Back to School, Back to FrightFest

The 2011 Summer Bank Holiday in England is best to be celebrated at the 12th annual FILM4 FrightFest, “The Woodstock of Gore” according to writer/producer/director Guillermo del Toro.  The five-day film festival at London’s Empire Cinema in Leicester Square runs from Thursday, August 25th to Monday, August 29th, screening feature and short films.  Opening up this year’s FrightFest is Troy Nixey’s Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (the US premiere is Friday, August 26th) and will be closing with Julian Gilbey’s A Lonely Place to Die.

Established by author & journalist Alan Jones, film producer & Horror Channel’s programming coordinator Paul McEvoy and film distributor & filmmaker Ian Rattray, and joined by now co-director Greg Day, a publicist, FrightFest premiered in 2000 at the Prince Charles Cinema.  The three founders wanted to present a horror/fantasy film festival to fans in the UK that is of similar clout to other horror festivals throughout Europe and it has delivered.  The film festival has grown by leaps and bounds over its twelve years, moving only yards away from the PCC to the Odeon West End (Screen One in 2005 and then the larger Screen Two in 2006) to its current location at the Empire Cinema in 2009.  Occupying the Main and Discovery screens at the Empire, Frightfest was originally a four-day festival but in 2006, added an additional day to the event.

It will be a difficult five days for FrightFesters, deciding either what to watch or watching just about everything on the schedule for a straight 12+ hours…

Thursday, August 25th

Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark (2011) – Main @ 6:30p (100 mins).   Feature.  Starring Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce and Bailee Madison.  Written by Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins. Directed by Troy Nixey.  *UK Premiere

Final Destination 5 (2011) – Main @ 9:15p (95 mins).  Feature.  Starring Nicholas D’Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner and Tony Todd.  Written by Eric Heisserer.  Directed by Steven Quale.  *UK Premiere

The Theatre Bizarre (2011) – Main @ 11:30p (108 mins).  Feature.  “The Accident” written & directed by Douglas Buck.  “I Love You” written & directed by Buddy Giovinazzo.  “The Mother Of Toads” written by Scarlett Amaris, Emiliano Ranzani and Richard Stanley & directed by Richard Stanley.  “Sweets” written & directed by David Gregory.  “Vision Stains” written & directed by Karim Hussain.  “Wet Dreams” written by John Esposito & directed by Tom Savini.  Framing segments written by Zach Chassler & directed by Jeremy Kasten.  *European Premiere

Friday, August 26th

The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry (2010) – Discovery @ 10:35a (75 mins).  Feature.  Hosted by Mick Garris.  Written & directed by Angel Águdo.  *UK Premiere

Rogue River (2010) – Main @ 10:40a (90 mins).  Feature.  Starring Michelle Page, Lucinda Jenney, Chris Coy, Art Alexakis and Michael Cudlitz.  Written Ryan Finnerty and Kevin Haskin.  Directed by Jourdan McClure.  *European Premiere

A Horrible Way To Die (2010) – Discovery @ 12:30p (95 mins).  Feature.  Starring AJ Bowen, Amy Seimetz,  Joe Swanberg, Brandon Carroll and Lane Hughes.  Written by Simon Barrett.  Directed by Adam Wingard.  *Preview

The Holding (2011) – Main @ 12:45p (90 mins).  Feature.  Starring Kierston Wareing, Vincent Regan, David Bradley, Skye Lourie, Terry Stone, Maisie Lloyd, Georgia Groome and Mark Cooper-Harris.  Written by James Dormer.  Directed by Susan Jacobson.  *World Premiere

Midnight Son (2011) – Discovery @ 3:00p (95 mins).  Feature.  Starring Zak Kilberg, Maya Parish, Jo D. Jonz and Larry Cedar.  Written & directed by Scott Leberecht.  *UK Premiere

Larry Fessenden – Main @ 3:05p.  Total Film interview with writer/producer/director/actor Larry Fessenden and Jamie Graham.  Includes ‘American Horror: A Panel Discussion’ with Larry Fessenden, Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Lucky McKee, Andrew van den Houten and Ti West.

