‘SCURRY’ (2025) Super satisfying creature-feature available this Friday

SCURRY

Scurry poster

Luke Sparke‘s apocalyptic sci-fi creature feature SCURRY opens in theaters and on VOD this Friday. The film follows two strangers trapped in a series of pitch black tunnels. They search for an escape route while being stalked by the lifeforms wreaking havoc above ground.

scurry main stillFew films have been able to pull off the one-shot feat. SCURRY owns it. Here is a team that has total trust, impeccable timing, and chemistry between the cast and crew, leading to cinematic magic. The element of enveloping darkness, a small, unpredictable light source, and the blurry infrared of a camcorder create relentless dread.

scurry stillJamie Costa and Emalia (The Dog) are spectacular, balancing caution, fear, desperation, audacity, and unrelenting determination. Screenwriter Tom Evans has Mark and Kate simultaneously butting heads while also needing to collaborate. Emalia’s physical performance encapsulates real-life panic attacks. Costa’s emotionally fraught turn has you rooting for him. If you’re like me, you may find yourself yelling at the screen.

Scurry has elements of CLOVERFIELD, THE DESCENT, and Stephen King‘s THE MIST. It is a tense and entertaining watch from beginning to end.


Scurry Trailer:

Luke Sparke’s One-Shot Horror Sci-Fi Scurry
Starring Jamie Costa & Emalia
Streaming on Digital HD October 3


When an unthinkable attack devastates their city, two strangers find themselves trapped beneath the chaos, wounded and disoriented. As they fight to survive in a narrowing underground tunnel, their injuries worsen, and their chances of escape dwindle. But the collapsing passageways aren’t their only threat—something else is lurking in the darkness, something relentless and hungry. Shot in real-time using a single continuous take, Scurry delivers a gripping, claustrophobic horror experience that will keep audiences on edge until the very last moment.

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Fantastic Fest 2025 Announces Awards!

Fantastic Fest 2025 Poster

FANTASTIC FEST 2025 AWARDS

Austin, TX – September 23, 2025 – Fantastic Fest 2025 is excited to unveil the winners of this year’s awards, celebrating a remarkable array of genre films from around the world. With an abundance of unique and captivating features and shorts, narrowing down the selections proved to be a tough challenge. Even so, our distinguished jury has risen to the occasion, selecting the most outstanding works of the festival.

Fantastic Fest was also thrilled to host the first edition of Fantastic Pitches this year, presented by Chroma. The winning pitch receives $100,000 in funding for their feature film, global distribution, and a world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2026.

“To celebrate our 20th anniversary, we curated a remarkable lineup of feature and short films,” said Annick Mahnert, Director of Programming for Fantastic Fest. “Each year, our jurors face the difficult task of choosing from an extraordinary pool of talent, and this year was no exception. Despite the challenge, their selections reflect the true spirit of Fantastic Fest — a celebration of global cinema and the diverse voices that bring it to life.”


“MAIN COMPETITION” FEATURES Fantastic Fest 2025

Jurors: Mercedes Bryce Morgan, Fred Durst, Patton Oswalt
The Plague

Best Picture: THE PLAGUE, directed by Charlie Polinger

Best Director: Bartosz M. Kowalski – 13 DAYS TILL SUMMER

Special Mention: DECORADO, directed by Alberto Vázquez


“NEXT WAVE” FEATURES Fantastic Fest 2025

Jurors: Aaron Schimberg, Otessa Moshfegh, Lars Knudsen
CAMP_StillBest Picture: CAMP, directed by Avalon Fast

Best Director: Paolo Strippoli – THE HOLY BOY

Special Mention: LUGER, directed by Bruno Martín


“HORROR” FEATURES Fantastic Fest 2025

Jurors: Jose Cañas, Mònica García Massagué, Brandon Hill

The Vile still 2
Best Picture: THE VILE, directed by Majid Al Ansari

Best Director: Martín Mauregui – CRAZY OLD LADY

Special Mention: Best Kill – Knife in Bed in THE CURSE, directed by Kenichi Ugan


SHORT FILMS Fantastic Fest 2025
Jurors: Lisa Ogdie, Shams Mohajerani, Matt Pifko


SHORTS “BEST OF FEST”

WATER SPORTS, directed by Whammy Alcazaren


SHORTS WITH LEGS

Best Picture: WATER SPORTS, directed by Whammy Alcazaren


SHORT FUSE

Best Picture: THE DYSPHORIA, directed by Kylie Aoibheann


FANTASTIC SHORTS

Best Picture: GIANT SKELETON, directed by Austin Birtch


DRAWN AND QUARTERED

Best Picture: A BREATH OF MINDFULNESS, directed by Milly Cohen

Honorable Mention: THE GNAWER OF ROCKS, directed by Louise Flaherty


AUDIENCE AWARD Fantastic Fest 2025

THE HOLY BOY, directed by Paolo Strippoli
HOLY_BOY_StillFANTASTIC PITCHES Fantastic Fest 2025

Jurors: Barbara Crampton, Toby Poser, Tim League, Matt Johnson

PLAY HOUSE director Nicolas Curcio, Producer Kirby Gladstein, Producer Ben Gojer



For more information on the films listed above, visit https://www.fantasticfest.com/film-guide.

For the latest developments, visit the Fantastic Fest official site www.fantasticfest.com and follow the festival on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.


About Fantastic Fest Fantastic Fest 2025

Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from all around the world. In years past, the festival has been home to the world and US premieres of PARASITE, SMILE, JOJO RABBIT, THE BLACK PHONE, JOHN WICK, FRANKENWEENIE, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, APOCALYPTO, ZOMBIELAND, RED DAWN, SPLIT, HALLOWEEN, BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE, MID 90s, and SUSPIRIA while the guest roster has included such talent as Tim Burton, Nicolas Winding-Refn, Lilly and Lana Wachowski, Bong Joon-Ho, Taika Waititi, Robert Rodriguez, Rian Johnson, Bill Murray, Keanu Reeves, Martin Landau, Winona Ryder, Edward Norton, Ryan Reynolds, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Karl Urban, Josh Hartnett, The RZA, Dolph Lundgren, Paul Rudd, Bill Pullman, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kevin Smith, Jon Favreau, George Romero, Darren Aronofsky, Mike Judge, Karyn Kusama, M. Night Shyamalan, James McAvoy, Vince Vaughn, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jonah Hill, Barbara Crampton and Jessica Harper. Fantastic Fest also features world, national, and regional premieres of new, up-and-coming genre films. Fantastic Fest has seen the acquisition of many titles, including BULLHEAD, KILL LIST, MONSTERS, KLOWN, THE FP, PENUMBRA, HERE COMES THE DEVIL, NO REST FOR THE WICKED, VANISHING WAVES, COMBAT GIRLS, I DECLARE WAR, THE PERFECTION, and TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID. Fantastic Fest is held each year at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, Texas. Alamo Drafthouse has been named the best theater in the country by Entertainment Weekly, Wired, and TIME.


In March 2023, Fantastic Fest joined the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations) as a Competitive Specialized Feature Film Festival alongside Cannes, Berlin, and Venice.


About Alamo Drafthouse

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was founded in 1997 as a single-screen mom and pop repertory theater in Austin, TX. Twenty-eight years later, with 44 locations and counting, Alamo Drafthouse has been called “the best theater in America” by Entertainment Weekly and “the best theater in the world” by Wired. Alamo Drafthouse has built a reputation as a movie lover’s oasis not only by combining best-in-class food and drink service with the movie-going experience, but also introducing unique programming and high-profile, star-studded special events. Alamo Drafthouse created Fantastic Fest, a world-renowned genre film festival dubbed “The Geek Telluride” by Variety featuring independents, international filmmakers, and major Hollywood studios. Alamo Drafthouse continues to expand its brand in new and exciting ways, including the American Genre Film Archive, a non-profit film archive dedicated to preserving, restoring and sharing film, and with several new theaters announced for this year and beyond.

