FrightFest Main Screen Line-up 2012 Announced!

• 29th Jun 2012

The time has come at last for FrightFest to let us know what they are screening this year. Oh boy, have they really gone all out to make it even more special than last year’s effort. A total of 48 films will be screened this year, over three screens at the Empire Leicester Square in late August. Dario Argento will be there!  Alan Jones will be promoting his updated Dario Argento book Profondo Argento at the event. The Quiz From Hell makes its third appearance! Clive Barker’s Cabal Cut of Nightbreed is also getting a screening here. The short films are back with a vengeance as well and, dare we say, there will be plenty of monsters, zombies and all sorts of things that go bump in the night!

So epic is the list of films that we decided to create three news items so you aren’t scrolling your machines to death!  Here then, is the main set for screen one:

PROGRAMME – SCREEN 1

Thursday 23rd August

Opening Film – The Seasoning House (World Premiere)

Special make-up prosthetics and splatter genius Paul Hyett makes his directorial debut with a harrowing exploration into tense claustrophobia, hard-hitting action and rollercoaster suspense. In a Balkan brothel, where girls kidnapped by soldiers in war-torn zones are prostituted to the military and civilians alike, Angel (Robin Day) is the deaf mute orphan enslaved to care for the inmates. But unbeknownst to her captors, she moves between the walls and crawlspaces of the seasoning house planning her escape. Psychological horror in the nerve-shredding Alfred Hitchcock and Roman Polanski style but with an ultra-modern twist.

89 mins   Director: Paul Hyett   UK 2012

Rosie Day – Angel

Sean Pertwee – Goran

Kevin Howarth – Viktor

David Lemberg – Dimitri

Dominique Provost-Chalkley  – Vanya
Cockneys Vs Zombies (World Premiere)

Geezer Gore comes to FrightFest in an ultra-splatter comedy horror director Matthias Hoene calls “Evil Dead 2 meets Withnail & I”. Just as brothers Terry and Andy Macguire decide to rob a bank, workers on a Docklands building site uncover a burial ground sealed up in 1666. However some of the corpses aren’t brown bread at all and before you know it London’s East End is infested with hungry zombies. Can the two dodgy hamptons get to the Bow Bells Care Home run by their grandad in time to rescue all the raspberry ripples under siege with only their zimmer frames and wheelchairs to kick some zombie Khyber Pass? Would you Adam and Eve it!

88 mins   Director: Matthias Hoene   UK 2012

Rasmus Hardiker – Terry Macguire

Harry Treadaway – Andy Macguire

Alan Ford – Ray Macguire

Honor Blackman – Peggy

Richard Briers – Hamish

Grabbers (London Preview)

The day after a meteor lands in the ocean and a group of fisherman go missing, Garda Lisa Nolan and Garda Ciarán O’Shea start investigating strange occurrences happening around the remote fishing community. Pretty soon it becomes clear their quiet enclave is under attack by an alien invasion and all the space monsters need to survive are blood and water. Then it’s discovered that a high blood alcohol level will kill the nasty intergalactic creatures. Realising their only weapon is booze, the entire village gathers in the pub to get smashed and prepare for battle. It’s Father Ted vs. Aliens in this Sundance Film Festival favourite.

94 mins   Director: Jon Wright   UK/Ireland 2012

Richard Coyle – Ciarán O’Shea

Ruth Bradley – Lisa Nolan

Russell Tovey – Dr Adam Smith

Lalor Roddy – Paddy Barrett

David Pearse – Brian Maher

Friday 24th August

Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut (UK Premiere)

Ever since it was first released, Clive Barker’s Nightbreed has been subject to much debate with stories of missing scenes, lost footage and special edition releases. Then two European work prints were discovered containing additional sequences thought irretrievably lost. Now, working from Barker’s original script, that footage from those two existing work prints, plus the Warner Bros DVD, has been integrated into the 1990 theatrical version of Nightbreed to create The Cabal Cut. Film4 FrightFest is proud to present a unique opportunity to see Clive Barker’s true vision comes to light for the very first time in the most complete version.

