Horror Channel FrightFest will be screening VICTOR CROWLEY - Adam Green's reboot to the Hatchet series

Victor Crowley Lives!

Following the slasher reboot’s surprise debut at Hollywood’s ArcLight Cinema, Horror Channel FrightFest has announced that its “Hatchet 10th Anniversary Celebration” is in fact the European premiere of Adam Green’s VICTOR CROWLEY, the fourth film in the Hatchet series.

Set a decade after the events of the series’ first three films, VICTOR CROWLEY reunites Hatchet mainstays Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th 7 - X’s Jason Voorhees) and Parry Shen (Better Luck Tomorrow) for an all-new, horrifying journey into the haunted, blood-drenched bayou.

Green said today: “I couldn’t be happier to partner with Dark Sky Films and bring Victor Crowley back to horror fans around the world. Resurrecting the series for its tenth anniversary was our way of saying thank you to everyone in The Hatchet Army and beyond who have supported this series since its inception. This bloodbath is for all of you.”

VICTOR CROWLEY screens at Horror Channel FrightFest on Saturday 26 August at Cineworld Leicester Sq.

Book tickets here: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

Five new horror talents shortlisted for second FrightFest Screen Genre Rising Star Award

Tom Paton, Dominic Bridges, Joanne Mitchell, Matthew Holness and Danny Morgan have all been nominated for the second Screen International Genre Rising Star Award, in association with Horror Channel FrightFest 2017 (August 24-28)

The award was established with in 2016 to celebrate the work of emerging UK genre talent, with the first recipient being Prevenge director Alice Lowe. This year’s winner will be announced on Monday August 28 in an event at the Cineworld Leicester Square at 6.30pm. It will be hosted by Screen contributing editor & critic Nikki Baughan and entry is free.

Tom Paton has been shortlisted for his feature debut Redwood, for which he also wrote the screenplay. Playing the Cineworld Discovery screen on FrightFest opening night, the film follows a couple who disturb a nest of vampires while hiking in the woods. Paton is currently working on his follow-up, Black Site.

Dominic Bridges is in the running for his feature debut Freehold (previously titled Two Pigeons), in which he subverts the home invasion thriller to make a chilling point about the urban class divide. Bridges previously directed documentary short Underdog, and episodes of TV series Shelfstackers.

Joanne Mitchell has been shortlisted for her work as an actress and producer on Attack Of The Adult Babies, which sees unwitting two teenagers break into a country house where high-powered men enjoy dressing up as babies, as well as previous genre projects including Bait and Before Dawn.

Matthew Holness has been nominated for his successful migration from the small-screen, where projects including Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace and Free Agents, to shorts such as Smuch (which screened as part of Sky’s Halloween Comedy Shorts) and upcoming feature debut Possum. Possum stars Sean Harris as a disgraced childrens’ puppeteer who returns to his childhood home to confront his vicious stepfather.

Danny Morgan has been nominated for his work on horror comedy Double Date, directed by Benjamin Barfoot. Morgan wrote the screenplay and also stars as hapless 30-year-old virgin Jim, whose desire to find love leads him and best friend Alex (Michael Socha) into danger. Morgan has starred in TV shows like Ideal and features including On The Road, and has written several shorts. Double Date is his first feature screenplay.

Screen International editor Matt Mueller said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Horror Channel FrightFest again this year for the Genre Rising Star award. Screen is always eager to support exciting new UK talent and we look forward to announcing the winner at this year’s festival.”

FrightFest co-director Greg Day added: “Identifying and promoting new UK talent is very rewarding and we’re so pleased to continue to do this in partnership with the UK’s leading film industry publication”.

Horror Channel FrightFest 2017 announces Short Film Showcase

With twenty-six films over three days, including ten World, four European and seven UK premieres, Horror Channel FrightFest’s short film showcase unleashes this year’s eclectic mix of the bold, brave, bloody and barmy with films programmed to entertain, frighten, enlighten and simply amaze.

Shaun Dooley & Sally Phillips in BLOOD SHED

There are twelve films from the United Kingdom, forming the centerpiece of this year’s line-up. These include James Moran’s BLOOD SHED, starring Shaun Dooley and Sally Phillips, where a man’s love of his garden shed takes a rather murderous turn. In JUDGEMENT, Neil Maskell stars as a single man looking for love in all the wrong places and Laurence R. Harvey shines as a mutated children’s’ toy in TEDDY BEAR’S PICNIC. Then there’s Katie Bonham’s MAB, about a girl who turns to witchcraft to teach someone a lesson.

The other home-grown offerings see people haunted by ghostly figures in HELD DOWN BY A SHADOW and MAYFLOWER, while humans are the threat in THE WELCOMING and MISDIRECTION. Other dimensions hold secrets and sway in EVENT HORIZON and HUM, while the house down the lane holds horror in the Cannes-selected REAL GODS REQUIRE BLOOD. And finally, SMEAR will make you laugh all the way to the most uncomfortable procedure at the doctors’ surgery.

Neil Maskell in JUDGEMENT 

Horror from around the world will creep up on you, first as a cat with a deadly secret in MEOW, then as a woman out for revenge in FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL…Being alone in a strange house is no laughing matter in DRIP DROP and ROTARY, while one should be careful of what lurks behind the doors in CRESWICK and FEEDING TIME, which stars Stacy Snyder and Graham Skipper. And if you think butterflies are just cute flying insects, VOCABULARY 1 might change your mind.

Love can tear you apart or set you free in the gorgeous fantasies of BAD HEADS and NIMMER, while the loss and search for loved ones becomes an obsession in MAN IN THE MOON and AN ELDRITCH PLACE. And the lure of power is too much for some people when the realm of science fiction makes the unbelievable seem real, in KEPT and TETHER.

In addition to the showcases, there are two special short film screenings. Preceding our opening night film ‘Cult of Chucky’ is THE DOLLHOUSE, a loving tribute to growing up in the world of the psychokiller doll, directed by Kyra Gardner. And our very own short film programmer Shelagh Rowan-Legg’s new film FLOW will have its European premiere preceding the screening of DHOGS..

Shelagh said today: "This year Horror Channel FrightFest's short film selection will take you from the darkest reaches of space to the darkest corners of the bedroom closet. With babysitters who are just a bit too inquisitive, manipulative men getting their just desserts, mothers trying to help their video-game addicted sons, security guards confronted by other-worldly monsters: these shorts from the UK and around the world offer the new wave of fantastic genre cinema”.

The full line-up
FRIDAY 25 AUG – SPLICE MEDIA DISCOVERY SCREEN 1 from 13:20
(Prince Charles Cinema)

THE WELCOMING (World Premiere)
Director: Russ Gomm. Cast: Isabel Calder, Ben Shockley. UK 2017. 7 mins.
A little girl goes wandering in the woods. But some who wander might end up lost in darker places.

ROTARY (World Premiere)
Director: Lorenzo P. Adams. Cast: Emma Fawkes, David M. Goldberg. US 2017. 11 mins.
This babysitter’s childminding nights are usually uneventful. But not this evening…

BAD HEADS (London Premiere)
Director: Rebekah Fieschi. Cast: Alice Dessuant, Diako Diakoff. France 2015.  14 mins.
Jenny wants love so much she is willing to create it from scratch. But what she creates might not be what she wants.

MISDIRECTION (UK Premiere)
Director: Nic Alderton. Cast: Lucy Cudden, Daniel Caltagirone. UK 2017. 9 mins.
Steph, a married but lonely woman, meets an intriguing stranger at a bar. His charm might be more deadly than she imagines.

FOR A GOOD TIME, CALL…(European Premiere)
Director: Izzy Lee. Cast: Sean Carmichael, Tristan Risk. US 2017. 12 mins.
A man who uploads a homemade sex video taken in secret gets more than he bargained for when he makes a pit stop.

TETHER (International Premiere)
Director: Tim Reis. Cast: Mark Ashworth. US 2017. 12 mins.
A soldier in battle. A surgical team remotely repairing him. Warfare just hit a new level.

KEPT (World Premiere)
Director: Jaime Gonzalez. Cast: Jairo Camargo,  Manuel Sarmiento. Colombia 2017.m18 mins.
Scientists have discovered a way to record dreams, and those with ulterior motives waste no time exploiting those whose dreams are the most powerful.

MEOW (European Premiere)
Director: Chris Jopp. Cast: Eleonore Dendy, Charles Hubbell. US 2016. 13 mins.
Samantha has a new apartment, and a cat she must keep hidden from the landlord. But that might be hard with all the bodies that keep appearing.

SUNDAY 27 AUG – SPLICE MEDIA DISCOVERY SCREEN 2 from 11:15

EVENT HORIZON (UK Premiere)
Director: Joséfa Celestin. Cast: Kate McLaughlin, Lori Stott. UK 2016. 10 mins.
Julianne is reluctant to leave childhood behind. But her fear of the future manifests in a strange celestial object that she must confront.

MAN IN THE MOON (UK Premiere)
Director: Monique Mulcahy. Cast: Pauline Grace, JC Innamorati. Australia 2016. 13 mins.
A single mother is concerned about her son’s obsession with a homemade video game. But her obsession turns to fear when she intercepts a strange transmission.

MAYFLOWER (World Premiere)
Director: Christopher Goodman. Cast: Jason Ryall. UK 2017. 7 mins.
A young engineer wakes up from cryo-sleep during a routine deep space flight. Was it due to a false alarm, or something more sinister?

VOCABULARY 1 (London Premiere)
Director: Becky James. Cast: Emma Roselle. US 2016.
Snakes are dangerous, and butterflies are cute. But is that really the case?

