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.
Completing T.I. West’s zealous ‘X’ trilogy is MaXXXine, a cinematic epilogue following massacre survivor Maxine’s (Mia Goth) journey to stardom in the early 1980s. With West’s signature homage to gritty nostalgia-driven thematics and Goth’s ability to immersive herself into her characters with visceral ease, MaXXXine will certainly be an unmissable slasher.
2- Shelby Oaks (Directed by Chris Stuckmann)
Youtuber Chris Stuckmann’s directorial debut has already made waves across the independent film industry, with its Kickstarter campaign breaking records as the upcoming found footage inspired horror crossed the $1 million point early last year. Shelby Oaks tackles the story of a missing paranormal investigative team and the pandora’s box of hell that their disappearance unleashes.
3- Late Night with the Devil (Directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes)
This highly anticipated Australian horror burst onto the scene with nothing but rave reviews after its premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival. Taking centre stage is David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy, a smooth-talking late-night talk show host whose show quickly goes south one fateful night after he interviews a survivor of a satanic mass suicide.
4- Lisa Frankenstein (Directed by Zelda Williams)
One of horror’s favourite writers, Diablo Cody (creator of Jennifer’s Body [2009]), is back with the 1980s set Lisa Frankenstein, a morbid, fresh and ghastly take on the classic Frankenstein monster’s tale. Kathryn Newton plays the role of enigmatic teenager Lisa Swallows, who falls head over heels with a living corpse (Cole Sprouse). Dressed with bubblegum pink aesthetics and a ghoulish love story, Lisa Frankenstin makes for a perfect spooky Valentine’s watch as it hits screens on the 9th of February.
5- Saw XI (Director TBC)
A new entry into the neverending, blood-filled, gore-ridden Saw franchise is heading to theatres in late September. However, this is all that is known about the latest cog in Jigsaw’s grand plan so far. Despite its acclaim, writers of the warmly received Saw X (2023), Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg, will not be returning to carry on the Saw legacy. Although the mystery is strong surrounding this upcoming release, one thing is for certain: Jigsaw’s game is far from over!
6- Longlegs (Directed by Oz Perkins)
The chilling teaser trailer for Oz Perkins ‘Longlegs’ has been haunting the internet since the new year, with small snippets of malevolent stills and unnerving clips of tense, unfamiliar symbols appearing all over social media. This sure-to-be hit follows FBI agent Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) as she is assigned to an unsolved case of a serial killer linked to the occult.
7- Hell of a Summer (Directed by Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk)
Hell of a Summer follows the structure of a classic (and unbeatable) summer camp slasher, complete with a mysterious masked killer who lurks the grounds looking for prey. Whilst a strong sense of familiarity rings true, what Hell of a Summer does promise is an extremely gory, wild and savage take on a genre favourite.
8- Terrifier 3 (Directed by Damien Leone)
Horror’s residential terrifying clown – ‘Art’ (David Howard Thornton) has been scaring the wits out of people since his first appearance in Damien Leone’s short film The 9th Circle (2008), and now he’s back yet again for the highly anticipated Terrifier 3. With its first look trailer already rapidly making the rounds, this upcoming Christmas-based slasher will certainly be making some noise when it gets released come 25th October.
9- The Toxic Avenger (Directed by Macon Blair)
It takes a bold crew to tackle Troma Entertainment’s bold cult classic, The Toxic Avenger (1984). However, from the looks of the fiery trailer and the talented cast including none other than Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood, the fifth entry into the ‘Toxie’ franchise is set to be an offbeat, untamed, maverick-like beast of a film. Catch the latest Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz produced flick later this year.
10- Baghead (Directed by Alberto Corredor)
Hitting theatres on the 26th of January is Baghead, a paranormal horror following Iris Lark (Freya Allan), who inherits a broken-down pub she soon discovers a sinister presence lurking underneath the premises. Baghead’s corpus of dread surrounds the rhetoric of loss, decay and the dwellings of mortality.
11- Abigail (Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett)
From the creators of Ready or Not (2019), Scream V (2022) and Scream VI (2023) is the upcoming creature feature Abigail. Based on Dracula’s Daughter (1936), Abigail takes on vampirism with a vicious twist as the enthralling plot follows a group of kidnappers who abduct the daughter of an influential figure for ransom, only to discover their victim’s bloody appetite…
12- The Strangers: Chapter 1 (Directed by Renny Harlin)
Despite the rumours, The Strangers: Chapter 1 is not a sequel nor a remake of the 2008 contemporary classic, The Strangers (Bryan Bertino). Alternatively, this Renny Harlin feature is the first of a standalone trilogy that occurs simultaneously with the original ‘08 timeline. With this being said, in Chapter 1 expect plenty of home invasion thrills, intense frights and most notably, some of the scariest masks horror has to offer.
