DISFORIA is a Spanish Horror movie set in a world on the brink of total collapse. How do they face the apocalyptic events? Well, in very different ways, and a terrible lack of communication. World Premiere at Fantastic Fest. Read our full Disforia movie review here!

DISFORIA is a horror movie from Spain getting its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025. This is one of the more tragic and sad horror movies of the festival this year. Both due to the plot and the characters of this particular story.

The movie is set in a world where everything has gone wrong, and survival may be possible for some, but no longer very desirable for many. If you’re feeling blue, this movie won’t help. Even if it does ultimately offer some hope.

Continue reading our Disforia movie review below.

Who wants to survive this?

The world we’re presented with when Disforia opens seems to be one that has given up. In fact, many people have decided to leave this world behind as hope has vanished from their lives.

Those who continue to struggle will also come across those who have said goodbye to life. They take what they can from those people and move on. Oh yes, Disforia features an extremely dark worldview.

Sadly, it also shows how some people continue to gain pleasure from the pain of others. Not least via social media and other digital platforms.

We meet the married couple, Esther and Tomás, as they try to leave behind their home in a city ravaged by looting and economic collapse. They decide to flee a brutal and impossible life by taking their young daughter to their country house.

If they could sell this place, they would have a hope of getting enough cash to escape the country altogether. However, that’s easier said than done, and we will soon learn that Esther and Tomás don’t quite see eye to eye on these plans.

Desperation meets depression

With Disforia, the world may be an awful place full of desperation. However, a human being with depression is no picnic either. For our married couple, both desperation and depression play huge roles in their plans.

As survival becomes paramount to the small family, it feels like a game to the stranger (Claudia Salas) standing at the door. Instead of everything they had planned, they are forced into a violent nightmare.

I recognize that the whole “a stranger at their door” part may sound like something out of The Strangers horror franchise, but Disforia is something very different.

At times, the vibe reminded me of Vincent Must Die, though the plots actually differ wildly. That particular movie was French, and I highly recommend it. A survival movie with a sci-fi element, which Disforia does not have.

Disforia World Premiere at Fantastic Fest

Disforia comes from director Christopher Cartagena González, and his idea of horror is definitely of the more grim and bleak variety. Human nature can be (or get) extremely dark, as highlighted by the plot in this movie.

The movie is based on the novel Disforia written by David Jasso, while the screenplay comes from director Christopher Cartagena with Joan-Pol Argenter and Imanol Ortiz in their feature film debut.

At its core, this Spanish horror movie deals with mental health and motherhood, but it also has a horror story that is tied entirely to the apocalyptic situation playing out. In other words, you can watch it however you please.

For me, Disforia is at its strongest when it combines both, which is exactly what happens for most of this movie. Can it be frustrating as well? Oh yeah. But isn’t that just the way life is, as well?!

Disforia enjoyed its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025.

Details

Director: Christopher Cartagena
Screenwriters: Joan-Pol Argenter, Christopher Cartagena, Imanol Ortiz
Cast: Fariba Sheikhan, Claudia Salas, Eloy Azorín, Noah Casas

Plot

Desperate to escape their city collapsing into chaos, married Esther and Tomás flee with their young daughter to their country home—only to find themselves trapped in a violent nightmare when a stranger arrives.

DOLLY is a new extreme horror movie made in the vein of 1970s slashers but set in our present-day world. World Premiering at Fantastic Fest 2025, where it should definitely reach its ideal audience. Read our full Dolly (2025) horror movie review here!

DOLLY is a horror movie getting its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025. It’s the kind of slasher where you should stay seated until the very end to make sure you watch all of it.

Despite playing out in the present, it’s made exactly like a 1970s horror movie. Even the masked villain has a lot in common with those iconic horror villains. The runtime is just 1 hour and 22 minutes, so it’s an extreme but short watch.

Continue reading our 2025 Dolly horror movie review below.

Perfect for fans of old school slashers

Dolly quickly turns into a survival story for Macy (Fabienne Therese). She’s a young woman who was just supposed to go camping in the woods for a weekend with her boyfriend, Chase (Seann William Scott).

However, they don’t make it very far into their trip before they come across their first warning: Dolls. Lots and lots of dolls. On the ground, hanging from trees, nailed to trees.

Seeing lots of dolls on some strange display in the middle of a forest is never a good sign.

Very soon, Macy is abducted by a strange monster-like figure. Someone big and strong, wearing a doll’s head mask. Also, this person kills violently and seems very difficult to fight back against.

Finally, Macy quickly learns that “Dolly” (Max the Impaler – yes, you read that right) wants to raise Macy as their own child. Oh yes, get ready for everything that entails.

