Arrow Video FrightFest begins on Thursday 26th August and runs until Monday 29th August. The event will see over seventy genre films descend on London’s Leicester Square as the film festival takes over both Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles cinema. With so many delectable morsels on offer it can be hard to figure out exactly what to watch. Fear not though as THN have been frantically watching our way through the programme; here are some of our favourites.
A Wounded Fawn
Before moving into writing and directing, Travis Stevens spent the bulk of his career in the role of producer. Just a few examples of the quality projects that Stevens was involved with include Cheap Thrills, Starry Eyes, and 68 Kill. In 2019 Stevens made his first move into directing feature films and the resulting Girl on the Third Floor was an eye-opening debut. Then last year Stevens released Jakob’s Wife, which featured a career-best performance from Barbara Crampton. Not one content to wait for the dust to settle, Stevens now brings his third feature, A Wounded Fawn, to FrightFest. A Wounded Fawn presents a continuation of Stevens’ exploration of gender politics as it follows a serial killer (Josh Ruben) and his latest prey (Sarah Lind). Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted, A Wounded Fawn is going to set the Main Screen aflame.
A Wounded Fawn screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Friday 26th August at 3:15pm on the Main Screen.
Daughter
Prepare to see Casper Van Dien (of Starship Troopers fame) as you’ve never seen him before. In Corey Deshon’s Daughter, Van Dien forgoes his usual action and sci-fi projects and in doing so gives the performance of his career. The story sees a young woman (Vivien Ngô) ‘saved’ and taken back to a secluded farmhouse by Father (Van Dien). Here she must join the family unit or follow in the paths of the ‘daughters’ before her. Daughter taps into pandemic paranoia and generates plenty of tension. Corey Deshon directs the Hell out of this first-time feature. Daughter is as beautiful to behold as it is delicious to consume.
Daughter screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Friday 26th August at 1pm on the Discovery Screen 3.
Torn Hearts
Brea Grant is one of the hardest people working in the industry. Best known for her work in front of the camera, she is also an excellent writer (see Lucky) and director. Her last feature, 12 Hour Shift, wowed the FrightFest audience and her new film, Torn Hearts, is likely to do the same. Set within the world of the Country music industry, Torn Hearts joins double-act Jordan (Abby Quinn) and Leigh (Alexxis Lemire) as they track down their idol, Harper Dutch (Katey Sagal). Their intent is to beg Harper to collaborate with them and help them on their path to stardom. To their relief, Harper is keen, though her method of working leaves something to be desired. This is an excellent, intense, and dark-woven thriller that will have the FrightFest audience shifting in their seats.
Torn Hearts screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Sunday 28th August at 6:30pm on Discovery Screen 2.
Super Z
On first setting eyes on Super Z, the viewer will be unsure whether they love, hate, or are hallucinating what is unfolding before their eyes. A quartet of zombies flee their laboratory in search of a new life together. The family find a home in the woods and embark on a more peaceful existence. The threat of man lingers however, and they are soon at war. A film that assaults the senses on every level, Super Z plays like a Saturday morning cartoon. Its chaotic energy, vibrant characters, and bold colours are entrancing, and by the end you’ll have likely fallen for the group of misfit zombie outcasts.
Super Z screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Friday 26th August at 9pm on the Discovery Screen 3.
Fall
The honour of closing this year’s FrightFest has been given to director Scott Mann’s film, Fall. By now you’re sure to have seen the epic trailer for the film (find it here if not) and will know that the premise places two friends in peril atop an abandoned radio tower. Stranded 2000 feet in the air, Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner) must use their limited resources to try and find their way back down to the ground. Shot on location close to Death Valley, Fall features some breathtaking camerawork and exceptional stunt work, making it the perfect film for the IMAX screen. You’ll need a head for heights to make it through Fall, and even then, you might struggle. The perfect final shot of adrenaline to end FrightFest on a (literal) high.
Fall screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Monday 29thth August at 9pm on the Main Screen.
Hypochondriac
We’ve been fans of Hypochondriac since its debut at SXSW. Written and directed by Addison Heimann, Hypochondriac is inspired by Heimann’s own battles with mental illness and charts the mental decline of one young man, Will (Zach Villa). Will’s life devolves into chaos as he loses function of his body while being haunted by the physical manifestation of his childhood trauma. For fans of both Daniel Isn’t Real and Donnie Darko, Hypochondriac presents an important tale of mental health, love, and the destructive need to embrace our demons. A stunningly honest and frightening journey through the darker aspects of the human psyche, Hypochondriac should be immediately added to the top of your watch-list.
Hypochondriac screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Saturday 27th August at 3:45pm on Discovery Screen 1.
The Leech
It wouldn’t be Horror Christmas without at least one film set around the holiday season. Filling this year’s Yuletide quota is The Leech. Written and directed by Eric Pennycoff, whose film Sadistic Intentions was a FrightFest hit back in 2019, The Leech places a devout priest in a moral quandary when he takes in a newly homeless couple. Experted acted by Graham Skipper, Jeremy Gardner, and Taylor Gardner, The Leech will have the FrightFest audience squirming in their seats. The story offers a new slant on the home invasion story, one that will be recognisable to anyone who has had a guest outstay their welcome. The Leech has already been snapped up by Arrow Video, so you know it’s worth your time.
The Leech screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Saturday 27th August at 3:15pm on Discovery Screen 3.
Something in the Dirt
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are two of the most interesting filmmakers working today. The pair, now onto their fifth feature film, have made a name for themselves as being masters at achieving intellectually and visually stimulating projects on shoe-string budgets. Their latest production, Something in the Dirt was devised and shot during the pandemic, filming primarily within Benson’s apartment. Something in the Dirt follows two tenants as they begin to document the strange phenomena occurring in their building. This being a film by Benson and Moorhead, the bizarre events have a less than simple origin and the film is sure to give the Saturday morning FrightFest crowd an early cerebral workout.
Something in the Dirt screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Saturday 27th August at 10:30am on the Main Screen.
Deadstream
Deadstream is exactly the kind of film to watch with the FrightFest family. It’s loud, gory, and a little silly, making it essential late night viewing with a rowdy crowd. Following in the vein of Dashcam, Deadstream places an unlikeable influencer into the role of protagonist. Shaun Ruddy, isn’t quite as controversial as Dashcam’s Annie, but has been cancelled prior to beginning his live-stream event. In a bid to win back his viewers and repair his reputation, Shaun decides to lock himself in a haunted house for the night and stream the results…what could possibly go wrong? Written and directed by Vaness and Joseph Winter (the latter also starring as Shaun), Deadstream offers the perfect found-footage / live-stream variation on the iconic Evil Dead. Hold onto the contents of your stomach as, like Raimi’s classic, Deadstream effortlessly transitions from scare moments to gross gags, ramping up the fun and fluids to create a modern spin on classic creepy chaos.
Deadstream screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Saturday 27th August at 11pm on the Main Screen. Arrow Video FrightFest runs from Thursday 24th August – Monday 29th August 2022. Ticket details can be found here.