NIMMER (London Premiere)
Director: Lieven Vanhove. Cast: Geert Vandyck, Sarah Eisa. Belgium 2016. 16 mins.
A lighthouse. Two lovers. A dangerous cliff and the turbulent sea. Time is running out.

FEEDING TIME (UK Premiere)
Director: Matt Mercer. Cast: Stacy Snyder, Graham Skipper. US 2016. 13 mins.
When a young woman fills in for her friend on a babysitting job, she begins to suspect things are not as they seem.

REAL GODS REQUIRE BLOOD (London Premiere)
Director: Moin Hussain. Cast: Anna Berentzen, Kirsty Doyle. UK 2017. 20 mins.
A young woman does her neighbour a favour and looks after her young children. But something is lurking in the shadows.

BLOOD SHED (World Premiere)
Director: James Moran. Cast: Shaun Dooley, Sally Phillips. UK 2017. 13 mins.
Jack loves a bargain. And he loves sheds. But when he gets his very own dream shed, it might be a little more than he bargained for.

MONDAY 28 AUG – SPLICE MEDIA DISCOVERY SCREEN 2 from 11:15

TEDDY BEARS PICNIC (World Premiere)
Director: Thomas Hodge. Cast: Abby Miller, Laurence R. Harvey. UK 2017. 5 mins.
When this young mother and her daughter go out in the woods today, they are definitely in for a big surprise.

MAB (World Premiere)
Director: Katie Bonham. Cast: Maria Teresa, Lucy Clements. UK 2017. 15 mins.
Rosie makes strange daily deliveries to an isolated woman in the woods. But one day Rosie needs the woman’s services, which she never imagined.

AN ELDRITCH PLACE (UK Premiere)
Director: Julien Jauniaux. Cast: Ludovic Philips, Habib Ben Tanfous. Belgium 2016. 16 mins.
When Abdel accepts a night watchman job for Francis, he'll soon discover his obscure secret.

HUM (London Premiere)
Director: Stefano Nurra. Cast: Adam Shaw, James Bryce. UK 2017. 15 mins.
A grieving plumber seeks out a disgraced quantum physicist to rid himself of a tormenting "Hum".

DRIP DROP (UK Premiere)
Director: Jonna Nilsson. Cast: Siham Shurafa. Sweden, 2016. 8 mins.
A woman returns home to find there is no water in the house. Later that night, the water returns in the form of a steady drip.

JUDGEMENT (World Premiere)
Director: Sean Healy. Cast: Neil Maskell, Sura Dohnke. UK 2017. 5 mins.
Tom is getting on well with Ann, so well that she introduces him to her son, Jed. But Tom might be in for more than he had in mind….

CRESWICK (London Premiere)
Director: Natalie Erika James. Cast: Dana Miltins, Chris Orchard. Australia, 2016. 9 mins.
While a woman helps her father pack up his house, they are both increasingly aware of the presence that they always knew was there.

HELD DOWN BY A SHADOW (UK Premiere)
Director: Alex Peace. Cast: May Kelly, Katie Marie-Carter. UK 2017. 18 mins.
Scarlett hasn't gone to bed with the light off in a very long time. But every night, she wakes up in the dark unable to move...and she's not alone.

SMEAR (World Premiere)
Director: Kate Herron. Cast: Sophia di Martino, Isabella Laughland. UK 2017. 4 mins.
Chloe has to get a pap smear. Things are going to get messy.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

THE DOLLHOUSE (World Premiere) Preceding CULT OF CHUCKY
Director: Kyra Gardner. Cast: Don Mancini, Brad Dourif. US 2017. 7 mins.
A filmmaker who grew up with the Chucky doll seeks out the other families surrounding the franchise to get their perspective on life with Chucky.

FLOW (European Premiere) preceding DHOGS
Director: Shelagh Rowan-Legg. Cast: Jamie Birkett, Lucy Clements. UK 2017. 5 mins.
When two women rebels are involved in a skirmish, they have more to argue about than the enemy...

Horror Channel FrightFest runs from 24th - 28th August 2017 at Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema.

Single tickets and passes are available to buy online:  http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

For full programme details and timetables go to: www.frightfest.co.uk

Follow: @frightfest on Twitter.

FrightFest goes in search of 'New Blood'

HORROR CHANNEL FRIGHTFEST, MPI MEDIA GROUP, DARK SKY FILMS & SCREEN INTERNATIONAL JOIN FORCES IN TALENT SEARCH FOR GENRE SCREENWRITERS

Barbara Crampton, Dominic Brunt and Travis Stevens named as mentors.

Are you a writer concocting fiendishly fantastic ideas in the witching hours? Have you hidden away your script in the deepest darkest catacombs but are now ready to unleash it onto the unsuspecting world?

As an innovative addition to this year’s main event, which runs from Aug 24 - Aug 28, Horror Channel FrightFest has teamed up with international production and distribution company MPI Media and their sister production company Dark Sky Films to create NEW BLOOD, an initiative which aims to find new genre writers and nurture their projects from script to screen. This initiative has the support of the UK’s leading film industry magazine Screen international.

MPI/Dark Sky Films, with its proven track record in producing and distributing a wide array of genre features including THE INNKEEPERS, STARRY EYES, STAKE LAND and IT STAINS THE SANDS RED, is on the search for exciting new ideas to develop into feature films budgeted below $1m for an international market.

The successful shortlisted applicants will have the opportunity to explore their ideas and scripts in a group setting under the mentorship of top industry professionals and genre experts including Travis Stevens, acclaimed producer of Starry Eyes and We Are Still Here; actor, producer and horror icon Barbara Crampton, actor / director Dominic Brunt and Giles Edwards, MPI Media’s Head Of Acquisitions & Development.

The NEW BLOOD event will be held on Thursday 23rd August, the opening day of this year’s festival, at the Radisson Hampshire Hotel.

Giles Edwards, MPI Media’s Head of Acquisition and Development, said today: “We are looking for original scripts or treatments for feature films which would appeal both critically and commercially to a global audience hungry for bold, diverse new voices in the realm of daring, thrilling, fiercely entertaining genre cinema. We want to unearth the UK's Julie Ducournau or Ti West, Jennifer Kent or Simon Barrett, Jordan Peele, Ana Lily Amirpour or David Robert Mitchell. We know you're out there, so don’t hold back. If you think your idea is original the chances are we will too. Suckerpunch us with your brilliance.”

Applications are now open through submission forms. The deadline is Fri 4th August. All successful applicants will be notified by Mon 14th August. All participants are expected to pay for their own travel and accommodation.

For full application requirements and terms & conditions: frightfest.co.uk

Film news (UK): Horror Channel FrightFest 2017 announces monstrous 18th year line-up

Back in the heart of London’s West End for its 18th  ‘adults-only’ anniversary, the world renowned horror and fantasy film festival will take place at the Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema from Aug 24 - Aug 28 2017, taking over five screens to present 64 films including 20 World, 22 European and 18 UK Premieres. Fourteen countries are represented spanning five continents, reflecting the current global popularity of the genre.

The opening night attraction is the global premiere of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment’s criminally entertaining CULT OF CHUCKY, with writer and director Don Mancini and stars Jennifer Tilly and Fiona Dourif in attendance, alongside the iconic deadly doll of destruction himself. This is the seventh instalment for one of cinema’s most terrifying and enduring franchises and will begin its worldwide rollout on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital in October.
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Cult of Chucky
Mancini said today: “it’s a true pleasure to be hosting the world premiere of CULT OF CHUCKY at FrightFest. I have fond memories of unveiling CURSE OF CHUCKY there in 2013 so it’s great to be returning to the UK’s acknowledged home of horror – especially as this film picks up from where CURSE…left off”.

Two more of the horror genre’s most popular and beloved franchises are given their World Premieres: To celebrate a decade of his cursed Victor Crowley creation, writer/director Adam Green is returning to FrightFest with a version of HATCHET never seen before. Plus, there is a presentation of Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s LEATHERFACE, the stunning prequel to the terror classic THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE

FrightFest unveiled a bright new directorial talent when it screened Tyler McIntyre’s PATCHWORK at the Glasgow Film Festival and the closing night film is the UK Premiere of his amazing TRAGEDY GIRLS, where HEATHERS meets SCREAM in a dream combo. It stars super-powered heroines Alexandra Shipp and Brianna Hildebrand.

Tragedy Girls
FrightFest also welcomes back Adam Wingard with the European Premiere of his supernatural manga DEATH NOTE, Joe Lynch with the European Premiere of his highly infectious action thriller MAYHEM, Mickey Keating with the European Premiere of his eye-shattering PSYCHOPATHS, Graham Skipper with the European Premiere of his surreal sci-fi romance SEQUENCE BREAK and genre favourite Barbara Crampton, who stars in Norbert Kell’s skin-crawler REPLACE, receiving its UK Premiere.

In a programme packed with innovation, uniqueness and individuality, other tips of the ice-pick are Ryan Prows’ powerful cult-in-waiting LOWLIFE, Trent Haaga’s stunning 68 KILL, high voltage THE VILLAINESS hot from Cannes, Alex de la Iglesia’s bleakly comic THE BAR, Miguel Angel Vivas’ remake of the French extreme thriller INSIDE, Daniele Misischia’s undead Romageddon THE END? Todd Tuckers’ affectionately creepy THE TERROR OF HALLOWS EVE, Brandon Christensen’s terrifying STILL/BORN, Sebastien Landry & Laurence Morais-Lagace’s head-exploding GAME OF DEATH, Kurtis David Harder’s  provocative sci-fi horror INCONTROL and Royce Gorsuch’s kaleidoscopic mindbender MINDHACK.

