Dario Argento, Neil Marshall, Brea Grant, Brigitte Lahaie and Mark Kermode lead the charge of the Guest Brigade
Neil Marshall’s THE LAIR is the monstrous opener
Passes are on sale from Sat 16th July, noon
Single tickets are on sale from Sat 23 July, noon
Arrow Video FrightFest, the UK’s most popular horror and fantasy film festival, returns to London’s Cineworld Leicester Square and the Prince Charles Cinema from Thursday, August 25 – Monday 29 August for five days of the very best of global genre cinema.
This world-renowned event that screams from the rooftops the versatility of the genre celebrates its 23rd blockbuster edition this year, with seventeen countries represented from across five continents. FrightFest 2022 presents thirty-two world, twenty-two International / European and eighteen UK premieres.
Kicking off the festival is the World premiere of THE LAIR, the latest from Neil (The Descent) Marshall. Marshall describes this action-packed gore shocker ‘The Dirty Half Dozen meets THE THING”. Neil will also be in attendance with star Charlotte Kirk and will introduce a special 4K restoration screening of his modern classic, DOG SOLDIERS.
The closing night film is the European premiere of Scott Mann’s FALL. This pulse-pounding, vertigo-inducing experience presents two best friends stranded at the top of a remote, abandoned 600-metre-high radio tower, desperately fighting for survival.
The festival offers a special treat as this year sees the welcome return of horror icon Dario Argento. Dario will introduce the UK premiere of his latest Giallo DARK GLASSES, which compares to his extreme thrillers from the 1970s with THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE and DEEP RED.
The main screen line-up is packed with shock and awe, from grindhouse-style classics including Ryûhei Kitamura’s sensational THE PRICE WE PAY and John Swab’s extraordinary CANDY LAND to the UK premiere of buzz title BARBARIAN, starring Georgina Campbell and Bill Skarsgård. FrightFest also sees the World premieres of the anticipated slasher sequel TERRIFIER 2 that continues the gory misadventures of Art the Clown, Dominic Brunt’s hair-raising WOLF MANOR. The Sundance sensation PIGGY and Travis Steven’s Tribeca hit A WOUNDED FAWN join the gory set, along with Cannes Film Festival opener FINAL CUT, the French remake of ONE CUT OF THE DEAD, and H4Z4RD, the turbo-charged, splatter action movie of the year.
Ambitious and quirky sci-fi movies are also in strong supply as the main screens light up with Mali Elfman’s warm-hearted science fiction epic NEXT EXIT, the sensational sci-fi horror hybrid THE VISITOR FROM THE FUTURE, Quentin Dupieux’s quirky comedy time travel fantasy INCREDIBLE BUT TRUE. Especially exciting is the latest from Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, SOMETHING IN THE DIRT, which fuses DIY science fiction, pre-apocalyptic vibes and overwhelming paranoia. The visionary dream-weavers will be in attendance, as will Brea Grant, director of twisted rock horror TORN HEARTS and star of NIGHT SKY, Jacob Gentry’s provocative indie science fiction fantasy.
Other main screen World premieres MIDNIGHT PEEPSHOW, a twisted portmanteau threesome that explores the nightmare side of psychosexual fantasy, horror anthology sequel SCARE PACKAGE II: RAD CHAD’S REVENGE, Andy Mitton’s menacing supernatural horror, THE HARBINGER, Erik Bloomquist’s coming-of-age horror SHE CAME FROM THE WOODS, starring Cara Buono, and stylish psychological chiller MASTEMAH from director Didier Daarwin, who will be attending. Also attending is THE CHAMBER director Ben Parker, for his latest thriller BURIAL. He will bring along the cast, including Tom Felton.
The documentary strand remains as bright and bold as ever as FrightFest welcomes French cult icon Brigitte Lahaie, who will introduce the in-depth Jean Rollin documentary ORCHESTRATOR OF STORMS. The subversive and explicit is further explored in CULT OF VHS, which takes a trip down Memorex lane to examine the allure and passion for straight-to-video titles and yes, the good old Video Nasties. Another cult favourite is Chucky, who is the subject of Kyra Gardner’s LIVING WITH CHUCKY. Kyra, daughter of FX designer Tony Gardner, explores growing up amongst her creative family of stars, eccentrics, technicians and, of course, a serial killing doll.
Brit horror hits a bloody vein this year including blood-thirsty hounds, rampaging reptiles, a teacher-eating pupil and a gore-filled talent show. These delights can be found across the World premiere of HOUNDED, starring Samantha Bond and Larry Lamb, Liam Regan’s EATING MISS CAMPBELL, Pat Higgins’ POWERTOOL CHEERLEADERS VS. THE BOYBAND OF THE SCREECHING DEAD and Paul W. Franklyn’s CROC! Also, there are screenings of Paul Wilkins’ THE GHOST WRITER, Steve Johnson’s STALKER, and Christopher Hatton’s RAVEN’S HOLLOW.
The UK’s ‘First Blood’ class of 2022 presents THE CREEPING, starring Sophie Thompson, Scott Lyus’s apocalyptic vision WALKING AGAINST THE RAIN, BITE a horror story of entrapment and cannibalism, Will Hugo’s THE GROUP and CEREBRUM starring Steve Oram.