145 mins   Director: Clive Barker   UK 1990/2012

Craig Sheffer – Boone

Anne Bobby – Lori

David Cronenberg – Decker

Charles Haid – Eigerman

Hugh Quarshie – Joyce

Total Icon – Dario Argento and movie tbc

Hidden In The Woods  (UK Premiere)

This raw slice of demented energy. Inspired by true events, is the terrifying story of two sisters raised in forest isolation and subjected to torments from their abusive drug dealer father. When they finally report him, he chainsaws the two investigating cops to death and is jailed before he can tell psychotic drug lord Costello the exact location of his remaining stash. So Costello sends violent henchmen to find the missing merchandise hidden somewhere in the woods. Reaching heights of deranged frenzy unlike anything seen before, director Patricio Valladares is yet another exciting talent to emerge from the current hotbed of South American horror.

97 mins   Director: Patricio Valladares   Chile 2012

Siboney Lo – Ana

Carolina Escobar – Anny

Daniel Antivilo – Felipe

Jose Hernandez – Manuel

Serge Francois Soto – Costello

V/H/S (UK Premiere)

Thi must-see horror hit from the Sundance Film Festival 2012 is a terrifying anthology pushing the genre in a fresh direction. Six bizarre tapes: Six horrific stories: Six acclaimed directors. When a group of sleazy misfits is hired by an unknown third party to burgle a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS, they discover more found footage than they bargained. A gruesome and twisted blast of sickness from the collective minds of Adam Wingard (You’re Next), Glenn McQuaid (I Sell The Dead), Radio Silence (The Teleporter), David Bruckner (The Signal), Joe Swanberg (Silver Bullet) and Ti West (The Innkeepers).

115 mins   Directors: Adam Wingard, Glenn McQuaid, Radio Silence, David Bruckner, Joe Swanberg, Ti West    USA 2012

Calvin Reeder – Gary

Lane Hughes – Brad

Adam Wingard – Rock

Hannah Fierman – Lily

Mike Donlan – Shane

[REC]³ Génesis (UK Premiere)

The [REC] myth gets brilliantly expanded by director Paco Plaza in this gruesomely hilarious second sequel in the ground breaking Spanish zombie franchise. Unfolding in parallel to events of the previous two episodes, Clara and Koldo are celebrating their lavish wedding day at a posh Barcelona mansion when all hell breaks loose during the reception disco. Separated from each other the newly weds must endure the rabid madness with chainsaws, suits of armour, swords and food blenders to reunite for the sweetest, and nastiest, shock twist. Plaza’s romantic flair and fairytale feel refreshes the flesh-eating saga with a devious dexterity.

80 mins   Director: Paco Plaza   Spain 2012

Leticia Dolera – Clara

Diego Martin – Koldo

Ismael Martinez – Rafa

Alex Monner – Adrian

Claire Baschet – Natalie

Stitches  (UK Premiere)

Starring funny man Ross Noble, it’s the black comedy horror to leave you in Stitches. Get ready for a Coulrophobic’s delight as Dead Meat director Conor McMahon sends in the clowns for red nosed murderous mischief. Jaded Richard Grindle is the sleaziest clown in Ireland. Arriving late to one birthday, a prank goes horribly wrong – he falls on a kitchen knife and goes to that Big Top in the sky. Years later, the same nasty kids attend another more grown up bash. Little do they know that Stitches will be the uninvited guest of honour, seeking revenge on those responsible for his untimely death.

85 mins   Director: Conor McMahon   Ireland 2012

Ross Noble – Richard Grindle

Tommy Knight – Tom

Gemma Leah Devereaux – Kate

Eoghan McQuinn – Richie

Lorna Dempsey – Mary

Saturday 25th August

Eurocrime! The Italian Cop And Gangster Films That Ruled The 70s  (UK Premiere)

Rome Armed To The Teeth, Milan Calibre 9 and How To Kill A Judge… just three of the hundreds of ‘poliziotteschi’ movies the Italian Film Industry churned out during the turbulent 70s. Rushed production methods meant superstars Franco Nero, Richard Harrison and Maurizio Merli performing their own stunts, directors stealing shots and a bleed-over between real crime torn from newspaper headlines and violent movie action. Here those once involved in the genre paint a brilliant picture of all that madness and mayhem in this lucidly explained visually dynamic documentary packed with clips and poster artwork.

