Celluloid Screams’ 16th edition begins this Thursday (24th October) and runs until Sunday (27th October). The event, which takes place at Sheffield’s Showroom Cinema, is a celebration of genre films new and old, and has been delighting attendees for the last decade and a half. This year’s festival is sure to be extra spooky as it ends just days before Halloween. THN will be in attendance sharing all our thoughts on the impressive line-up. Whilst we’ve yet to see films such as The Wailing, 1978, and Grafted, THN has seen several other movies that are screening. Here are some of our top picks of films not to miss.
Frankie Freako
This year’s Celluloid Screams starts on the fun-filled high of Frankie Freako. The latest film from FX guru, director Steven Kostanski, Frankie Freako is a love letter to the weird comedy horrors of the 80s. The plot sees uber-square Conor (Conor Sweeney) attempt to loosen up by calling a party line. Unfortunately, the call brings in a trio of interdimensional goblin-like creatures who are seemingly intent on ruining Conor’s life. Inspired by Ghoulies Go to College (which also screens at the festival), Frankie Freako is pure chaotic comedy gold with a huge smattering of blood, guts, and gore.
Bride of Chucky
Whereas other film festivals focus solely on new features, Celluloid Screams also embraces movies from the past. Each year they sneak in several films from across history, and this year is no exception with Blood and Black Lace and From Beyond the Grave both on the schedule. The big screen return that THN is most excited about seeing however, is Bride of Chucky. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Bride of Chucky was the first film in the Chucky series to not feature Child’s Play in the title. Not only was the name different, but the tone shifted from spooky to silly, with Bride of Chucky being one of the best post-Scream horror comedies. Playing immediately after Frankie Freako, opening night is set to be an epically entertaining time.
7 Keys
7 Keys from writer and director Joy Wilkinson was a firm favourite of this year’s FrightFest. If you missed out on seeing 7 Keys then, do not miss this second opportunity. 7 Keys stars Billy Postlethwaite and Emma McDonald as a pair of strangers who hook up for a weekend of passion. Their tryst becomes part of a tour through Daniel’s (Postlethwaite) former homes after Lena (McDonald) discovers he has held onto keys from all the properties. It doesn’t take long for their adventure to arrive in dangerous territory. An electrifying debut from Joy Wilkinson, 7 Keys years is swathed in sexy suspense. The sizzling dynamic of McDonald and Postlethwaite is sure to work Celluloid Screams attendees into a frenzy.
Secret Film
Each year Celluloid Screams likes to keep the identity of one of their films secret until moments before it plays. These secret films often go on to become highlights of the festival, with Barbarian and Stopmotion having screened over the last two years. As always, the identity of this year’s selection remains a guarded secret, and we cannot wait to see what frightful delights the festival has been hiding up its sleeve.
Krazy House
THN first caught Krazy House back at the start of the year during its debut at Sundance. Since then, Krazy House hasn’t appeared on the line-up of many other festivals so we were delighted to discover that Celluloid Screams had scooped it up. The film, from directors Steffen Haars and Flip Van der Kuil, is beautifully bizarre. It stars Nick Frost and Alicia Silverstone as parents in a late 80s / early 90s American sitcom before morphing into something far more Hellish. Krazy House will close this year’s Celluloid Screams and as such, the festival is set to go out with an almighty bang.
For more information about Celluloid Screams head to the festival website.
