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Spoiler-Free Review: THE ONES WHO GRIEVE (Fantastic Fest 2026) 

Official synopsis from Annick Mahnert’s Fantastic Fest summary Set in the French countryside at the end of the 19th century, The Ones Who Grieve follows Jacob, a deeply religious man who works as a soul keeper. Believing he is liberating those afflicted by a mysterious illness, he imprisons them behind wooden masks after sewing their eyes and mouths shut. His daughter, Zélie, lives under his tyrannical rule and dreams of freedom. When Jacob sells her beloved horse, Thunder, her resentment reaches its breaking point, prompting her to defy him by hiding an infected soldier in the family barn.  Review Director Can Evrenol gave cinephiles perhaps the strongest candidate so far for “Feel-Bad Movie of the Year” in 2026 with his pitch-black Spanish horror comedy The Turkish Coffee Table (a reimagining of Caye Casas’s also disturbing The Coffee Table [La mesita del comedor]). But now along comes director Quarxx, who says “Hold my needles, thread, hammers, pliers, wooden masks, and guns”

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 21, 2026

Found Tapes Unleash Terror This September When Nicolas Curcio’s ‘Play House’ Premieres

Director Nicolas Curcio’s feature horror thriller, Play House, makes its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest this September. Helmed by Curcio and co-written with Kirby Gladstein, the film explores obsession, lost media, desperation, and lingering supernatural decay. It promises a uniquely claustrophobic analog horror experience for genre enthusiasts. Obsession and Analog Horrors Unleashed The narrative follows a desperate young man. He tries to reclaim his past by renovating a crumbling house in a last-ditch effort to win back his ex-girlfriend. However, his attempt at reconciliation soon takes a sinister turn after he stumbles upon a collection of forgotten VHS tapes. The tapes contain episodes of a strange, unaired television show from decades past. However, as he grows increasingly fixated on the footage, the dark history of the abandoned series surfaces. Slowly, it bleeds into his physical reality and threatens to destroy both him and his final chance at love. A Stellar Ensemble Cast Play House features a talented core cast led by

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 18, 2026

‘Black Sheeps’ Unleash a New Trailer Ewe Don’t Want to Miss!

Twenty years after terrorizing horror fans with genetically modified, flesh-eating livestock, writer-director Jonathan King’s 2006 New Zealand cult classic Black Sheep is officially getting a long-awaited sequel. Titled Black Sheeps, the horror-comedy has released its first trailer ahead of its world premiere at the prestigious Sitges Film Festival this October. And it promises to double down on the barnyard carnage that made the original New Zealand’s most successful horror export. The sequel picks up two decades after the initial slaughter with a fresh wave of ovine mayhem. A New Outbreak in the Shadow of the Past The sequel reunites King with lead actor Nathan Meister, who reprises his role as the severely traumatized Henry Oldfield. The narrative follows a sharp young scientist. They become convinced that a lethal, mutated pathogen poses an immediate threat to the general public. Her frantic investigation brings her straight back to her rural hometown. This tight-knit community still lives under the lingering shadow of the

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 16, 2026

Screamfest Horror Film Festival Reveals Tremendous 2026 Lineup

Los Angeles-based Screamfest Horror Film Festival today announced its 2026 lineup, and as always, it’s a doozy! Masked slashers, supernatural entities, and other fear-fare favorites are in abundance. Following is the official press announcement.  Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the largest and longest-running horror festival in the United States, today unveiled the first wave of competitive features and shorts for its 26th edition. Screamfest 2026 will launch with the World Premiere of Jeremy Weiss’ THE NIGHT DRIVER, starring Josh Lucas, David Arquette, and Alyssa Milano. This gripping, twist-filled thriller takes audiences on a terrifying journey where one fateful night on a lonely stretch of highway becomes a relentless fight for survival. Taking place October 6-15, 2026, at the TCL Chinese Theatre, the festival invites horror fans to experience twisted tales and terrifying films on the big screen. Festival badges are now on sale. Tickets will be on sale soon. screamfestla.com.   For 26 years, Screamfest has been where the next generation

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 16, 2026

Pluto Films Acquires the Coming-of-Age Horror Film ‘Sick’ Ahead of Fantastic Fest