Continuing the festival’s important and vital commitment to highlighting the cream of the homegrown crop, our British strand is well-populated with World Premieres for Dominic Brunt’s perverted shocker ATTACK OF THE ADULT BABIES, Christian James’ prison-set vampire comedy FANGED UP and Matthew Heaven’s scorching revenge study ACCOUNTABLE. There are also European Premieres for Dominic Bridge’s debut dark morality tale FREEHOLD, Tom Paton’s nerve-shredding REDWOOD and Benjamin Barfoot’s hilariously blood-soaked DOUBLE DATE. And the ‘First Blood’ strand Is back on the menu with five tasty titles: actor Jason Flemyng’s blood-sucking feature debut EAT LOCALS, Louis Melville’s squaddie shocker BOOTS ON THE GROUND, Hendrik Faller’s ice-cold thriller MOUNTAIN FEVER, Michaël Boucherie’s tattoo-terror WHERE THE SKIN LIES and Peter Stray’s alien-invading black comedy CANARIES.

The festival’s accent on rising talent is further enriched with Preston DeFrancis’ extreme slasher RUIN ME, Natasha Kermani’s sci-fi fantasy IMITATION GIRL, Clay Staub’s supernatural detective thriller DEVIL’S GATE, Caroline Labrèche and Steeve Léonard’s mesmerising RADIUS, Samuel Galli’s devilishly shocking OUR EVIL, Andrés Goteira’s dazzling DHOGS, David Chirchirillo’s Tinder Terror GOOD MATCH, Tini Tuellman’s spine-chilling psycho suspense thriller FREDDY/EDDY, Haritz Zubillaga’s car-killing giallo THE GLASS COFFIN, Scott Poiley’s hard-edged chiller EXHUME, Adam Graveley’s Aussie outback shocker 3RD NIGHT, Michael Mongillo’s audacious and haunting DIANE, Peter Ricq’s stark comedy DEAD SHACK and Carlos Algara and Alejandro Martinez-Beltran’s gripping psychological twister VERONICA.

Mayhem
Three documentaries will receive their eagerly awaited premieres at FrightFest this year. KING COHEN: THE WILD WORLD OF FILMMAKER LARRY COHEN is a dazzling career overview of the maverick director behind such classic horrors as IT’S ALIVE, Q THE WINGED SERPENT, fantasy television series like ‘The Invaders’, HELL UP IN HARLEM Blaxploitation, recent releases CELLULAR and soon the MANIAC COP remake. We welcome back on screen Kane Hodder, everyone’s favourite Jason Voorhees in the FRIDAY THE 13th series, with his moving and eye-opening TO HELL AND BACK: THE KANE HODDER STORY. Finally there’s the extraordinary MANSFIELD 66/67, a super Hollywood Babylon-style whisk through the final years of movie goddess Jayne Mansfield's life and untimely, possibly Satanic, death.

Other attractions include Emilia Clarke in VOICE FROM THE STONE, Robert Englund in NIGHTWORLD, the French graphic novel adaptation ALONE, the outrageous gore-fest MEATBALL MACHINE KODOKU, the Aussie chiller KILLING GROUND, the hilarious TOP KNOT DETECTIVE and Episodes 1 & 2 of the amazing Japanese TV series CROW‘S BLOOD. Plus two FrightFest Glasgow hits are being rescreened: Simon Rumley’s FASHIONISTA and Colin Minihan’s IT STAINS THE SANDS RED.

This year’s retrospective restoration strand highlights the underrated British horror DREAM DEMON, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD III, two classic Hammers, BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB and DEMONS OF THE MIND, plus the longest version found of the seminal proto-giallo DEATH LAID AN EGG, lovingly restored by Nucleus Films’ Jake West and Marc Morris.

The Duke Mitchell Film Club is back with a hosted presentation of the UK premiere of Stefan Ruzowsky’s COLD HELL, a gripping serial killer thriller. This is followed by the not-to-be missed DUKE MITCHELL PARTY, where the audience and invited special guests can expect all manner of madness guaranteed to kick off your Saturday late night in style.

Alan Jones, co-director of FrightFest, said today: “The whole cinema landscape is changing and Horror Channel FrightFest is listening. We know the fans want to see the films first, see them fast and see them in an environment that is second to none. That’s why we have what we believe is the finest line-up ever assembled and are showcasing the superlative selection in premium surroundings. So, the West End becomes the Dark Heart of London once again. And we’ve made it to our 18th birthday. It’s going to be quite some party”.

This year’s guest list, special events and the Short Film Showcase entries will all be announced in the coming weeks.

Festival passes will go on sale Sat 1 July at noon and will only be available to buy online: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

Single tickets will go on sale on Sat 29 July from 9am.

FILM NEWS (UK): Horror Channel FrightFest announces Glasgow FF line-up

FILM NEWS (UK): Horror Channel FrightFest celebrates 12th year at Glasgow Film Festival with record-breaking fourteen titles

Brittany Allen in IT STAINS THE SANDS RED

Monstrous stories, unspeakable urban legends, brutal acts and fearsome folktales dominate as the UK’s favourite horror fantasy event returns to the Glasgow Film Festival with a record fourteen films, including ten UK premieres, screening from Thurs 23 Feb to Sat 25 Feb 2017 at the iconic Glasgow Film Theatre.

Kicking off with a special screening of A CURE FOR WELLNESS, an intense psychological ride from Gore Verbinski, the visionary director of THE RING. and ending in sex and blood-drenched frenzy with the UK premiere of Roberto San Sebastián’s THE NIGHT OF THE VIRGIN, the 2017 line-up Is a shivering selection of the finest and wildest new fear-stokers the genre has to offer.

This year there are two films screening on the Thursday night. Following the 9pm showing of A CURE FOR WELLNESS is an exclusive unveiling of PHANTASM: REMASTERED, a new 4K restoration of the never forgotten fantasy horror masterpiece.

Friday’s line-up springs into high-octane action with the UK premiere of Matthias Hoene’s blockbusting $50 million fantasy epic THE WARRIOR’S GATE. This is followed by the UK Premiere of IT STAINS THE SANDS RED, a thrilling and unexpectedly heart-felt zombie road movie. Director Colin Minihan and lead actress Brittany Allen will be in attendance. Next up is THE TRANSFIGURATION, Michael O’Shea’s nihilistic meditation on millennial angst that took Cannes 2016 by storm. We’re pleased to say that Michael will be joining us to discuss the film.
Our 9pm presentation unleashes monster mash fury with the original Gangsta Lizard wreaking fabulous havoc in the UK Premiere of SHIN GODZILLA and rounding off the evening in visually stunning style is the first UK showing of Joe Dietsch & Louie Gibson’s award-winning HAPPY HUNTING, a dark and dangerous unfolding of desert death games.

Getting the Saturday programme started with considerable bite is the UK premiere of CAGE DIVE, Gerald Rascionato’s well-received take on survivor reality TV. This is followed by the hotly anticipated UK premiere of FASHIONISTA, Simon Rumley’s shockingly hypnotic exploration of addiction, body image and transformation. Considered by US critics to be his best film to date, Simon will be in attendance to discuss the film.

Also in attendance is Steven Kastrissios, director of BLOODLANDS. the first ever collaboration between Australia and Albania and the Balkan country’s first foray into horror cinema. Kastrissios’ passion project invites you to explore the mind-set of modern Albania while embarking on a spellbinding journey into terror. This is the World Premiere and Steven will be joined on stage by the main cast.

Make sure you’re strapped in for the UK premiere of our next presentation - Christopher Smith’s twisted revenge road move DETOUR. We’re thrilled that Chris will be joining us.

Matt Smith & Stanley Tucci in PATIENT ZERO

Saturday evening unfolds in adrenaline-fueled style with the UK premiere of Stefan Ruzowitzky’s PATIENT ZERO, starring Matt Smith, Stanley Tucci and Natalie Dormer battling super-fit, highly intelligent undead killers!  This is followed by the UK premiere of Ben Young’s powerfully disturbing debut HOUNDS OF LOVE, a unique three-way study of a serial-killing couple and their latest female victim.

To end this year’s global feast of fear is the UK premiere of an extreme horror comedy pushing ALL the boundaries. Roberto San Sebastián’s THE NIGHT OF THE VIRGIN is disgusting, offensive, hilarious and totally brilliant!

In addition, there is a sneak preview of Dominic Brunt’s ADULT BABIES, with the popular actor / director in attendance and let’s not forget those great give-aways!

Alan Jones, co-director, said today: “What a privilege for Horror Channel FrightFest to return to the open arms of the Glasgow Film Festival. Each of our forensically assembled line-up has been chosen on the basis it has something new and unique to offer, something we feel worth championing to our discerning Scottish audiences. So join us as we step beyond the pale together into the safe darkness of sinister cinema where genre transcends all and unites us as one chilled community.”

FrightFest Passes are £70 and available from noon on Mon Jan 16, 2016.  Passes cover all films on Fri 24 & Sat 25 Feb ONLY.

Tickets for ‘A Cure for Wellness’ and ‘Phantasm: Remastered’ ’ plus individual tickets for the Fri/Sat films are on sale Mon Jan 23 from 10am. Price: £10.00. £8 concession.

To book tickets:
+44 (0)141 332 6535 / boxoffice@glasgowfilm.org / www.glasgowfilm.org/festival

Programme details
THURS 23 FEB – GFT Screen 1

21:00 A CURE FOR WELLNESS (Special screening)
An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from an idyllic but mysterious “wellness centre” at a remote location in the Swiss Alps. He soon suspects that the spa’s miraculous treatments are not what they seem. When he begins to unravel its terrifying secrets, his sanity is tested, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests here longing for the cure.

Director: Gore Verbinski. Cast: Dane DeHaan, Mia Goth, Jason Isaacs, Celia Imrie. USA 2017. 18.  126 mins, Thanks to 20th Century Fox.