The festival is proud of its track record for depth and diversity in the Discovery Stand. This tradition continues with three screens devoted to the best new films from around the world. From Luxembourg there is the savage thriller WOLFKIN, Mexico and Peru present the much-anticipated HUESERA from director Michelle Garza Cervera. Cyprus makes her FrightFest debut with the World premiere of paranormal thriller THE GHOSTS OF MONDAY. Other World premieres in the Discovery strand include Japan’s bold, unique fantasy NEW RELIGION from director Keishi Kondo, the subversive mockumentary EVERYBODY DIES BY THE END, and DAUGHTER, the distinctive feature film debut for Corey Deshon which stars Casper Van Dien.
UK premieres include the erotic spookfest HYPOCHONDRIAC, real-time black comedy thriller HOLY S**T!, gruesome murder mystery THE BREACH, serial killer drama THE LAST CLIENT, SUPER Z (an innovative zombie movie), FAMILY DINNER, which puts gut-punching shocks on the menu and THE ONCE AND FUTURE SMASH + END ZONE 2, Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein’s spoof documentary and END ZONE sequel in a double bill that promises fake GRINDHOUSE heaven.
FrightFest focused on the innovative and delightful work of Austin-based director Emily Hagins with the premiere of MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE in 2011. Now Emily is back big time with SORRY ABOUT THE DEMON, a supernatural horror comedy that is both funny and moving. FrightFest’s commitment to dedicated genre directors continues with the return of Patrick Rea with his haunting domestic abuse chiller THEY WAIT IN THE DARK, Eric Pennycoff with THE LEECH, starring FrightFest favourite Graham Skipper, BUTTBOY’s Tyler Cornack with TINY CINEMA, a weird, fun and twisted look at humanity, and Alexis Bruchon with THE EYES BELOW, the second in his noir trilogy following THE WOMAN WITH LEOPARD SHOES,
The monstrous and macabre line-up continues with a record entry of International and European premieres. These include Bill Posley’s black exploitation horror with Tony Todd BITCH ASS, Tom Ryan’s award-winning frightener SPLINTER, kickass rocking gore-fest PUSSYCAKE, dark Faustian morality tale THE SUMMONED, home-invasion thriller WHO INVITED THEM?, psychological family horror THE ONES YOU DIDN’T BURN, Spain’s EVERYONE WILL BURN, starring SEXY KILLER’s Macarena Gomez, John Ainslee’s human flesh-eating DO NOT DISTURB, new body horror SWALLOWED from Carter Smith (THE RUINS), Grégory Beghin’s survival horror DEEP FEAR, and packed shocker NIGHT OF THE BASTARD, from Erik Boccio and London May, creators of the multi-award winning BRUTAL REALITY, INC.
The live streaming age gets a deadly digital treatment in Hannah Barlow’s SISSY, Joseph Winter’s DEADSTREAM and twisted social media thriller FOLLOW HER, with director Sylvia Caminer in attendance.
There are also various special events taking place this year. THE DEVIL’S HOUR is an upcoming six-part mind-bending thriller for Amazon Prime Video and FrightFest will host an exclusive preview with talent in attendance. The cast and crew will also grace the FrightFest stage for a special exclusive preview of WRECK, an upcoming comedy horror series coming soon to BBC Three. And even more talent is on display when director Simon Sheridan reveals exclusive footage from his upcoming saucy 70s documentary series, KEEPING THE BRITISH END UP!
Two national treasures come together as Alan Jones and Mark Kermode present their stage show DUELLING EGOS: AN AUDIENCE WITH ALAN AND MARK at the Prince Charles Cinema. Alan also takes the stage in his role as artistic director of the Trieste Science+Fiction Festival to introduce the World premiere of CONTROL, the first Canadian sci-fi thriller to use real-time virtual production tools, which will also play at Trieste.
Is there more? You bet! After three years, THE DUKE MITCHELL FILM PARTY is back, so expect trailers, scary PSA’s, delightful celluloid discoveries and above all: sheer lunacy. The ARROW VIDEO PODCAST also makes its welcome return with co-host Dan Martin live at FrightFest to chat to the great and the bad.
Finally, there’s an extra pre-festival treat this year. Do you know your Cronenberg from your Carpenter? Your Pinhead from your Pumpkinhead? THE EVOLUTION OF HORROR, the UK’s biggest horror podcast, will be hosting a special horror pub quiz on Wednesday night at the Phoenix club. Come and join host the magnificent Mike Muncer and podcast pals for the ultimate evening of horror trivia!
Festival co-director Paul McEvoy said: ‘We are absolutely delighted with this year’s fantastic Arrow Video FrightFest line-up. This is the wildest and most diverse selection we have ever assembled. The mix includes a stunning variety of the latest must-see SF, thriller, fantasy and horror titles from around the world. With a vast array of premiere screenings, special events and incredible guests the Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema will be the ONLY places for film lovers to be over the late August Bank Holiday weekend and we cannot wait to unleash our prime selections to our wonderful audience.’
Arrow Video FrightFest has two new presenting sponsors – SHUDDER and 101 FILMS. The Super screen at the Cineworld Leicester Square will be known as The Shudder Screen and the three Discovery screens will be known as 101 FILMS Discovery Screens 1, 2, & 3.
Passes are on sale from Sat 16th July, noon
Single tickets are on sale from Sat 23 July, noon
For booking and programme details: https://www.frightfest.co.uk
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Please note that the event is called Arrow Video FrightFest 2022