127 mins   Director: Mike Malloy   USA 2012

Franco Nero

Enzo G. Castellari

Henry Silva

Richard Harrison

John Saxon

Outpost II: Black Sun  (UK Premiere)

During the 1945 endgame of World War II, German scientist Klausener worked on frightening new technology with the power to create an immortal Nazi army. Now a NATO task force is deployed to Eastern Europe to uncover what sinister enemy exactly appears to be mercilessly killing everything in its path.  It soon becomes clear that what they are facing is no ordinary foe. Only Lena, a gutsy investigator on the trail of notorious war criminal Klausener, can accept the reality of what they are up against – a battalion of living dead Nazi Storm Troopers.

90 mins   Director: Steve Barker   UK 2012

Richard Coyle – Wallace

Catherine Steadman – Lena

Ali Craig – Hall

Nick Nevern – Carlisle

Daniel Caltagirone – Macavoy

Paura 3D  (UK Premiere)

From Manetti Bros. who brought their acclaimed sci-fi horror L’Arrivo Di Wang to FrightFest Glasgow, comes a new dimension in visual sensation – abject fear in 3D! When mechanic Ale overhears a conversation between a wealthy customer and the garage owner, he knows what he and his two best mates are going to do for the next few days. For Marquis Lanzi wants his car serviced while he goes on a short holiday and before long the trio move into his Rome villa intent on having a wild weekend in total luxury. But something is about to happen that will change their lives forever. Tender and savage, shocking and brutal, Manetti Bros. pile on the fear factor.

104 mins   Directors: Manetti Bros.   Italy 2012

Peppe Servillo – Marchese Lanzi

Francesca Cuttica – Sabrina

Lorenzo Pedrotti – Simone

Domenico Diele – Ale

Claudio Di Biagio – Marco

Under The Bed  (European Premiere)

From Steven C. Miller, director of The Aggression Scale, comes a supernatural suburban nightmare. Neal Hausman knew there was something under the bed, but no one believed him until his mother lost her life in the resulting conflagration. Sent to stay with an aunt in Florida while his father got over the tragedy, now Neal has come back home. However what was under the bed is still there, still angry and has set it’s malevolent sights on his younger brother Paulie. Can Neal convince his family there really is something evil lurking in the netherworld under his bed? Or will he be forever condemned to wake up screaming?

90 mins   Director: Steven C. Miller   USA 2012

Jonny Weston – Neal Hausman

Gattlin Griffith – Paulie Hausman

Peter Holden – Terry Hausman

Musetta Vander – Angela Hausman

Kelcie Stranahan – Cara Evans

Tulpa  (World Premiere)

Giallo returns to the Italian cinema fore in a sensational new horror thriller from spaghetti superstar Federico (Shadow) Zampaglione. Meet Lisa Boeri, the ultimate driven professional at the top of her corporate game. But by night Lisa frequents the notorious Club Tulpa, owned by a mysterious Tibetan guru. There, unshackled from repression and guilt, Lisa will do anything with any stranger to attain a higher Zen consciousness. Suddenly her lovers start getting murdered in shocking ways. Lisa can’t go to the police because of the scandal impacting on her day job. So she tries to unmask the anonymous assassin herself… with truly nightmare consequences.

90 mins   Director: Federico Zampaglione   Italy 2012

Claudia Gerini – Lisa Boeri

Michele Placido – Roccaforte

Nuot Arquint – Kiran

Michela Cescon- Giovanna

Ennio Tozzi – Ferri

Maniac  (UK Premiere)

Just when the downtown Los Angeles streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back on the hunt. Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new photo exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates, it becomes clear she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill. From producers/writers Alexander Aja and Gregory Levasseur (Switchblade Romance, The Hills Have Eyes, Mirrors, Piranha) and director Franck Khalfoun (P2), comes the remake of the year –  a superior psychological horror with a nerve-shredding Argento tribute score.

90 mins   Director: Franck Khalfoun   FRANCE/USA 2012

Elijah Wood – Frank

Nora Arnezeder – Anna

Liane Balaban – Judy

Morganne Slemp – Jenna

Genevieve Alexandra – Jessica

Sunday 26th August

The Thompsons  (UK Premiere)

The Hamiltons are back. Under their new name The Thompsons, the cursed blood-drinkers are looking for another vampire clan who can help them survive. After causing a bloodbath in America they end up in England and their quest leads to the quaint village of Ludlow where the Stuart family say they will help. But soon Francis Hamilton suspects the Stuarts may have a hidden agenda behind their kindness. An epic battle between the two clans is inevitable but who is strong enough to emerge the victors? The Butcher Brothers follow up their award-winning original horror with a high-octane shocktastic sequel to meet all your bloodthirsty needs.