13- Nosferatu (Directed by Robert Eggars)
Robert Eggars may just be the perfect choice to bring the infamous Count Orlok back to life, with his ability to convey macabre yet beautiful narratives, alongside his brilliant stylistic techniques that consistently utilise the likes of dramatic chiaroscuro lighting. Joining Eggars in bringing Nosferatu to old and new audiences to the screen are performers Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin and Willem Dafoe.
14- Your Monster (Directed by Caroline Lindy)
Based on Caroline Lindy’s 2019 short film of the same name is Your Monster, a horror comedy with a heartwarming dash of morbid romance. The film follows Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera), a young woman simultaneously dealing with a breakup and a cancer diagnosis. However, her world is about to get increasingly stranger as she uncovers a petrifying but oddly endearing monster (Tommy Dewey) residing in her closet.
15- The First Omen (Directed by Arkasha Stevenson)
The Omen (1976) still lives on 48 years later as Arkasha Stevenson introduces The First Omen, a prequel to the original Richard Donner directed tale of horror’s deadliest child. The film chronicles Margaret (Nell Tiger Free), a young American nun sent to a church in Rome. However, she soon discovers a conspiracy within the Lord’s house as they attempt to bring about the birth of an evil incarnate. The 6th entry into the all-mighty franchise is set to be theatrically released on April 5th.
16- In a Violent Nature (Directed by Chris Nash)
This indie horror follows a masked silent man as he makes his way through a secluded forest (and a sea of bodies). In a Violent Nature proves that slashers are alive and well, with this slick yet dauntingly raw and seriously creative horror forgoing cliches and putting an original twist on the beloved subgenre with the film following the perspective of the antagonist.
15- Dust Bunny (Directed by Bryan Fuller)
Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver star in Bryan Fuller’s (Hannibal [2013-15] developer) feature debut film about an eight-year-old girl who pleads with her neighbour to kill the monster hiding under her bed who massacred her family. The seemingly outlandish but entertaining concept of Dust Bunny is said to be rife with a throwback vibe, reminiscent of dark yet oddly comedic and heartwarming horrors from the 1980s such as The Lost Boys (1987).
16- The Watchers (Directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan)
M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter Ishana makes her directorial debut with The Watchers, an eerie creature feature that amalgamates with a secluded forest horror setting as we follow young artist Mina (Dakota Fanning) who finds herself trapped alongside three strangers in an isolated forest in Ireland surrounded by sinister beasts.
17- Handling the Dead (Directed by Thea Hvistendahl)
Adapted from the 2005 John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In [2004]) novel of the same name is Handling the Dead, a Norweigan zombie film that tells the tale of three families whose lives are plunged into madness when their deceased loved ones are reanimated. The film strips back the hecticness of the archetypal zombie territory and opts for a muted, haunting atmosphere where the emotional anti becomes the driving force.
18- The Home (Directed by James DeMonaco)
After troubled retirement home worker Max (Pete Davidson), discovers that his patients are harbouring a menacing secret, he begins to reveal connections between his upbringing in a foster care setting and the ominous happenings at the ill-omened home. The Home sees James DeMonaco back with another horror following on from his work with The Purge franchise.
19- Imaginary (Directed by Jeff Wadlow)
Joining the likes of the Chucky TV series (2021-), Megan (2023) and Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) is Jeff Wadlow’s ‘Imaginary‘ which is set to hit theatres on March 8th. Imaginary’s ‘evil toy comes to life’ is a stuffed bear named Chauncey who was the beloved childhood companion of Jessica (DeWanda Wise). However, when Jessica’s stepdaughter Alice (Pyper Braun) gets hold of Chauncey and her once innocent behaviour turns vicious, Jessica realises that Chauncey holds a wicked secret.
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!!
In a bid to develop a new hair growth formula, scientist Freddy Campbell (Ian Ray-White) develops a secret serum using pickled wolfsbane. However, the strange concoction transforms Freddy from a meek man into a monstrous werewolf hungry for flesh.
It Be an Evil Moon comes from the mind of Ben Etchells, who in his directorial debut creates a gnarly indie horror steeped in furry madness and bloodthirsty delight, showcasing the true mania of werewolf movies. The film balances its eccentricity thanks to the equal measures of off-kiltered humour that continuously tethers itself to dark comedy, and due to its rather impressive practical effects, particularly concerning the epic lycanthrophic metamorphosis of Freddy.
Shadowing the cracking exposition of a scientist-turned-werewolf is the film’s unmissable appeasement to classic British wolfman horrors. The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), American Werewolf in London (1981), Dog Soldiers (2002) and Howl (2015) all ooze that quintessential British feel of traditional monotony to terror, with a dose macabre comedy and folkloric undertones. Whilst It Be an Evil Moon in no way mimics the conventionalities of these films, what Etchells does do is extract that same magnetism to conjure a narrative heaped with rural, gothic, sinister connotations.