Berlin-based sales outfit Pluto Film has officially acquired worldwide sales rights for Sick. It is the highly anticipated feature directorial debut from Polish filmmaker Agata Trzebuchowska. The news comes ahead of the film’s world premiere at FFantasticFest 2026 in Austin. It will then head to the prestigious European premiere at the Sitges Film Festival in October. Trzebuchowska, who earned international acclaim in Paweł Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winning masterpiece Ida, wrote and directed the atmospheric feature. Stifling Isolation and Blurring Boundaries in the Countryside Set against the heavy, oppressive heat of summer, Sick explores the harrowing psychological anxieties of growing up. The story follows sixteen-year-old Maks, played by Konrad Kąkol, and his older sister Emma, portrayed by Katarzyna Łubik. They are sent to the Polish countryside to care for their ailing grandmother. Trapped together in a remote setting, the siblings’ once-close bond begins to shift into something dark and hard to define. As interpersonal tensions rise and emotional boundaries blur, their grandmother’s frail presence

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 16, 2026

Trailer Debuts for James Cullen Bressack’s ‘I Have Proof’ Ahead of Fantastic Fest Premiere

When obsession takes root, reality becomes a dangerous playground. Writer-director James Cullen Bressack’s latest mind-bending feature, I Have Proof, is heading to Fantastic Fest. The film follows Alex. He claims to have uncovered indisputable evidence of a sinister truth. One that forces viewers to navigate a labyrinth of paranoia, shifting motives, and fragile sanity. Alex desperately needs you to see what he has discovered. However, seeing isn’t always believing. World Premiere Set for Fantastic Fest Festival-goers will be the first to experience I Have Proof as it officially lands its world premiere at Fantastic Fest. Known for championing bold, genre-pushing cinema, the Austin festival serves as the ideal launchpad for Bressack’s claustrophobic thrill ride. Produced by Sandaled Kid, JCB Pictures, and Robotic Donut, the feature already has serious buzz for its relentless pacing and sharp psychological hooks. An Ensemble Navigating Fractured Reality The atmospheric thriller relies on a powerful core ensemble to anchor its shifting narrative grounded in dread and suspicion.

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 16, 2026

The Brooklyn Film Festival Announces Its 2026 Slate and Schedule

The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival has officially revealed the complete lineup for its 2026 edition, promising an absolute bloodbath of genre cinema. Running from October 15 through October 22, the East Coast festival will take over Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg with a stacked schedule of world premieres, retro screenings, and special events. Badges are officially on sale, with individual tickets dropping this Friday at 10 AM EST. Opening with Vampires and Honoring Genre Royalty The festival kicks off with the U.S. Premiere of Nicky Murphy’s award-winning vampire mockumentary I Love Paris, presented by MUBI. The story follows an aspiring underground singer whose hustle turns extra bloody after she is turned into a creature of the night. Following the screening, Dark Sky Films will host the official Opening Night Party across both levels of Nitehawk. This year’s prestigious Leviathan Award, presented by Arrow Video to honor luminaries of horror, will be presented to indie filmmaking powerhouses John Adams and Toby Poser (The

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 15, 2026

U.K.’s Dead And SudBuried Horrorthon Unveils Its Droolworthy 2026 Lineup

Whether fear-fare fanatics are in the mood for classics or cutting-edge new features,  Dead And SudBuried Horror Film Festival (Sudbury, Suffolk, U.K.) has pretty much everyone covered. This year’s edition runs from October 22–25, 2026. Following is the official press announcement.  The Dead And SudBuried Horror Film Festival returns to the sleepy market town of Sudbury, Suffolk for its 10th Anniversary edition, expanding to four days and welcoming movies from all over the world, celebrating new and classic horror movies! The terrifying event returns over from Thursday 22nd October to 25th October with another horror packed schedule featuring 11 brand new festival circuit features, 11 classic movies and 22 new horror shorts alongside Director/Cast Q&A’s, food trucks, merchandise and much more over four long, scary days. The Dead And SudBuried Horrorthon began life in 2016 in Suffolk in the small market town of Sudbury as a celebration of classic horror movies, screening seven classics over a single day in the

