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Dead Northern’s Ultimate Guide to Horror Video Games

Post author By Film Overload
Post date June 29, 2024
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Where it All Began: The Classics

Space Invaders (1978)

The ultimate classic game Space Invaders is often coined the definitive forerunner for horror gaming. Its fixed shooter design and sci-fi scenario generate a legacy that has stood the test of time. The chase and survival aspects involving an alien invasion that gradually obliterates the terrain are, at their root, the core premise for many horror arcade games that came to fruition only a couple of years after Space Invaders arrived.

Haunted House (1982)

The action-adventure game Haunted House made history as one of the first games to use a scrolling mechanism that allowed the screen to be moved as the player moved across spaces. Whilst this tech may be the standard now, 42 years ago, this was a revolutionary factor to gaming that permitted the user to traverse with speed across the game, where they must collect pieces of a mystical urn with powers that are situated across a total of 24 rooms of a haunted house. Along the way, players will be confronted with a mirage of horror mythology from bats to tarantulas, all the way to spooky ghosts.

Castlevania (1986)

Many horror video game fans will remember playing the Japanese classic Castlevania growing up. The game’s absorbing and user-friendly gameplay, coupled with the countless appearances from the genre’s favourite beasts, from the dreaded Grim Reaper to the intimidating Frankenstein’s Monster, are all that make Castlevania a must-play 38 years later. However, while praise is certainly owed to the game’s ‘monsterific’ charm and nostalgia-ridden interface, the most worthy factor of applause is how Castlevania became a benchmark from which future horror games derived. The game did not invent the Metroidvania platform where users can roam an expansive, connected map, but it did aid in the popularisation of these iconic mechanics. Castlevania’s seemingly endless land to traverse in the game creates many instances for battles to ensue and a barrel of horror fun to emerge.

Alone in the Dark (1992)

The 1920s Louisiana setting sees the player trapped in a haunted mansion where supernatural forces run amock. To proceed to the next level, the user must complete an array of puzzles and tasks while evading the wrath of the sinister ghouls. Alone in the Dark took inspiration from the likes of horror auteurs such as the zombie king Goerge Romero and giallo champion Dario Argento. What was quite unique at the time for the game was how the creators used a fixed-camera setup where the 3D character’s actions and events would shine against the 2D backdrop. This mechanical creativity, alongside the dramatic music and ambience, earned the film immediate applause from critics and players alike, with the game even going on to be lauded as the very first 3D survival game in the horror subset.

Zombies Ate My Neighbours (1993)

Zombies Ate My Neighbours delivers on its promises of being precisely what the title indicates, with the plot following two friends, Zeke and Julie, who must rescue their neighbours from hungry monsters created by the evil scientist, Dr. Tongue. The humourous game was not necessarily winning any prizes upon its lukewarm release, but over the years, Zombies Ate My Neighbours has rightly become a bonafide cult classic. The two-player mode, coupled with the archetypal 1990s graphics, continuous references to beloved horror movies and comedic outlook, has made the game a staple.

Phantasmagoria (1995)

Phantasmagoria is a classic adventure horror that features a point-and-click mode of playing that follows the story of a writer who, after moving into an isolated mansion, encounters supernatural forces hellbent on terrorising her. At the time of the game’s release, interactive movie games were all the rage, where live-action characters, footage, and cinema-like sequences were featured throughout the gameplay. Phantasmagoria took inspiration from these features and made a game that can only be described as an interactive horror movie. Particularly for the time, the content was theatrical and screen-worthy, with the game’s script even consisting of over 500 pages. Most of these spectacles were heavy on both violence and sexual content, which garnered praise from audiences who admired the boldness of the game and equal dismay from censors, with some retailers refusing to sell the game due to the graphic content. Despite the hurrah, the game proved successful, grossing over $12 million within its first weekend.

House of the Dead (1996)

The iconic House of the Dead game series first appeared as a light gun-shooter arcade game, which has since gone on to become an entire franchise, equipped with a cinema-adapted trilogy (which is rather notoriously bashed upon). The late 1990s arcade game chronicles the player defeating a horde of zombies made undead by a mad scientist. Much of the initial acclaim derived from the game’s hyper-stylised graphics enriched with over-the-top verve – indicative of arcade-like flamboyance. Ironically, the devil-may-care merryness of the now harmless appearing graphics saw the game being taken to court by the city of Indianapolis in a bid to ban all and any violent video games, citing that House of the Dead was one of the worst of its kind. Retrospectively, the game is now championed for its cultural impact in booming the zombie subgenre at the turn of the millennium, particularly within the popularisation of fast-moving zombies that the game so frequently used.

Out of this World: Sci-fi Explorations

Doom 3 (2004)

Doom 3 acts not as a sequel in the Doom video game series but instead as its own reboot that strays away from its two predecessors, with the third entry forgoing the prior lack of storylines and opting for a more ample synopsis that would eventually go on to determine the game’s impressive acclaim. As such, the premise is more detailed, following a space marine who acts as the force preventing extraterrestrial creatures from entering Earth. The extensive backdrop also furthers the game’s overall presentation, particularly considering that the designers have more richness to play with.