FF logo black and white 2025

For more Fantastic Fest coverage, click here!

‘THE CRAMPS: A Period Piece’ (Fantastic Fest 2025) Tangible taboo with a horror twist

fantastic Fest 2025 bannerTHE CRAMPS: A Period Piece
Photo 1-Lauren Kitchen In Brooke H. Cellars' THE CRAMPS_ A Period Piece (Credit_ Warped Witch Cinema)

Brooke H. Cellars’ campy new horror comedy THE CRAMPS: A Period Piece comes to Fantastic Fest 2025 to leave audiences in a state of giggling discomfort. The story follows Agnes, a young woman from a strict household who gets a job at the local salon. When her period cramps manifest into monsters, life gets a lot more complicated than a little menstrual conversation.

Agnes navigates her monthly tormentor as she starts a new job as a shampoo girl with big dreams. Defying her weirdly fanatical widowed mother, Agnes goes on her first date, visits a gynecologist, and helps the gals at the shop enter a hair show against their salon nemesis. All while her cramps come to life and wreak havoc on those most deserving.

The Cramps stillThe Hairbrained Salon’s owner is a bawdy broad named Laverne. Martini Bear is one hell of a force, slinging f-bombs on top of the already kitschy, 60s-inspired dialogue. John Waters and Mario Bava are all over this film; think Cry Baby or Hairspray meets Blood and Black Lace. There’s no doubt Teddy is inspired by Grease’s Beauty School Dropout herself, Frenchy, except that in The Cramps, Teddy is a satanist. She (a fabulous Wicken Taylor) and fellow forgetful stylist, Holiday, played by hilarious Michelle Malentina, have the best chemistry. I would watch an entire spinoff about Laverne, Teddy, and Holiday.

Lauren Kitchen gives Agnes an authentic awkwardness and pure heart that we need to fall in love with her. Diving headfirst into this role and trusting Cellars’ vision, Kitchen captures your heart and grosses you out, all while making a cultural point.

Photo 5-Misty Richard and Jared Bankens in Brooke H. Cellars' THE CRAMPS_ A Period Piece (Credit_ Warped Witch Cinema)The costumes, hair, and makeup are spectacular. The vivacious colors and sparkles pop on the 35mm film. The hyper-augmented sound editing will make you cringe. The script cleverly weaves in menstruation shame, medical gaslighting, and consent, while also playing into the adage that a period is a monthly curse. The ending is perfection. THE CRAMPS: A Period Piece has midnight madness cult classic written all over it.


THE CRAMPS: A Period Piece (Warped Witch Cinema) Teaser Trailer:

 

Feature Film
(World Premiere, 89 mins)

Directed by: Brooke H. Cellars
Producers: Brooke H. Cellars, Madeleine Yawn, Wicken Taylor, Michelle Malentina, Levi Porter and Vincent Stalba
Starring: Lauren Kitchen, Brooklyn Woods, Harlie Madison, Martini Bear, Wicken Taylor, Michelle Malentina

A blossoming young woman, Agnes Applewhite (Lauren Kitchen), gets a job as a shampoo girl at a lively beauty salon, which goes against the wishes of her traditional family including her sanctimonious mother and tightly wound sister. As she begins this newfound journey to find her true self, she suffers from debilitating menstrual cramps, which blur the line between reality and nightmare for her and those around her.

Part comedy, part fantastical horror and wholly unforgettable, Brooke H. Cellars’ THE CRAMPS: A Period Piece takes the audience on a mesmerizing trip where John Waters’ irreverence meets the macabre stylings of Mario Bava, all wrapped in the dreamlike allure of Federico Fellini.

Brooke H. Cellars (she/they) is a multifaceted filmmaker. She has directed 8 short films since 2018. Her adoration for all things horror started when she was a kid. Her father was a children’s book writer and starting early on has been writing stories that were always horror themed. Her first screenplay, which she turned into a short film called THE CHILLS, won Best Screenplay at Houston Horror Fest in 2020. Her most recent short film VIOLET BUTTERFIELD: MAKEUP ARTIST FOR THE DEAD has screened in over 30 film festivals worldwide and has won multiple awards including the Abby Normal Award at Portland Horror Fest, the Audience Award at Final Girls Berlin, and both the Jury and Audience awards at Overlook Film Festival.

USA, Feature Film, 35mm, 89 Minutes, Not Rated, 2025

FF logo black and white 2025

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‘THE VILE’ (Fantastic Fest 2025) Greed and trauma manifested.

fantastic Fest 2025 banner THE VILE

The Vile still 2

Fantastic Fest alum Majid Al Ansari brings this year’s audience a terrifying tale in THE VILE. Amani and her impressionable teen daughter, Noor, predominantly exist as a dynamic duo. When her husband shows up after an extended work trip with a second wife in tow, Amani must come to terms with living conditions she never planned for.

Not only is Amani confronted with the fact that Zahra is pregnant, but her husband is quick to return to work, leaving Noor to adapt to her other “mother.” Once alone in the house, Amani battles between supernatural forces and her motherly instincts. She becomes haunted by visions and sounds in the house. When she discovers that Zahra has been a second wife before, she goes searching for answers.

The Vile ZahraZahra asserts herself as a savior in Noor’s life, flattering her, consoling her, and even intimidating her school bullies. But quickly, Zahra pushes boundaries. Noor’s hobby is photography, specifically of dead animals. Zahra talks her into a picture no one should take. While Amani flails to piece the ensuing madness together, Noor falls back on Zahra’s sway. THE VILE comes to a head as a simple birthday celebration brings darkness to the entire family.

Sarah Taibah strikes a beautiful balance between gentle and sinister as Zahra. She makes you so uncomfortable, and I mean that in the best way possible. Iman Tarik is Noor. Her ability to envelop you in her seemingly sheltered existence is fantastic. She shares sharp chemistry with each cast member. Tarik is one to watch.

The Vile still 1Bdoor Mohammad creates a tangible desperation as Amani. You will easily root for her, particularly when it comes to the emotional dynamics between her and her husband. His oppressive hand will likely infuriate the audience, but it is clear Al Ansari did his research. Mohammad captivates at every turn.

Al Ansari masterfully plays with classic tropes to fray the viewers’ senses. The repeated manipulation of darkness is mesmerizing, and genre fans will spot horror homages throughout. The film induces a skincrawling effect, both physically and emotionally. The film tackles gender roles, trauma, greed, and polygamy through a horror lens. We are left with powerhouse final girl scenes worthy of the buildup. THE VILE is a fantastic companion watch for THE SURRENDER. Fantastic Fest 2025 audiences are in for a satisfying and lingering scare.

The Vile Teaser Trailer:



Running Time: 97 Minutes

Countries of Production: UAE, USA

Shooting Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE


Logline: When a man decides to bring home a second wife, the new bride is not the only thing that enters the family house.

Synopsis: Amani is blindsided and heartbroken when her husband, Khalid, brings a second wife into their home. Forced to accept the circumstances and determined to fight for the sake of her daughter, Noor, Amani remains in the house and tries to assert her role as the family’s matriarch. Living with the new bride, Zahra, crushes Amani emotionally and sends her into a downward spiral.

When ominous, seemingly paranormal events begin to overtake the house, Amani launches a frenzied search for answers, leaving Noor fearful for her mother’s sanity. Driven by instinct and terror, Amani becomes increasingly convinced there is something sinister in Zahra’s past—but her desperate quest for the truth threatens to push her further from reality.