Whilst credence is deservedly owed to Etchells for his witty take on werewolf mayhem, it would be beastly to forgo a mention to the vibrant performances throughout. The maniacal and certainly ‘eccentric’ character of Freddy is played by Ian Ray-White, who executes the grisly persona with a savagery that makes for a lasting viewing experience. Seconding the spirited performances is the film’s way with tonality, both visually and narratively. It Be an Evil Moon exudes a bleak richness that makes the thrills thrive against the mundanity of Freddy’s initial settings and situation – think Sightseers (2012) or Prevenge (2016).
It Be an Evil Moon takes heed of the classic werewolf tragedy and inspiration from the gloomy yet brilliant portrayals seen within British horror and creates a tale saturated with horror excellence.
Check out the full festival programme and get your tickets here!!
10- Soundless screams (Insidious: The Last Key [2018])
Insidious: The Last Key often goes unrecognised in the grand scheme of the Insidious universe despite being the franchise’s most profitable film, meaning that many of its brilliant surprises also go overlooked. One of these potent frights showcases a fear that many of us will have experienced in some of our worst night terrors – attempting to scream, but nothing comes out. The scene shows a key-clawed demon plunging its talons into its victim’s throat, trapping their breath and brutally silencing them. The harsh effects of such a moment make us squirm at the mere thought of running out of breath in a room full of air.
9- Ultraviolet (Insidious [2010])
The first entry into the Insidious franchise remains one of the best out of the bunch, mainly due to its simple scares that build up slowly, leaving us in suspense as we sit and wait for a big jolt to the senses. This brutally slow tension is brilliantly captured in the picture-taking sequence as we follow paranormal investigator Tucker around the haunted home, looking through a UV lens to identify suspicious activity. As Tucker flicks through the lens settings, we see an ordinary hallway plain as day, that is, until two wide-eyed ghosts suddenly appear in the frame, grinning ear to ear with the most menacing smile possible. It’s a classic scare. One that takes minimal moves to enact, but the slow anticipation of knowing you are in for a fright provides the scene with maximum payoff.
8- Beware of the wardrobe (Insidious: Chapter 2 [2013])
Tin canned walkie-talkies make a terrifying comeback in Insidious: Chapter 2 as we see the Lambert brothers trying to settle after the events of the first film. Upping the nostalgia factor is the inclusion of the tried and tested closet jumpscare. A sleepy Dalton soon realises that it’s not his brother at the other end of the line, but instead a sinister voice with bad intentions. As Dalton begins to sit up in anticipation, replicating the viewer’s goosebumps, a gangly monster leaps out from the closet and bolts to the door before turning to Dalton and unleashing an almighty scream as it glares a haunting stare from its jet-black eyes. It’s a scene to behold and an instance that brings us back to our innermost fears of monsters lurking in the dark crevices of our rooms.
7- Baby monitor (Insidious)
Since their mass popularisation in the mid-1980s, baby monitors have become a pinnacle prop in cinema, with films such as The Baby’s Room (2006), Nocturnal Animals (2016) and Lullaby (2022) all utilsing the radio system as a horror instigator. In Insidious, the baby monitor tactic is used continuously to elicit big scares over small instances of time, with the strange utterances heard over the transmitter multiple times. In the beginning, each baby check ends in a fake scare, one where the spookiness is almost a hoax. However, during the third case, the camera finally reveals a pale-faced, vampiric-like, suited ghost ominously staring over the child. The baby monitor scene is an exercise in deceit, ceaselessly building up until we no longer expect a reveal of any sort, until that dreaded moment where we are taken by utter surprise.
6- Crossing the street (Insidious: Chapter 3 [2015])
Insidious: Chapter 3 is brimming with some truly underrated shocks and startles, with the ‘car crash’ scene being a prime example of the film’s ability to seize the reins and make an ordinary segment transform into a nightmare. Quinn Brenner is a troubled young girl haunted by her mother’s death. Hoping to regain a sense of normalcy, she pursues her dreams of entering a performing arts school. After a mediocre audition, she is left even more disheartened; despite that, her night is about to worsen. Crossing the street, she sees an eerie figure waving at her in a hospital gown, catching her attention in the middle of the road. Suddenly a screeching car comes into the frame, smashing into Quinn as she falls lifeless on the floor. It is one of Insidious’ more grounded scares, with the terror of an unfortunate real-life affair, with the zooming car and sudden collision with Quinn’s helpless body being somehow more terrifying than a world of ghosts and ghouls.
5- Sheet ghosts (Insidious: Chapter 2)
Joining the likes of baby monitors and closet ghouls is another quintessential genre favourite, the classic sheet ghost. The blank, expressionless demeanour that the cloaked spirits withhold provides the perfect minimalistic scare where just the visual alone is enough to send shivers up your spine. In Insidious 2, we are confronted with a ghastly team of veiled feinds, sat eerily still with their clawed, decayed hands peeking out from underneath the cloth. The image alone is the definition of nightmare fuel and is utterly unforgettable.
