming him into a monstrous creature with increased aggression, a touch that melts skin and worst of all, he’s contagious…” Above photo still from ‘Do Not Resuscitate’
The film will feature tense horror sequences, heartbreaking interpersonal drama and creative kills alike. KILL YOUR LOVER is the epitome of the phrase ‘death by a thousand cuts’.