Urban Explorers (2011) – Main @ 5:00p (88 mins).  Feature.  Starring Nathalie Kelley, Nick Eversman, Max Riemelt, Catherine de Léan, Brenda Koo and Klaus Stiglmeier.  Written by Martin Thau.  Directed by Andy Fetscher.  *UK Premiere

Rabies [Kalevet] (2010) – Discovery @ 5:15p (90 mins).  Feature.  Starring Lior Ashkenazi, Ania Bukstein, Danny Geva, Yael Grobglas, Henry David, Ran Danker, Liat Har Lev, Yaron Motolla, Menashe Noy and Ofer Shechter.  Written & directed by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado.  *Preview

The Glass Man (2011) – Main @ 7:05p (120 mins).  Feature.  Starring Andy Nyman, James Cosmo and Neve Campbell.  Written & directed by Cristian Solimeno.  *World Premiere

Blood Runs Cold (2011) – Discovery @ 7:30p (80 mins).  Feature.  Starring Hanna Oldenburg, Patrick Saxe, Andreas Rylander, Elin Hugoson and Ralf Beck.  Written by Sonny Laguna, David Liljeblad and Tommy Wiklund.  Directed by Sonny Laguna.  *UK Premiere

Kidnapped (2011) – Discovery @ 9:30p (85 mins).  Feature.  Starring Fernando Cayo, Ana Wagener, Manuela Vellés, Xoel Yáñez and Guillermo Barrientos.  Written by Miguel Ángel Vivas & Javier García.  Directed by Miguel Ángel Vivas.  *Preview

Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil (2010) – Main @ 9:55p (86 mins).  Feature.  Starring Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk and Katrina Bowden.  Written Eli Craig and Morgan Jurgenson.  Directed by Eli Craig.  *Preview

Stormhouse (2011) – Discovery @ 11:30p (88 mins).  Feature.  Starring Katherine Flynn, Patrick Flynn, Munir Khairdin, Grahame Fox and Grant Masters.  Story by Jason Arnopp and Dan Turner.  Written by Jason Arnopp.  Directed by Dan Turner.  *Preview

Vile (2011) – Main @ 11:55p (88 mins).  Feature.  Starring Eric Jay Beck, April Matson, Akeem Smith, Greg Cipes and Maya Hazen.  Written by Eric Jay Beck and Rob Kowsaluk.  Directed by Taylor Sheridan.  *World Premiere

Saturday, August 27th

TrollHunter (2010) – Main @ 11:00a (99 mins).  Feature.  Starring Otto Jespersen, Hans Morten Hansen and Tomas Alf Larsen.  Written & directed by André Øvredal.  *Preview

The Dead (2010) – Discovery @ 11:30a (90 mins). Starring Rob Freeman, Prince David Osei and David Dontoh.  Written & directed by Howard J. and Jonathan Ford.  *Special Event – Live DVD commentary w/ the directors.

Atrocious (2010) – Discovery @ 1:00p (75 mins).  Feature.  Starring Rafael Amaya, Jose Masagosa, Chus Pereiro and Cristian Valencia.  Written & directed by Fernando Barreda Luna.  *UK Premiere

The Wicker Tree (2011) – Main @ 1:15p (90 mins).  Feature.  Starring Graham McTavish, Brittania Nicol, Henry Garrett, Jacqueline Leonard, Clive Russell, Honeysuckle Weeks and Christopher Lee.  Written & directed by Robin Hardy.  *European Premiere

My Sucky Teen Romance (2011) – Discovery @ 3:30p (80 mins).  Feature.  Starring Elaine Hurt, Patrick Delgado, Santiago Dietche, Lauren Lee, Tony Vespe, Lauren Vunderink, Devin Bonnée, Sam Eidson and Tina Rodriguez.  Written & directed by Emily Hagins.  *European Premiere

Panic Button (2011) – Main @ 3:35p (95 mins).  Feature.  Starring Scarlett Alice Johnson, Michael Jibson, Jack Gordon, Elen Rhys and Joshua Richards.  Written Chris Crow, Frazer Lee, John Shackleton and David Shillitoe.  Directed by Chris Crow.  *World Premiere

Fright Night (2011) – Main @ 6:00p (120 mins).  Feature.  Starring Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Tennant, Imogen Poots and Toni Collette.  Written by Marti Noxon.  Directed by Craig Gillespie.  *Preview

The Caller (2011) – Discovery @ 6:15p (88 mins).  Feature.  Starring Starring Rachelle Lefevre, Stephen Moyer and Luis Guzmán.  Written by Sergio Casci.  Directed by Matthew Parkhill.  *Preview

The Woman (2011) – Main @ 9:00p (100 mins).  Feature.  Starring Pollyanna McIntosh, Sean Bridgers and Angella Bettis.  Written Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee.  Directed by Lucky McKee.  *UK Premiere

The Devil’s Business (2011) – Discovery @ 9:15p (75 mins).  Feature.  Starring Billy Clarke, Jack Gordon, Jonathan Hansler, Harry Miller and Mark Sealey.  Written & directed by Sean Hogan.  *World Premiere

Chillerama (2011) + Bad Moon Rising (2011) – Main @ 11:30p (115 mins & 10 mins).  Feature & Short.  (Chillerama) Written, Directed & Starring Tim Sullivan, Adam Green, Adam Rifkin and Joe Lynch.  (Bad Moon Rising) Starring David P. Emrich, Josh Ethier and Christina Napier.  Written & directed by Joe Begos.  *UK Premiere

A Horrible Way To Die – Discovery @ 11:30p.  Second screening.

