As in recent years, FrightFest will once more be presenting its First Blood strand of programming to their horror loving family. The specially curated block of films celebrate the best new voices in genre cinema. Previous films that have screened include Death of a Vlogger, The Last Rite, and last year’s Walking Against the Rain. Each of these films have gone on to achieve distribution deals across the globe and this year’s filmmakers are hoping to repeat their predecessor’s success. One man who knows exactly how helpful First Blood can be is actor and producer Johnny Vivash who, after supporting Walking Against the Rain last year, returns with a starring role in sci-fi horror drama, Isaac.
Written and directed by Tariq Sayed, Isaac offers a timely peek into the world of genetically modified food and the dangers of article cell creation. In Isaac, Vivash stars as Nicholas Reeves who, alongside his reluctant wife, signs up to a top secret medical trial being run by Doctor Abner (Catriona MacColl). The experiment will ‘grow’ them a child free from genetic defects, which in light of having lost a daughter previously due to something in Nicholas’ genetic code, is an opportunity that Nicholas jumps at. However, the trial comes with the stipulation that, should anything go wrong, the company can recall their ‘product’ at any time. As Isaac approaches his teens, his behaviour becomes problematic; desperate to help, Nicholas turns to former family physician Doctor Guria (Bosco Hogan) who reveals a terrifying and devastating truth…
Planted firmly in the science-fiction mad scientist territory, Isaac is a very different film to its fellow First Blood offerings. Made even more timely since the release of Greg Wallace: The Miracle British Meat, Isaac is an uncomfortable look ahead to where both the food and genetics industry could be headed. Ahead of FrightFest, THN spoke with Isaac’s writer and director Tariq Sayed as well as lead Johnny Vivash, and supporting actors Catriona MacColl and Bosco Hogan. Our chat covered the inception of the idea, the long gestation of the shoot and the scary future it may point to.
Isaac screens at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest on Saturday 26th August 2023. Tickets are still available here.
