Every year at Arrow Video FrightFest the organisers dedicate one of their Saturday Discovery Screens to a full day of First Blood programming. This strand shines a spotlight on a handful of some of the newest and brightest voices on the genre scene. The selection for this year will screen in the hallowed walls of The Prince Charles Cinema on Saturday 27th August. Of all the films on the line-up, it is Sebastien Blanc’s Cerebrum that kicks off the day’s festivities.
Will (Tobi King Bakare), an insecure young man, struggles to adapt to his new life after waking up from a coma. Upon returning home, he must fight his estranged father, Richard (Steve Oram), in order to be able to see his seemingly absent mother (Ramona Von Pusch) and uncover the true consequences of his past actions. Richard, however, is in denial, stuck in the past and desperate to hold on to what once was – with deadly consequences.
Cerebrum is an excellent way to begin this year’s day of First Blood titles. A self-contained psychological thriller with tinges of mad science-fiction, Cerebrum has been intricately designed to give the brain a workout. Sebastien Blanc’s film is shrouded in mystery. The viewer joins Will as he tries to decipher what exactly is unfolding around him. As complex as the story is, some of the bigger horror elements come via some incredible sound design. Cerebrum also features some standout performances from lead Tobi King Bakare and genre favourite, Steve Oram. All elements combine to make it a perfect pick for FrightFest.
In the lead-up to the World Premiere at FrightFest, THN spoke with Blanc to find out more about the production process, painful sound design, injecting colour into a plain setting, and why the FrightFest family should seek out Cerebrum.
Cerebrum screens at Arrow Video FrightFest on Saturday 27th August at 10:30am. Tickets for Cerebrum can be purchased by heading to the FrightFest website here.