Dead Space (2008)

The premise of a spaceship becoming overrun by undead creatures chillingly known as Necromorphs gathers sufficient spine shivers on its own, let alone the game’s riveting ability to harness the player and figuratively pull them right into the deadly action. In developing Dead Space, the creators took slight inspiration from the likes of System Shock (1994) and its sequel (1999), along with the ever-influential Resident Evil 4 (2005). Despite these games being entirely meritable, Dead Space wanted to abandon the typical run-and-shoot tactics that habitually take the player ‘out of the game.’ The result of this is a third-person perspective game that is genuinely effective and easily provocative of a taut tension that is hard to beat.

Alien: Isolation (2014)

Unlike many entries on this list of games that have since been adapted after their success, as the title suggests, Alien: Isolation did things differently. It is based and set 15 years after the 1979 Ridley Scott film Alien, following Ellen Ripley’s engineer daughter who boards the space station to investigate her mother’s disappearance. The gameplay allows for many abilities and tasks, with the first-person character being able to hide in abandoned lockers, duck under spaces, vent crawl, run ladders and break the line of sight. The freedom of movement remains a big attraction to the game, with the flexibility forcing a heavy immersive intensity where the mystery of the mission and the enemies’ threatening portrayal make for a game that will have the player fixated on the screen for hours upon end.

Fighting the Hordes: Zombies and Viruses

Resident Evil 4 (2005)

In Resident Evil, its fourth output is universally praised as one of the franchise’s best. Maybe it’s the sinister cast of morbid creatures that spring to life throughout the game or the intense gameplay coupled with the fleshed-out characters that make this survival horror game a standout feat. Either way, acclaim is abundant throughout this rip-roaring, frenzied play that showcases a detailed-oriented approach to its camera system, which namely popularised the over-the-shoulder angle that so many players are accustomed to now. It was an interesting take on the land within the game, the player essentially has the ability to immersive themselves into the action akin to the first person shooter view, but additionally have an almost gods view perspective on the action.

Left 4 Dead (2008)

On the surface level, this fierce zombie thriller may appear as yet another zombie riot to join the extremely packed subgenre, but as any player will inform, Left 4 Dead is a powerful, consuming voyage into the horrors of the undead, with the game’s zombies having devastatingly horrific traits that will get hearts racing in no time as you fight for survival. Left 4 Dead truly comes to life when the multiplayer system is utilised. The four-game mode offers a single-player mode, with the other characters being controlled via AI bots, and whilst this play does still elicit a spirited exercise, the game thrives when the four-player mode is enacted, and cooperative gameplay ensues. As a result of the multiplayer mechanics, Left 4 Dead is a classic social game that demands the thrills that come with interactive group sessions.

The Last of Us (2013)

In the scheme of video game adaptions, it is rare to find one that is as universally beloved by seemingly everyone, horror fans or not, video game enthusiasts and ones who have never touched a console. However, whilst prestige is owed to the 2023 TV series, the original source material is even more impressive and epic. Emotionally driven and melancholic in tone is this action-adventure game that follows the remaining survivors after a fungus-fuelled virus has spread amongst the U.S., leaving the landscape barren except for the god-awful mutated creatures and the last of humanity. With its stunning visuals and intense gaming choreography, what truly propels The Last of Us is the strikingly fruitful character development where relationships and bonds are paid detailed attention, creating a meaningful and engaging experience for the player.

SURVIVAL of the Fittest

Condemned Criminal Origins (2005)

This survival, first-person horror game takes a more grounded approach to its plot, focusing on the terror within reality as we follow a detective on the hunt for a serial killer. Whilst the game does slightly tiptoe into the supernatural realm, its nucleus remains fixated on graphic, visceral violence that is true to its real-world aesthetic. The design and theming are noted to be replicative of psychological thrillers including Se7en (1995) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991). As such, the atmosphere is a key component in the game’s success, with the dramatic, stylised aura pairing nicely with the brutally violent hand-to-hand combat that features throughout.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent (2010)

Amnesia: The Dark Descent has only grown in popularity since its release nearly fifteen years ago, with the game’s focus on horrors that lie in the pitch dark, stirring waves of psychological threats. The looming presence of gruesome monsters that lie in the wake is emphasized by the game’s keenness not continuously to show the enemies’ appearance; alternatively, the frights are brought forward by the knowing that these creatures are waiting – it is certainly a situation that will leave you in trepidation. The gameplay itself furthers the vigour of the horror as the lead character, Daniel, is unable to fight off the monsters upon contact, instead he can only escape if they are unable to see him. The sense of hopelessness and unease combined with the dark graphics and aura makes The Dark Descent an unmissable experience.

Darkwood (2014)

Darkwood may initially present itself as a run-of-the-mill survival game, taking place in an eerie Polish forest where the player must make their way out of the turmoil. However, the pulsing terror does not derive from continuous jumpscares which has become somewhat typical of the subgenre, but instead, the looming sense of nihilistic dread is stirred purely by the uneasy atmosphere and threat of the utterly barbaric creatures that appear throughout. Joining the macabre vibes is the detailed gameplay that revolves around a plethora of side quests and missions that add bountiful depth to the mystifying game.