The Vile” is based on a story & directed by Majid Al Ansari (“Zinzana”, “The Intruder”, “Paranormal” series), Written by Majid Al Ansari & Johnnie Alward ( “The Matter At Hand”, “Wendigo”, “Something Bad”) Costume Designer Kamal Farajallah (“Canary”, “On Borrowed Time”, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, “Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol” ), Editors Ghalya Lacroix (“Blue is the Warmest Color”, Secret of the Grain”, “Games of Love and Chance”), Hafedh Laridhi (“To My Son”, “Streams”, “Hedi”), Production Designer Benedikt Lange (“Zinzana”, Simon och ekarna”) Director of Photography Benjamin Kirk Nielsen (“Watcher”, “Slut”)Executive Producers Mohamed Hefzy (Aisha Can’t Fly Away”, “Abdo and Saneya” “Voy! Voy! Voy!”, “Hajjan”),Yasir Alyasiri (“Shabob Shayab”, “Murk Light”) ,   Producer Rami Yasinv (“Late Night with the Devil”, “Watcher”) and Produced by Roy Lee(“Weapons”, “The Long Walk”, “Barbarian”) & Steven Schneider (“The Plague”, “Glass”, “Split”, “Insidious”, “Paranormal Activity”).

The Vile” features the talents of international stars Bdoor Mohammed (“La Tuqasus Ru’yak, “Ghassat Ubor”, “Majareeh” “Embers Years”), Sarah Taibah (“Night Courier”, “VHS Tape Replaced”, Fays Palette”), Iman Tarik (“The Vile”), Jassem AlKharraz (“Embers Year”, “Daw Dames”),  Nora Ali (“Camera Ready and Abel”, “Cheddar News”, “Closing Bell”), Saeed AlHarsh (“The Anbush”, “Female Jinn” series)and Samira Al Wahaibi (“Rehlet Daeaa”).

About the Production: Academy-award winning studio Image Nation Abu Dhabi and US-based horror label Spooky Pictures present the latest film under their multi-picture slate partnership. “The Vile” is the first Arabic-language Emirati film in their line-up thus far and is directed by critically acclaimed Emirati genre filmmaker Majid Al Ansari.  The film’s producers are Spooky Pictures’ founders Roy Lee(“Barbarian”), and Steven Schneider (“The Plague”), as well as Image Nation’s Derek Dauchy (“Late Night With The Devil”), and UAE-based producer Rami Yasin(“Watcher”) from Breakout Films.

For more Fantastic Fest coverage, click here!

 

‘SILVER SCREAMERS’ (Fantastic Fest 2025) Seniors make for a scary good time.

Fantastic Fest 2025 PosterSILVER SCREAMERS

SILVER SCREAMERS still

Sean Cisterna brings his effortlessly charming documentary SILVER SCREAMERS to Fantastic Fest 2025. Cisterna introduces a logistically lofty goal to his local community: make a low-budget horror short with a cast and crew of seniors. A group of feisty go-getters learn new tricks, proving age is just a number. It’s a scary good time.

SilverScreamers09This heartwarming doc has some amazing personalities. Audrey is Sound. Her infectious wonder is the epitome of SILVER SCREAMERS. David is Special Effects. With his puppeteering skills, the film’s villain comes alive. Diane is in charge of Makeup. Her theatre background is key to her role. Sonny is the Camera Operator. He is reactivating the dreams of his youth.

Bari-Lynne is the First AD. She discusses the nerves on the first day of shooting. Come to find out, she was on the set of Prom Night in a professional capacity, and she gives us a fantastic behind-the-scenes story about Jamie Lee Curtis. Lucia is the Art Director. The location is Ontario’s historical museum, The Hilary House. Rooms adorned with signs that read, “Please do not touch,” but Lucia couldn’t care less. She is in it for the perfect shot.

SilverScreamers36_The team takes on their jobs with a refreshing enthusiasm. Watching each one tackle their assignments is like a boot camp into the complexities of filmmaking. Editor Lee Walker delivers an incredibly engaging montage of their initial endeavors. The opening credits are integrated into the film’s storyboards. It’s a brilliant device.

Each participant gets an interview package, further reeling the audience into their emotional sphere. The storyboards return as transitional storytelling pieces, alongside personal pictures. The connections made in real-time with our seniors and their professional mentors are pure magic.

SilverScreamers32_SILVER SCREAMERS acts as an advocacy pitch for art therapy at every age. Wait until you hear the ADR session. It’s a riot. The horror homage final scene is the cherry on top. Fantastic Fest audiences are in for a real treat.


The cameras have rolled, the fake blood has flowed, and the retirement community is about to slay the big screen with Silver Screamers, a heartwarming and spine-tingling documentary following a spirited crew of retirees as they swap knitting needles for camera lenses to make their very own horror short – The Rug.

  • Year:
    2025
  • Runtime:
    94 minutes
  • Language:
    English
  • Country:
    Canada
  • Premiere:
    World Premiere

Silver Screamers will have its world premiere in Austin, Texas at Fantastic Fest.

For more on Fantastic Fest, click here!

‘THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE’ (Fantastic Fest 2025) Satire, Politics, and Metaphors. Oh My!

THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE (A árvore do Conhecimento)

The Tree Of Knowledge (Credit_ MoreThan Films)

Eugène Green‘s absurdist film THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE comes to Fantastic Fest 2025. Presented in three parts. The first piece finds Gaspar leaving his home for a more exciting life in Lisbon, only to be kidnapped by a man named Ogre. Ogre made a deal with the devil in exchange for the ability to turn tourists into animals and sell their meat for profit. Yes, you read all those words correctly. When Ogre discovers the public’s suspicions, Gaspar runs away with the donkey, Helena, and dog, Frederico, whom he has grown fond of. Still with me?

The Tree Of Knowledge still 2(Credit_ MoreThan Films)Parts Two & Three: now wandering the land, the animals in tow, Gaspar’s existential crisis continues as he meets spirits, resides in a manor, converses with religious icons, all while Ogre and his minion pursue him. The film is A LOT. Green continues his signature style with static cameras capturing 4th wall-breaking deadpan delivery. Honestly, it will either be a winner for audiences or a total miss. The complexity of satire is laugh-out-loud funny, but outside intellectual circles, it might be a tough pill to swallow.

I have to give the cast props for their commitment to Green’s writing. THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE has an overall visual that is sharp and lush. If you can stick with the pacing and tongue-in-cheek satire, this is a rare gem. FF 2025 is the right place for its World Premiere.



Feature Film (Portugal/France)
(World Premiere, 2025, 100 mins, In Portuguese with English subtitles)
(Dark Comedy/ Fantasy)

Directed by: Eugène Green
Producers: Luís Urbano, Sandro Aguilar and Julien Naveau.
Starring: Rui Pedro Silva, Ana Moreira, Diogo Dória, João Arrais.

FF 2025 OFFICIAL SCREENINGS

Location: Alamo Drafthouse Lamar
Address: 1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Thu, Sep 18th, 8:45 PM @ Theater 1
Thu, Sep 18th, 8:45 PM @ Theater 3
Tue, Sep 23rd, 6:00 PM @ Theater 8

In biblical terms, the “Tree of Knowledge” symbolizes the beginning of free will and the ability to tell right from wrong. For filmmaker Eugène Green, THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE is also a metaphor for a spiritual awakening, a catalyst for internal renewal in the context of a widespread mass tourism boom in Europe.

Gaspard (Rui Pedro Silva), a teenager from the suburbs of Lisbon, falls into the hands of the Ogre, a man who has made a pact with the Devil. The Ogre uses the boy to attract tourists, whom he transforms into animals and then kills. Gaspard escapes with a donkey and a dog that he has grown fond of, and in an enchanted manor, he meets the spirit of Queen D. Maria I of Portugal. Meanwhile, enraged, the Ogre sets off in pursuit. THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE

FF logo black and white 2025For more Fantastic Fest coverage, click here!

‘LONDON CALLING’ (2025) Action and heart in this unexpected buddy comedy.