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 15, 2026

Cults and Chaos: ‘Where the Hell is Anna?’ Debuts Trailer Ahead of Nashville Film Festival Premiere

A Twisted Pagan Nightmare Hits Nashville Stormlight Pictures and Aradia Pictures have officially released the first trailer for Where the Hell is Anna? It teases a chaotic blend of cult rituals, unexpected pregnancy, and brutal bloodshed. Shot entirely in Tennessee, the genre-bending indie film will premiere at the Nashville Film Festival on September 25, followed by a live cast and crew Q&A. Flower Crowns, Blood Rituals, and Lost Best Friends The narrative centers on Derick. She’s a messy and heartbroken young woman who refuses to accept the sudden disappearance of her estranged best friend, Anna. Driven by desperation to bring Anna home, Derick tracks her to a secretive, women-only woodland retreat. Soon, she crashes the secluded pagan commune. However, once inside, she discovers a bizarre environment. One in which Anna is being prepared for a sacred ceremony known as “Induction Day.” Beneath the commune’s sunny floral aesthetics and sisterhood mantras, Derick uncovers a nightmare of sinister fertility experiments, horrific blood

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 14, 2026

A First Look at Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe in the Survival Horror ‘River’

Scream queen Jane Levy is returning to the horror genre in River. The upcoming survival slasher marks writer-director Joshua Giuliano’s feature directorial debut. Pitting a trio of estranged siblings against a relentless masked killer deep in the wilderness, the film also stars Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) and Max Mattern (Desert Road). The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this weekend to high praise. Stranded in the Wilderness The plot follows three siblings who reunite in their hometown after their father’s death. They return to scatter his ashes at his favorite spot on a remote river. When their boat breaks down and leaves them stranded miles from civilization with no cell service, the trip devolves into a nightmare. Trapped in the wild, the siblings must set aside long-standing family grudges to survive against a faceless, ruthless killer emerging from the woods. Actor and creature performer Dane DiLiegro portrays the film’s imposing, faceless killer, bringing a formidable physical

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 14, 2026

More from Film Festivals

Spoiler-Free Review: THE ONES WHO GRIEVE (Fantastic Fest 2026) 

Official synopsis from Annick Mahnert’s Fantastic Fest summary Set in the French countryside at the end of the 19th century, The Ones Who Grieve follows Jacob, a deeply religious man who works as a soul keeper. Believing he is liberating those afflicted by a mysterious illness, he imprisons them behind wooden masks after sewing their eyes and mouths shut. His daughter, Zélie, lives under his tyrannical rule and dreams of freedom. When Jacob sells her beloved horse, Thunder, her resentment reaches its breaking point, prompting her to defy him by hiding an infected soldier in the family barn.  Review Director Can Evrenol gave cinephiles perhaps the strongest candidate so far for “Feel-Bad Movie of the Year” in 2026 with his pitch-black Spanish horror comedy The Turkish Coffee Table (a reimagining of Caye Casas’s also disturbing The Coffee Table [La mesita del comedor]). But now along comes director Quarxx, who says “Hold my needles, thread, hammers, pliers, wooden masks, and guns”

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 21, 2026

Found Tapes Unleash Terror This September When Nicolas Curcio’s ‘Play House’ Premieres

Director Nicolas Curcio’s feature horror thriller, Play House, makes its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest this September. Helmed by Curcio and co-written with Kirby Gladstein, the film explores obsession, lost media, desperation, and lingering supernatural decay. It promises a uniquely claustrophobic analog horror experience for genre enthusiasts. Obsession and Analog Horrors Unleashed The narrative follows a desperate young man. He tries to reclaim his past by renovating a crumbling house in a last-ditch effort to win back his ex-girlfriend. However, his attempt at reconciliation soon takes a sinister turn after he stumbles upon a collection of forgotten VHS tapes. The tapes contain episodes of a strange, unaired television show from decades past. However, as he grows increasingly fixated on the footage, the dark history of the abandoned series surfaces. Slowly, it bleeds into his physical reality and threatens to destroy both him and his final chance at love. A Stellar Ensemble Cast Play House features a talented core cast led by

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 18, 2026

‘Black Sheeps’ Unleash a New Trailer Ewe Don’t Want to Miss!