84 mins   Directors: The Butcher Brothers   USA 2012

Cory Knauf – Francis Hamilton

Samuel Child – David Hamilton

Elizabeth Henstridge  – Riley Stuart

Daniel O’Meara – Father Stuart

Mackenzie Firgens – Darlene Hamilton

The Horror Channel Presents The International Short Film Showcase and Andy Nyman’s Quiz From Hell 3   (Special Event)

Full details and listings of the Short Film Showcase will be announced soon.

It has now become an annual tradition so please put your hands together for the third year running for the star of our quiz show, Andy Nyman. The busy actor is currently wowing West End audiences in the smash hit play Abigail’s Party but has taken time off again to ask such penetrating questions as “What 3D fantasy did Oscar-winner Anne Bancroft star in?” and that’s one of the easy posers. The FrightFest Quiz has the reputation of being one of the hardest to enter, but we know our audience is cleverer than most and will always rise to the challenge. Good luck!

90 mins

Sleep Tight (UK Premiere)

[REC] director Jaume Balaguero says “Hola Hitchcock” in this darkly unsettling psychological horror thriller. Unassuming Cesar is janitor at an upscale apartment block in Barcelona. However, his quiet politeness hides a much more sinister personality. His current obsession is Clara, the new cheerful tenant on the fifth floor. At night when Clara is fast asleep, Cesar sneaks into her flat – and bed – to appease his twisted fantasies. Provocative and intense, with Spanish superstar Luis Tosar delivering a sensationally disturbing performance, the growing tension, clever twists and startling chills will keep you biting your nails.

102 mins  Director: Jaume Balaguero   Spain 2011

Luis Tosar – Cesar

Marta Etura – Clara

Alberto San Juan – Marcos

Iris Ameida – Ursula

Petra Martinez – Veronica

Berberian Sound Studio  (London Preview)

It’s 1976 and Gilderoy, an introverted sound engineer from Dorking, goes to Italy to work on a horror film. Only the cheapest, nastiest and most abhorred films pass through the run-down Berberian Sound Studio doors and in this alien environment Gilderoy composes blood curdling sounds from ingenious improvised sources. But soon life begins to imitate art as both time and realities begin to shift – and Gilderoy finds himself lost in an otherworldly spiral of on screen witchcraft, off-screen sexual intrigue. From Peter Strickland (director of Katalin Varga) comes an evocative celebration of the Italian horror genre and a brilliant soundtrack by Broadcast.

95 mins   Director: Peter Strickland   UK 2012

Toby Jones – Gilderoy

Tonia Sotiropoulou – Elena

Susanna Cappellaro – Veronica

Cosimo Fusco – Francesco

Eugenia Caruso – Claudia

Sinister  (UK Premiere)

True crime writer Ellison Oswald has made a career out of exposing police mistakes and now he’s investigating a shocking small-town death by moving into the house where it took place. But strange occurrences start happening and Ellison becomes convinced the figure he sees lurking in some old home movies he discovers is the ancient occult ‘eater of children’ demon. The scares are not just intense but unyielding in this compelling horror yarn from The Exorcism Of Emily Rose director Scott Derrickson. And Ethan Hawke shines as the agonized writer whose deteriorating state of his mind shatters everything he holds dear.

Director: Scott Derrickson   USA 2012

Ethan Hawke – Ellison

Vincent D’Onofrio – Professor Jonas

Juliet Rylance – Tracey

Fred Dalton Thomspon – Sheriff

James Ransone – Deputy

Dead Sushi (European Premiere)

When Keiko is disowned by her sushi chef father, she finds work in a resort hotel catering to the up-market business sector. But when a party from a nearby pharmaceuticals research facility check in, little do they know a former crazed employee is about to take his revenge. For he infects the fish being prepared for a lavish meal and Keiko and the sexy staff must fight off an onslaught of razor-toothed sushi, demented squid and a California roll battleship. Beware the yolk kiss and you might learn the right way to eat sushi properly in this absolutely hilarious sashimi shocker.