Sunday, August 28th

The Divide (2011) – Main @ 10:30a (110 mins).  Feature.  Starring Lauren German, Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Biehn, Rosanna Arquette and Courtney B. Vance.  Written by Karl Mueller and Eron Sheean.  Directed by Xavier Gens.  *Preview

Kidnapped – Discovery @ 11:15a.  Second screening.

The Horror Channel Presents The Short Film Showcase + Andy Nyman’s Quiz From Hell 2 – Main @ 1:00p.  Includes Alistair (Aaron Cartwright; 10.4 mins), Bats In The Belfry (Joao Alves; 7.1 mins), Banana Motherf**ker (Fernando Alle; 14 mins), Brutal Relax (Adrian Cardona, Rafa Dengra and David Munoz; 15 mins), Cold Call (Clive Ford; 11.4 mins), Demonitron: The Sixth Dimension (Francois Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell; 4.25 mins), Flesh Art (Nicholas Thompson and Chris Goodman; 5.3 mins), The Last Post (Axelle Carolyn; 12 mins), Little Munchkin (Ryan Andrews; 10.08 mins) and Love Bug (Benjamin Kent; 12 mins).

Rabies – Discovery @ 1:15p.  Second screening.

The InnKeepers (2011) – Main @ 4:00p (102 mins).  Feature.  Starring Sara Paxton, Pat Healy and Kelly McGillis.  Written & directed by Ti West.  *UK Premiere

Blood Runs Cold – Discovery @ 4:15p.  Second screening.

Saint [Sint] (2010) – Main @ 6:35p (85 mins).  Starring Huub Stapel, Egbert-Jan Weeber, Caro Lensson, Bert Luppes and Escha Tanihatu.  Written & directed by Dick Maas.  *UK Premiere

Midnight Son – Discovery @ 6:45p.  Second screening.

Kill List + Shifter (2011) – Main @ 8:50p (90 mins & 6 mins).  Feature & Short.  (Kill List) Starring Neil Maskell, MyAnna Buring, Michael Smiley, Emma Fryer and Harry Simpson.  Written by Amy Jump and Ben Wheatley.  Directed by Ben Wheatley.  (Shifter)  Starring Charlotte Hunter, Jay Simpson, Joerg Stadler, David Alexander, Laura Evelyn and Henry Strong.  Directed by Ben Parker.  *UK Premiere

The Man Who Saw Frankenstein Cry – Discovery @ 9:15p.  Second screening.

Detention (2011) – Main @ 11:30p (93 mins).  Feature.  Starring Josh Hutcherson, Shanley Caswell, Spencer Locke and Dane Cook.  Written Joseph Kahn and Mark Palermo.  Directed by Joseph Kahn.  *UK Premiere

Monday, August 29th

A Night In The Woods (2011) – Main @ 10:45a (85 mins).  Feature.  Starring Scoot McNairy, Anna Skellern and Andrew Hawley.  Directed by Richard Parry.  *World Premiere

The Caller – Discovery @ 11:00a.  Second screening.

The Devil’s Business – Discovery @ 1:00p.  Second screening.

Deadheads (2011) – Main @ 1:10p (90 mins).  Feature.  Starring Michael McKiddy, Ross Kidder, Markus Taylor, Thomas Galasso, Ben Webster, Greg Dow, Natalie Victoria and Eden Malyn.  Written & directed by Brett and Drew T. Pierce.  *UK Premiere

Sennentuntschi: Curse Of The Alps (2010) – Main @ 3:30p (110 mins).  Feature.  Starring Roxane Mesquida, Nicholas Ofczarek, Andrea Zogg, Joel Basman and Carlos Leal.  Written by Stefanie Japp, Michael Sauter and Michael Steiner.  Directed by Michael Steiner.  *UK Premiere

Atrocious – Discovery @ 3:45p.  Second screening.

Inbred (2011) – Main @ 6:30p (95 mins).  Starring Jo Hartley, James Doherty, James Burrows, Seamus O’Neill, Terry Haywood, Nadine Rose Mulkerrin, Neil Leiper and Chris Waller.  Written by Alex Chandon and Paul Shrimpton.  Directed by Alex Chandon.  *World Premiere

My Sucky Teen Romance – Discovery @ 6:45p.  Second screening.

A Lonely Place To Die (2011) – Main @ 9:00p (98 mins).  Feature.  Starring Melissa George, Ed Speleers, Sean Harris, Karl Roden and Alec Newman.  Written Julian & Will Gilbey.  Directed Julian Gilbey.  *UK Premiere

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