Jen and Slyvia Soska have a long history with FrightFest. They first appeared at the festival with American Mary in 2012. 2019 saw them return with their reversioning of David Cronenberg’s classic, Rabid. Now, ten years after their FrightFest debut, the Soska Sisters will return for a third appearance. The two will be in attendance at the annual Halloween event with their latest project, On the Edge.
A film they’ve kept under wraps until today, On the Edge also marks the return of the Soska Sisters in front of the camera. The pair will play the two women in the life of one man, Peter (Aramis Sartorio). On the Edge joins Peter as he books into a thirty-six hour session with dominatrix (Jen Soska) Mistress Santana, a woman who may or may not be the actual devil. A departure from the medical horror upon which they have built their FrightFest names, On the Edge might be their boldest project yet.
Running all day on Saturday 29th October at Cineworld Leicester Square, FrightFest Halloween will also host five other horrific slices of frightful fun. These include the documentary Tripping the Dark Fantastic, a film exploring the life and work of award-winning composer Simon Boswell, and the UK premiere of Jewish horror The Offering. Also on the line-up are Charlie Steed’s new film, Freeze, actor Joe Lo Truglio’s directorial debut, Outpost, and the latest insanity from writer Trent Haaga, Mad Heidi. The full itinerary of the day looks as follows:
10:45 TRIPPING THE DARK FANTASTIC (World Premiere)
Director: LG White. With: Simon Boswell, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Dario Argento, LG White. UK 2022. 93 mins.
Showcasing a live performance at Earth Theatre, London in 2021 and interviews with the artists he has collaborated with from over 35 years of scoring horror, fantasy and genre films, Tripping the Dark Fantastic is a stunning record of musician Simon Boswell’s career. An exciting trip through such classics as Phenomena, Demons 2, Stage Fright, Santa Sangre, Perdita Durango, Lord of Illusions, Shallow Grave and Hardware and many others, peppered with interviews by the likes of directors Dario Argento, Alejandro Jodorowsky, the concert features Simon with his 12 piece band, Caduta Massi, filmed by acclaimed DOP Vince Knight.
13:10 FREEZE (International Premiere)
Director: Charlie Steeds. With: Johnny Vivash, Ricardo Freitas, David Lenik, Jake Watkins. UK 2022. 90 mins.
H.P. Lovecraft goes to the Arctic! On a rescue mission to the North Pole to retrieve an old friend and his lost expedition crew, Captain Mortimer gets more than he bargained for when his ship is frozen into the ice sheet and set upon by bloodthirsty fish-creatures. Mortimer and his surviving crew flee the ship, beginning a treacherous journey to find safety in an ice-bound desolate wilderness. Suffering from starvation, frostbite and a slow madness, they find shelter inside a snowy mountain, but are they as safe as they think, or have they entered the heart of the creatures’ lair?
Contains: threat, blood, gore and fantasy monster mayhem
+ GNOMES (UK Premiere)
Director: Ruwan Suresh Heggelman. With: Moïse Trustfull, Duncan Meijiring. 6mins.
Unknowingly, a girl enters the habitat of a tribe of killer gnomes during her daily run. Lured by mysterious glowing mushrooms, she’ll soon wish she’d stayed on her usual tracks.
Contains: Contains splatter / gore.
15:35 MAD HEIDI (UK Premiere)
Directors: Johannes Hartmann, Sandro Klopfstein. With: Casper Van Dien, David Schofield, Alice Lucy, Leon Herbert. Switzerland 2022. 92 mins.
From the producer of Iron Sky, an action adventure horror comedy and the first Swissploitation film ever made. In a dystopian Switzerland under the rule of a fascist cheese magnate, Heidi lives a simple life in the mountains protected by her grandfather. Soon her longing for personal freedom sparks a revolution after abduction by brutal government storm troopers. Escaping prison, and the roving eyes of muscle bound inmates, the naïve Alpine girl must battle a human cheese-fuelled machinery of hate.
Contains: comedy violence, splatter slapstick, offensive language, nudity and sexual innuendo.
18:00 OUTPOST (World Premiere)
Director: Joe Lo Truglio. With: Beth Dover, Dallas Roberts, Dylan Baker, Ato Essandoh. USA 2022. 84 mins.
Veteran character actor Joe Lo Truglio, most recently owning the cult sit-com ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, makes a stunning feature debut as writer/director with this high concept, ever twisting mountain nightmare. Kate seeks recovery from a violent assault by taking a job as a fire lookout, but becomes increasingly overwhelmed by her isolation and tragic past. A story about pain, what happens when you run from it, how it always catches up and controls what you see, hear and governs what’s real. It commands what you do. If you don’t face your demons, the demons will come to face you.
Contains: domestic abuse, violence, serious threat, menacing suspense.
20:15 ON THE EDGE (World Premiere)
Directors: Jen & Sylvia Soska. With: Aramis Sartorio, Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska, Mackenzie Gray. Canada 2022. 114 mins.
Family man Peter gets more than he paid for when he books a 36-hour session with the sadistic Mistress Satana who seems more intent on making him suffer for his sins. Is it blackmail? Is it torture? Or is it the Devil come for his soul? Will Peter’s faith save him from his own personal Hell or is he already damned? A brilliant depiction of how Kink Culture can heal past trauma and be a source for shocking redemption.
Contains: Strong language, sexual content, violence, sexual violence, nudity,
23:00 THE OFFERING (International Premiere)
Director: Oliver Park. With: Nick Blood, Alan Corduner, Paul Kaye, Emm Wiseman. USA 2022. 93 mins.
In the tradition of The Vigil comes the European legend of ‘Abyzou: The Taker of Children’. Hoping to reconcile with his orthodox father, Art, the son of a Chasidic funeral director returns home with his pregnant wife Claire. But his intentions are put to the test when the family morgue receives the body of a mysterious corpse containing an ancient entity with a sinister plan for his unborn child. Blending authentic Jewish demonology and deep Kabbalistic secrets with classic horror, The Offering provides super shocks and an all-stops-out chilling climax.
Contains: supernatural threat, bloody imagery, body horror.
No matter whether you dip in for one film, or spend the whole day immersed in the movies, Halloween FrightFest promises to be a great way to spend the spooky season. Prices for tickets will be £55 for a full day pass and £15 for single tickets. All tickets go on sale on Saturday 1st October at noon. For more information head to the FrightFest website.
