We’re only days away from Europe’s premier horror festival, and The Hollywood News’ bloodlust is increasing by the second. The event is the Film 4 FightFest, which runs from 25th-29th August in Leicester Square’s Empire Cinema.
The line up for this year’s event is as exciting as ever and it promises to be four days of gore, shock, and psychologically-damaging fun. If you like that kind of thing. Which THN most certainly does.
FrightFest will screen a whopping 37 films, representing eleven countries and featuring seven world premieres and twenty European premieres. That’s a whole lotta scares.
For the horror hounds out there, here are the ten Fright Fest movies The Hollywood News’ is most looking forward to watching through oor fingers…
10. INBRED Director: Alex Chandon Starring: Jo Hartley, Seamus O’Neill, James Doherty.
What the devil is it?
When four young urban offenders find themselves in a remote Yorkshire village for a weekend of community service, they soon clash with the locals. It becomes a matter of survival as the foursome discover the gruesome and depraved relatively of the local ‘customs’…
Why all the fuss?
Following on from the likes of SEVERANCE and DOGHOUSE, INBRED promises to continue the trend for effective Brit horror-comedies. Advertised as very ‘un-PC’, it’s will poke fun at yokel and ‘yoot’ stereotypes. Additionally, INBRED features Shane Meadows-regular Jo Hartley, one of the UK’s most-overlooked actresses. Expect plenty of gore and ludicrous, gruesome humour.
9. THE WOMAN Director: Lucky McKee Starring: Pollyanna McIntosh, Angela Bettis, Sean Bridgers.
What the devil is it?
When a man discovers a feral woman whilst on a hunting trip, he captures her and takes her home in an attempt to domesticate her for the civilised world. After enlisting his all-American family into the plan, their treatment of the woman becomes increasingly violent and sexual. But can a wild creature truly be tamed?
Why all the fuss?
Fresh from Sundance (where it caused a controversial stir), THE WOMAN is sure to test viewers’ tolerance of horror with its extreme content. The scandalous story comes from cult horror novelist Jack Ketchum and promises to showcase the very worst of the dysfunctional family. We’re looking forward to some unadulterated feral vengeance.
8. DETENTION Director: Joseph Kahn Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Shanley Cashwell, Parker Bagley.
What the devil is it?
Lovesick teen Riley has a crush on the school heartthrob, and when he rejects her, she decides to commit suicide… but then a serial killer arrives, apparently mimicking a slasher movie and now stalking the students at her high school. And the there’s some aliens. And a time machine shaped like a stuffed bear. Oh, and a jock who becomes a human fly…
Why all the fuss?
An inventive little horror-comedy from music video director Kahn that should be packed full of in-jokes, pop culture references, and meta-humour. It promises to lampoon everything in its path, pulling a whole range of sub-genres into its willful deconstruction of horror. Expect the postmodern styling of SCREAM to look as antiquated as Bela Lugosi’s false fangs.
7. TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL Director: Eli Craig Starring: Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk, Katrina Bowden.
What the devil is it?
A group of frat kids go camping in the mountains, and following a huge misunderstanding, wrongly assume that idiot (and innocent) hillbillies Tucker and Dale are out to slaughter them. Their natural response against the supposed murderers is to fight extreme violence with extreme violence…
Why are we so excited?
Reversing the traditional roles played by dumb-ass kids and brain-dead hillbillies, TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL will be genuine laugh-out-loud fun. In the tradition of HATCHET, it will turn the slasher genre upside down whilst still delivering buckets of blood. A tale of unfortunate miscommunication especially for the gorehounds.
6. ATTROCIOUS Director: Fernando Barreda Luna Starring: Jose Masegosa, Chus Pereiro, Cristian Valencia
What the devil is it?
A pair of teens have to miss out on their urban legend investigations to take a family vacation. But once they arrive at the remote rural area, they discover a ghostly girl supposedly haunts the local woods. Armed with a video camera they head into the woods and are found dead five days later. But they leave behind 37 hours of footage from their mysterious jaunt…
Why all the fuss?