Quiver LogoLONDON CALLING

London Calling_Teaser Art

Allan Ungar brings audiences a fun genre mashup in LONDON CALLING. After fleeing the UK from a job gone wrong, nearsighted hitman Tommy ends up working for a fiery LA crime boss. Unexpectedly tasked with mentoring his boss’s LARP-loving teenage son, Tommy’s past catches up with him.

LONDON CALLING_10Rick Hoffman is a master at searing delivery. His performance as Benson is unforgettable. Jeremy Ray Taylor gives Julian a spitfire energy. He is an undeniable star. His performance from the 2017 IT remake still haunts me. In this role, Taylor has a Michael Cera innocence and comic timing. Josh Duhamel plays a Tommy with comfort that few leading men genuinely possess. His swagger is only matched by his vulnerability and sardonic wit. Taylor and Duhamel’s chemistry is something I would watch over and over.

LONDON CALLING_5Upon first glance, Julian seems like a lost cause, but his love of video games makes him a crack shot. Tommy continues to fumble as his eyesight fails him. The two oddly balance one another out in talent and emotional needs as they delve deeper into crime shenanigans and plenty of character-driven redemption. Omer Levin Menekse, Quinn Wolfe, and Ungar’s script is laugh-out-loud funny. The only true cringeworthy moment is the repeated use of the “R” word, which felt lazy and offensive in 2025. 

LONDON CALLING_2The action sequences are incredibly entertaining. The final fight scene is nothing short of celebratory. LONDON CALLING has the same energy as The Other Guys or 21 Jump Street. Taylor and Duhamel’s father-son energy is an unexpected bonus, making for an entirely unexpected buddy comedy that earns your attention and melts your heart.

LONDON CALLING OFFICIAL TRAILER

 

 

LONDON CALLING will be in theaters on September 19, 2025.

 

LONDON CALLING stars acclaimed actors Josh Duhamel(Transformers franchise, Safe Haven), Jeremy Ray Taylor (It, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween), Rick Hoffman (“Suits,” Thanksgiving) and Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones,” Maze Runnerfranchise). The film is directed by Allan Ungar (Bandit, Sympathy for the Devil), and is co-written by UngarOmer Levin Menekse (Please Hold, The Terrorist) and Quinn Wolfe (Pillow Talk).

SYNOPSIS: After fleeing the UK from a job gone wrong, a down on his luck hitman is forced to babysit the son of his new crime boss and show him how to become a man.

Run Time: 114 minutes    Rating: R

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‘NIGHT OF THE REAPER’ (2025) Shudder Original delivers delicious tropes and twists.

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NIGHT OF THE REAPER Poster

A college girl returns home for a weekend and is pulled into babysitting the sheriff’s kid. Meanwhile, the sheriff receives haunting messages from old cases. In the small town of Reedy, something evil is brewing. Shudder Original NIGHT OF THE REAPER is genre throwback greatness.

Deena’s night of watching the sweetest little boy in the history of the profession turns into a living nightmare as things get more frightening by the minute. A hooded figure psychologically torments her while simultaneously sending Arnold on a wild goose chase. Every new clue leads to VHS tapes, each more torturous than the last.
NIGHT OF THE REAPER - Still 3Opening credits are fantastic. The production design team covers homes with classic ’80s Halloween decorations, and the repeated VHS static filter is chef’s kiss. Every single slasher trope we’ve come to love is utilized to build that creeping sense of dread. The synth score is fantastic. Homages to franchise favorites are endless. Everything from Poltergeist to Halloween, Max’s outfit looks like it’s straight out of Pet Sematery or a nod to Chucky, and the “Kimble, R” buzzer might just be a reference to Australian director Kimble Rendall.

NIGHT OF THE REAPER - Still 4Casting is delicious. Ben Cockell is outstanding as Chad. Summer H. Howell (Hunter Hunter) sets the scene, while genre regular, the spectacular Keegan Connor Tracy, rounds out the decades of final girl magic. Yes. Yes. Yes. Ryan Robbins gives Sheriff Arnold a down-to-earth quality, whose mournful past becomes the emotional anchor to his frustrations. Robbins is incredible, and I’m glad Christensen gave him such a meaty role. Jessica Clement delivers a nuanced performance as Deena. This is final girl realness. From petrified to powerhouse, Clement gives us her all. It is pure badassery.
NIGHT OF THE REAPER - Still 7Brandon Christensen, alongside his co-writer brother Ryan, understands how to build suspense while giving horror fans the kills they seek. As a fan of SUPERHOST, I am impressed by this narrative shift again and again. Christensen nails the element of surprise, flipping the script on their head when you least expect it. NIGHT OF THE REAPER is another solid addition to Shudder’s stacked catalog.


Night of the Reaper Trailer:

Available on Shudder September 19th
Directed by Brandon Christensen (STILL/BORN, Z, SUPERHOST)

 NIGHT OF THE REAPER Synopsis

In the heart of a quiet, 1980s suburb, college student Deena returns home and reluctantly takes on a last-minute babysitting job. That same night, the local sheriff receives a cryptic package that pulls him into a sinister scavenger hunt that sets off a game of cat and mouse with a dangerous killer. As the clues unravel, Deena finds herself ensnared in a nightmarish mystery that she may not survive.

About the Director

Brandon Christensen is a Canadian film director recognized for his distinctive contributions to the horror genre, focusing on complex familial dynamics, particularly those involving mothers and children. He began his filmmaking journey early in life, making home movies with his siblings, which ignited his passion for storytelling and cinema.

Christensen’s professional career includes notable works such as “Still/Born”, “Z”, and “The Puppetman” – films that explore psychological and supernatural themes against the backdrop of parenting fears. His unique approach often incorporates daytime horror, challenging conventional genre norms to intensify the scare factor, showcasing his knack for crafting compelling narratives from everyday situations.

Director: Brandon Christensen NIGHT OF THE REAPER

Written by: Brandon Christensen and Ryan Christensen

Cast: Jessica Clement, Ryan Robbins, Summer H. Howell, Keegan Connor Tracy, Matty Finochio, Max Christensen, Ben Cockell, David Feehan

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Language: English

Runtime: 93 min

 

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‘HAPPYEND’ (2025) A near-future warning and awakening

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Happyend poster

Two best friends’ high school prank leads to a school-wide surveillance state. With the country already on edge politically and everyone waiting for a massive impending earthquake, HAPPYEND creeps into your psyche as both a warning and a coming-of-age drama.
 
Kou and Yuta are obsessed with music. They make a habit of breaking into school to create dance tracks with their close group of friends. But, after their attempts to humble their principal, Big Brother enters the building to police their every move. The system is now rigged against them.
 
Filmmaker Neo Sora‘s dialogue is fantastic. The mixed feelings of best friends about to be torn apart by change, the comical made-up conversations from afar, and the authentic moments of growing up and growing apart. Sora opens fresh wounds at every turn. Bill Kirstein’s cinematography immediately sets the tone. He manages to capture the raucous joy of high school shenanigans and the disturbing advances in technological scrutiny.
 
Happyend main stillThis predominantly young cast is incredible. Yukito Hidaka is captivating as Kou. His brooding aura and genuine wonder are the perfect foil for Hayato Kurihara‘s intense Yuta. Each actor wears their heart on their sleeve.
 
HAPPYEND is an undeniably Orwellian, yet entirely relevant. The US is currently feeling the direct dystopian effects of hyper-surveillance as people of color are snatched off the streets at every turn, with assistance from DMV and court records. Protesters are no safer, unless in large numbers. Sora gives his young characters a platform to resist, and it is both heart-pounding and inspiring. It keenly reflects ever-evolving political landscapes everywhere.
 
He cleverly weaves together the climate crisis, young activism, and (very) near-future technology takeover. Quietly terrifying, we can pretend like HAPPYEND isn’t a glimpse into tomorrow. At its heart, the film is an effective teen drama set in the heightened and often Sisyphian world we’re leaving the next generation.

