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Nightmares Film Festival is THE Place for Independent Horror

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Horror fans from across the globe descended on Columbus, Ohio last weekend to attend the second annual Nightmares Film Festival, and I think I can speak for most of them when I say it’s a weekend we won’t soon forget.

Nightmares Film Festival was brought to life by Jason Tostevin and Chris Hamel who, along with a dedicated team of horror fans, curated a program to shine a spotlight on some of the best independent horror short and feature films available on the circuit today.  They didn’t just give the fans a place to see the films, however.  No, instead, they created an environment where filmmakers and fans could come together to see, discuss, and appreciate the work that had been put into those films.

Chris Hamel and Jason Tostevin of Nightmares Film Festival

I cannot imagine the hundreds of hours of work that went into making a weekend like this look effortless, but Tostevin, Hamel, and their team did exactly that covering every detail and staffing every post so that no matter where you stepped inside the beautiful Gateway Film Center someone was ready to talk about movies.

The event began Thursday evening with a special screening of Adam Green’s brand new Victor Crowley.  Green was in attendance, introducing the film, a blood splattered love letter to his fans.  It was a fantastic experience watching Green beam at his fans when he received his second standing ovation of the night as the credits ran.  He took a few audience questions and then stepped into an adjoining room to sign autographs as we settled in for the next big screening of the evening:  Leatherface, the origin story of everyone’s favorite chainsaw wielding maniac from Texas.

Written by Seth M. Sherwood and starring Lili Taylor and Stephen Dorff, Leatherface centers on the titular character as a teenager confined to a mental asylum who escapes with three other inmates with a nurse as hostage.  Pursued by a vengeful sheriff (Dorff), the teenagers follow a twisting path back to Verna (Taylor), the single-minded criminal matriarch of the Sawyer clan.  The movie was beautifully filmed with a ratcheting tension that propelled the audience all the way to the final scene.

Thursday closed out with a selection of horror comedy shorts to end an already entertaining evening.

As Friday dawned, clear and cool, fans were treated early with Romeo’s Distress, an exciting Gothic Horror thriller from writer/director Jeff Frumess followed up by suspense thriller Midnighters that was as entertaining as it was suspenseful, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats until the final moments of the film.

Other highlights from Friday included Bong of the Living Dead, the highly anticipated She Was So Pretty 2, the found footage thriller Capture, Kill, Release, and a host of shorts like the hilariously dark The Naughty List and the disturbing Justice Served which imagines a world in which having morals and doing the right thing is punishable by death.  The crew from a brand new film called Gags asked festival goers to be their test audience and leave responses for what did and did not work in their film as they strive for a quality finished movie based on the rash of creepy clown sightings that took place all over the U.S. last year with no rhyme or reason.

I was especially taken by Torin Langen’s beautiful, dialogue-free horror film 3 Dead Trick or Treaters.  This film did more with music, atmosphere, and stunning visuals than many large studio franchises we see on big screens across the country, and Langen is to be applauded for his courageous choices.

Crowds swelled on Saturday, and it was exciting to see the host of fans who showed up to support their favorite filmmakers, actors, and writers.  Throughout the influx of people, the Nightmares crew proved once again just how prepared they were.  Everything was handled smoothly from the lines for concessions to the smooth transitions from one film to the next.

Nightmare Award Winner Lukas Hassel and Ahlissa Eichornn of MorbidlyBeautiful.com were both featured panelists!

The festival added a couple of panels this year focusing on the boon and boom of social media and online horror film coverage by major websites like iHorror, Morbidly Beautiful, HororHound, and Bloody Disgusting as well as a panel focused on the very real ways that horror can and does contribute to social progress through its many varied themes.

The day was filled with exciting world premieres and the presentation of the coveted Nightmare awards.  Watching these filmmakers and actors and actresses receive their awards was certainly a highlight of the day, but it also proved something else about the men and women running the festival.  They genuinely care about the filmmakers they bring together.  This is a labor of love and devotion, not only to the genre, but also to those who spend their days and nights in the trenches to bring their films to life.

The iHorror team was also excited to present Preston DeFrancis with the iHorror Excellence in Horror award for his direction and writing of the fantastic Ruin Me, one of the finest films of its kind that I’ve seen in a long time.  It brought new life to the slasher in the woods genre and gave the classic April Fool’s Day a run for is money in the “Is any of this really happening?” category.

Writer/director of Ruin Me Preston DeFrancis (left) with Glenn Douglas Packard from iHorror

There were more frights to come for festival attendees, however.  As darkness fell over the theater, scare actors began to creep about, terrifying ticketholders as they waiting in line to enter theaters and more than one filled the lobby with screams as they came face to face with evil voodoo carrying witches and other dark characters.

The evening’s entertainment consisted of a plethora of short films including the mind bending Vexed from Marc Cartwright and the darkly comic Your Date is Here which turns the old Mystery Date board game on its head and would certainly make me nervous about answering a toy phone ever again.

Fans were then treated to Luke Macfarlane’s stellar performance in Rock, Paper, Dead  from horror legends Tom Holland and Victor Fleming as well as the highly entertaining and innovative Found Footage 3D!

By Sunday, it was clear to everyone in attendance that we’d all been a part of something truly special.  No detail was missed in making the Nightmares Film Festival a huge success.  In fact, it was hard for me to believe that this was only their second year!  One thing is certain, however, this festival should already be on every horror fan’s calendar for next year. You can keep up with all the latest Nightmares Film Festival news on their website and by following them on Facebook!

To Jason Tostevin, Chris Hamel, Bridget Oliver, Grace Cole, Rachael Barbash, and the entire crew of Nightmares Film Festival, we here at iHorror salute you!

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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