Sadly the sun may not be sharing its love around the whole of the UK , FrightFest have plenty for all. Next month that dark heart of cinema will beat aggressively, pulsate and excite when 2019 Arrow Video FrightFest arrives. A line up that has kindred spirits to horror master Dario Argento.
The UK’s biggest and boldest horror and fantasy film festival is celebrating its 20th bloody year. We can’t deny they have stamped their authority on the horror community. Not just here in the UK but worldwide gaining a international reputation as festival to be if a fan.
Arrow Video FrightFest is back at the Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema from August 22 to August 26. Hosting a record-breaking seventy-eight films, embracing fourteen countries and spanning six continents, this year’s five-day fear-a-thon includes 20 World, 20 International / European and 28 UK Premieres.
Austin Zajur in SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK to be released by CBS Films and Lionsgate.
As previously announced, this year’s festivities begin with the UK premiere of Ant Timpson’s deviously edgy stunner COME TO DADDY, starring Elijah Wood and reaches its bloody conclusion with the World premiere of Abner Pastoll’s superbly crafted crime story, A GOOD WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND.
Other main attractions include producer Guillermo del Toro and director André Øvredal’s SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK, Alexandre Aja’s ( produced by Sam Raimi )gruesome ‘gator yarn CRAWL. The Radio Silence gang return with lethal thriller READY OR NOT, Kiah Roache-Turner’s futuristic Ozploitation classic NEKROTRONIC will hunt for demons who plague the internet . Watch a career-defining performance from Eddie Marsan, in Pedro C. Alonso’s captivating chiller FEEDBACK. Kirill Sokolov’s splatterpunk action comedy WHY DON’T YOU JUST DIE! Jason Mewes’ insane directorial debut feature MADNESS IN THE METHOD, attempts to understand method acting starring with a final on-screen appearance from Stan Lee.
FrightFest’s 20th year sees the return of directorial alumni like Adam Egypt Mortimer with his provocative psychological horror DANIEL ISN’T REAL, Christian Alvart with his twisted blockbuster CUT-OFF, Lucky McKee with the startling KINDRED SPIRITS, starring Thora Birch, Joe Begos with his terror trip BLISS, Larry Fessenden with DEPRAVED, a post-modern take on the Frankenstein legend, Padraig Reynolds with belligerent creature feature DARK LIGHT, producer Eli Roth with the grindhouse-inspired HAUNT, The Pierce Brothers’ bring us their chiller THE WRETCHED, Dan Bush is back with seat-edge shocker THE DARK RED, Jordan ‘Zombeavers’ Rubin teases us with tongue-in-chic horror comedy THE DRONE and ‘Level 16’ director Danishka Esterhazy gives us her fun-packed body-counter THE BANANA SPLITS. There is also the UK premiere of GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR, the directorial debut from returning producer Travis Stevens and DARLIN’, the directorial debut of past FrightFest ‘darling’ Pollyanna McIntosh Plus, those fur balls with teeth are back. CRITTERS ATTACK!, with original star Dee Wallace, will enjoy its European Premiere.
FrightFest not scared to present the films that are not scare to challenge the genre which transform and continually excite. Like Michael Goi’s MARY starring Gary Oldman and Emily Mortimer, the inventive EAT BRAINS LOVE from Rodman Flender hopes to swoon your heart whilst make you laugh. Seann William Scott loves his family but loves to kill in BLOODLINE, Chelsea Stardust’s hilarious SATANIC PANIC will be one pizza delivery you wish you never got. The unforgettable coming-of-ager KNIVES AND SKIN, THE BLACK STRING, marking the comeback of Frankie Muniz. Kelola Racela’s lustfully demonic PORNO, the incredible animation attraction TO YOUR LAST DEATH, Emma Tammi’s critically acclaimed THE WIND, Fernando Alle’s Troma-inspired MUTANT BLAST. Valeri Milev’s fabulously inventive BULLETS OF JUSTICE and Fabricio Bittar’s Brazilian gorefest GHOST KILLERS VS. BLOODY MARY, two craziest Midnight Movies you’ll ever see
This year’s FIRST BLOOD strand showcases that the UK continues to innovate and thrive . Life coaches become dead coaches in Staten Cousins-Poe’s gem of a feature debut A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE and Graham Hughes’ viral mockumentary DEATH OF A VLOGGER, gives the found footage format a much-needed shot in the arm. Samuel Gridley’s darkly funny CRIMINAL AUDITION, Magnus Wake’s cleverly plotted and heart-pounding DARK SENSE and making up the fearsome five is Fredi Nwaka’s ARE WE DEAD YET, a cleverly crafted supernatural comedy-crime thriller.
