FrightFest’s annual pilgrimage to Glasgow is just around the corner and the organisers have today announced what titles those that make the journey will be rewarded with. The event, which nestles inside the wider Glasgow Film Festival, takes place on 10th and 11th March, with a special preview on the evening of the 9th March. Passes go on sale from noon this coming Wednesday, 18th January. But what devilish treats do the team have in store? Read on for all the gory details.
Be prepared to devour a devilish feast of dread-filled delights as the UK’s favourite horror fantasy event returns to the renowned Glasgow Film Festival for an 18th year, from Thurs 9 March to Sat 11 March 2023.
This year’s daring line-up, once again housed at the iconic Glasgow Film Theatre, embraces the latest genre discoveries from around the world, spanning nine countries with an eclectic mix of World, International and UK premieres.
Passes are on sale from noon on Wednesday 18 Jan.
Festival co-director Alan Jones says, “FrightFest is one of the most potent forces on the horror, science fiction and extreme thriller landscape, a reputation that has firmly placed it in the Top 10 Essential Fantasy Festivals List. And we aim to stay ahead of the chiller curve, returning to the incomparable Glasgow Film Festival with a shiver and shudder showcase of epic proportions”.
FrightFest kicks off with two special screenings on Thursday March 9, opening in grand Gallic style with the UK premiere of Smoking Causes Coughing, a quirky, absurdist comedy sci-fi fantasy from visionary director Quentin Dupieux, whose film Rubber caused a 2010 GFF FrightFest sensation. This is followed by the UK premiere of Sisu, a pulverising, nerve-shredding and spectacularly gory WW2 action epic by Finnish director Jalmari Helander of Rare Exports fame.
Enter the haunted ‘Devil’s Manor’ as FrightFest’s traditional two-day event kicks off on Friday March 10 with the International premiere of #chadgetstheaxe, Travis Bible’s Found Footage comedy horror. Then we travel into an ancient mythological world for the UK premiere of Irati, a dark Spanish epic adventure from Errementari director Paul Urkijo Alijo, based on the graphic novel by J. L. Landa and J. Muñoz.
Next up is the UK premiere of Mother Superior, directed by Marie Alice Wolfszahn, making her feature film debut. This stylishly brooding occult chiller with the evils of nationalism rippling beneath the surface, won Best Feature at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2022.
This is followed by another directorial debut – Rhys Frake-Waterfield’s slasher parody Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey. Pooh and Piglet are not happy and in this UK premiere, prepare for a journey into Hundred Acre Wood as you’ve never seen it before. And get ready for the very first Lithuanian slasher as Friday evening climaxes with the UK Premiere of Pensive, director Jonas Trukanas’ inventively gripping horror ride into the prom night from hell.
Saturday’s malevolent menu starts with the International premiere of Hunt Her, Kill Her, an intensely violent and breathtaking thriller from directors Ryan Thiessen and Greg Swinson, which uses time and space to maximise suspense, Served up next is the International premiere of Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls.Based on his viral internet character of the same name, writer, director, and star Andrew Bowser ‘s wild comic ride is a creative and joyful celebration of weirdos of all kinds.
The next demonic dish is the European premiere of Christopher Smith’s Consecration, which finds the Severance / Black Death director in a mysterious Scottish convent exploring the dark recesses of the mind. Smith’s graphic and psychologically disturbing supernatural thriller stars Jena Malone, Danny Huston and Janet Suzman.
The evening programme opens with the World premiere of Little Bone Lodge, an atmospheric twisty thriller from Matthias Hoene, director of Cockneys vs Zombies. This highly effective bone-chiller stars Joely Richardson.
Next up is the International premiere of Here for Blood, the tongue-in-cheek, extreme splatter, campy comedy horror discovery of the year. Directed by Daniel Turres and starring Shawn Roberts, this joyously outrageous celebration of the genre has the body-count going up as the blood rains down.
This year’s feast of fear ends with the International premiere of 13 Exorcisms. Inspired by recent events in Spain, where it was a box-office smash, this supernatural chiller hits home with relentless suspense and skin-crawling horror.
FrightFest Weekend Passes are £75 and available from noon on Wednesday 18 January 2023. Passes will be exchanged for admission wristbands, which must be worn at all times to access all FrightFest films on Fri 10 March and Sat 11March ONLY. Tickets for Smoking Causes Coughing and Sisu, plus individual tickets for the Fri/Sat films are on sale Mon 30 January, from noon. Price: £11.50 / £9.30 (concessions).
