We caught Jermiah Kipp’s film Slapface earlier this year at Arrow Video FrightFest. The film played exceptionally well to the FrightFest crowd, reducing several audience members to tears with it’s tragedy soaked tale of grief and trauma. Around the same time, at the UK premiere, Slapface was acquired by horror streaming platform Shudder, with a release date set for early 2022. Before Slapface arrives on Shudder, it continues its film festival run with an appearance at Grimmfest.
Now entering its thirteenth year, Grimmfest will run 7th to 10th October at Manchester’s Odeon Great Northern. The event will play host to around thirty feature films that embrace the darker side of life. For those unable to attend the in-person festival, the organisers have also arranged for a virtual edition that will take place from 14th – 17th October. Both versions of Grimmfest promise some gruesome delights that will beautifully set up its attendees for this year’s Halloween.
One of the standouts of the festival will no doubt be Slapface. Having already conquered London, the film looks set to take Grimmfest’s Manchester audience by storm as well. The world of Slapface was first introduced to audiences across the globe in short film format, and tells an intense story of loss. Lucas (August Maturo) and his older brother Tom (Mike Manning) live isolated from town, in the woods. The pair are still reeling from the loss of their parents and have resorted to a strange and violent game – slapface – as a way to cope. The game essentially sees them slap one another around the face in an attempt to clear away their pain. Plagued by grief, bullies, and a disconnect with his brother-turned-guardian, Lucas is a lonely and upset child. Then one day during a walk in the woods, he meets and befriends a monstrous witch-like creature. A bond is quickly forged; with the witch determined to keep Lucas safe at any cost; violence and tragedy ensue.
Having loved Slapface at FrightFest, we were eager to sit down with both Jeremiah Kipp and August Maturo to find out more about this beautifully brutal film.
Slapface screens at Grimmfest 2021 on 8th October 2021. Tickets for the festival can be purchased here.