Twenty years after terrorizing horror fans with genetically modified, flesh-eating livestock, writer-director Jonathan King’s 2006 New Zealand cult classic Black Sheep is officially getting a long-awaited sequel. Titled Black Sheeps, the horror-comedy has released its first trailer ahead of its world premiere at the prestigious Sitges Film Festival this October. And it promises to double down on the barnyard carnage that made the original New Zealand’s most successful horror export. The sequel picks up two decades after the initial slaughter with a fresh wave of ovine mayhem. A New Outbreak in the Shadow of the Past The sequel reunites King with lead actor Nathan Meister, who reprises his role as the severely traumatized Henry Oldfield. The narrative follows a sharp young scientist. They become convinced that a lethal, mutated pathogen poses an immediate threat to the general public. Her frantic investigation brings her straight back to her rural hometown. This tight-knit community still lives under the lingering shadow of the

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 16, 2026

Screamfest Horror Film Festival Reveals Tremendous 2026 Lineup

Los Angeles-based Screamfest Horror Film Festival today announced its 2026 lineup, and as always, it’s a doozy! Masked slashers, supernatural entities, and other fear-fare favorites are in abundance. Following is the official press announcement.  Screamfest Horror Film Festival, the largest and longest-running horror festival in the United States, today unveiled the first wave of competitive features and shorts for its 26th edition. Screamfest 2026 will launch with the World Premiere of Jeremy Weiss’ THE NIGHT DRIVER, starring Josh Lucas, David Arquette, and Alyssa Milano. This gripping, twist-filled thriller takes audiences on a terrifying journey where one fateful night on a lonely stretch of highway becomes a relentless fight for survival. Taking place October 6-15, 2026, at the TCL Chinese Theatre, the festival invites horror fans to experience twisted tales and terrifying films on the big screen. Festival badges are now on sale. Tickets will be on sale soon. screamfestla.com.   For 26 years, Screamfest has been where the next generation

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 16, 2026

Pluto Films Acquires the Coming-of-Age Horror Film ‘Sick’ Ahead of Fantastic Fest

Berlin-based sales outfit Pluto Film has officially acquired worldwide sales rights for Sick. It is the highly anticipated feature directorial debut from Polish filmmaker Agata Trzebuchowska. The news comes ahead of the film’s world premiere at FFantasticFest 2026 in Austin. It will then head to the prestigious European premiere at the Sitges Film Festival in October. Trzebuchowska, who earned international acclaim in Paweł Pawlikowski’s Oscar-winning masterpiece Ida, wrote and directed the atmospheric feature. Stifling Isolation and Blurring Boundaries in the Countryside Set against the heavy, oppressive heat of summer, Sick explores the harrowing psychological anxieties of growing up. The story follows sixteen-year-old Maks, played by Konrad Kąkol, and his older sister Emma, portrayed by Katarzyna Łubik. They are sent to the Polish countryside to care for their ailing grandmother. Trapped together in a remote setting, the siblings’ once-close bond begins to shift into something dark and hard to define. As interpersonal tensions rise and emotional boundaries blur, their grandmother’s frail presence

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 16, 2026

Trailer Debuts for James Cullen Bressack’s ‘I Have Proof’ Ahead of Fantastic Fest Premiere

When obsession takes root, reality becomes a dangerous playground. Writer-director James Cullen Bressack’s latest mind-bending feature, I Have Proof, is heading to Fantastic Fest. The film follows Alex. He claims to have uncovered indisputable evidence of a sinister truth. One that forces viewers to navigate a labyrinth of paranoia, shifting motives, and fragile sanity. Alex desperately needs you to see what he has discovered. However, seeing isn’t always believing. World Premiere Set for Fantastic Fest Festival-goers will be the first to experience I Have Proof as it officially lands its world premiere at Fantastic Fest. Known for championing bold, genre-pushing cinema, the Austin festival serves as the ideal launchpad for Bressack’s claustrophobic thrill ride. Produced by Sandaled Kid, JCB Pictures, and Robotic Donut, the feature already has serious buzz for its relentless pacing and sharp psychological hooks. An Ensemble Navigating Fractured Reality The atmospheric thriller relies on a powerful core ensemble to anchor its shifting narrative grounded in dread and suspicion.