Happyend Trailer:


HAPPYEND, a near-future coming-of-age feature set in Tokyo, continues its international run with a limited U.S. theatrical release through Film Movement, starting in New York on September 12, 2025. U.S. theater locations and screening dates are available HERE.

 

For more drama coverage, click here!

‘MEADOWLARKS’ (TIFF 50) A meditation on collective grief and healing

tiff-toronto-international-film 2025 posterMEADOWLARKS

meadowlarks_stills_tiff_2.49.2Based in part on her 2017 film BIRTH OF A FAMILY, Tasha Hubbard brings her scripted narrative debut to TIFF 50. MEADOWLARKS stars Michael Greyeyes, Carmen Moore, Alex Rice, and Michelle Thrush as four Cree siblings who were separated by the Sixties Scoop, who are meeting for the first time as adults.
 
Human complexity, set against a stunning backdrop, never overshadows the tragedy in their collective truth. Hubbard dives headfirst into the Scoop’s hideous history, but never shoves our faces in it. Her approach is gentle. For any viewer who somehow has zero knowledge, you’re about to learn the hard way. You will feel compelled to go down a Google search rabbit hole.
 
meadowlarks 2Performances are fantastic. Each character is incredibly nuanced. Four siblings with varying goals for the trip and vastly different personalities. But what links them is far deeper than the ways in which they were raised by white families.
 
Each sibling chooses connection in small ways. Hubbard taps into the unconscious need for space when emotionally overstimulated, and it is awe-inspiring. MEADOWLARKS is an experiment in empathy and grief through shared trauma. The quiet compassion will undoubtedly take you on a journey through sadness and hope.

Director:
Tasha Hubbard is a Cree filmmaker from Peepeekisis Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. She is a director and writer, known for Two Worlds Colliding (04), nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up (19), and Singing Back the Buffalo (24). Meadowlarks (25) is her feature debut.

Smiling person wearing Arctic Fox winter hat and headset microphone in black and white portrait

 

 

Cast
Michael Greyeyes
Carmen Moore
Alex Rice
Michelle Thrush
Cinematography
James Klopko
Editing
Simone Smith
Executive Producer
Betty Ann Adam
Producers
Tyler Hagan
Julia Rosenberg
Production Companies
Experimental Forest Films
January Media
Production Designer
Louisa Birkin
Costume Designer
Carmen Thompson
Screenplay
Tasha Hubbard
Emil Sher
Sound
Coby DeGroot
Original Score
Todor Kobakov
Publicist
Star PR
Canadian Distributor
Mongrel Media

Tiff 50 logoFor more TIFF coverage, click here!

TIFF 50 is here and it’s bigger and better than ever.

TIFF 50

tiff-toronto-international-film 2025 poster

This year’s lineup is on fire. Outside the hotly anticipated Colin Hank’s doc, John Candy: I Like Me, and Rian Johnson’s latest, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, here are 5 films we’re keeping our eyes on in the festival’s 50th year!

 

  • Honorary Chair and Award Winners: Actor Brendan Fraser is this year’s Honorary Chair. Other award winners include Idris Elba, Jodie Foster, Guillermo del Toro, and Channing Tatum.
  • The 50th Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, will run September 4–14, 2025. Celebrate with the best of Canadian and global cinema, special events and talks with stars, plus TIFF’s Industry Conference. TIFF 50

DUST BUNNY

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SYNOPSIS: In visionary creator Bryan Fuller’s (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies) fantastical and wickedly inventive feature directorial debut DUST BUNNY, a 10 year-old girl who joins forces with her hitman neighbor to confront each other’s monsters.

Ten year-old Aurora has a mysterious neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen) who kills real-life monsters; he’s a hitman for hire. So when Aurora needs help killing the monster that she believes ate her entire family, she procures his services. Suspecting that Aurora’s parents may have fallen victim to assassins gunning for him, the neighbor guiltily takes the job. To protect her, he’ll need to battle an onslaught of assassins and accept that some monsters are real.



IN THEATERS: December 5, 2025

DIRECTOR: Bryan Fuller

WRITER: Bryan Fuller

CAST: Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, David Dastmalchian, Sophie Slone

RUN TIME: 106 minutes TIFF 50


CAROLINA CAROLINE

Carolina-Caroline

In his latest slice of anarchic Americana, writer-director Adam Carter Rehmeier first introduces us to the always effervescent Samara Weaving (Guns Akimbo, TIFF ’19) as Caroline. Listless and living a small life in a small town, she dutifully cares for her single father (Jon Gries) though she longs to break from her dusty and dull world. But when she observes a handsome drifter (Kyle Gallner) pull a sly con for a few bucks, her curiosity sparks an introduction that ignites an apprenticeship. Before long, their lucrative, if untenable, criminal enterprise dovetails into a passionate romance.

DIRECTOR:  Adam Carter Rehmeier
 
WRITER: Tom Dean
 
CAST: Samara Weaving, Kyle Gallner, Kyra Sedgwick, Jon Gries
 
RUNTIME: 105m TIFF 50
 

CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN’
California_schemin
 
Actor James McAvoy makes his directorial debut with this irresistible, feel-good underdog tale about two Scottish men pretending to be Americans to achieve their dreams of hip-hop stardom. It’s based on a true story that’s stranger than fiction.
 
DIRECTOR:  James McAvoy
 
CAST: Séamus McLean Ross, Samuel Bottomley, Lucy Halliday, Rebekah Murrell, James McAvoy
 
WRITERS: Archie Thomson, Elaine Gracie
 
RUNTIME: 107m TIFF 50

 


LILITH FAIR: Building a Mystery
Lilith Fair_ Building a Mystery - [tiff.net]

This galvanizing documentary from director Ally Pankiw (I Used To Be Funny) takes us behind the scenes of Sarah McLachlan’s legendary all-women music festival and features interviews with performers including Bonnie Raitt, Erykah Badu, Olivia Rodrigo, and Emmylou Harris.

DIRECTOR:  Ally Pankiw
 
FEATURING: Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Paula Cole, Jewel, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Merchant, Indigo Girls, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile, Olivia Rodrigo
 
RUNTIME: 99 Mins TIFF 50

 


TUNER

Tuner (2025)

A talented piano tuner’s meticulous skills for tuning pianos lead him to discover an unexpected aptitude for cracking safes, turning his life upside down.

DIRECTOR: Daniel Roher
 
WRITERS: Robert Ramsey, Daniel Roher
 
CAST: Leo Woodall, Dustin Hoffman, Havana Rose Liu, Lior Raz, Tovah Feldshuh, Jean Reno TIFF 50
Tiff 50 logo
 
For TIFF coverage from years past, click here!

TIFF 50

 

 

‘SOMNIUM’ (2025) Where dreams coming true is a double entendre.

Yellow Veil Updated logo

SOMNIUM

SOMNIUM poster

Aspiring actress Gemma leaves behind her small town and moves to LA. Upon discovering the harsh reality of pounding the pavement in Hollywood, from failed auditions to a dwindling bank account, Gemma desperately takes a position at a dream studies lab, Somnium. After accidentally meeting a producer, things are looking up. Until her graveyard shift, severe lack of sleep, and the discovery of questionable lab practices, cause her new life to shift into a waking nightmare.  Read More →

‘GRIFFIN IN SUMMER’ (2025) Hilarious as it is heartfelt.

GRIFFIN IN SUMMER

GRIFFIN IN SUMMER - Poster

Filmmaker Nicolas Colia‘s irresistibly funny, semi-autobiographical coming-of-age GRIFFIN IN SUMMER is finally in theaters tomorrow. This massive hit from Tribeca 2025 sets the tone in its opening scene. We find our titular character at a Talent Show. While other kids sing off-key duets, the ambitious and undeniably talented 14-year-old Griffin performs a scene from his latest play, acting out both roles, of course. It is more Tennessee Williams than child’s play. Griffin is in another strosphere.