23:40 PHANTASM: REMASTERED (Scottish Premiere)
Set to introduce a new generation to the deranged charms of the cult classic, meet horror icon Angus Scrimm as a malevolent mortician sending bizarre murder victims into another dimension where they become slave dwarves. A macabre funhouse of shock that weaves a powerful primal spell, the unforgettable silver sphere that drills out brains is back in a phantasmagorical fusion of surreal imagery, outlandish thrills and super scares.

Director: Don Coscarelli. Cast: Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Angus Scrimm. USA 1979. 84 mins. 18. Thanks to Arrow Films.


FRI 24 FEB – GFT Screen 1

13:30 THE WARRIOR’S GATE (UK Premiere)
Produced and written by Luc Besson and long-time collaborator Robert Mark Kamen (THE FIFTH ELEMENT) and directed by COCKNEYS VS. ZOMBIES maestro Matthias Hoene, the rip-roaring spectacular adventure finds hapless teenager Jack magically transported to ancient China where he must learn to convert his awesome video gaming skills into those of a Kung Fu warrior to bring peace to the warring kingdom. THE LAST STARFIGHTER goes CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON in an enthralling fable opening up a whole innovative East meets West universe of wonder and imagination.

Director: Matthias Hoene. Cast: David Bautista, Sienna Guillory, Uriah Shelton. France/China 2016. 90 mins. 15. Thanks to Europacorp.

16:00 IT STAINS THE SANDS RED (UK Premiere)
First came the massive hit GRAVE ENCOUNTERS and the sci-fi shocker EXTRATERRESTRIAL and now director Colin Minihan and co-writer Stuart Ortiz, aka The Vicious Brothers have fashioned an unusual. ‘walking dead’ movie. After a horrendous flesh-eating apocalypse, Las Vegas wild child Molly finds herself stranded in the desert with a ravenously relentless zombie hot on her high heels. Forever trying to give it the ingenious slip, the lone stalker has no need of rest and soon it becomes her only physical contact in a world gone mad haunted by her dark past.

Director: Colin Minihan. Cast: Brittany Allen, Juan Riedinger, Merwin Mondesir. USA 2016. 92 mins. 18. Thanks to Digital Interference Productions and Grasswood Media.

18:30 THE TRANSFIGURATION (UK Premiere)
Orphaned African-American teen Milo thinks he’s undead in director Michael O’Shea’s fiercely independent first feature. To escape his depressing life, Milo has drenched himself in vampire lore gleaned from such horror classics as NOSFERATU, MARTIN, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, THE LOST BOYS and NEAR DARK and has taken to sublimating his morbid fantasies bloodsucking on strangers. It’s when he befriends the equally troubled Sophie that a clear course of action presents itself providing liberation and tragic redemption.

Director: Michael O’Shea. Cast: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine, Aaron Moten. USA 2016. 97 mins. 18. Thanks to Soda Pictures.

21:00 SHIN GODZILLA (European Premiere)
Godzilla, the King of the Monsters, is back for a record-breaking box-office reboot of Toho’s kaiju classic. Present-day Japan, and an unexplained seismic event has occurred off the coast of Shinagawa, causing ripple effects all the way to the capital. Ministers scramble to figure out what’s going on but only cabinet secretary Rando Yaguchi knows what the audience already does. That Godzilla has majestically returned and has his fire-breathing, stomping sights on Tokyo once more.

Directors: Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi. Cast: Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara. Japan 2016. 120 mins. 18. Thanks to Altitude Films.

23:15 HAPPY HUNTING (UK Premiere)
Warren is a degenerate drifter. On his way down to Mexico he finds himself stranded in Bedford Flats a one-horse town deep in the American desert. Unfortunately for him the town’s pastime is rounding up drifters and hunting them as part of an elaborate sporting event. This most dangerous and deadly game and bloody fight for survival is about to begin!

Directors: Joe Dietsch and Louie Gibson. Cast: Martin Dingle Wall, Ken Lally, Kenny Wormald, Connor Willimas. USA 2016. 91 mins.18.Thanks to WTFilms


SAT 25 FEB – GFT Screen 1

10:00 CAGE DIVE (UK Premiere)
CAGE DIVE follows three friends from California who set out to film an audition tape for submission to an extreme reality game show. To ensure they stand out, they decide to travel to Australia where they will be documenting themselves taking part in a most extreme activity…Shark Cage Diving. While on the dive, a catastrophic turn of events leaves them in baited water full of hungry Great White Sharks and turns there audition tape into a survival diary.

Director: Gerald Rascionato. Cast: Joel Hogan, Josh Potthoff, Magan Peta Hill, Suzanne Dervish-Ali. Australia 2017. 80 mins. 18. Thanks to Lionsgate Films.

11:45 FASHIONISTA (UK Premiere)
After RED, WHITE AND BLUE and JOHNNY FRANK GARRET’S LAST WORD comes uber-eccentric director Simon Rumley’s third distinctive Austin, Texas, based shocker., this sleekly demented De Palma-esque nightmare is set in the vintage clothing world where hipster shop owners April and Eric find their marriage tested when she begins to suspect her husband of having an affair. Her suspicions confirmed, April seeks sexual validation with the very mysterious and kinky Randall setting off a chain reaction of stylish fever dream madness, vogue fantasy role-playing and chic ultra-shriek.

Director: Simon Rumley. Cast: Amanda Fuller, Ethan Embry, Eric Balfour. USA 2016. 110 mins. 18. Thanks to Simon Rumley.

14:20 BLOODLANDS (World Premiere)
Fear the Shtriga! Written and directed by Steven Kastrissios who made his intense debut with THE HORSEMAN comes Albania’s first ever break-out genre film. Rooted in the very real phenomenon of blood feuds still plaguing the land, a struggling Albanian family, wrestling with traditions and superstition, must unite against another mysterious mountain clan's aggressions. A surreal, remarkable and highly unusual voyage through the fantasy lens of whispered local mythologies,

Director: Steven Kastrissios. Cast: Gëzim Rudi, Emiljano Palali, Suela Bako. Australia/Albania 2016. 82 mins. 18. Thanks to Steven Kastrissios.

16:30 DETOUR (UK Premiere)
A tense, deftly constructed noir thriller from Christopher Smith, director of CREEP, SEVERANCE, BLACK DEATH and TRIANGLE. Law student Harper suspects his stepdad Vincent of causing the car crash that landed his mother in a coma. A chance meeting in a bar with a tough redneck and his girlfriend leads to a road trip of revenge and spiralling violence.

Director : Christopher Smith. Cast: Tye Sheridan, Emory Cohen, Bel Powley, Stephen Moyer. UK 2016. 97 mins. 18. Thanks to Dan Films.

18:55 PATIENT ZERO (UK Premiere)
Humanity is battling intelligent creatures born from a viral super-strain. After being bitten human survivor Morgan (Matt Smith) realises he is asymptomatic and can communicate with the infected, leading the last survivors on a hunt for Patient Zero and a cure. From Stefan Ruzowitzky director of ANATOMY, ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN and THE COUNTERFEITERS.

Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky. Cast: Matt Smith, Natalie Dormer, Stanley Tucci, Clive Standen, Agness Deyn. UK 2017. R/T TBA. 18. Thanks to Sony Pictures

21:10 HOUNDS OF LOVE  (UK Premiere)
In the mid 1980’s seventeen year old Vicki Maloney is randomly abducted from a suburban street by a disturbed serial-killing couple. As she observes the dynamic between her captors she quickly realises she must drive a wedge between them if she is to survive. Inspired by real life crimes, A superbly acted and powerful debut feature.

Director: Ben Young. Cast:  Emma Booth, Ashleigh Cummings, Stephen Curry, Susie Porter. Australia 2016. 108 mins. 18. Thanks to Arrow Films

23:20 THE NIGHT OF THE VIRGIN (UK Premiere)
At a New Year's Eve party, nerdy and naïve Nico sets out to lose his virginity. After striking out with drunken babes, his gaze crosses to Medea, an attractive if mature woman. Before he knows what’s happening he’s whisked to Medea’s filthy apartment where sinister Asian artefacts adorn the shelves, cockroaches crawl the floors and an ancient prophecy rears its head along with the rowdy gay neighbours and a very jealous ex-boyfriend.

Director: Roberto San Sebastián. Cast: Javier Bódalo, Miriam Martín, Víctor Amilibia. Spain 2016. 117 mins. 18. Thanks to Kevin I. Rodríguez/Platanobolígrafo.

For further information:  www.frightfest.co.uk

FILM NEWS (UK): Horror Channel FrightFest announces line-up for Halloween 2016 event

Horror Channel FrightFest unleashes a six-pack of cracking horror for their much-beloved Halloween event at the Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, on Saturday October 22nd. The 13-hour trauma marathon includes five UK premieres and the world premiere of Ross Noble’s directorial debut. Shocktoberfest is here!

First up is the UK premiere of BED OF THE DEAD, a crowd-pleasingly ghoulish orgy of sex and gore where four swingers become stuck on a haunted double bed plagued by terrifying hallucinations. Next in the panic-stricken line-up is the UK Premiere of DON’T HANG UP where an evening of prank calls puts two millennials in deadly peril when one recipient decides to fight back. After that comes the UK Premiere of COLD MOON, a chilling tale of supernatural vengeance from the dark imagination of Michael McDowell, esteemed writer of Beetlejuice and The Nightmare before Christmas.