The Evil Within (2014)

Shinji Mikami, the creator of the infamous Resident Evil game began to notice that contemporary survival games no longer scratched the itch of intense battles to escape and survive, instead, Mikami noticed a strong uptake in these games becoming solely action-horrors despite the survival genre label. In a bid to re-transform the scene again, just as he did years prior, he created The Evil Within, a nail-bitingly creepy game centring on secret organisations and the desperate bid to survive such calamity. The fruitful combat scernaios, heaped with the eerie environment propel The Evil Within to be a standout game of the early 2010’s, with the frenzied, gory displays of terror making for an adrenline-filled ride from start to finish. The sheer chaoticness of the enemies and the thoroughly rich plot pump freshness into the survival element of the game, ensuring that each spine-chilling second spent playing is brimming with excitement, nerves and a great deal of fear.

The Quarry (2022)

The fairly recently released The Quarry was almost inescapable for many upon its arrival. Positive reviews were peppered across forums, advertisements were unavoidable, and sales exceeded expectations, which is unsurprising considering the game’s meta-like qualities, brilliantly executed character development and overall aesthetic and atmosphere that hails to many horror fans’ nostalgic acclaim to summer camp nightmares. The plot follows a group of counsellors at Hackett’s Quarry Camp spending their final night at the site. However, any chance of merriment is cut short after supernatural creatures, alongside vicious locals, make their presence known. The game’s interactivity means that all the playable characters can either die or survive, with their life depending on the players’ decisions, creating a multifaceted sense of immersion that raises the stakes. The game’s intense thematics speak to its spiritual predecessor, Until Dawn (2015), with the gameplay and plot exploring that same sense of malicious cruelty and infamous cabin, woodsy setting.

Unleash Your Dark Side: Reverse Horror Games

Carrion (2020)

Carrion belongs to the intricate reign of reverse horror games, which in this case leads the player to take on the role of a tentacled creature travelling through a research facility killing everyone in sight. Carrion is comparable to that of a maze where the game’s map shows a series of twisted and intertwined areas that the player can only access once they have completed a series of tasks. The aesthetics made up of pixel art and the creature’s gnarly design is reminiscent of nostalgia-driven video games of the late 1990s and early 2000s, it is simple and effective, and from a contemporary perspective, it is a refreshing change that allows the player to set aside how hyper-realistic and sensical the game could be and just simply play and enjoy.

Dead by Daylight (2016)

Dead by Daylight is a feast for any horror fan, with the game allowing the chance for players to be either the killer or the victim. This measure of hunter and prey creates a dynamic that allows for the slasher-like plot to entwine itself within the diegesis of the game, with the outcome being equivalent to that of the ‘ultimate slasher’. The story follows a team of survivors who must persist in fighting against a mysterious killer whose goal is to sacrificially impale its victims on hooks to please a macabre presence otherwise known as The Entity. The gameplay teases all by creating ruses where the killer’s and victims’ information both allow for advantages. Whilst the killer has natural power within its antagonism and ability to know where the group’s missions are located and so forth, what the victims have is the ability to switch from third-person to first-person views, creating an all-encompassing perspective where every angle is at the player’s command.

Sea Salt (2019)

Sea Salt is an independent reverse horror game that lives and breathes Lovecraftian aesthetics, with the story set in the late 19th Century in a small seaside village. The players take on the role of Dagon’s army, a sinister god of the ocean who is worshipped by the town as they provide regular sacrifices. However, when the sacrifice runs short, Dagon decides to invade and massacre the village. It is a misconception that all reverse horror games innately create an environment where the victims easily bow to the player’s antagonistic force; Sea Salt demonstrates that this is quite the opposite, with the villagers teaming up to create swarms, wielding weapons and creating massive retaliations that the player can find themselves struggling to defeat. The intense and challenging gameplay is joined by the game’s gloomy appearance that matches the overcast Victorian-esque seaside town.

Screen to Scream: Horror Games from the Movies

Halloween (1983)

Halloween, seemingly many fans favourite autumnal slasher, perked the interest of Games of Apollo employees in the midst of the great video game crash of 1983. The hide and seek device within the 1978 John Carpenter film was a large inspiration for the creators, with the game following a babysitter escaping the presence of an unnamed killer. Whilst the game was titled Halloween, with the poster featuring a large pumpkin (the exact same design used in the film’s poster), along with Carpenter’s titular theme song appearing throughout, the game never indicates that the characters are that of Laurie Strode and Michael Myers. Although the game has fared well over the years, primarily due to the nostalgia, fan-driven culture surrounding Halloween, at the time of its release, the game aided in Wizard Video Games filing for bankruptcy due to the sales. In fact, in the midst of liquidation, the company sold copies of the game with minimal effort, not even labelling the case, instead the edge was simply lined with a white sticker with the word ‘Halloween’ sloppily hand-written on it.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2023)

The Tobe Hooper 1974 classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is no stranger to the world of video games, with the first being developed into gaming format in 1983 for the Atari 2600. Forty years after the fact came the revived 2023 asymmetrical-based game which sees a group of 7 victims who must escape the deadly cannibalistic family. The atmosphere, music and pacing, challenges, maps and much more are all a testament to the barrage of amusement this game delivers. It may not be a chilling expedition akin to the paranormal antics seen in other games, yet what Texas Chainsaw does yield is a vibrant, bloodied immersive experience that will keep you hooked for hours as you battle with the unique characters and fight for survival. That specific combination of fear and excitement colluding throughout the various cat-and-mouse situations is amplified by the horror star power behind the characters. Kane Hodder, who played Jason in four of the Friday the 13th films (as well as acting as a stunt coordinator for Texas Chainsaw Massacre III [1993]), stars as Leatherface. Hodder’s expertise in playing formidable forces elevates this intimidating motion capture experience.