Other home-grown picks include the European premiere of TALES FROM THE LODGE Abigail Blackmore’s portmanteau shocker. Carl Strathe’s disturbing DARK ENCOUNTER, starring Laura Fraser and Alice Lowe, and the world premiere of Charlie Steeds’ flesh-eating horror THE BARGE PEOPLE. There are also world premieres for Justin Edgar’s nail-biting suspense thriller STALKED (AKA ‘Unseen’), Tom Paton’s heightened horror STAIRS and Legion of demons unleahed in Lawrie Brewster’s FOR WE ARE MANY. And let’s not forget director Jack McHenry,’s HERE COMES HELL makes a welcome return with his crowd-pleasing ,after its premiere at the Glasgow edition earlier this year.
This years FrightFest will showcase the best genre films from Canada has to offer and this year a special strand ‘Canadian Chills’ – to highlight an exceptional bumper crop. There will be the world premiere of the Soska Sisters remake of David Croneberg’s RABID.There’s also International premiere of Colin Minihan and director Kurtis David Harder’s smart chiller SPIRAL.There’s UK premieres of Tony Dean Smith’s sci-fi mind-bender VOLITION, Ray Xue’s entertainingly nasty EXTRACURRICULAR, starring Luke Goss. Chad Archibald’s deadly thriller I’LL TAKE YOUR DEAD, Cameron Macgowan’s dark comedy chiller RED LETTER DAY and Jordan Barker’s unrelenting assault of pure terror, WITCHES IN THE WOODS. Then there are World premieres for Jay Dahl’s malevolent HALLOWEEN PARTY and Braden Croft’s compelling TRUE FICTION. Completing the line-up are Zack Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein’s FrightFest Glasgow hit FREAKS. This year’s Duke Mitchell presentation will be Uk premiere of the challenging HAPPY FACE next to the International premiere of Rob Grant’s sick, sea-faring adventure HARPOON.
Another country with a fine FrightFest pedigree is Argentina and this year is no exception; with the World Premiere of producer Javier Diment’s chilling chamber piece ROCK, PAPER AND SCISSORS, plus the European premiere of Herman Finding’s IMPOSSIBLE CRIMES and the UK premiere of Pablo Pares’ apocalyptic powerhouse I AM TOXIC.
The global cabinet of fear holds more…Tunisia is represented for the first time with the UK premiere of DACHRA, an intense folk horror that has broken box office records in North Africa. If you missed it at Glasgow Film Festival, wtach the forgotten Japanese musical cult gem from 1985 – THE LEGEND OF THE STARDUST BROTHERS. Ireland’s entry is Paddy Murphy’s THE PERISHED. Mixing horror and pertinent social issues, the film marks the debut of a new Irish genre voice.
Further indie discoveries on the monstrous menu are: Australian chase chiller THE FURIES, the elegantly scary THE SONATA, social media shocker DEADCON, DRIVEN, a smart, meter-running battle against evil, Eric Pennycroft’s brooding SADISTIC INTENTIONS, with Larry Fessenden, the horrifying Christmas cracker I TRAPPED THE DEVIL, the quirky, cutting FINGERS and THE DEEPER YOU DIG, a Coen-Brothers-esque story of grief and survival from Toby Poser and John Adams.
Documentary lovers will enjoy Dima Ballin’s THE MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION OF MICHAEL REEVES, charting the life and early death of the man who gave us WITCHFINDER GENERAL and two documentaries from director David Gregory, MASTER OF DARK SHADOWS , an in-depth look at the talents of Dan Curtis, the ‘King of TV horror’ and SICK! SAVAGE! SENSUAL! THE REEL LIFE AND GHASTLY DEATH OF AL ADAMSON, which tells the bizarre and grim demise of one of Hollywood’s exploitation bad boys.
Festival co-director Alan Jones, said today: “Over the last two decades we have tirelessly introduced our committed audiences to every trend, every new talent and every innovation that has put horror back in the collective cinephile conscious. Even after 20 years. FrightFest’s August event remains a key destination to see the latest genre movies in the manner for which they were made – on the Big Screen surrounded by fellow fear-mongers. Remember, it’s our party and we’ll scream if we want to!”
This year’s guest list, special events and the Short Film Showcase entries will all be announced in the coming weeks. Horror maestro Dario Argento and Soska Sisters are the only confirmed guests so far.
For full programme details: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/
Festival passes will go on sale Saturday 6 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 Saturday 20 July from 9am.
Arrow Video Frightfest 2019 will take place on 22nd until 26th August.
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