Then it’s time for a proper Halloween trick or treat with the UK Premiere of FEAR, INC, about a sinister company promising to bring all your personal nightmares to life. At 8.30pm comes the UK Premiere of RUPTURE in which The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star Noomi Rapace is kidnapped and tortured to an extreme limit into another frightening realm altogether. Lastly, it’s the non-stop violent action movie currently wowing fantasy festivals all over the world, The Mo Brothers’ HEADSHOT starring Iko Uwais from The Raid franchise as an amnesiac trying to regain memories about his sadistic and extraordinary past.

Plus, we’ll be showing two fantastic shorts, the world premiere of Ross Noble’s nasty Halloween-set satire THE CATCHMENT, starring the comedy giant himself and Shauna Macdonald and DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?, an Xmas season shocker from, Canadian directors Justin McConnell & Serena Whitney. And of course there will be intros, Q & A’s, give-aways and a few special surprises…

Guests attending include RUPTURE director Stephen Shainberg, THE CATCHMENT director Ross Noble, DON’T HANG UP directors Damien Macé & Alexis Wajsbrot and COLD MOON producer Lee C. Rogers.

Alan Jones, co-director, said today: ““We just know you are going to love this hand-picked half-dozen of the latest and greatest chillers on the shock block. Horror, dread, terror and fantasy - it’s what we do best at FrightFest. So be very afraid and book now”.

Passes for the London event cost £45 and go on sale from noon on Saturday 1 October.
To book:  https://princecharlescinema.com/frightfest-halloween-special
Passes can also be bought at the cinema

FULL LINE UP:

10.30: BED OF THE DEAD (UK Premiere)

Director: Jeff Maher. Cast: Colin Price, Alysa King, Gwenlyn Cumyn, Dennis Andres, George Krissa. Canada 2016. 88 mins.

Out celebrating a birthday, two couples decide to party in a foursome at a sex club. Finding all the fantasy dungeons booked they are offered the mysterious Room 18 and start getting down to orgy business on the antique bed. But Room 18 has a dark history, the bed is haunted and once between the sheets, you can’t leave the mattress or you die. Plagued with frightening hallucinations across multi-dimensions, they must figure out the bed's secrets before they are all doomed. A race against time begins in a gloriously gruesome, gorgeous gore-fest from the LET HER OUT terror team.

PLUS….THE CATCHMENT (World Premiere) 

Director: Ross Noble.

Cast: Ross Noble, Shauna Macdonald, Cariad Lloyd, Richard Herring, Suki Webster

UK 2016. 16 mins.

A couple move into a house to be in the catchment area of a good school for their unborn children. But there’s a catch…


13:00 DON’T HANG UP (UK Premiere)

Directors: Damien Macé & Alexis Wajsbrot. Cast: Sienna Guillory, Gregg Sulkin, Garrett Clayton, Parker Sawyers, Bella Dayne. UK 2016. 83 mins.

I saw what you did and I know who you are! Two teens devise ever more elaborate prank phone calls to share online for their eager followers into impersonal humiliation. But as their
involved practical jokes become increasingly nastier, it never occurs to them they might be playing a very dangerous game. So when a mysterious threatening stranger calls the home landline, they suddenly realize they may not be invincible. In fact, they may be in very real peril, as the caller reveals the violent extremes he’s willing to employ to extract retribution before they’re able to reveal his identity.

15:15 COLD MOON (UK Premiere)

Director: Griff Furst. Cast: Josh Stewart, Candy Clark, Christopher Lloyd, Frank Whaley, Robby Kay. USA 2016. 92 mins.

From Michael McDowell, writer of BEETLEJUICE and THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and STARVE director Griff Furst, a chilling tale of supernatural vengeance. Welcome to the sleepy southern town of Babylon where years earlier the Larkin family suffered a terrible tragedy. Now they are about to endure another when fourteen-year-old Margaret is robbed of her innocent life and sunk in the black waters of the River Styx. The powerful killer thinks he’s beyond the reach of the law. But he’s not beyond the rules of Hell or the spectral nightmares determined to mete out the most shocking justice.

18:00 FEAR, INC.(UK Premiere)

Director: Vincent Masciale. Cast: Lucas Neff, Caitlin Stasey, Chris Marquette, Stephanie Drake, Abigail Breslin. USA 2016. 91 mins.

Nothing is ever scary enough for unemployed horror fanboy Joe. Completely underwhelmed by a haunted house attraction he visits with his girlfriend Lindsay one date night, a creepy stranger gives him a business card for the mysterious service ‘Fear, Inc.’, a company
promising to bring personal nightmares to life… for a price. Despite warnings about the corporation’s dubious reputation, Joe calls the next day – Halloween - and sets off a chain of terrifying events that echoes such classic horror cinema as SCREAM, SAW, THE SHINING and FRIDAY THE 13th. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bump-in-the-night ride!

PLUS….DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? (London Premiere)

Director: Justin McConnell & Serena Whitney. Cast: Caleigh Le Grand, Jorja Cadence, Adam Buller. Canada 2015. 14 mins.
It's the Christmas season, and Sloan is reluctanly helping her over-enthusiastic sister Jessica with the perfect party. But Sloan might have to do some kick-ass fighting to save the partygoers from a terrifying death...

20:30 RUPTURE (UK Premiere)

Director: Steven Shainberg. Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Chiklis, Peter Stormare, Lesley Manville, Kerry Bishé.  Canada. 2016. 102 mins.

Single mother Renee Morgan is trying to keep her life together when she’s suddenly kidnapped by a mysterious organization and held against her will in a sinister facility. Her captors insist they’re just conducting medical research, but to Renee and her fellow prisoners it’s torture! But why are they pushing her to an extreme limit, way beyond being scared to death and into another frightening realm altogether? A surreally spooky sci-fi horror from SECRETARY/FUR director Steven Shainberg, AMERICAN SNIPER producer Andrew Lazar and starring brilliant Noomi Rapace, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and the millennial Sigourney Weaver in PROMETHEUS.

23:00 HEADSHOT (London Premiere)

Directors: Kimo Stamboel & Timo Tjahjanto. Cast: Iko Uwais, Chelsea Islan, Sunny Pang, Very Tri Yulisman, Julie Estelle. Indonesia. 117 mins.

Never forget, never let go in another fast and furious violent action thriller from The Mo Bothers, directors of MACABRE, KILLERS, plus V/H/S/2 and THE ABCs OF DEATH segments. The indomitable Iko Uwais (THE RAID and its sequel star) plays Ishmael, a young man who washes ashore, an amnesiac with a serious head injury whose past comes back to haunt him shortly after being nursed back to health by a young doctor. For Ishmael was a killing machine in his forgotten history and when his memories finally do return he is compelled to take on a vengeful drug lord’s henchmen.

Film News (UK): Horror Channel FrightFest announces 2016 Short Film programme

Neck and Neck
With twenty-six films over three days, including seven World, five European and nine UK premieres, Horror Channel FrightFest’s 2016 short film showcase shines a  dazzling spotlight on the brave new wave of emerging genre talent, with UK films at its pulsating dark heart.

There are ten films representing the UK. From Cat Davies comes CONNIE, a dark look at the world of stand-up comedy with Catrin Stewart and a guest appearance by horror guru Kim Newman.
Then there is FRANCOIS, the first short by Preston Nyman, son of FrightFest favourite Andy Nyman, about a man with a disturbing mission. Plus there’s Neville Pierce’s BRICKS, starring Jason Flemyng, giving a horror twist to the class struggle. Bob Pipe’s THE MONSTER, is a touching and terrifying homage to old-time monster films, while NECK AND NECK, from Mew Lab animation studio, is a surreal homage to Shakespeare. There’s the latest in zombie terror with DAWN OF THE DEAF by Rob Savage, and the romantic dark fantasy of NEON by Mark J. Blackman. Completing the home-grown line-up are film writer turned director Sam Ashurst’s suspenseful HELL’S GARDEN, Damon Rickard’s psychologically gripping DISSOCIATIVE, and Christopher Goodman and Kate Walshie’s disease-ridden BLIGHT.

From the US, we have three returning FrightFest alum. Jill ‘Sixx’ Gevargizian is back with THE STYLIST, the secret and bloody world of hairdressers; GWILLIAM is the latest comedy-terror from Brian Lonano; and Chris McInroy’s DEATH METAL turns up the horror volume to the max. John Carpenter wrote the music for and makes a cameo appearance in THE PUPPET MAN, an homage to 80s slasher films; the fantastic Zoë Bell delivers the laughs and kicks ass in NO TOUCHING, starring Jake Busey, and, in THE GARDEN, a young ballerina tries to break free from tyranny. Plus director Ryan Spindell pits babysitter against psychopath in THE BABYSITTER MURDERS and we get a very dark portrait of an underground fetish club in Mila Zuo’s CARNAL ORIENT.

The Babysitter Murders
From around the world, there’s South Korean comedy in BOW WOW BOW, Ayako Fujitani’s hilarious look at the mundane life of an office worker; Gigi Saul Guerrero returns with macabre horror in MADRE DE DIOS and there’s more comedic terror from Spain with THANATOPRAXY. Plus we have a diabolical Luxembourgean mouse in PEARLIES, two scientists on a journey into the Icelandic unknown in French director Fabien Dubois’ HERE WE ARE, monsters in  the closet in Canadian director Greg Jeffs’ IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD and two gems from Australia – Stefani Speerin’s demented pantomime ISADORE and CURVE, Tim Egan’s visually intense story of survival.

Programmer Shelagh Rowan-Legg said today: "From dystopian prisons to underground fetish clubs, to isolated country houses, to the streets of Seoul, the shorts programme for Horror Channel FrightFest 2016 will take the audience to the strangest corners of the world and the darkest depths of the human soul”.