4- Knock-knock (Insidious: Chapter 3)
The horrifying scene begins rather innocently with Quinn gleaming from hearing her ‘neighbour-meets-crush’ knocking on her bedroom wall from the otherside. Their sweet morse code leads to Quinn texting her admirer, only for him to reveal that no one is home. The sudden realisation that the knock is coming from a sinister presence makes our stomachs drop at the pertriyfing awakening.
3- The big reveal (Insidious)
Insidious begins as a rather mundane, yet alarming, haunted house meets possession story. However, during the finale, all hell is let loose as a whole movie universe is unleashed, revealing that the paranormal happenings run further into the veins of the Lambert family than anyone could have ever imagined. Within this reveal, the Insidious franchise was birthed, with the film’s layered lore opening up within the final act.
2- Tiptoe through the Tulips (Insidious)
Many of us will be familiar with the nerve-wracking ring of Tiny Tim’s falsetto voice singing his hit ‘Tiptoe Through the Tulips’, thanks to its appearance on many creepy internet videos. However, its best use has to be in the first entry into the Insidious world, with the song playing over one of the series’ scariest moments. As Renai unpacks belongings into her new, seemingly ‘unhaunted’ home, a little boy appears in the corner of the frame dancing along to the spooky chime of horror’s scariest song.
1- The Lipstick-Faced Demon (Insidious)
It would be criminal not to include the franchise’s most iconic jumpscare in this list. While Dalton’s grandmother discusses how the demon attacking Dalton may hold a greater significance than first believed, the now-infamous ‘Lipstick-Faced Demon’ appears behind Josh with a brazen ferocity, followed by the most gut-wrenchingly loud orchestral swell. The result of the stunning score combined with the incredible graphics of the demon and the sudden hecticness of the incident makes this scene the most memorable and effective in the franchise.
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The video nasties captured an era in horror that is known for its splatters, slashers and slayings, with nearly every film being truly disturbing and graphic. As time has moved on and cinema has become increasingly expressive, an endless amount of explicit films have entered the market. Many contemporary horror films would not have just made the video nasties list, they would have caused complete civil uproar.
In ode to this, here is Dead Northern’s official guide on post-2000s movies that would’ve definitly made the video nasties list.
1- The August Underground Trilogy (Fred Vogel, 2003-2007)
Whilst this is not a singular film, it would be criminal not to include all three entries from the infamous August Underground Trilogy on this list. The Fred Vogel and Allen Peters created series exudes its ghastly energy primarily due to its firsthand perspective, posing as found footage that dares to show every crevice, slash, and deadly deed using a point-of-view angle. If the personalised feel of the film is not enough to turn viewers’ stomachs, then the heaps of incredibly vicious violence are bound to do the trick.
2- Atroz (Lex Ortega, 2015)
Similar to August Underground is Atroz, a semi-mondo film that explores the dark depths of humanity and the will to create absolute destruction. The film speaks for itself; every scene is atrociously outrageous, but one particular moment truly bites the bullet and takes the film from hardcore to pure extremity. As those steel-nerved viewers will know, Atroz’s utilisation of barbed wire and a handheld camera makes for one of the most unsettling experiences ever to taint the screen.
3- Irréversible (Gaspar Noé, 2002)
Gaspar Noé is known for being a provocative auteur, with each of his films startling, riveting, and stirring the audiences in ways they never thought possible. His incredibly dark films include I Stand Alone (1998), Climax (2018) and, most importantly, Irréversible. The most notorious scene from the film must be the immensely cruel tunnel ordeal that shows one of the worst crimes possible in an unforgiving manner. However, an aspect of Irréversible that gets commonly overlooked is the revenge sequences showcasing the impressive talents of Vincent Cassell and Albert Dupontel.
4- A Serbian Film (Srdjan Spasojevic, 2010)
In the confines of mainstream cinema, A Serbian Film has become somewhat of a curse word that, when uttered, instigates a slew of harsh comments and side-eyes from offended spectators. A Serbian Film’s strikingly disturbed subject matters often overshine the remarkable cinematography and performances within the film. Each visually captivating scene is made even better by Srđan Spasojević’s portrayal of Miloš, an exotic actor pushed to the brink of insanity.
5- Inside (Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury, 2007)
The Christmas movie market is donned by classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), the heartwarming Love Actually (2003), or the gut-wrenchingly bloody tale of a Christmas Eve Home Invasion flick… The Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury directed horror belongs to the marvellous string of French cinema known as ‘New French Extremity’, with each subgenre entry being utterly barbaric and definitely worth watching. Inside takes one of the most vulnerable subjects, pregnancy, and creates a blood-soaked thrill ride that promises some mental scarring after viewing.