GRIFFIN IN SUMMER - 2As he prepares to self-fund his hefty two-act drama with his theatre “besties,” Griffin’s theatrical passion is further fueled by a tumultuous homelife. Colia delivers a truly tangible script. Griffin’s mom seems overwhelmed with her go-getter and rather demanding son, but under the surface, something else is simmering. She hires a neighbor’s son to help with yard cleanup. What begins as an annoyance to Griffin transforms into a sexual awakening, a test of relationships, and a piece of art that mirrors his unresolved trauma.

Kathryn Newton, once again, gives us a quirky, memorable character as Brad’s girlfriend. Abby Ryder Fortson is a gem as Griffin’s director friend, Kara. Melanie Lynskey elevates every single project she works on. Playing Helen, she has more depth than at first glance. She can do no wrong in my book.

Griffin in summer 1Owen Teague plays Brad with an initial aloofness that perfectly contrasts Griffin’s overzealous nature. As Teague taps into Brad’s motivation, *no pun intended,* the performance captivates in an entirely unexpected way. Everett Blunck is a star. His portrayal of Griffin feels like a documentary rather than a performance. It is one well beyond his years. He exudes fierce confidence that is infectious. Teague and Blunck have magnetic chemistry. Colia skillfully creates a subtle doppleganger effect between the two. It is an incredibly nuanced balance of characterization and performance.

Griffin is every tenacious theatre kid *cough, cough* who has a creative drive that is their lifesblood. When I was Griffin’s age, a teacher asked me why I liked theatre. Before I could answer, she suggested it is because it’s easier to put on a mask of a character. First, I was insulted. As a neurodivergent adult whose entire existence revolves around creation, art, and performance, she wasn’t wrong.

griffin in summer 3Colia cleverly speaks to art as catharsis, the plight of a tortured artist, and the meaning of authentic friendship. Existing between childhood and adulthood is wrought with emotional chaos, impossible questions, self-loathing, fear, and awkwardness. GRIFFIN IN SUMMER playfully touches on each of these with unfiltered heart and humor.

GRIFFIN IN SUMMER trailer:

Opening In Theaters August 29th

Written & Directed by: Nicholas Colia Griffin in summer



Starring:

Everett Blunck (marking his feature film debut)

Melanie Lynskey (“Yellowjackets”)

Owen Teague (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes)

Abby Ryder Fortson (Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret)

Kathryn Newton (Lisa Frankenstein)



Produced by: Juliet Berman, Bobby Hoppey, Camila Mendes, Rachel Matthews, Matthew Miller

Executive Produced by: Fred Bryant, Cullen Conly, Alex Tynion



Griffin Nafly (Everett Blunck) is the most ambitious playwright of his generation. He’s also fourteen years old and living with his parents in a humdrum suburb while dreaming of moving to New York City. When his mom (Melanie Lynskey) hires a handsome 25-year-old handyman (Owen Teague), Griffin’s life and his new play take an inspired turn. Also starring Kathryn Newton and Abby Ryder Fortson. Griffin in Summer



RT: 93 minutes

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‘JAMES CAN EAT’ (2025) An eye-opening look into this stomach-churning sport.

Amazon_Prime_Video_tips_1JAMES CAN EAT

James can eat poster

Vlad Yudin‘s documentary JAMES CAN EAT dives into the dramatic world of competitive eating through the journey of Australian champion James Webb, AKA JWebby. The story brims with controversy, sabotage, favoritism, pride, and social media mayhem as James Webb faces adversity in pursuit of the ultimate competitive eating prize and his honor.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing the annual celebration of gluttony, otherwise known as Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, you understand that there is nothing like it. I like to describe it as witnessing a car crash that people are cheering for. It is a visceral and shocking event. James’ goal is to improve every year while chasing the title.

JAMES CAN EAT_FILM MASTER_PRO RES V2.00_17_49_07.Still008The doc features sit-down interviews with the world’s most successful competitive eaters as well as James’ family members. The latter informs his motivation, from his love of soccer to bodybuilding. Yudin sets the audience up to root for James as we lead up to the 2023 Hot Dog Eating contest. 10 weeks out, and something diabolical occurs in middle America. We learn about the physical barriers, including his brutal two-year hospital stay after his Guillain-Barré diagnosis. But Webb refused to lose.

Webb’s rising star is a boost to the sport. The competitive eating veterans validate his abilities at every turn. Even the ultimate champ, Joey Chestnut, loves him. James’s success online also comes with the dark side of social media, as anonymous users question his integrity. Webb will go to any length to beat Joey, and with all due respect. The irony that runs through the film is jaw-dropping.

JAMES CAN EAT_FILM MASTER_PRO RES V2.00_08_08_02.Still003Doo Soo Kim‘s tight close-ups in the opening credits alongside the rather ominous score might make you think you’re about to watch a slasher film. If you can’t stand to witness grown men stuffing food into their mouths, then you might be right. Yudin subconsciously taps into the horror of it all.

If you think you’re not interested in competitive eating, think again. Yudin allows Webb to shine. Make no assumptions about James Webb. His personality is infectious, and his undeterred passion is inspiring. JAMES CAN EAT is an engrossing peek behind the scenes of the sport. Does James achieve his goal? You’ve gotta watch and find out. So much will have you shaking your head, and I, for one, will never look at Nathan’s contest with the same respect, but I will forever honor James Webb’s honesty.

JAMES CAN EAT_FILM MASTER_PRO RES V2.00_44_26_16.Still012

JAMES CAN EAT trailer:

Generation Iron’s compelling new documentary JAMES CAN EAT
will be available on VOD and streaming exclusively on Prime Video on Friday, August 22nd.

 

Featuring JAMES WEBB, JOEY CHESTNUT, AND GEORGE SHEA

Directed By VLAD YUDIN

Produced by EDWIN MEJIA JR., P.G.A. and VLAD YUDIN, P.G.A.

Cinematography by DOO SOO KIM

Edited by ADIO ASH

https://generationiron.com/james-webb-can-eat-movie/

Documentary | 107 minutes | Not Rated | 2025 | English | USA

For more documentary coverage, click here!

‘TEACHER’S PET’ (Popcorn Frights 2025) Manipulation, mentorship, and murder.

Pohttps://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/decision-tree/pcorn frights 2025-festival-bannermain-imageTEACHER’S PET

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In Popcorn Frights 2025 selection TEACHER’S PET, Clara’s identity at her private school revolves around her economic status. Her high academic achievements earned her a contingent scholarship to Yale, which only further isolates her. Her foster home is a complicated mix of abuse by her stepfather and love from her stepmother.

Following the suicide of her English teacher, a new teacher takes an immediate liking to her. The audience knows he is unhinged, but Clara does not. He invites her to be his year-end TA for extra credit. Clara is attuned to a scam. She takes the position, if only to keep a close eye on him.

Heller takes it upon himself to torment or use anyone who makes Clara’s life more difficult. He weaponizes her emotional vulnerability and systematically breaks her confidence. At least, that’s the overall intention, but Clara isn’t weak.

TEACHER'S-PETScream Queen of my heart and Timelord Barbara Crampton plays Clara’s foster mom. She elevates every cast she’s part of, and this is no exception. Clayton Royal Johnson gives Zach a solid, good-guy vibe. He’s a great addition.

Luke Barnett is a monster as Heller. He is genuinely scary in his nonchalance. It is a slick portrait of a psychopath. Michelle Torian kills it playing Clara. She brings a ferocious energy that counters Barnett perfectly.

TEACHER’S PET is like a reverse version of The Crush, but upped by technology and years of experience. The script is relatively predictable, except for Heller’s motivation. The film becomes inarguably more unhinged as it rolls along. I do think that Heller’s character deserved more development in terms of his backstory, but overall, filmmaker Noam Kroll delivers an enjoyable watch.