The full line-up
SATURDAY AUGUST 27TH – DISCOVERY SCREEN ONE from 1:10pm

GWILLIAM (UK Premiere)
Director: Brian Lonano. Cast: William Tokarsky, Paul Painter. USA 2015. 6 mins.
A recently released criminal is looking for a good time. He can forget his sins but he can never forget...Gwilliam.

CONNIE (World Premiere)
Director: Cat Davies. Cast: Catrin Stewart. Special Appearance by Kim Newman. UK 2016. 20 mins.
Would-be comedienne Dolly can’t seem to find the right act. Until she meets Connie, who helps her discover a darker side of funny.

BLIGHT (World Premiere)
Director: Christopher Goodman and Kate Walshe. Cast: Jack Parker, Rosalind Parker. UK 2015. 6 mins.
A small town detective ventures to a remote cottage to check upon an isolated family, where he discovers a monstrous illness has had dire consequences.

THE STYLIST (UK Premiere)
Director: Jill Gervagizian. Cast: Najarra Townsend, Jennifer Plas. USA 2016. 15 mins.
Claire is a lonely hairstylist with an unnerving desire to escape her disappointing reality. When her final client of the evening arrives, Claire has plans of her own.

NECK AND NECK (UK Premiere)
Director: Shaun Clark. Cast: Melvyn Ternan. UK 2016. 5 mins.
In the marital bed the surreal sensuality enveloping Othello and Desdemona is disturbed by a dangling telephone, poisoning Othello’s mind.

THE GARDEN (European Premiere)
Director: Natalia Iyudin. Cast: Sophia Lillis, Julian Sarin. USA 2015. 13 mins.
In 2089, humans become an outmoded being, and the only way to survive is to integrate into A.I. constructs. Yet Luc would rather die than conform.

BOW WOW BOW (UK Premiere)
Director: Ayako Fujitani. Cast: Insoo Park, Eunjeong Lee. South Korea/USA 2015. 15 mins.
Sangil lives his routine and mundane life by the clock. But a slight disruption might have unintended consequences.

SUNDAY AUGUST 28TH – DISCOVERY SCREEN ONE at 10:50am

FRANCOIS (World Premiere)
Director: Preston Nyman. Cast: Alex Tol, Leroy Emmett. UK 2016. 5 mins.
A young man with a love of 1950s songs must commit dark acts against his will for the benefit of a higher authority.

NO TOUCHING (European Premiere)
Director: Will Corona Pilgrim, Adam Davis. Cast: Zoe Bell, Doug Jones, Jake Busey. USA 2016. 13 mins.
In a shady haunted house attraction where the performers are assaulting female patrons, the tables are turned by two resourceful women.

THE PUPPET MAN (UK Premiere)
Director: Jacqueline Castel. Cast: Crystal Renn. Special Appearance by John Carpenter. USA 2016. 9 Mins.
A supernatural killer stalks a young woman and her friends in this reference-laden homage to 80s horror films.

DAWN OF THE DEAF (UK Premiere)
Director: Rob Savage. Cast: Caroline Ward, Stephen Collins. UK 2016. 12 mins.
When a sonic pulse infects the hearing population, a small group of Deaf people must band together to survive.

CURVE (European Premiere)
Director: Tim Egan. Cast: Laura Jane Turner. Australia 2016. 10 mins.
Clinging to a smooth, curved surface high above a sentient abyss, a woman tries to cover the few feet back to safety.

THE MONSTER (Preview)
Director: Bob Pipe. Cast: Rich Glover, Helen George. UK 2015. 16 mins.
He’s just trying to make a living and find love in the crazy world of monster movies. But will his greatest asset also be his downfall?

PEARLIES (UK Premiere)
Director: Pascal Thiebaux. Cast: Lionel Abelanski, Matthieu Clément-Lescop. Luxembourg 2015. 12 mins.
If a tooth is missing, it simply must be replaced. By any means necessary...

CARNAL ORIENT (UK Premiere)
Director: Mila Zuo. Cast: Akemi Look, West Liang. USA 2015. 8 mins.
A dark portrait of an underground fetish club, where the performer might have the last revenge.

HERE WE ARE (International Premiere)
Director: Fabien Dubois. Cast: Aladdin Serraoui, Antoine Lesimple. France 2015. 16 mins.
Two science students travel to a remote part of Iceland to test a large-scale magnetic theory. But what they encounter might have unknown ramifications.

MONDAY AUGUST 29TH – DISCOVERY SCREEN ONE at 12:30pm

DISSOCIATIVE (World Premiere)
Director: Damon Rickard. Cast: Tom Gordon, Amanda Hunt. UK 2016. 5 mins.
Frank needs to know who killed his wife. But an unseen hand might be guiding his dark fate…

DEATH METAL (European Premiere)
Director: Chris McInroy. Cast: Kirk Johnson, Michael Dalmon. USA 2016. 5 mins.
A metalhead gets passed down a satanic guitar that riffs to shreds.

THE BABYSITTER MURDERS (London Premiere)
Director: Ryan Spindell. Cast: Caitlin Custer, Ben Heathcoat. USA 2015. 22 mins.
It was a dark and stormy night, when the innocent babysitter battled the escaped psychopath. But turning the tables might not be so easy…

HELL’S GARDEN (World Premiere)
Director: Sam Ashurst. Cast: Katie Sheridan, Nick Helm. UK 2016. 2 mins.
A woman sees a man burying a body in her back garden; will the police arrive in time to save her from untold danger?

MADRE DE DIOS (UK Premiere)
Director: Gigi Saul Guerrero. Cast: Tristan Risk, Luis Javier Gutierrez. Canada 2015. 7 mins.
A woman wakes up bound to an altar, helpless as she is transformed into a flesh and blood statue of Santa Muerte by two elderly Brujos.

NEON (World Premiere)
Director: Mark J. Blackman. Cast: Joe Absolom, Kerry Bennett. UK 2016. 15 mins.
A man who is forbidden by a higher power from pursuing love attempts to end his life, to spare the woman he loves from her own life of heartbreak.

THANATOPRAXY (London Premiere)
Director: Victor Palacios. Cast: Cristina Gallego, Andrea Carballo. Spain 2015. 11 mins.
Mary and Monica work in a mortuary. Mary needs a donor heart for his father. Monica has an idea: steal it from work.

ISADORE (European Premiere)
Director: Stefani Speerin. Cast: Sam Foster, Tanya Schneider. Australia 2015. 14 mins.
In a strange pantomime theatre, Isadore holds a dance troupe captive while he tries to create the perfect performance.

BRICKS (London Premiere)
Director: Neville Pierce. Cast: Jason Flemyng, Blake Ritson. UK 2015. 10 mins.
A wine connoisseur and a brick layer, discussing details of grape variety and building walls. What could go wrong?

IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD (World Premiere)
Director: Greg Jeffs. Cast: Addison Jeffs. Canada 2016. 6 mins.
There are all kinds of monsters hiding in the closet.

Horror Channel FrightFest runs from 25th - 29th August 2016 at The Vue Cinema, Shepherds Bush, London W12.

Single tickets and passes are available to buy online:  http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

For full programme details amd timetables go to: www.frightfest.co.uk

Follow: @frightfest

FILM NEWS (UK): Film4 FrightFest celebrates 11th year at Glasgow Film Festival with record-breaking thirteen titles

FILM NEWS (UK): World, European & UK premieres dominate as Film4 FrightFest celebrates 11th year at Glasgow Film Festival with record-breaking thirteen titles

Natalie Dormer in THE FOREST

Kicking off with a special screening of THE FOREST with star Natalie Dormer in attendance, and finishing in racy rock-fuelled style with Sean Byrne’s THE DEVIL’S CANDY, the UK’s favourite horror fantasy event returns to Glasgow Film Festival with another stellar line-up to shock, chill and thrill. A record thirteen films will screen from Thurs 25 Feb to Sat 27 Feb 2016, alongside a selection of unmissable shorts, guest director Q & A’s, great give-aways and a sneak preview of Paul Hyett’s HERETIKS, with the popular director in attendance.

Official trailer:

The line-up starts at 9pm on Thurs 25 Feb with the UK Premiere of THE FOREST starring Natalie Dormer searching for her twin sister in Japan’s most haunted location, the fabled Sea of Trees. The ‘Game of Thrones’ star is making her first appearance at Glasgow Film Festival and is thrilled to be headlining this gala event the day before the film’s UK release.

Friday’s fearsome line-up kicks off with the UK Premiere of THE HEXECUTIONERS, Jesse Thomas Cook’s love letter to the rural horror genre, which is an atmospheric, tense and bloody treat. This is followed by the UK Premiere of Sonny Mallhi’s eerie, jittery and surprisingly moving ANGUISH, the creepiest and most resonant American independent horror since It Follows, Next up is the much-anticipated World Premiere of CELL. Starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, this adaptation of Stephen King’s acclaimed apocalyptic nightmare is a sobering reminder of the FrightFest mantra to ‘Turn Off Your Bloody Phone’!

The 9pm slot goes to THE MIND’S EYE, directed by Joe Begos. Begos’ directorial debut Almost Human was a FrightFest Glasgow 2014 highlight, so the organisers are thrilled he will be returning to present his second award-winning feature, a loving and thrilling tribute to iconic horror heroes David Cronenberg and Brian De Palma. Expect bloody fireworks, mutant mayhem and exemplary special effects. Rounding off the evening in gory style is the European premiere of Tyler MacIntyre’s PATCHWORK, a modern spin on Mary Shelley mythology, mixed with fun gore and a cheeky tone which will delight fans of classic 1980’s scream fests.

Sarah Wayne Callies in THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR

Getting the packed Saturday programme off to a spine-tingling start is the Scottish Premiere of Roar Uthaug’s epic action-thriller THE WAVE, the most successful movie of the year in Norway, and a Scandinavian smash hit sensation. This is followed by the chiller compendium SOUTHBOUND, a uniquely solid, grim and gritty excursion into the dark side of the soul which is a shining example why Anthology horror is back in vogue.