6- Dream Home (Ho-Cheung Pang, 2010)
Dream Home’s chaotically violent content is a cut above the rest. Every kill scene is steeped with such creative ferocity that it’s nearly impossible to forget the ruthless acts, particularly a segment involving an unorthodox use of a vacuum cleaner. Seconding the film’s impressive visuals is the equally saddening backstory that documents the severity of the housing crisis, poverty, and healthcare.
7- Antichrist (Lars von Trier, 2009)
Like Gaspar Noé, Lars von Trier is a brilliant director with a keen eye for abominable terror. Out of his countless portrayals of the gritty side of humanity, the most callous and beyond entertaining film is Antichrist. The movie is not necessarily extreme, but the final act introduces visuals that would have placed Antichrist straight on the nasties list!
8- Dard Divorce (Olaf Ittenbach, 2007)
Olaf Ittenbach’s Dard Divorce takes the phrase ‘not for the faint-hearted’ to the extreme, with Ittenbach’s no holds barred approach resulting in some of horror’s most intense imagery. Dard Divorce will leave you quivering in disgust but still craving more.
9- Visitor Q (Takashi Miike, 2001)
Visitor Q is just one example of acclaimed director Takashi Miike’s incredibly sordid work, with the likes of Audition (1999), Ichi the Killer (2001), Gozu (2003) and Lesson of the Evil (2012) all defining his signature style of depraved cinema. Visitor Q is quite the extraordinary ride into the land of taboo, with nearly every controversial subject matter appearing very detailed throughout the film, whether that’s incest, coprophilia, necrophilia, domestic violence and sodomization.
10- Thanatomorphose (Éric Falardeau, 2012)
Thanatomorphose is astonishingly morbid, repulsive, and somehow impossible not to be fascinated by. The film takes body horror to heights that have never been previously explored in such a graphic way, taking inspiration from The Fly (1986) and Cabin Fever (2002) to portray a metamorphosis journey that shocks and disgusts from beginning to end.
11- Baskin (Can Evrenol, 2015)
What begins as an investigative horror following a group of police officers on a strange call ends up in complete shambles as the film takes violent surrealism to radical extremes. Cult practises and dwindling mentalities, followed by eye gouging, disembowelments, and slit throats, all take centre stage in the criminally underrated Turkish extravaganza.
12- Snuff 102 (Mariano Peralta, 2007)
Mariano Peralta’s terribly callous exploration into ‘real’ death would have surpassed the woes of the video nasty list and resulted in utter pandemonium across the media thanks to Snuff 102’s unnerving study into rebellious filmmaking. No act of violence is left to the imagination as the viewer is subjected to copious displays of evil, horrid, and maniacal acts that many will argue should never be witnessed, simulated or not.
13- The Human Centipede 2 (The Full Sequence) (Tom Six, 2011)
There was not a corner of the internet where Tom Six’s The Human Centipede (2009) was not the hot topic of discussion, with his on-screen visions of humanised insects capturing the intrigue of millions. However, out of the Centipede trilogy, the entry that takes horror to the extreme is the highly underrated sequel. Everything from the black and white colour grading to the devilishly dark performance by Laurence R. Harvey makes The Human Centipede 2 the modern horror classic that it is.
14- Terrifier 2 (Damien Leone, 2022)
Continuing down the path of gnarly sequels is Damien Leone’s continuation of Art the Clown’s (David Howard Thornton) wicked antics, which exhibit a rich display of glorious practical effects. The film is an exercise in exploitation, with nearly every scene caked in viscera, flesh, and more blood than the video’s nasty list has ever seen.
15- The Sadness (Rob Jabbaz, 2021)
The Sadness is by no means the most extreme film on this list. Yet, it most definitely stands for everything that the video nasties advocated against – the film literally is an exploration into a zombie-like virus where the primary symptom is an uptake in sadism.
16- Scrapbook (Eric Stanze, 2000)
Scrapbook takes some of the worst subjects matters one could ever conjure and exploits them in the most viscerally extreme ways, resulting in the graphic images being burned into the viewer’s psyche. Eric Stanze’s cruel dive into assault was required to make over 15 minutes of cuts in order just to receive an 18 rating.
17- Septic (Brian Paulin, 2022)
Brian Paulin’s depraved, disturbed, and distressing Septic is the newest and one of the most immoral entries on this list. Septic takes ‘goresploitation’ to the extreme, with every crime imaginable unravelling onscreen without limitations.
18- The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer, 2012)
The only documentary on this list is the not to be missed Act of Killing, an invasive telling of real-life crimes that took place during ‘The Indonesian Mass Killings 1965-1966’. Joshua Oppenheimer takes advantage of interviewing the perpetrators of these crimes as they openly and, at times, gleefully recall their abhorrent acts in graphic detail.