Teacher’s Pet Trailer:

YEAR: 2025

COUNTRY: USA

RUNTIME: 90 min

DIRECTOR: Noam Kroll

WRITER: Noam Kroll

STARRING: Michelle Torian, Luke Barnett, Clayton Royal Johnson, Barbara Crampton

 
For all things Popcorn Frights, click here!

‘PSYCHE’ (Popcorn Fright 2025) A stunning spiral in limbo.

Pohttps://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/images/decision-tree/pcorn frights 2025-festival-bannermain-imagePSYCHE

Psyche

Stephon Stewart brings his sci-fi horror mashup, PSYCHE, to Popcorn Frights 2025. The film finds Mara awakening in a mysterious wasteland alongside an 80s computer, named Pi, persuading her to complete six levels of gameplay.

Pi acts as both guide and companion. As Mara stumbles from one mysterious level to the next, the computer program fights with itself, sending several new voices to counter Pi’s words. Can Mara persist in this seemingly unknown?

Editor Gibran Lozano provides the distinct computer voices. They range from adorable to menacing. Bravo. Sarah Ritter is charming, determined, and understandably hotheaded considering the infuriating and fickle interactions with the computer. She has a presence ripe for genre queendom.

The film’s visuals are mesmerizing. Stewart’s uses black and white negative landscape and mindbending limbo images in Mara’s journey. The sets resemble the remnants of tornado-ravaged areas, arid badlands, and a post-apocalyptic shoreline, all seamlessly intertwined. DP Aitor Uribarri does unforgettable work with the camera. Tom Hawk‘s score is haunting. It has an epic feeling akin to 80s fantasy classics. The script is incredibly complex. The entire filmmaking team should be proud.

The evolution of the game is a pathway to trauma release for Mara. Pi triggers memory fragments, guilt, anger, and suicidal ideation.
PSYCHE is an experimental therapy session that will undoubtedly strike a nerve for viewers. It is unique and yet entirely timeless. PSYCHE is a must-see.


YEAR: 2024

COUNTRY: USA

RUNTIME: 71 mins

DIRECTOR: Stephon Stewart

WRITER: Stephon Stewart

STARRING: Sarah Ritter, Eva Ariel Binder, Rodrigo Varandas

For all things Popcorn Frights, click here!

‘THE SCHOOL DUEL’ (Fantasia 2025) Chilling and closer to reality than we’d like.

Fantasia 2025 posterTHE SCHOOL DUEL

the school duel_poster_12x18_50874_af

Todd Wisemen Jr.’s heart-pounding feature debut, THE SCHOOL DUEL, gets its Canadian premiere at Fantasia 2025. Set in near-future Florida, they have outlawed gun control, and school shootings are at an all-time high. Students wear uniforms with patches on the shoulders. The emblem: a cross overlaid on top of the Liberty Bell. Hyper toxic masculinity is the curriculum. School is a training ground for far-right indoctrination.

Bullied 13-year-old student Sam Miller is the lowest rung on the school totem pole. Relentlessly harassed and physically abused, his only refuge is doom-scrolling through a list of Andrew Tate-like influencers, Call of Duty, and cosplaying with the contents of the gun safe at home.

Sam sees a video about something called School Duel, a government-run initiative where a group of militant children are used as props to promote gun sales, while calling it an outlet to prevent school shootings. The last one standing gets crowned King. This year, Sam’s county is hosting the event. The government comes into his school and selects him to participate. Eager to prove his worth in the wake of his military father’s death, Sam cannot wait to sign the papers. What he doesn’t know is that he’s a martyr, and not a hero.

The entire scheme is broadcast live at home and at school. There is no denying the similarities to Battle Royale and The Hunger Games, which is a compliment. It’s all a show, presented in rounds, each with a different gun chosen by chance on a prize wheel. Unsurprisingly, the game is rigged.

The School Duel

Oscar Nuñez plays Florida Governor, and he lives the role. AR and flag pin, flowery bullshit speech while saying the opposite behind closed doors. Christina Brucato is Sam’s mother. Never without her cross around her neck, her passive efforts to protect her son look all too familiar. Brucato gives her a passionate redemption arc.

Jamad Mays is Sam’s gym teacher, Coach Williams. Coach is the one redeeming character in the film, and Mays delivers much-needed fatherly concern and moral ferocity. Michael Sean Tighe plays School Duel recruiter, Captain Stegmann. His emboldened part in this charade makes him vile. Tighe brilliantly plays the role of sycophant, mascot, and hype man. It is an unforgettable turn.

Kue Lawrence gives Sam a terrifying authenticity. He is mesmerizing. Lawrence’s enthusiasm is matched only by deep trauma. It is a chilling performance.

The funny thing about THE SCHOOL DUEL is that it is not funny after all. An image of a neighbor in a wife-beater mowing his lawn with an AR-style weapon slung over his shoulder might seem like tongue-in-cheek. But, how many times have we seen these same idiots wearing a gun into a Dunkin’s? I forgot how dangerous Donuts are.

The small details are glaring alarm bells. Mothers and teachers dressed like 50s housewives. The Duel cheerleaders, yes, cheerleaders, are also in 50s uniforms. Oh, and their cheers? Wow. To counter that visual, Wisemen Jr. has Sam using an updated, clear-screened smartphone as a reminder that we are, in fact, on the doorstep of this reality. The black-and-white camerawork is fantastic. Kyle Deitz utilizes first-person shooter style imagery through the use of live-stream body cams during gameplay.

Somehow, even knowing where the script is going, witnessing the duel is a visceral experience. The finale is heart-stopping. If you think it is not possible to root for a winner by the end, think again. The film is a simmering pot of violence. It is almost a how-to guide to finding school shooters by not protecting the bullied children or teaching empathy.

THE SCHOOL DUEL is a parade of oversized red flags. The film tackles violent video games, toxic social media influence, faux patriotism, and the bastardization of Christianity, so essentially, it’s a film about today. We cannot take our eye off the kids. Every woman who cried on election night 2016 knows exactly what I mean.

 


The School Duel trailer:

 


Official selection 

Deauville Film Festival 2024
Miami Film Festival 2025
Sunscreen Film Festival 2025

The School Duel

Honors

50th Anniversary Canal+ Award – Deauville Film Festival 2024

Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay – Sunscreen Film Festival 2025

The School Duel

Fantasia 25 bw logoFor all things Fantasia, click here!

‘SHRIMP FRIED RICE’ (Fantasia 2025) This acid-tongued star is chef’s kiss.

Fantasia 2025 posterSHRIMP FRIED RICE

ShrimpFriedRice_FilmPoster

Imagine MasterChef meets the Muppets, and you might be able to grasp the supreme silliness of Fantasia 2025 short, SHRIMP FRIED RICE. Filmmaker Dylan Pun gives audiences an adult Ratatouille, which ironically, Shrimp name-drops and threatens. It is part profile of this unexpected chef and part exposé.

shrimp fried rice Fantasia Dave & The shrimpA father wishes to compliment the chef for his signature dish, only to discover that an actual shrimp is responsible for the deliciousness. In this mockumentary-style short, The Shrimp insinuates that his entire schtick was stolen by the Disney rat. The two then compete on a food competition reality show. The producers secretly chat with the man under The Shrimp, Chef Dave. Shrimp is a foul-mouthed asshole, for lack of a better word. Shenanigans ensue, confessions reveal themselves, and insults fly.

Cinematographer Marco De Acetis mixes genuine, slow-motion, food porn photography in with the absurdity. The original credits song from Seamstress, featuring Smallz, is perfection.

shrimp fried rice Fantasia The shrimpThere are multiple Shrimp puppet creations. The smaller version sits on Yung’s head, and a larger-scale handheld puppet fills the screen for the sit-down interviews. The detail is award-worthy. Puppeteers Benjamin Fieschi-Rose, Kirsten Brass, and Amelia Blaine are spectacular.