Friday the 13th (2017)

Yet another asymmetrical horror game is the ‘slasherific’ Friday the 13th which aids in lingering, expanding and exploring the maddening lore of Jason Vorhees and his brutal killing sprees. The game is built on a semi-open world chassis, where players can investigate the intricate design found within the crevices of Camp Crystal Lake. The game was seemingly made with the interest of fans of the franchise in mind, with the in-game virtual cabin offering a plethora of trivia that peaks into the land of an array of Friday the 13th films. Some of this fandom-orientated trivia includes Pamela Vorhees tapes and Tommy Jarvis tapes – both of whom are some of the franchise’s most acclaimed characters. However, all of the success was short-lived as the game’s servers were closed down in late 2020 due to licensing issues, leaving the game only available online through a peer-to-peer network. Once again, the game was officially delisted late last year, but the game’s creators have endlessly teased future creations.

Evil Dead: The Game (2022)

As with key players in the horror movie landscape, The Evil Dead is familiar with the virtual world, with the 2022 game being the latest in a lineup of 10 games adapted from the lore of Necronomicon. The game primarily succeeds through its callbacks to the iconic world of Ash and the gory demons that he can never seem to escape. The game walks the tightrope of being uncomplicated, providing easy, messy fun where ample weaponry and bloody battles are plentiful; whilst also enacting a full-bodied storyline to prevent the game from becoming too elemental. In other words, the game makes use of simplistic, groovy fun that fits in nicely amongst the expansive Evil Dead universe.

Twisted Mind Games: Psychological Mayhem

Silent Hill 2 (2001)

The lore of the Silent Hill spectrum is part of the entire gaming series’ major intrigue. Metamorphic creatures, gangly beasts and gnarly monsters parade their nasty frightfulness throughout the game, making for a play that is not for the faint of heart. Joining the fantastical yet chilling land of Silent Hill is the game’s bizarre and puzzling premise where the horror is akin to a carnival of circus-like madness, all of which is complimented by its disorienting scoring and sound that is reminiscent of disturbed, discordant drones that cling and clang to produce the ultimate unnerving experience. Further propelling Silent Hill’s second entry into gaming stardom is the development of the cinematic aesthetics that made its predecessor successful. The game is brimming with psychologically rich storylines, immense visuals and that whopping grandiose soundtrack that is synonymous with the game.

P.T (2014)

P.T. was developed by none other than gaming auteur Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear [1987]) as part of a collaboration with Guillermo del Toro. P.T. has ties to the Silent Hill series, mainly as the game was developed as a teaser for the now cancelled Silent Hills. However, as Kojima has expressed, P.T. is essentially its own standalone game that does not piggyback off of the Silent Hill franchise. Upon its release P.T. soared the market with unbelievable popularity, it became known as the must-have game, the unmissable experience. The visuals were terrifying, the tension was immaculately built and the plot of a labyrinth-like haunted corridor that the player must escape, all made the game a roaring success. That was until it was deleted from the PlayStation Network less than a year after its release due to the cancellation of Silent Hills. Uproar ensued as P.T. was its own game, leading to various fans remaking the game multiple times, only for it to be taken down shortly after.

Omori (2020)

Omori is an independent, Kickstarter-funded game based upon director Omocat’s webcomic ‘Omoriboy’. The concept is similar to that of role-playing games of Japanese origin, which often focus on strong character development and fleshed-out background stories. The overall plot follows Sunny, a teenage boy, and Omori, his alter ego. Throughout the game, the user delves into Omori’s fantasy world, as well as Sunny’s real world. The theming and tone throughout the gameplay between the two lands deal with darkly dramatic issues including mental trauma and suicidal ideations.

Paranormal Activity

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly (2003)

The Fatal Frame series, also known as ‘Project Zero’, is a staple Japanese horror game which has grown quite the fan base, particularly the game’s second feature, Crimson Butterfly. The game mostly toys with the paranormal and all haunting paraphernalia associated with ghostly ghouls, leaving players often aghast due to the game’s genuinely creepy material. The fear factor is amplified by the unique play of the game, with the objective being that the player must use a special camera, think Camera Obscura, leaving the horrifying ghosts to leap out on the screen the minute the shutter button is pressed. Shockings’ and intensity are two rules of the adventure that make for an entertaining and above all, addictive game.

Visage (2020)

Partially inspired by the intricacies of P.T. is Visage, an independent game centred on a strangely laid out house where players must determine the root cause of the paranormal activity. The semi-open world structure of the house allows for a range of puzzles to be solved, which vary from gaining information from the cryptic surroundings to obscure challenges where the player has to immerse themselves right into the daunting action. The non-linear flow of the game makes for plenty of unexpected twists and turns as the player unearths the lore of this strange and confusing house.