19- Capture Kill Release(Nick McAnulty and Brian Allan Stewart, 2016)
Many of the list’s entries include faux snuff films and found footage frights, yet few reach the levels that Capture Kill Release does. the film is brutally realistic and heinous in its approach to the obsession with true crime.
20- Stoic (Uwe Boll, 2009)
Stoic differs on this list due to its heavy ties to the arthouse drama genre rather than gory splatters or found footage films; however, do not let its labelling fool you, Stoic is a Uwe Boll film through and through – a nihilistic, abominable descent into the evilest deeds imaginable.
21- Dumplings(Fruit Chan, 2004)
A controversial film indeed is Dumplings, which originated as a segment in the Chinese anthology film, Three…Extremes. The trials and tribulations of this Fruit Chan directed feature are best left to the imagination, but be warned, you may never look at a dumpling the same way again…
22–Martyrs (Pascal Laugier, 2008)
Despite its harsh take on the moralities and questions of life and the great beyond, Martyrs has become horror royalty, with many viewers praising its effectiveness. The film explores both the fruitfulness and pointlessness of human life and whether or not ultimate sacrifice is genuinely achievable.
23- X (Ti West, 2022)
Ti West’s triumphant return to the horror genre had an incredibly warm reception, with fans counting X as a modern horror must-see. X may be slightly tame in the grand scheme of current releases. Still, the film’s displays of the adult entertainment industry against the backdrop of murderous mayhem would have certainly had the video nasty campaigners in hysterics.
24- Philosophy of a Knife (Andrey Iskanov, 2008)
The Philosophy of a Knife takes inspiration from similar films such as Man Behind the Sun to expose the horrors of war and the absolutely inhumane crimes committed within history. Certainly not for the faint-hearted or easily squeamish is a film that will forever go down in history as a monstrous expose.
25- Where theDead Go To Die (Jimmy ScreamerClauz, 2012)
It is extremely rare to find a film that confuses and startles as much as Where the Dead Go to Die, with every scene making the worlds of Silent Hill or Tetsuo seem totally logical. This animated extreme can only be described as an acid trip into the most bizarre situation anyone could ever fathom.
26- The Strange Thing About the Johnsons (Ari Aster, 2011)
The only short film on this list is a stunningly macabre piece of work from Hereditary and Midsommar director Ari Aster. Upon first glance, this short may seem like a typical suburban thriller where seedy secrets lie beneath the quaint underbelly, but, the scandal in this case, is so gutwrenchingly unholy that it makes Hereditary’s synopsis seem like a fantasy.
27- Grotesque (Kōji Shiraishi, 2009)
Grotesque has still not legally seen the light of day in the UK, with the film being outright banned by the BBFC due to it being a sheer exercise in sadism, void of any redeeming emotion. Whilst hardcore genre fans will argue that the film offers an allegory, Grotesque really is nothing but a gnarly, twisted whale of a time from start to finish.
28- The Bunny Game (Adam Rehmeier, 2011)
The Bunny Game suffers a similar fate to Grotesuqe with the British censorship board banning its release, this time as a result of the film having the potential to cause serious harm, which, upon watching the film, can be fairly estimated, with every inch of the screen showcasing torturous assaultive exploits in full glory.
29- Long Pigs (Nathan Hynes and Chris Power, 2007)
In a similar fashion to films such as Man Bites Dog and The Last Horror Movie, Long Pigs is a mockumentary revelling in the ‘humanity’ of serial killers and the easy-going explanations of their horrendous deeds. Where Long Pigs differs from this typical style of filmmaking is within its beyond rudimental approach to subjects such as cannibalism which take place eerily naturally on screen thanks to the documentary methodology.
30- Melancholie der Engel (Marian Dora, 2009)
Marian Dora is a filmmaker whose work such as Cannibal and Melancholie der Engel, take already graphic exploits and presents them in such a way that nightmares are almost always guranteed after watching. The film does not know where to draw the line as nearly every crime known to man is displayed in an unbearably realistic fashion where simulated or not, you will be pondering whether what you’ve witnessed is legal!
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Skinamarink has ruled the horror scene ever since its premiere at the festival fun last year, with many flocking to the web to bellow endless praise over creator Kyle Edward Ball’s debut feature film.
In what can only be described as an experimental film that relies on psychedelic exteriors and eerily sinister dramatics, is Ball’s personal account of fear, particularly the fear that sows its seeds into one’s psyche at an early age, and just manifests, adapts, and worsens as time goes on. As a guide for Skinamarink’s rooted terror, it is worth noting that in order for Ball to get right down into the nitty gritty of horror, he would ask via his youtube channel for audiences to comment on their worst nightmares, which often would stem from the boogeymen and monsters under the bed that we dream-up during childhood.