Sure, the ‘found footage’ movie has been done to death by now, but it remains effective and its verite approach works wonders in delivering genuine scares. Although the concept of ATTROCIOUS bears more than a passing resemblance to THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, we’re hopeful that it will bring some new twists to the table and make its mark on a tried and tested formula.
5. THE INNKEEPERS Director: Ti West Starring: Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, Kelly McGillis.
What the devil is it?
When a supposed haunted hotel is set to close up business forever, the last remaining employees attempt to uncover the truth beneath the its past. But as they begin their investigations, they are witness to strange events and find their lives thrust into mortal danger…
Why all the fuss?
Director Ti West has plenty of horror treats on his CV and undoubtedly knows his way around the genre. And his latest effort promises to bring dark character based humour as well as some good scares. It should be THE SHINNING for a slacker generation; a good old fashioned haunted house story with contemporary twists and turns.
4. THE WICKER TREE Director: Robin Hardy Starring: Brittania Nicol, Henry Garrett, Christopher Lee.
What the devil is it?
When a pair of evangelical Christians travel to Scotland to spread His word, they are invited to a remote village to preach. But on arriving there they soon discover the horrific nature of the locals’ Celtic pagan rituals.
Why all the fuss?
It’s been 38 years since Robin Hardy directed THE WICKER MAN, one of cinema’s finest ever horror films. And now he is back, treading very familiar ground with his adaptation of his own book ‘Cowboys For Christ’. With a special appearance from Christopher Lee, THE WICKER TREE is perhaps the most highly-anticipated horror film of 2011, and a stark and violent dissection of opposing religious values.
3. THE GLASS MAN Director: Cristian Solimeno Starring: Andy Nyman, Neve Campbell, James Cosmo.
What the devil is it?
After losing his job, Martin Pyrite becomes increasingly desperate and hopeless. And he is yet to break the news to his beautiful wife, a situation that finds him in a spiraling financial hell. But when a mysterious debt collector arrives at his house one night, the stranger offers Martin a clean slate in exchange for assistance on an important task, one that will lead him into a world of soul-torturing madness
Why all the fuss?
Written and directed by actor Cristian Solimeno, THE GLASS MAN is a thriller for the recession years. Its concept is simple but intriguing, and should exploit our most basic fears as protagonist Martin loses control whilst trying to reclaim the life he once had. Additionally, the film stars THN favourite Andy Nyman, a horror fanatic whose work to date has been consistently stellar (GHOST STORIES, DEAD SET).
2. KILL LIST Director: Ben Wheatley Starring: Michael Smiley, Neil Maskell, MyAnna Buring.
What the devil is it?
Out-of-work hitman Jay has little direction in his life, and his marriage is on the rocks. But when a friend offers him some new ‘contracts’ from a mysterious client, Jay finds his life back on track. Until, that is, his work becomes more of a fascination, and he experiences an increasing and uncontrollable bloodlust. Before long he finds himself on a the deadly a road to hell…
Why all the fuss?
The buzz surrounding this film has been electric, and it’s sure to be the must-see British movie of 2011. It promises to be nothing short of dark and disturbing. Also, coming from comedy director Ben Wheatley, there is sure to be pitch black humour buried deep within this tale of murder and obsession. And let’s not forget, it co-stars the drug-addled bicycle courier from Spaced, Tyres (otherwise known as Michael Smiley).
1.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK Director: Troy Nixey Starring: Bailee Madison, Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce.
What the devil is it?
Young Sally moves to a Rhode Island mansion, which her architect father is restoring. But sally begins to hear strange voices coming from a secret basement, and she unwittingly unleashes terrifying creatures into the house. Their lives are immediately endangered, and the creatures threaten to destroy the household just as they had done a century before…
Why are we so excited?
This is Troy Nixey’s debut feature film as director, but he is in the experienced and capable hands of Guillermo del Toro, the modern master of monsters. Though acting as producer, del Toro is sure to bring his unique vision to the movie (a remake of a 1970s TV movie), just as he did with JULIA’S EYES and THE ORPHANAGE. We’re most looking forward to the movie’s monsters (vicious faeries by all accounts) in what should be a creepy and affecting little movie. Expect this one to be a surreal but sweet nightmare, much like del Toro’s PAN’S LABYRINTH.