An iconic new Horror Villain

With Dolly, we’re getting a brand new 1970s-style slasher villain, but with a present-day movie and characters who feel confident that what’s going on cannot be real.

We’re talking about a villain comparable to Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, and even Leatherface. Not only due to the fact that Dolly wears a mask, but also in terms of dysfunctional family patterns, and a tenacious ability to stay alive.

No matter how much blood they lose.

Also, you can run while they walk, and you still cannot get away. Again, Dolly comes across like a wonderful homage to the extreme slashers of the 1970s, and fans of those movies should have a blast with this one.

Dolly World Premiere at Fantastic Fest

The 2025 Dolly slasher comes from director Rod Blackhurst, who previously gave us the zombie horror drama Here Alone (2016), which I really enjoyed. The screenplay is written by Rod Blackhurst & Brandon Weavil (his feature debut).

For this latest, and very different, horror movie, it’s much more about the visual horror and extreme discomfort. Here Alone was more of a horror drama with thriller and sci-fi elements.

Admittedly, I preferred his 2016 movie, but that should take nothing away from this 2025 release. Dolly is an extreme experience that dives headfirst into the vibe of 1970s slasher with lots of deliciously wild practical effects.

Dolly (2025) had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025.

Details

Director: Rod Blackhurst
Writers: Rod Blackhurst, Brandon Weavil
Cast: Fabianne Therese, Seann William Scott, Ethan Suplee, Max the Impaler

Plot

A young woman, Macy, fights for survival after being abducted by a deranged, monster-like figure who wants to raise Macy as their child.

BEAST OF WAR is a new shark thriller set during WWII and inspired by real events. A powerful and entertaining survival movie. Even the scenes with the shark worked surprisingly well. Screening at Fantastic Fest. Read our full Beast of War movie review here!

BEAST OF WAR is a shark movie getting its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest. I am a sucker for shark survival stories, and this one is set during WWII. It’s even inspired by true events, though I’m not sure to what extent.

In any case, this is part war thriller and part shark horror. Combined, these two make for a very powerful story with a character-driven plot that worked better than I dared hope. The runtime is just shy of an hour and a half.

Continue reading our Beast of War movie review below.

Heading for battle, struggling to survive

With Beast of War, we begin with a war movie. A troop of Australian soldiers is getting ready to deploy, which means we get a quick introduction to key characters before the shark story ever begins.

Unfortunately for the soldiers, their boat is sunk very soon after they take off. It happens while crossing the Timor Sea during World War II, and they are left with a little makeshift raft and not much else.

If this wasn’t bad enough, soon they will realize that a shark is just waiting for them to get careless. Also, the few survivors are not the best of friends. They may be on the same side in World War II, but they don’t care much for each other.

When it comes to the shark, we see it enough, but not so much that excessive CGI is needed. I mean, special effects obviously come into play, but not in ways that go too far.

Don’t let the somewhat wild poster fool you. This shark thriller is very elegant in its portrayal of the shark overall.

Survivors versus heroes

The main issue between the characters can be found in their primary drive; For some, it’s all about survival, while others believe in fighting as a team. The latter is ready to be heroes for the greater good, while the former will sacrifice anyone.

Needless to say, but I’ll point this out in any case, you don’t want to be in the middle of a shark-infested ocean, struggling to survive on a small makeshift raft with the “me first” type.

Fortunately, every one of the surviving soldiers can see the point of working together. Yes, even the one who worries most (or solely) about his own survival.

Also, the characters are all nuanced and fleshed out enough that you can relate to them. Whether it’s the hero archetype or the soldier who will do anything to survive.

You cannot fault someone for their instinct… but you can choose not to trust them.

Beast of War is screening at Fantastic Fest 2025

Kiah Roache-Turner is the writer and director of Beast of War. The same filmmaker also wrote and directed the 2024 horror movie (with comedy and sci-fi elements) titled Sting. I highly recommend checking out that one as well.

Of course, if you can make a powerful movie about one dangerous animal (and it is dangerous in Sting), then you can make one about a much larger killer. And yet, the two are very different, as comedy is not part of this 2025 war movie.

What both movies have in common is wonderful casting. For Beast of War, I have to highlight Mark Coles Smith (Apple Cider Vinegar), Joel Nankervis, Sam Delich (Christmas Bloody Christmas), Lee Tiger Halley, Sam Parsonson (Sweet River), and Maximillian Johnson (Fear Below).

Beast of War is getting its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest. It will also be out in Theaters and On Digital from October 10, 2025.