Skinamarink was born from Ball’s curiosity into fear, and more importantly, everyone’s fear; leading to a thoroughly fleshed-out understanding of how to scare an audience.
The film follows two children who upon suddenly waking up during the night discover that their father is missing and their house is now barren.
Skinamarink clearly works on a simple scale, with the story itself not bearing ludicrous, overdeveloped plot points and turns, instead Ball sets up a modest scene and allows the camera to take over and our imagination to run wild amidst the rather lonely, cold exterior.
Skinamarink employs the slow-burn route, taking sometimes excruciating amounts of time to build a chilling core that grapples with a harsh soundscape with classically sinister and gothic imagery. However, although the film has a ubiquitously atmospheric aura, Skinamarink certainly is not to everyone’s tastes.
Much of the criticism is mediated from the ‘obvious’ scares. Whilst keeping this as discreet and spoiler free as possible, many of the heightened moments focus on the aspect of a ‘forced scare’, akin to an updated, predictable jumpscare. But is there such a thing as an effective horror film that remains unquestioned?
It’s certainly a film that is going to create an interesting dichotomy. For some it will sow its seed deeply and for others it will be an entertaining watch and that’s it. I side with the former; it’s a brave expedition into white knuckled terror, taking both contrasting subtlety and outlandish subtexts to infuse a ghostly haunting tale of pure nightmare fuel.
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Host director Rob Savage unveils details about new film with Blumhouse Productions
Host was certainly the most talked about film of last year, with its soaring reputation going down in horror history. Rob Savage’s feature debut soon gained buzz amongst major production companies, particularly Blumhouse Productions. When news broke last year that Savage had set up a three film deal with Blumhouse everyone was more than excited to learn more about this upcoming hit, especially since he joins forces yet again with Host writer’s Gemma Hurley and Jed Shepherd!
Although the details have been kept very much underwraps, it has been revealed that the title of his second feature is Dashcam. Based on the sneak preview image, Dashcam is presumably conveyed as vehicle dashcam footage. The innovative filming technique is very similar to the desktop method used in Host, but this isn’t where the similarities stop as Dashcam is kept short and sweet with the length only totalling 77 minutes.
Dashcam is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this year.
Head Count’s Elle Callahan brings us ‘Witch Hunt’’
Head Count was one of the most surprising horror’s to come out of 2018. The looming atmosphere coupled with impeccable performances, and tense thrills quickly gained buzz within the horror community. Now, the mind behind Head Count, Elle Callahan delivers another soon to be success ominously titled ‘Witch Hunt’. The film follows Claire (Gideon Adlon), and her family who help fleeing women across the border to seek asylum in Mexico.
However their operation meets a bitter halt when they are stopped by witch hunters. The reviews have definitely aired on the positive side with Callahan cementing a strong reputation as a young horror auteur. Audiences can now get a taste of the action as Witch Hunt will be released via video-on-demand on the 1st October, in perfect time for those Halloween movie marathons.
The latest ‘Scream’ earns itself an R-rating
Scream 5 has been the talk of the horror scene ever since its production began in early 2020. The return of Ghostface is getting closer and closer as it is scheduled for release in early January 2022, however, the question lingering on everyone’s minds has surrounded whether or not Scream 5 will carry on the series reputation of getting an R rating? Our questions have finally been answered as Scream producer Chad Villella has revealed that the fifth installment will be as gory as it gets.
Filming on Chucky wraps
Everyone’s favorite maniacal doll Chucky will be back later this Halloween as the upcoming Child’s Play TV series ‘Chucky’ has finished filming. The series will go back to the earlier days of the franchise as Jennifer Tilly reprises her role as Tiffany, Chucky’s devilishly dark companion. Whilst the return to what made Chucky so iconic has been welcomed by fans, the show will also dive into uncharted territory as the episodes will take a focus on Chucky’s unexplored backstory.
Chucky will premiere on October 12th on SYFY.
This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.
Anthology horror 10/31 quickly became a fan favourite after its 2017 release, so much so that 10/31: Part II will be coming to video-on-demand this August. Staying true to its predecessor, Part II’s segments will be directed by indie filmmakers including Brett DeJager, Max Groah, John Hale III, Zane Hershberger, Robert Lanphere, Jennifer Nangle, Tory van Buskirk, and Stephen Wolf. Part II is said to be even more explorative as we are treated to a varied mix of short films which range from possessed nuns and serial killers to vampires and hatchet wielding maniacs. Enveloping the segments is a wrap-around story told by an Elvira-like host called Malvolia: Queen of Screams.
10/31: Part II premieres on VOD on August 13th.