MADiSON (2022)

The Argentinian game MADiSON is perfectly simple, it delivers scares by the bucket load, the gameplay is smoothly developed and just the right amount of challenging; the visual and aural aesthetics have that hard to achieve balance is intense, but not too much like a caricature. This melodic approach is what makes MADiSON the ‘Scariest Video Game of All Time’ as declared by Broadband Choices The Science of Scare Project where 200 players were made to play 45 horror video games, whilst connected to a heart rate monitor. On average players of MADiSON had a BPM of 97, peaking at an extortionate 131 BPM!

Shock Frights: Jumpscares

Outlast (2013)

Outlast has gained a reputation over the years as being a terrifyingly graphic and cruel game that will have you playing with the lights on. The game centres on a freelance writer who gets wind that a psychiatric hospital is performing inhumane human experiments – think MK Ultra, leading the journalist into the hellish bowels of the nightmare-inducing wards where all kinds of harrowing beings lie in wait. Outlast exercises a rare feat in horror video games, the lead character – the player, has no special abilities, nor any powers or weaponry that can defeat the utterly soul-shiveringly creepy enemy. Alternatively, the player must solely rely on stealth tactics to avoid a genuinely brutal demise.

Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014)

Five Nights at Freddy’s has become one of the most popular staples in horror video game spectre in recent years, with the animatronic-themed chaos interweaving itself into the tapestry of books, comics, films and the culture of cosplay fandoms. Whilst some may argue against this, the game itself is not necessarily nerve-shatteringly scary, it is however an abundance of total fun where the jumpscares and creepy scoring make for quick bursts of entertaining frights. The majority of the games take on the story of a fictional Chuck E. Cheese-style place where night shift employees have to watch over anthropomorphic animatronics that are inhabited by the souls of murdered children. The rather dark background story and impressively creative design of the game make it a must-play.

The Mortuary Assistant (2022)

The Mortuary Assistant comes from MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) creator Brian Clarke, whose admiration of found footage horror films led to the creation of a prototype of what would go on to become the future hit game. The concept is set in a small town in Connecticut circa 1998 where players take on the role of a beginner mortuary assistant. Initial feedback for the prototype consisted of audiences wanting a more detailed simulation of the embalming side of the plot. Disturbingly but brilliantly, the game evolved to feature hyperrealist embalming procedures which focused on many old-time archaic methods that make for an even gorier game. As if the deathly processes were not enough for the player, the game also implements a staggering amount of effectively executed jump scares that come from the demons that haunt the surgery. Players will encounter countless jumps, boos, and screams as they make their way through the morbid game.

To Be Released

Until Dawn (Late 2024)

It is not uncommon to develop a hand of god feeling whilst playing a game. At the root, it is you who is calling the shots. However, Until Dawn takes this idea and maximises it to its fullest capacity. The game uses a brilliant butterfly effect where each step and decision you make within the game, affects the outcome and consequences, where you can find yourself in a plethora of differentiating webs and conflicts every time you play. Maximising the interactivity of the gameplay is the overall emotional depth that the narrative-driven plot thrives on, with the story breeding a sense of drastic permanency; whilst playing if you were to make a wrong move and one of the characters meet their gory demise, the act is final and the character will remain dead until the game is started over. With all of the game’s excellence, fans were ecstatic to find out that a remaster of the hit game will be released later this year, showcasing even crisper graphics that will enhance the true terror that bleeds throughout.

Ghosts (Release Date: TBC)

Jed Shepherd, writer, director, producer and now video game creator is known for his phenomenal contributions to horror, with productions such as Host (2020) and Dashcam (2021) lining his credits. Shepherd heralds the upcoming interactive horror video game that is set to be released across Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsft Windows and Nintendo Switch; with the big gaming names featuring Ghosts, it can be assured that no one will miss out on this frightful play. The game focuses on a television producer of Ghosts, a live-action ghost-hunting show. The game takes place in real-time, with the job consisting of accommodating the hosts, choosing which footage to include, select the advertisements for the show, all the whilst keeping a lookout for ‘The Long Lady’ – the in-game urban legend whose Medusa-like gaze kills anyone the moment they meet eyes. Along with the unique and exciting plot is the FMV (Full-Motion-Video) stylisation that also comes with an interesting time restriction. The game can only begin at 10 pm local time and if the user were to end the game before the show ends then all the characters will die. Whilst the Kickstart-funded game has not received an official release date as of yet, it’s a sure fact that this live-action, totally distinctive game is not to be missed.

OD (Release Date: TBC)

Hunter Schafer (Euphoria), Sophia Lillie (IT: Chapter Two) and Udo Kier (Bladerunner) star in this Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele written game. The details behind the story have been kept deliberately tightly under wraps, with Kojima only teasing the overarching scenario that revolves around testing fear thresholds and what happens when one overdoses on fear. Unfortunately just under three minutes of the gameplay was leaked which showed a nurse lingering around a darkened hospital with a flashlight followed by a treacherous scream. Whilst still little is known, what has been promised is that this will be no ordinary game, but instead an innovative form of gaming media unlike no other.