Co-writer Michael Turk makes a fun appearance. Jeff Yung, who plays The Shrimp’s human puppet, Dave, is equal parts hilarious and authentic. Marty Stelnick gives The Shrimp a sass that is magic. I would giddily watch an entire series of SHRIMP FRIED RICE. Fantasia audiences are lucky to get a taste of what I hope is merely an amuse-bouche. It is, pun very intended, chef’s kiss.


Shrimp Fried Rice Trailer:

In this zany mockumentary, a talented shrimp chef with an ego that outweighs his tiny body carries out his vendetta against a certain culinary-inclined rat which puts The Shrimp’s human puppet at risk of deportation.

Starring: Jeff Yung, Marty Stelnick, and Jenna Phoa

Director: Dylan Pun

Executive Producers: Malachi Ellis, Dave Lembke, and Danielle Kappy

Producer: Sang-thanh Nguyen

Writers: Dylan Pun and Michael Turk

Director of Photography: Marco De Acetis

Production Designer: Mica White

Wardrobe Stylist: Emma Nadurata

Editor: Dylan Pun

Original Music: Jeff Lurie

Shot on location in Toronto, Canada Format: Digital on Arri Alexa Mini and Digital on DJI Ronin 4D.

The filmmakers would like to recognize the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for their support in the creation of this film.

Fantasia 25 bw logoFor all things Fantasia, click here!

‘THE UNDERTONE’ (Fantasia 2025) A hair-raising nightmare reaching beyond the veil

Fantasia 2025 posterTHE UNDERTONE

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Established sci-fi author Ian Tuason brings his chilling directorial debut to Fantasia 2025 audiences. The film follows Evy, a full-time carer for her ailing mother and part-time spooky podcaster. Alongside her co-host Justin, Evy is the skeptic in the pair, searching for logic in the strange and unusual. THE UNDERTONE has arrived to f*ck you up.

They receive an anonymous email with 10 audio files attached and decide to listen to them as they record. They feature a couple named Mike and Jessa, and the seemingly incoherent overnight ramblings of the latter. They are undeniably creepy, each one more unsettling than the next, and the physical and emotional toll on Evy is palpable, while she tries to keep a calm head. Even Justin starts losing his shit. Tuason weaves musical folklore into the conversation, with both Evy and Justin looking up information in real-time.

Despite living on opposite coasts, Justin and Evy have a trusting relationship. Tuason provides enough information to suggest he knows her very well. Their podcast, also titled The Undertone, feels like a collaborative effort with a clever premise. They even have open phone lines for listeners to call in. All of this built-up chaos happens as Evy’s mother is on her deathbed upstairs. There is an inkling of unresolved trauma that perhaps mirrors the tapes, Evy’s childhood, and her current state of mental wellness.

Kris Holden-Ried‘s voice is a nostalgic earworm. I loved him in THE RETURNED. His tone is eerily similar to radio legend Shadoe Stevens. It is alarming and brilliant. His ability to be the perfect foil for Evy is mindblowing. Bravo. Nina Kiri is spectacular. Almost the entirety of the film is visually a one-woman show for Kiri. She easily compels you to root for her with a naunced mix of sadness, exhaustion, and defiance.

the undertoneEvy sits in front of a blurred open doorway as she listens. This trope alone keeps your heart in your throat. Graham Beasley‘s overall framing is jarring as hell. Darkness plays an important role. Beasley rarely places Evy in the center of the frame and uses odd angles and stationary camera pans to keep you off balance in every way. It almost suggests the camera is haunted.

Like darkened doorways, mirrors, and religious iconography all figure prominently. Evy and Justin even record at the universal witching hour of 3 am. Then you have a “child’s” bizarre crayon drawings. Tuason has turned innumerable genre tropes into a horror triumph.

Not even 9 minutes into the runtime, and I noticed I was digging my nails into my palm. For as much horror as I consume, I was not ready for THE UNDERTONE. I cringed, forced myself not to cover my eyes, even though I desperately wanted to. The finale visibly raised the hair on my arms.

The sound editing is masterfully immersive. I am convinced that watching the film on a laptop with headphones on, similarly to Eny, makes THE UNDERTONE even more terrifying. I’m unsure how the theatre experience matches up. I made the same recommendation in 2020 for a proper viewing experience of HOST. I can only imagine that the meticulous sound team makes the appropriate adjustments.

THE UNDERTONE earns its jumpscares and heart-racing tingles, even when I watched in the daylight. There is no denying the atmospheric similarities to Skinamarink, but Tuason gives us a much more defined story. Regardless of how you choose to view it, Tuason delivers a film that is complex and next-level scary.


Director: Ian Tuason

Executive Producer: Al Akdari, Chad Archibald, Charlie Bern, Anthony Eu, Daril Fannin, Douglas Lee, Brit MacRae, David Sproat, Matthew Sterling

Producer: Cody Calahan, Dan Slater

Writer: Ian Tuason

Cast: Michele Duquet, Nina Kiri, Keana Lyn-Bastidas, Jeff Yung

Cinematographer: Graham Beasley

Composer: Shanika Maria

Editor: Sonny Atkins

Production Designer: Mercedes Coyle

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‘ANYTHING THAT MOVES’ (Fantasia 2025) Sex and serial killers in Alex Phillips Fantasia feature follow-up

Fantasia 2025 posterANYTHING THAT MOVES

ANYTHING THAT MOVES

Filmmaker Alex Phillips (All Jacked Up and Full of Worms) brings another entirely weird and one-of-a-kind film to Fantasia 2025 with ANYTHING THAT MOVES. The film follows Liam and his girlfriend, who are snack delivery sex workers. When their clients end up murdered, two detectives try to pin the gory violence on them.

Anything that Moves 1Don’t get ahead of yourself in viewing. ANYTHING THAT MOVES is far more than a high-concept soft porn. I mean, it is also that. The cast fearlessly embraces full frontal nudity, which is incredibly rare for male actors, but more importantly, it honors kink. Audiences will not expect the hidden trauma. Phillips also addresses the demoralization of sex workers.

Hal Baum is amazing. He exudes confidence, even in the most vulnerable scenarios. My eyes will be on whatever he does next.

Anything that Moves 3Shot in Super 16mm, its gritty look completes the homage to 1970s adult films. The Joshua Rains‘s artwork is diabolically genius. The bright spotlight device that denotes an orgasm is brilliant. Casting Nina Hartley and Ginger Lynn Allen was a superior move, as the two essentially served as the film’s intimacy coordinators. By the way, can we acknowledge the importance of that role on a set? I am thrilled we’re adding a Stunt category to next year’s awards season, but Intimacy Coordination is also an art.

Phillips’ stylistic calling card always sparks conversation when the screen goes black. Will some viewers be offended? Maybe. Will you cringe? Guaranteed. But you’ll all be talking about the film, and that’s the point.


SCREENINGS: ANYTHING THAT MOVES

World Premiere: Fri July 25, 9:30pm, Salle J.A. De Seve 

Tue July 29, 11:45am, Salle J.A. De Seve 

***

Written and Directed By: Alex Phillips

Introducing: Hal Baum, Jeremy Everett, Andrea Huber, Maxton Koc, Jiana Nicole, Jade Perry and Cooper Whittlesey

Featuring: Ginger Lynn Allen, Trevor Dawkins, Jack Dunphy, Paul Gordon, Nina Hartley and Frank V. Ross

Music By: Cue Shop

Edited By: Alex Phillips and Troy Lewis

Cinematography By: Hunter Zimny

Produced By: Georgia Bernstein, Liane Cunje and Spencer Parsons

Executive Produced By: Joe Rubin, Ryan Emerson, Ralph Stevens, Ian Stone, Eddie Linker, Stephen Lanus and Amar Gupta

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