frightfest tagged posts

September 3, 2017, Posted in  Features Comments: 2 comments

Horror Channel FrightFest 2017 has come and gone. Like any good horror icon, it will be back. But, let us take time to reflect upon a suitably wild eighteenth year for the festival. For the first time we have decided to round-up FrightFest with a series of awards. Awards which we hope will provide a flavour of what FF 2017 was like. So, until FrightFest 2018…

BEST “INTRO & Q&A” AWARD– Jennifer Tilly, Cult of Chucky

“I’m here now, bitches!” If we learnt one thing at FrightFest 2017, it’s that an intro to a movie and said movie’s Q&A will go insane if Jennifer Tilly is in the room. A force of nature, when director Don Mancini was late announcing her she burst onstage with, “I have a thing about people starting without me. But, I’m here now, so continue Don, I would love ...

September 2, 2017, Posted in  Features Comments: No comments

You may not have heard of Todd Tucker, but you will certainly have seen his work. A Hollywood make-up artist for over twenty-five years, he has worked on such films as Pirates of the Caribbean, Watchmen, The Boy, Ouija: Origin of Evil and more.

Tucker is also co-founder of movie make-up and prosthetic company Illusion Industries. So, the man knows something about fantasy films. All of which is why his latest outing as a director, The Terror of Hallow’s Eve, is a winner.

A tale of bullied young horror movie fan Tim, and the accidentally deadly deal he makes with a malevolent spirt to get revenge, it’s an affectionate funhouse frightener with characters you can root for.

Tucker’s film is also an unabashed homage to classic 80s movies in the John Carpenter and Steven Spielberg tradition...

August 1, 2017, Posted in  Features Comments: No comments

Horror Channel FrightFest 2017 sees the UK’s premiere fright n’ fantasy film festival turn 18 years old. For any British horror fan, “18” is the rating that promises real terror; red, raw and spicy.

FF2017 looks to be just as juicy.

From Thursday 24^th – Monday 28^th August, FrightFest will showcase 64 movies across five screens at London’s Cineworld Leicester Square (formerly The Empire Leicester Square, the festival’s past stomping ground) and Prince Charles Cinema.

In a veritable cinematic santa sangre, there will be: 20 world premieres; 22 European premieres; 18 UK premieres. And the return of old favourites. To get even more excited, check out this sensational sizzle reel.

Kicking off the festival is Don Mancini’s Cult of Chucky, follow-up to the gleefully nasty Curse o...

July 15, 2017, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Are you a writer concocting fiendishly fantastic ideas in the witching hours? Have you hidden away your script in the deepest darkest catacombs but are now ready to unleash it onto the unsuspecting world?

Then Horror Channel FrightFest’s New Blood initiative should have you salivating.

This year the festival has teamed up with international production company MPI Media and their sister company Dark Sky Films to search for new genre writers, nurturing their projects from script to screen.

The brief is simple: New Blood wants exciting fresh ideas to develop into feature films budgeted below $1m for an international market.

Successful shortlisted applicants will have the opportunity to explore their ideas and scripts in a group setting under the mentorship of top industry professionals and...

September 4, 2016, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

Episode 12 of The Electric Shadows Podcast is a round-up extravaganza. Rob D recounts the highlights of FrightFest 2016, Rob W talks The Purge: Election Year, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and more. Rob D professes his love for Andy Samberg and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and describes the world if he became a benign dictator. And both Robs get all excited looking at the programme for this year’s London Film Festival.

More of Rob Wallis’ musing on movies can be found at his site Of All The Film Sites. Check it out (after listening to the podcast)…

August 30, 2016, Posted in  Features Comments: One comment

FrightFest 2016 has been and gone, marking an impressive 17^th consecutive year for the UK’s premiere horror film santa sangre.

With new headline sponsor The Horror Channel replacing Film4 and a move away from the heart of Leicester Square to London’s Shepherd’s Bush VUE cinema, could FrightFest retain its dark mojo?

Predictably the answer was yes. FrightFest’s four horseman of the apocalypse, Alan Jones, Paul McEvoy, Ian Rattray and Greg Day, plus the ever-growing FrightFest team, staged a five day extravaganza showcasing the best of fantasy cinema from around the globe. And the newest voices, three films in the Electric Shadows Top 10 are from debuting directors.

My Father Die was a solid opener, an accomplished calling card debut from Sean (son of Pierce) Brosnan, and although I c...

August 7, 2016, Posted in  Features Comments: No comments

FrightFest returns this August Bank Holiday for its seventeenth year. And while the festival has been a mainstay of London’s Leicester Square for sixteen years, this time it is relocating to the 12-screen Vue Cinema in West London’s Shepherd’s Bush from 25^th – 29^th August.

FrightFest 2016 also has a new sponsor, with the Horror Channel appropriately now the headline backer.

But, while some things have changed, the festival still boasts the expected pedigree. Over 5 days 62 films will be showcased, spanning 16 countries.

Bracketing the festival is the European Premiere of My Father Die, Sean Brosnan’s brutal and beautiful feature debut – an ultra-stylish, uber violent revenge thriller that’s a calling card for Brosnan’s brilliant talents...

August 6, 2016, Posted in  Features Comments: No comments

Jon Ford, who, alongside his brother Howard, gave the zombie genre a shot of fresh blood with their unusual, memorable action-horror movies The Dead & The Dead 2. Here Jon talks about his first solo feature film, Offensive, a dark, violent tale of rage and revenge set in rural France, which receives its World Premiere at Horror Channel FrightFest 2016.

Firstly, congratulations Jon, on completing your first solo feature film. Has this been a long time in the making ?

Jon Ford: Thank you, it has indeed been a long time in the making, in fact a lifetime nearly! This is a very personal film as it’s based on true events that I’ve experienced. It’s almost a compilation of scenarios that have made a lasting impression on me...

August 9, 2015, Posted in  Features Comments: No comments

Film4 FrightFest hits not so sweet 16 years old this year. To celebrate, the festival is showcasing dozens of world, European and UK premieres, classic films, shorts and visiting talent for a scarily exciting five days of horror and fantasy cinema.

Over almost two decades, the festival has introduced mind-blowing movies to UK shores and 2015 promises to continue the proud tradition.

Opening proceedings at the Vue Cinema, Leicester Square on Thursday 27^th August is Cherry Tree. A witches’ coven tale of “be careful what you wish for”, Cherry Tree also has the honour of being the first Irish movie to open FrightFest.

Closing the event on Bank Holiday Monday is Tales of Halloween...

February 27, 2015, Posted in  Reviews Comments: No comments

Like many a horror anti-hero, the genre never truly dies. At times it may lay dormant in a graveyard of sub-standard fare, but it always rises to thrill once more. With common acceptance that the world is a scarier place than it’s ever been, horror currently reflects those fears as a vent to modern anxieties without becoming as depressing as the nightly news (although The Walking Dead sometimes wobbles).

As the 5 star It Follows hits UK cinemas, we look at reasons for fear fans to be happy with the healthy state of horror.

TWO MODERN CLASSICS IN 6 MONTHS

The Babadook was the hot ticket at FrightFest August 2014, drawing almost universal acclaim from festival-goers and subsequent five star reviews when released in October...