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Retrospectives Reviews

Retrospective – The Crow (1994)

Post author By Film Overload
Post date June 1, 2024
No Comments on Retrospective – The Crow (1994)

The Crow is perhaps one of the best films of the mid-1990s. It wows audiences and critics alike and has cemented itself as a definitive classic for the ages. As the film celebrates its 30th anniversary, let’s dive into the turbulent world of grungy, vengeance-seeking chaos, gothic aesthetics, rocky sequels, and the tragic production of The Crow.

On Devil’s Night, the night before All Hallows Eve, rock musician Eric Draven (Brandon Lee) is murdered after his fiance, Shelly (Sofia Shinas), is brutally attacked by a group of vicious men the night before the couple’s wedding. However, in a twist of events, Eric rises from the dead and embarks on a violent mission for vengeance.

The idea for this twisted and gritty thriller was first conceived by comic artist James O’Barr in the early 1980s as a way of him dealing with his own fiancée meeting her demise at the hands of a drunk driver. Brimming with anger, O’Barr poured himself into this tale of revenge and hurt, which would eventually be released in 1989 after it was shelved for several years. With the burgeoning popularity of the series, O’Barr was contacted by studios hoping to adapt the story into a feature film. However, that idea was scrapped after executives wanted to transform the film into a musical starring none other than Michael Jackson. Whilst music did eventually play a large part in The Crow, the striking change in layout shut down any initial hopes of adapting the comic books. Eventually, The Crow resurfaced and was brought to the attention of writer John Shirley, who admired The Crow’s haunting style as O’Barr had originally envisioned, leading to a fleshed-out script that was ready to film. Although there were some bumps along the way, with Shirley leaving the production and David J. Schow being brought in for rewrites, the film finally took way.

Casting the role of the lead, Eric Draven, was crucial to the film’s success. The character needed to be at equal levels of dark, mysterious, dangerous, and crazed, but whilst still remaining almost burdened with a deep level of empathy and emotional vulnerability. It was a challenge that the development crew had originally thought either big names such as Christian Slater or River Phoenix could tackle, but it was Brandon Lee who was graced with this career-defining role. Lee, son of legendary martial arts figure Bruce Lee, had appeared in a small string of feature films such as Legacy of Rage (1986) and Laser Mission (1989) prior to filming, but The Crow was his ‘big break’ into mainstream cinema.

It is well known how immersed Lee became in the role, dedicating his physical strength to losing 20 pounds to slim down for the character of Eric. As well as helping choreograph his own fight scenes with long-time friend and fellow martial artist Jeff Imada. The film was going full throttle, with its fantastic lead and a brilliant story shaping up to be a future success. However, on the 31st March 1993, tragedy struck as Lee was fatally wounded on set. During a scene which showed Eric being shot by the thug gang, a prop shotgun was fired by co-star Michael Massee. The revolver was supposed to be filled with commercially made and checked dummy cartridges that could not cause harm or injury. Devastatingly, the prop department forwent the cartridges purchase and made their own by extracting real bullets, ridding the gunpowder charge and then loading the magazine with the doctored ‘dummies’. The crux, however, is that the crew did not extract the primer, which meant that the bullet could detonate with substantial force, essentially acting as a normal, lethal bullet.

The scene in question required Massee to stand about 11-15 feet in front of Lee and shoot him in the midsection. The actions were taken, the trigger was pulled, and director Alex Proyas yelled ‘cut’. Tragically, Lee did not stand up, and it was realised that the weapon was actually discharged. After great difficulty and negotiations, the film commenced after a break to mourn the great Lee, with the fatal scene being wiped and replaced.

Upon its release, The Crow was met with favourable reviews, particularly concerning what was essentially Lee’s swan song in the industry. The prowess he held in playing such a multifaceted character spoke to the complexity of his talents and ultimately was one of the leading determining factors in the film’s long-running success. Further praise was garnered due to The Crow’s stylistics, which to this day is still as deserving of applause as it was then. The film has an aura of morbid, gothic grunginess that coats each visual with a textualness that can be described as a leather-clad, steampunk-esque and moody journey into darkness. Much of the film’s imagery is complemented by the scoring, which features music from The Cure, Rage Against the Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine Inch Nails, and Pantera. The Crow’s central theme, ‘Burn’ by The Cure, summarises the film’s inspiration and subsequent influence on goth culture, with the edgy luridness emulating the film’s macabre and pained portrayal of vexed sorrow.

Seconding the dynamic power of the soundtrack is the costume and design, which showed Eric draped in his iconic black trenchcoat and the signature face paint, which Lee would actually do himself every day of the shoot. The cinematic origins of Eric’s appearance originate after he is resurrected from the dead, where he takes inspiration from a masquerade mask complete with blackened paint smeared around the eyes and lips, with vertical and horizontal stripes exaggerating the features, creating an eerie, cosmetic smile across his face.