The ‘horror tsunami’ continues with the jaw-dropping martial arts extravaganza SPL2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCES. Superbly entwining operatic outbursts of heart-stopping emotion, spectacular choreography and balletic bone-crunching violence, this was the third biggest box-office hit in Asia in 2015. Next up is the European premiere THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, directed by rising British talent Johannes Roberts. Roberts will be in attendance to discuss his eerie, evocative and sinister shock spectacular.

Hold on to your entrails as Saturday evening unfolds in gruesome style with BASKIN, Can Evrenol’s fiendish adaptation of his short film. Loaded with surreal chills, atmospheric dread, extreme gore and unsettling perversity. this marks the Turkish director as a bright talent on the international genre landscape and FrightFest is thrilled Can will be attending.

In 2008 Pascal Laugiers shocked the world with MARTYRS, which became one of the last decade’s most controversial horror movies. Now comes the UK premiere of the highly anticipated American version, produced by the house of Jason Blum and helmed by the Goetz Brothers. Be prepared for an equally unsettling ride!

To end this year’s carnival of carnage is an bloody explosion of heavy metal, murder and mayhem in the eagerly-awaited UK premiere of Sean Byrne’s creepy, brain-freezing THE DEVIL’S CANDY, an instant cult classic and one of the scariest ‘under the radar’ movies of the year.

Alan Jones, co-director, said today: “After its biggest year ever, raising the terror landscape bar in   August and our diversification into other major media platforms, FrightFest returns to its beloved Glasgow Film Festival with a programme that celebrates the ground-breaking, the innovative, the unique, the extreme but most essentially all that’s best and keynote about the action horror fantasy genre.  So please be seated for the frights of your lives!”

FrightFest Passes are £70 and available from noon on Tuesday Jan 12, 2016.  Passes cover all films on Fri 26 & Sat 27 Feb ONLY.

Tickets for ‘The Forest’ and individual tickets for the Fri/Sat films will go on sale Mon 25 Jan from 10am. Prices: £9.50 / £7.50 concessions.

To book tickets:
+44 (0)141 332 6535 / boxoffice@glasgowfilm.org / www.glasgowfilm.org/festival

Programme details
THURS 25 FEB – GFT Screen 1

THE FOREST (UK Premiere)
For centuries, the Aokigahara Forest at the northwest base of Mount Fuji has been linked with death and torment. Such strong associations have kept it a cultural marker for Japanese belief in the paranormal world. Legend speaks of the 'ubasute', spectres of old women abandoned by their families, and the 'yurei', spirits of lonely suicide victims. Now Sara (Natalie Dormer) is about to enter the sinister green canopy known as the ‘Sea of Trees’ hoping to find the answer to why her twin sister Jess has mysteriously disappeared. Ex-patriate journalist Aiden and forest path guide Michi are there to keep a protective eye on her. But as darkness falls, fear soon fragments Sara’s conscious as she faces the swelling legion of ghosts that prey on anyone who gets close.

Director: Jason Zada. Cast: Natalie Dormer, Taylor Kinney, Eoin Macken. USA 2016. 90 mins. 18. Icon Film Distribution


FRI 26 FEB – GFT Screen 1

13:30 THE HEXECUTIONERS (UK Premiere)
From the director of MONSTER BRAWL and SEPTIC MAN, and the writer of PONTYPOOL and HELLMOUTH, comes a nerve-shredding American Gothic tale of terror. Sanctioned euthanasia is now an industry and Malison is just starting assisting suicides for the Rite-To-Die company. After a distressing first call-out, she is paired with seasoned veteran Olivia and they head to the remote estate of Milos Somborac, on his deathbed wishing to expire via a Tibetan death ritual known as the Yotar Sky Burial. Soon the shocking reasons why this arcane method has been chosen become stark, staring clear as the demise-inducing duo find themselves fighting vengeful spirits determined to stop it.

Director: Jesse Thomas Cook. Cast: Liv Collins, Sarah Power, Wil Burd. Canada 2015. 95 mins. 18. Raven Banner Entertainment.

15:40 ANGUISH (UK Premiere)
Producer of THE STRANGERS, SHUTTER and AT THE DEVIL’S DOOR, Sonny Mallhi makes a dazzling directorial debut with this compelling supernatural chiller inspired by a true possession story. Teenage Tess has been suffering from anxiety since childhood and is on medication. But when the family moves to a small house in Texas it becomes clear her dissociative identity disorder condition might not be necessarily psychological when she becomes susceptible to spirits of the deceased - especially ghost girl Lucy killed in a tragic accident. Showcasing a breakout performance by Ryan Simpkins (TWIXT, SURVEILLANCE, HANGMAN) playing the withdrawn Tess.

Director: Sonny Mallhi. Cast: Ryan Simpkins, Annika Marks, Karina Logue. USA 2015. 91 mins. 18. Arrow Films.

18:30 CELL (World Premiere)
Best-selling horror author Stephen King brings his acclaimed apocalyptic nightmare to the big screen. When a powerful signal is broadcast across mobile networks worldwide, every cell phone user’s mind is dangerously re-programmed turning them all into instant zombie killers. With civilization crumbling as the bloodthirsty ‘phoners’ attack each other and any unaltered person in view, artist Clay Riddell (John Cusack) heads north through New England in search of his wife Alice and son Tom. He’s joined by a group of survivors, including Tom McCourt (Samuel L Jackson), and together they fight off the hyper-connected horde amidst the total chaos. Then they learn of ‘The Raggedy Man’ and his sinister flock and in their desperation for answers they go in search of him…

Director: Tod Williams. Cast: John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Isabelle Fuhrman. USA 2016. 96 mins. 18. Signature Entertainment.

21:00 THE MIND’S EYE (UK Premiere)
Set in snowy 1990 New England, this violent revenge thriller follows Zack Connors, a telekinetic fugitive, who can move and destroy objects with his mind. Picked up by the authorities and admitted into a research institute run by the sinister Doctor Slovak, despite promises he’ll be reunited with his girlfriend Rachel with whom he shares similar abilities, the diabolical medic is using his patients to create a synthetic mind-control serum for his own power-crazed use. Steve Moore’s propulsive score infuses every elevated genre moment with epic vibes and Begos delivers with stylish panache and irresistible pizzazz.

Director: Joe Begos. Cast: Graham Skipper, Lauren Ashley-Carter, John Speredakos. USA 2015. 87 mins. 18. Thanks to Channel 83 Films and Site B.

23:15 PATCHWORK (European Premiere)
The spirits of RE-ANIMATOR and cult director Frank Henenlotter loom large over this incandescent comic horror.  Three young women out partying wake up in a strange laboratory to find themselves Frankensteined together in one body. Making matters worse is that bitchy professional Jennifer, ditzy airhead Ellie and weirdo Madeleine share a collective consciousness as well as body control. Barely able to keep it together, the women co-operate long enough to make an escape. But unable to come to terms with their new multi-persona, the women shift their focus towards tracking down the mad scientist responsible for their mutilation while also making peace with their former hang-ups. Can they put aside their differences long enough to exact the proper revenge?

Director: Tyler MacIntyre. Cast: Tory Stolper, Tracey Fairaway, Maria Blasucci. Canada/USA 2015. 86 mins. 18.


SAT 27 FEB – GFT Screen 1

10:00 14:15 THE WAVE  (Scottish Preview)
FrightFest alumni Roar Uthaug has gone from COLD PREY slasher genius and ‘Hellfjord’ hero to first class master of disaster.  In the small mountain community of Geiranger, geologist Kristian works at an early warning centre keeping an eye out for rockslides causing potential dangers. The last catastrophe was in 1905 and everyone knows it’s only a matter of time before the next Big One hits. And once the boulders start falling, the tight-knit population and the tourists it caters for has just 10 minutes to get to higher ground… So set your stopwatch now for inevitable and inescapable destruction to begin as nature fights back with drastically shifting scenery and a terrifying monster tsunami.

Director Roar Uthaug. Cast: Thomas Bo Larsen, Kristoffer Joner, Fridtjov Såheim. Norway 2015. 104 mins. Norwegian with subtitles. 18. Studio Canal.

12:10 SOUTHBOUND (UK Premiere)
Genre cinema is an art fuelled by teamwork and nowhere is this more self-evident than in this chiller compendium revealing a circle of death. From the creators of the V/H/S franchise come five interlocking tales of terror following the fates of weary travellers who confront their worst nightmares - and murkiest innermost secrets - over one long night on a desolate stretch of desert highway. You’ll witness two blood-soaked men on the run from supernatural horrors, an all-girl band taken in by a strange family, a man who has to perform emergency surgery with spooky 911 assistance, a home invasion and a rescue mission that goes horribly awry. The Cryptkeeper would be so pleased!

Directors: Roxanne Benjamin. David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath, Radio Silence. Cast: Kate Beahan, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Susan Burke. USA 2015. 89 mins. 18. Thanks to Studio Canal.

14:05 SPL2: A TIME FOR CONSEQUENCES (Preview)
A sequel in name only to the 2005 original KILL ZONE, director Soi Cheang recaptures its exhilarating energy and adrenaline-fuelled action by expanding into Thailand’s criminal underworld. Undercover Hong Kong cop Kit is sent to a hellish Thai prison after his cover is blown. As his supervising uncle Wah tries to discover his whereabouts, Kit learns the jail is the centre of an organ trafficking ring run by degenerate cutthroats. One of the few honest guards is Chai (ONG BAK superstar Tony Jaa in his finest role) whose dying daughter desperately needs a bone marrow transplant. And so the scene is set for an audacious turbo-charged thriller showcasing Hong Kong action filmmaking at its stunning best.