91 mins   Director: Noboru Iguchi   Japan 2012

Rina Takeda – Keiko

Shigeru Matsuzaki – Sawada

Kentaro Shimazu – Yamada

Kanji Tsuda – Tsuchida

Asami – Yumi

Monday 27th August

American Mary  (World Premiere)

After giving the world Dead Hooker In A Trunk, the irrepressible Soska sisters unleash American Mary. Starring Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps), this metaphor for the Soskas own journey through the independent film industry follows medical student Mary Mason as she becomes increasingly broke and disenchanted. The allure of easy money sends Mary into the twilight world of body modification and underground surgeries where obsessed flesh artists will pay anything and go through any pain to get their unusual procedures done. But Mary soon finds that her new ‘profession’ leaves more marks on her own psyche than on her freakish clientele.

100 mins   Directors: Jen & Sylvia Soska  Canada 2012

Katharine Isabelle – Mary Mason

Julia Maxwell – Tessa

Antonio Cupo – Billy Barker

Paul Anthony – Rat

Paula Lindberg – Ruby RealGirl

After  (UK Premiere)

Two bus crash survivors awake in hospital to discover they are the only people left alive. As a dark fog advances towards their small town they form an unlikely alliance to unravel the truth behind their sinister isolation. With strange events beginning to unfold and happenings beyond their imagination taking place, they start to question whether the town they knew so well before their shocking accident is really what it seems. Especially when they must escape the ravenous creatures concealed within the foreboding mist. A powerful ode to the human spirit, told with beauty, grace, chills and monsters by promising director Ryan Smith.

90 mins   Director: Ryan Smith   USA 2012

Steven Strait – Freddy

Karolina Wydra – Ana

Sandra Ellis Lafferty – Aunt Lu

Ric Reitz – Doctor

Chained  (UK Premiere)

A trip to the movies becomes a nightmare for Sarah and her young son Tim. For they are kidnapped by Bob, a deranged taxi driver, and taken to his remote home.  There the nine-year-old sees his mother murdered – but it isn’t the last slaughter he witnesses. For Bob enslaves Tim, chains him up and forces him to bury his victims’ bodies. As years go by, Tim is allowed some freedom only if he turns killer himself. Now the reluctant protégé must make a choice between following in Bob’s bloody footsteps or breaking free. Jennifer Chambers Lynch’s uncompromising and dark chiller is one of the best films of the year.

98 mins   Director: Jennifer Chambers Lynch   USA 2012

Vincent D’Onofrio – Bob

Eamon Farren – Rabbit

Julia Ormond – Sarah Fittler

Jake Weber – Brad Fittler

Conor Leslie – Angie

The Possesion  (European Premiere)

From two acclaimed masters of horror – producer Sam Raimi (Evil Dead) and director Ole Bornedal (Nightwatch), comes a terrifying true story of how a family must unite in order to survive the wrath of an unspeakable and malicious evil. Divorced Clyde and Stephanie Brenek see little cause for alarm when their youngest daughter Em becomes oddly obsessed with an antique wooden box covered with arcane Hebrew inscriptions she purchased at a yard sale. But as Em’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic the couple fears the presence of a malevolent force in their midst.

90 mins   Director Ole Bornedal   USA 2012

Jeffrey Dean Morgan – Clyde Brenek

Kyra Sedgwick – Stephanie Brenek

Natasha Calis – Em

Madison Davenport – Hannah

Grant Show – Brett

Jackson Walker – Phil

Closing Movie – Tower Block  (World Premiere)

The tower block was first built for affordable living after World War II. Communities welcomed them until they deteriorated, and became breeding grounds for crime and violence. Redevelopers took over, knocking them down. Now it’s the turn of Serenity House to be demolished. And the top floor residents are the final people left to be re-housed. But something is about to happen that will make the tenants sitting targets for a psychopathic sniper. With all the lifts booby-trapped, every exit obstructed, the mysterious killer has thought of everything. This rousing, riveting British thriller is high on tension, scares and nastily effective splatter chaos.

87 mins   Directors: James Nunn & Ronnie Thompson   UK 2012

Sheridan Smith – Becky

Russell Tovey – Paul

Jack O’Connell – Kurtis

Ralph Brown – Neville

Jill Baker – Violet