Throughout the years of success, The Crow has seen many sequels, which primarily have not been as well received. Just two years after the original, a sequel titled The Crow: City of Angels (1996) premiered, following another revenged paved story. After another two years, a TV series, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998), was enrolled into the growing franchise. The year 2000 saw The Crow: Salvation hit screens with yet another round of generally unfavourable reviews. The final film until this year was released in 2005, The Crow: Wicked Prayer, which once again failed to live up to the triumph of its originator. All of the highs and lows of The Crow franchise lead us to 2024, where the tragic tale of Eric Draven is reignited in a remake directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Bill Skarsgård as the aggrieved widower.

As the 30th anniversary of The Crow is honoured and the remake looms, it is crucial to remember just how prominent the film is. To say that the film has a cult fandom is an understatement. Instead, The Crow is unbelievably beloved by masses of viewers, many of whom agree that the film’s force is largely at the hands of Lee’s immersive, powerful performance that he was sadly never able to experience on the big screen.

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Tags brandon lee, Dead Northern, Horror, horror film festival, horror films, Horror Movies, Horror news, horror reviews, james obarr, the crow, the crow 1994, the crow 1994 review, the crow review, weekly horror news

Reviews

Review – The Strangers: Chapter 1

Post author By Film Overload
Post date May 18, 2024
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When Bryan Bertino’s The Strangers hit theatres in the spring of 2008, not many could guess that this fairly low-budget feature debut would become the iconic home invasion thriller that it is. Years later, the chilling hit was met with another sleeper success with The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018); now, 16 years later, horror fans have been met with the third and latest entry – The Strangers: Chapter 1. However, does this new housebreaking horror have what it takes to stand alongside Bertino’s brilliant original?

Chapter 1 follows Maya (Madelaine Petsch), partner to Ryan (Froy Gutierrez), who together decide to up and move to the Pacific Northwest for a fresh start. Stranded after their car breaks down in the insular town of Venice, Oregon, they settle in for a night at a remote Airbnb. However, it is not long before the lodge is descended upon by a trio of formidable, masked intruders.

The story itself is not necessarily groundbreakingly original, but there is a reason why the saying “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” exists; it is precisely this reason why Chapter 1 is granted some initial praise. Home invasion horror exudes an air of terror. The fear of safe spaces eroding and the threat of ruin where vulnerability thrives is what makes the subgenre so effective. Even in its most stripped-back form, the invasion trope is terrifying. Chapter 1’s take on this well-oiled subject is almost applaudable. Essentially, it ticks all of the boxes: rural location where no one can hear you scream, plenty of windows where the seeker has the advantage, and the most crucial point; the film showcases a long-running, frenzied cat and mouse chase.

Sustaining the momentum is the film’s overall composition. The appearance itself, from the lighting to the set design, is measurably effective, with the cabin aesthetic creating some interesting crevices for the killers to hide, as well as honing in on that quintessential atmospheric quietness that projects from remote chalets. Still, the merits soon halt as the rest of the film suffers at the hands of its own unclear direction. Chapter 1 was largely marketed as a prequel, with even the trailer blasting the promise that the film would provide the chance to “witness how the Strangers became the Strangers”. Yet, any watcher of Chapter 1 will retrospectively state that the film is actually a relaunch of the original movie.

Lionsgate has revealed that Chapter 1 is the first in a new ‘Strangers’ trilogy, with the other two films being shot concurrently with the first entry. The strategy behind the upcoming series is to launch the lore of The Strangers to new audiences. Whilst a level of excitement is owed at the thought of a new franchise development, it might’ve been worth creating a new, original string of home invasion horrors rather than rebooting a film which was made less than twenty years ago. Nevertheless, Hollywood prevails…

It is at this point where Chapter 1 shrivels. Indeed, the aesthetic and thematics of its subgenre stand tall and pack an effective surge of thrills, but other than the sequestered semantics, Chapter 1 does not offer anything necessarily innovative or worthy of imminent discussion. Instead, it is best to take the film for what it is: a fun, jumpy popcorn movie that bears nostalgia to the amusement of 2000s horror, but not enough to owe significant enthusiasm towards.

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Reviews

Review – Abigail (2024)

New horror instalment from directing duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet sees a group of unscrupulous criminals brought together to carry out the carefully plotted kidnapping of a billionaire’s daughter and subsequent blackmail for ransom. The power play quickly changes however once the group discover that they are in fact victims of a game orchestrated by an unlikely puppet master.

Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet are well known for their original horror concepts which combine vivid scenes of violence with a comedic overtone; to this, Abigail is no exception. The movie follows the group as they are plunged into a fast-paced game of cat and mouse and amongst the carnage, comedy and ballet, portrays a modern twist on the traditional vampire sub-genre.

(Screenrant, 2024)

One stand out element from Abigail was the homage paid throughout to Tchaicovsky’s ballet Swan Lake. Abigail (Alisha Weir) herself, whilst dressed in a feathered tutu, provides us with several dance sequences which are accompanied by the unmistakable Swan Lake theme; this is reminiscent of the white swan. However, despite the physical likeness to the beautiful and innocent white swan,

Abigail’s character is more implicative of the dark and manipulative black swan. When we first meet Abigail she presents a small and frightened demeanour – as expected since we believe that she has just been abducted from her family home. As we uncover more about Abigail’s character we see her transform into an evil and vengeful creature who only played the innocent in order to trap her believed kidnappers and lure them into her game. The choice here to mirror Tchaicovsky’s ballet allowed Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet to create a balance between the classy and elegant – two themes often associated with vampirism – and the graphic blood and gore.