Trick or Treat Studios releases House of 1000 Corpses figures
Trick or Treat Studios are known for their masks, film props, costumes, and figures, now adding to their boastful collection is four new figures based on Otis Driftwood, Baby Firefly, The Professor, and Doctor Satan all from Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses (2003). The figures stand at 5” tall and will feature individual accessories appropriate to each character. Baby Firefly dons her iconic silver dress, whilst Doctor Satan wears his blood stained surgical apron with his oxygen mask. The figures will be joining Trick or Treat’s Captain Spaulding figure whose release was announced back in may.
The Shining TV show halts development as HBO Max cancels its release
Back in 2019 it was reported that production company Bad Robot would be producing Overlook, a TV series based on Stephen King’s The Shining. Overlook would focus on the hotel itself and its undiscovered history. Dustin Thomason (Castle Rock) and Scott Brown took on the role of writers of the show which would have focused on the untold stories of The Overlook’s lingering ghosts. However, although Stephen King’s novels are taking over the horror genre HBO Max has cancelled the show, completely halting its development. Rumours have speculated as to why, but sources have revealed that the cancellation is due to a matter of timing. But all hope is not completely lost as Overlook is still looking for streamers…
Night of the Animated Dead announces cast, release date, and cover artwork
Night of the Animated Dead follows siblings Barbara and Johnny as they take a trip to visit their fathers grave in Pennsylvania. However, the graveyard doesn’t stay quiet for long as they are attacked by zombies. Barbara manges to escape and hides out in an abandoned farmhouse with a group of survivors and a lost motorist. Over the course of the night the group have to battle their own prejudices whilst tackling the undead.
The animated retelling of George A. Romero’s 1968 classic has been highly anticipated ever since its initial announcement, now zombie fans only have to wait until 21st September to get their hands on this soon to be hit. Starring is Josh Duhamel (Jupiter’s Legacy), Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps), Dulé Hill (Psych), James Roday Rodriguez (A Million Little Things), Katee Sackhoff (Riddick), Jimmi Simpson (Westworld), and Nancy Travis (Last Man Standing). Although the animated take will visually differ from the original, plenty of suspenseful action is still guaranteed as the poster illustrates the survivors running from ghastly looking zombies.
This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.
Since the successful releases of Get Out (2017) and Us (2019) everyone has been waiting to see what Jordan Peele will come up with next, that long wait is now finally over as Peele has announced his latest project simply titled Nope. The details surrounding the secretive Nope have been kept very hushed, as we only know the cast and the release date.
Nope reunites Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) with Peele, alongside Keke Palmer (Hustlers), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria), Brandon Perea (The OA), and Michael Wincott (The Crow). The plot for Nope has already been heavily debated as the mystifying poster reveals a stormy blue sky casting over a mountain setting, with a large cloud floating above dangling a kite string. The muddled setting hints at a sci-fi horror, but then the landscape hooks onto folk horror vibes…
Nope is set for release on July 22nd 2022.
I Know What You Did Last Summer TV series gets a release date
An exciting new slasher TV series is headed to Amazon Prime Video this October based on Kevin Williamson and Jim Gillespie’s 1997 teen horror I Know What You Did Last Summer. The plot is identical to its original material as we follow a group of teenagers who are stalked by a mysterious killer after they committed a fatal act on the night of their graduation a year prior. The TV series will be directed by horror legend James Wan, with Sara Goodman signing on as the writer. The modern spin on this 1990s classic will star Madison Iseman (Annabelle Comes Home), Brianne Tju (47 Meters Down: Uncaged), Ezekeil Goodman, Ashley Moore, Fiona Rene, and Sebastian Amoruso.
Filming has wrapped on Paranormal Activity 7
Paranormal Activity is possibly one of the most widely known found footage franchises, with the first film gaining its entire budget back within a week of its release. It has been six years since the last Paranormal Activity film, which was not necessarily met with much acclaim as the success of each film dwindled as the series went on. But, the upcoming seventh film is set to have a wide release via Paramount+, forgoing the typical theatrical release. William Eubank (Underwater) directs the new paranormal horror, with Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day) writing the script. The new film will tackle some new and innovative themes as producer Jason Blum aims to refresh the series for a younger generation. Paranormal Activity 7 is set for release on March 22nd 2022.
The Exorcist trilogy is happening
Rumours regarding a reboot of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973) had been circling the horror scene for a while, but the question on everyone’s lips was finally answered earlier this month when it was revealed that David Gordon Green (Halloween ‘2018’) would be revisioning the genre defining classic. Now, it has been revealed that not only will we be getting a modern retake on The Exorcist, but a full trilogy!
Ellen Burstyn who played Chris MacNeil will be returning to her role, alongside The Exorcist ‘newbie’ Leslie Odom Jr. who will be playing a distressed father who seeks the help of MacNeil in healing his possessed child. The Exorcist trilogy has only just entered the earliest stage of production, so an expected release date is hard to predict, but with Gordon Green’s final Halloween installment reaching cinemas in 2022, it can be predicted that The Exorcist reboot will be premiered in 2023.
This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.