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 16, 2026

The Brooklyn Film Festival Announces Its 2026 Slate and Schedule

The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival has officially revealed the complete lineup for its 2026 edition, promising an absolute bloodbath of genre cinema. Running from October 15 through October 22, the East Coast festival will take over Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg with a stacked schedule of world premieres, retro screenings, and special events. Badges are officially on sale, with individual tickets dropping this Friday at 10 AM EST. Opening with Vampires and Honoring Genre Royalty The festival kicks off with the U.S. Premiere of Nicky Murphy’s award-winning vampire mockumentary I Love Paris, presented by MUBI. The story follows an aspiring underground singer whose hustle turns extra bloody after she is turned into a creature of the night. Following the screening, Dark Sky Films will host the official Opening Night Party across both levels of Nitehawk. This year’s prestigious Leviathan Award, presented by Arrow Video to honor luminaries of horror, will be presented to indie filmmaking powerhouses John Adams and Toby Poser (The

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 15, 2026

U.K.’s Dead And SudBuried Horrorthon Unveils Its Droolworthy 2026 Lineup

Whether fear-fare fanatics are in the mood for classics or cutting-edge new features,  Dead And SudBuried Horror Film Festival (Sudbury, Suffolk, U.K.) has pretty much everyone covered. This year’s edition runs from October 22–25, 2026. Following is the official press announcement.  The Dead And SudBuried Horror Film Festival returns to the sleepy market town of Sudbury, Suffolk for its 10th Anniversary edition, expanding to four days and welcoming movies from all over the world, celebrating new and classic horror movies! The terrifying event returns over from Thursday 22nd October to 25th October with another horror packed schedule featuring 11 brand new festival circuit features, 11 classic movies and 22 new horror shorts alongside Director/Cast Q&A’s, food trucks, merchandise and much more over four long, scary days. The Dead And SudBuried Horrorthon began life in 2016 in Suffolk in the small market town of Sudbury as a celebration of classic horror movies, screening seven classics over a single day in the

Continue reading →
Joseph Perry
Sep 15, 2026

Cults and Chaos: ‘Where the Hell is Anna?’ Debuts Trailer Ahead of Nashville Film Festival Premiere

A Twisted Pagan Nightmare Hits Nashville Stormlight Pictures and Aradia Pictures have officially released the first trailer for Where the Hell is Anna? It teases a chaotic blend of cult rituals, unexpected pregnancy, and brutal bloodshed. Shot entirely in Tennessee, the genre-bending indie film will premiere at the Nashville Film Festival on September 25, followed by a live cast and crew Q&A. Flower Crowns, Blood Rituals, and Lost Best Friends The narrative centers on Derick. She’s a messy and heartbroken young woman who refuses to accept the sudden disappearance of her estranged best friend, Anna. Driven by desperation to bring Anna home, Derick tracks her to a secretive, women-only woodland retreat. Soon, she crashes the secluded pagan commune. However, once inside, she discovers a bizarre environment. One in which Anna is being prepared for a sacred ceremony known as “Induction Day.” Beneath the commune’s sunny floral aesthetics and sisterhood mantras, Derick uncovers a nightmare of sinister fertility experiments, horrific blood

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 14, 2026

A First Look at Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe in the Survival Horror ‘River’

Scream queen Jane Levy is returning to the horror genre in River. The upcoming survival slasher marks writer-director Joshua Giuliano’s feature directorial debut. Pitting a trio of estranged siblings against a relentless masked killer deep in the wilderness, the film also stars Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) and Max Mattern (Desert Road). The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this weekend to high praise. Stranded in the Wilderness The plot follows three siblings who reunite in their hometown after their father’s death. They return to scatter his ashes at his favorite spot on a remote river. When their boat breaks down and leaves them stranded miles from civilization with no cell service, the trip devolves into a nightmare. Trapped in the wild, the siblings must set aside long-standing family grudges to survive against a faceless, ruthless killer emerging from the woods. Actor and creature performer Dane DiLiegro portrays the film’s imposing, faceless killer, bringing a formidable physical

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 14, 2026
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