(Variety, 2024)

Returning to the aforementioned modern twist on the vampire genre, Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet were not only able to incorporate traditional associations with the mythology, but elevate them in order to entice a modern day audience and provide Abigail with its own, original vampire lore. One scene that we always expect -but is nevertheless enjoyable – is the sequence in which our characters try to decipher how to kill a vampire. We are treated to all of the classics including: stake through the heart, sunlight and a humorous mix up between garlic and onions. Here we are provided with all of the traditional mythology which without, you couldn’t possibly imagine making a vampire flick!

What struck me as the most innovative choice was the way in which the vampire legend was established within the narrative. Once the group realise that they have been trapped and are being picked off one by one, they recall a rumour that they had heard concerning one of Abigail’s billionaire father’s bodyguards, who literally tears apart his enemies like an animal. This was a clever way to maintain the vampire figure as an urban legend but update the way it is presented to our characters in order to uphold the mystery of their attacker, and raise the stakes once they uncover the truth.

(Bloody Disgusting, 2024)

Another important theme addressed in Abigail is the internal conflict of the human versus the monster. Right from the word go we understand that our group of kidnappers are monstrous enough to abduct an unsuspecting child for their own profit; it isn’t until later however, that we learn why each of them sign on to the job and can separate the selfish from the desperate.

Joey (Melissa Barerra) and Frank (Dan Stevens) are two of our criminals who are pitted against one another in order to convey this contrast. Joey is elected to watch over Abigail whilst she is locked up in the mansion they are holed up in, this allows us to see a more compassionate side to her; we also learn she has a son, her reason for participating in the crime in the first place.

Frank on the other hand is aggressive and abrasive in his attempt to lead the group suggesting that his true desire is power. We see Frank wrestle with his humanity and his loyalty to the group but he eventually succumbs to his own sense of self preservation resulting in a permanent embrace of the monster, both inside and out. In a final showdown we see Joey fighting – alongside an unlikely ally – to keep her promise to her son, and return home to her family. It is through Frank we learn it’s not just the curse of vampirism which makes someone a monster and through Joey that one can commit a monstrous act with the most human of intentions.

(CBR, 2024)

Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet have once again created a wacky and unique horror picture that audiences won’t soon forget as Abigail has taken theatres by storm and proven to be a thrilling cinema experience. This vampire-comedy uses the art of ballet to display some unforgettable scenes of violence whilst reminding us that a delicate, twelve year old dancer is the undoing of six hardened criminals. The success of Abigail will hopefully pave the way for more exciting genre experiments and unexpected hybrid horror films in the future!

Hope Lelliott-Stevens

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Tags abigail, abigail 2024, abigail review, dan stevens, Dead Northern, Horror, horror film festival, horror films, Horror Movies, Horror news, horror reviews, matt bettinelli olpin, melissa barerra, tyler gillet, weekly horror news

Dead Northern Festival News and Reviews Events

Dead Northern 2024 – Early bird tickets available now!

Post author By The Granddad
Post date April 28, 2024
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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.

Grab your tickets here…

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News Reviews Top Horror

2024 horror film releases

Post author By Film Overload
Post date January 27, 2024
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**1- MaXXXine (Directed by T.I. West)**

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.

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Curiosity Corner Dead Northern Festival News and Reviews Events Reviews

The Ultimate Guide to Dead Northern Horror Film Festival 2023

Post author By The Granddad
Post date September 15, 2023
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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.

3:15pm – Free Spirits (Mini feature) – Horror Comedy

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.

See you there!

Hosted with our friends from London Horror Society!

Saturday – 30th September

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!!

Tags Dead Northern, dead northern 2023, harrogate, Horror, horror film festival, horror films, Horror Movies, Horror news, horror reviews, weekly horror news, york

Dead Northern Festival News and Reviews Reviews

Dead Northern 2023 Review – It Be an Evil Moon

Post author By Film Overload
Post date September 15, 2023
No Comments on Dead Northern 2023 Review – It Be an Evil Moon

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!!

Tags ben etchells, Dead Northern, Horror, horror film festival, horror films, Horror Movies, Horror news, horror reviews, ian ray white, it be an evil moon, weekly horror news, werewolf, york

Reviews Top Horror

The scariest moments from the Insidious franchise

Post author By Film Overload
Post date July 9, 2023
No Comments on The scariest moments from the Insidious franchise

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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Tags Dead Northern, Horror, horror film festival, horror films, Horror Movies, Horror news, horror reviews, insidious, insidious the red door, lin shaye, patrick wilson, rose byrne, scariest moments, weekly horror news, york

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Post-2000s movies that would’ve definitely made the video nasties list

Post author By Film Overload
Post date June 25, 2023
No Comments on Post-2000s movies that would’ve definitely made the video nasties list

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 the Dead 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!

Want more top horror lists and reviews? Check out our blog here..

Tags banned films, banned horror, banned movies, extreme horror, Horror, horror film festival, horror films, Horror Movies, Horror news, horror reviews, video nasties, weekly horror news, worst horror

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