Director: Soi Cheang. Cast: Tony Jaa, Simon Yam, Jing Wu. China/Hong Kong 2015 120 mins. Mandarin Chinese with subtitles. 18. Jinga Films.

16:40 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR (European Premiere)
The latest production from visionary genre titan Alexandre Aja (SWITCHBLADE ROMANCE, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, MANIAC and HORNS) is an exotic tale of supernatural threat directed by Johannes Roberts (F, STORAGE 24, 47 METERS DOWN). Grieving over the tragic loss of their son Oliver in India where the family antiques business is based, Maria hears of a dark rite that will let her to say goodbye to her dead child and hopefully find closure. Without her husband Michael knowing, she travels to a remote temple where the veil between the netherworld and the living one is thinnest. But unable to contain her emotions she breaks the most important ritual commandment allowing the spirit of the evil goddess Myrtu to roam the earth once more. Now she must protect her daughter Lucy against sibling malevolence at all costs..

Director: Johannes Roberts. Cast: Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Javier Botet. UK/India 2016. 96 mins. 18. 20th Century Fox.

19:05 BASKIN (UK Premiere)
Can Evrenol’s homage to Coffin Joe, HELLRAISER, Dario Argento and H.P. Lovecraft is a terrifying and visceral tour-de-force of extreme violence and disturbing horror; Little do a police squad know when they respond to a call for backup at an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere that they will stumble upon a Black Mass being performed by a nightmare cabal of subhuman cannibalistic freaks with a penchant for imaginative blood ceremonies. This is a striking and innovative feature debut of clear future cult importance. directed by an emerging, unique filmmaker.

Director: Can Evrenol. Cast: Gorkem Kasal, Ergun Kuyucu, Muharrem Bayrak. Turkey/USA 2015. 97 mins. Turkish with subtitles. 18. Vertigo Films.

21:30 MARTYRS (UK Premiere)
With both detractors and defenders calling Pascal Laugiers’ MARTYRS a Sadean masterpiece, it was never going to be an easy task for Kevin and Michael Goetz to remake the film but they proclaim their vision is a reimagining of the source material rather than a slavish remake. Do they succeed? We dare you to find out as Lucie escapes from the warehouse where she was being held captive and brutalised. Leaving the orphanage a decade later with her best friend Anna, she’s determined to find the family who tortured her. But her urge for vengeance is the gateway to greater horrors as both girls must endure an even more unimaginable and debauched hell together.

Directors: Kevin & Michael Goetz. Cast: Bailey Noble, Troian Bellisario, Boriana Williams. USA 2015. 81 mins. 18. Altitude Films.

23:30 THE DEVIL’S CANDY (UK Premiere)
Seven years after taking the genre world by storm with THE LOVED ONES, Australian director Sean Byrne is back with an absorbing, unnerving and devastating ride into psychological trauma and satanic bedlam. Unfulfilled artist Jesse Hellman moves his wife and fellow metal music-loving teenage daughter Zooey into a rustic Texas home with a violent past. Soon his paintings start taking on a darker, disturbing and more prophetic turn as anxieties get ramped up by mortgage repayments, local gallery interest in his work and helping Zooey settle at her new school. Then the clearly unbalanced Ray appears on his doorstep wanting to move back where his parents tragically died. And when Ray sees Zooey, nothing prepares the family for the shocking chain of events in this sly, outstanding and refreshingly original chiller.

Director: Sean Byrne. Cast: Ethan Embry, Kiara Glasco, Pruitt Taylor Vince. USA 2015. 90 mins. 18. Icon Film Distribution.
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For further information:  www.frightfest.co.uk

FILM NEWS (UK): Film4 FrightFest announces line-up for Halloween 2015 event

James Purefoy and Olga Kurylenko lead guest line-up

A totally shocking threequel, a haunted house of horrors, demonic possession, claustrophobic tank terror, a head-spinning brutal thriller and a surprise movie…it can only be the Film4 FrightFest Halloween event, which is back at the Prince Charles Cinema on Saturday 24 Oct with six brand new movies, including two World premieres, a European and two UK premieres.

This year’s Shockathon kicks off at 11am with the surprise movies which guarantees a sci-fi cocktail of weird creatures, crude humour and hilarious action. Next up is the UK Premiere of THE VATICAN TAPES, a dynamic, unusual and thrilling exorcism shocker by Crank director Mark Neveldine. This is followed by the World Premiere of THE UNSPOKEN, a chill-orientated sinister ghost story with an insidious sting in its tale. Kicking of the evening with a massive jolt of brutal energy is the UK premiere of MOMENTUM, a break-neck, nerve-shredding violent thriller starring a stand-out Olga Kurylenko & James Purefoy. Our second World Premiere is BELLY OF THE BULLDOG, directed by Nick Gillespie, whose past short films have been shown at FrightFest to great acclaim. We are delighted to welcome him back for his feature genre debut. To complete the line-up prepare yourselves for twists galore, horrific jolts and seat-edged suspense with the European Premiere of I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE III: VENGEANCE IS MINE, which whole-heartedly retains the stunning shock impact of the entire controversial series.

Guests attending include MOMENTUM stars James Purefoy (The Following) and Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) and from BELLY OF THE BULLDOG, director Nick Giilespie plus key cast, to be announced later.

Plus, we’ll be showing two fantastic shorts, THE CHICKENING, a poultry-infused remix of The Shining, directed by Nick DenBoar & Davy Force and THE PACKAGE, starring Dan Palmer (Stalled) & Tom Gordon. And of course there will be intros, Q & A’s, give-aways and a few special surprises…

Alan Jones, co-director, said today: “Enough with the after dark jitters, caffeine fixes and trying to stay awake through the last movie. FrightFest is always ahead of the curve when it comes to redefining event experiences so here’s our latest innovation. All before midnight you’ll delight in fright with six of the must-see movies of the moment. Carefully selected by the FrightFest team of experts to show exactly where the genre is right now, these six nightmares before Christmas are tales of Halloween you just have to witness”.

Passes for the London event cost £45 and go on sale from Saturday 3 October. To book go online http://www.princecharlescinema.com/events/events.php?seasonanchor=zxy123
or call the Prince Charles Cinema on 0207 494 3654
Passes can also be bought at the cinema

FULL LINE UP:
11:00 SURPRISE MOVIE

12:55 THE VATICAN TAPES (UK Premiere)

A concerned priest, two Vatican exorcists and the distraught father of a young girl battle to save her soul after she expresses increasingly erratic and strange behaviour. It soon becomes clear that Angela has been taken over by an ancient satanic force and that she must be quickly purged of evil. But what nobody knows is that the spiritual crusade is not just for Angela - it’s for the entire world as humanity knows it.

Director: Mark Neveldine. Cast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Peña, Dougray Scott, Djimon Hounsou, Peter Andersson. USA 2015. 91 mins.

15:00 THE UNSPOKEN (World Premiere)

In 1997 the close-knit Anderson family vanished from their home without a trace. No bodies were ever found and no explanation satisfied curiosity. For 17 years the house has remained undisturbed...until now. This eerily expert frightener is further enlivened by terrific performances from ‘Suits’/’Arrow’ star Neal McDonough and SILENT HILL/THE TALL MAN/TIDELAND’s Jodelle Ferland.

Director: Sheldon Wilson. Cast: Jodelle Ferland, Sunny Suljic, Neal McDonough, Jessie Fraser, Jonathan Whitesell. Canada 2015. 90 mins.

17:30 MOMENTUM (UK Premiere)

Clint Eastwood’s go-to cameraman Stephen S. Campanelli turns skilled first-time director with this BOURNE style thriller done with panache and witty super-slick suspense. From its attention-grabbing futuristic bank heist opening to exciting airport chase finale, the breathless cat-and-mouse action never stops as CIA assassin James Purefoy relentlessly tracks glamorous jewel thief Olga Kurylenko for a stolen computer hard drive implicating corrupt senator Morgan Freeman in a terrorist plot. Kurylenko is terrific as the criminal mastermind enduring torture with a smile and inventively avoiding Purefoy’s gleefully evil sadist.

Director: Stephen S. Campanelli. Cast: Olga Kurylenko, James Purefoy, Morgan Freeman, Karl Thaning, Dylan Edy. USA/South Africa 2015. 96 mins.

19:45 BELLY OF THE BULLDOG (World Premiere)

With nowhere else to hide, a group of mercenaries and their prisoners take cover inside a long abandoned Bulldog tank. But, while they try to keep the forces outside at bay, the real enemy is already among them, locked inside the belly of the Bulldog. After collaborating closely with Ben Wheatley on FREE FIRE, HIGH-RISE, A FIELD IN ENGLAND and KILL LIST, Director Nick Gillespie makes his feature genre debut.

Director: Nick Gillespie. Cast: Rupert Evans, Deirdre Mullins, Michael Smiley, April Pearson, Gordon Kennedy. UK 2015. 84 mins.

22:15 I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE III: VENGEANCE IS MINE (European Premiere)

After her harrowing experiences in 2010, Jennifer Hills has taken the name Angela and is now working in an anonymous office job. Attending a rape support group to find closure, she meets feisty Maria Finch and they become firm friends. Then Maria suggests Angela join her in taking revenge by proxy on the abusers they hear about in their secret sessions…This superior sequel is genuinely surprising, consistently gripping, smartly written and brilliantly acted.

Director: R.D. Braunstein. Cast: Sarah Butler, Jennifer Landon, Gabriel Hogan, Doug McKeon, Karen Strassman. USA 2015. 87 mins.