Details

Director: Kiah Roache-Turner
Writer: Kiah Roache-Turner
Cast: Mark Coles Smith, Joel Nankervis, Sam Delich, Lee Tiger Halley, Sam Parsonson, Maximillian Johnson, Tristan McKinnon, Aswan Reid

Plot

When their boat is sunk while crossing the Timor Sea during World War II, a young troop of Australian soldiers must find a way to survive the harsh seas on a quickly shrinking life raft. Hundreds of miles from anywhere, they must confront interpersonal conflicts, enemy attacks, and the advances of one very large, very hungry great white shark. 

COYOTES is a horror-comedy from genre filmmaker Colin Minihan. It features a survival plot that involves coyotes, which did make me nervous. Fortunately, this movie is crazy fun in all the right ways, so I want to watch it again. Screening at Fantastic Fest, but coming to theaters very soon. Read our full Coyotes horror-comedy review here!

COYOTES is a survival horror-comedy screening at Fantastic Fest 2025, but it’s coming to movie theaters in early October, so you’ll get to check it out soon. Admittedly, as an animal lover, I was nervous about this premise.

Of course, with Colin Minihan (and Britanny Allen) at the helm, plus Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, I should have known better. This movie has exactly the craziness that made Shaun of the Dead work. Oh yeah, I went there!

Also, the runtime is 92 minutes, and I didn’t want it to end.

Continue reading our Coyotes movie review below. Find it in US theaters from October 3, 2025.

When Nature Bites Back…

In Coyotes, we meet the Stewarts. A family consisting of Scott (Justin Long), Liv (Kate Bosworth), and their cool and smart daughter, Chloe (a wonderful Mila Harris). They are about to be stranded in their home, surrounded by coyotes.

Now, usually, you can scare them off, but these are different. Not only are they bigger and more aggressive, but they also don’t fear humans. In fact, they appear to want to eat us.

Well, and any small animal they may come across.

To make matters much worse, a Santa Ana windstorm has knocked out the power in their gorgeous Hollywood Hills home. The tree that Scott had neglected to cut down crushed their SUV, and a fire has erupted.

Basically, they are well and truly trapped.

The struggle to survive without power

Without electricity, some manage better than others. While Scott is quick to whip out the “Tin Meat” to survive, Liv and Chloe are more rational. Well, until their sweet dog Charlie runs away.

All bets are obviously off when the dog goes missing in this mess. Don’t worry, this isn’t John Wick… or, well, only if we’re talking the sequels.

There’s also the neighbor, who delivers his own brand of weirdness. His name is Trip (Bloodline‘s Norbert Leo Butz), and that’s exactly what he is. However, he does have a generator, so he has redeeming qualities.

We first become familiar with the existence of the neighbor when his “date” (Brittany Allen) shows up at the Stewarts by mistake. Her character is a brilliant addition to the quirky world.

Perfect horror comedy casting

Whenever Justin Long is in a genre movie, it immediately goes on my “Must Watch” movie list. From Jeepers Creepers (before we knew about the director) to Sam Raimi‘s Drag Me to Hell, Kevin Smith’s Tusk, and Zach Cregger‘s Barbarian, I just adore him.

Also, I am so happy to see Kate Bosworth (The Immaculate Room) again, and I truly hope she and Justin will continue to make movies together. It just works. And please, do team up with Colin Minihan and Brittany Allen again as well.

See, this is what happens when talent and passion for filmmaking come together, and the focus is on making good movies, not making oneself look good.

Speaking of… If you’ve watched previous Colin Minihan movies, you will have seen Britanny Allen before as well. However, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her quite as funny as in Coyote.

Sure, she’s played fun and quirky characters before, and a movie like It Stains the Sands Red certainly has some elements of dark comedy, despite being first and foremost a horror movie with a zombie apocalypse plot (do check it out!).

Watch Coyotes as soon as you can

As already covered earlier, this movie comes from director Colin Minihan. He previously directed genre movies such as What Keeps You Alive (2018) and the iconic Grave Encounters (2011) as part of The Vicious Brothers.

The screenplay comes from Tad Daggerheart (Black Lotus) and Nick Simon (Truth or Dare), based on the story from the two, along with Daniel Meersand (The Pyramid). Honestly, none of these writers has excelled for me in the past.

Still, with this 2025 movie, Colin Minihan has managed to hit my horror-comedy sweet spot and make all my worries about animals being the villains disappear. Also, it helps that the coyotes are clearly CGI, so thank you for that.

Again, it’s clearly intentional and part of the whole comedic focus of the story. Finally, I have to give a shout-out to the composer as well: Britanny Allen. Alongside acting, she has done quite a few scores. I have enjoyed them all!

Coyotes will open in theaters across the U.S. on October 3, 2025.

Details

Director: Colin Minihan
Script: Tad Daggerhart, Nick Simon
Cast: Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Katherine McNamara, Brittany Allen, Mila Harris, Norbert Leo Butz

Plot

Trapped in their Hollywood Hills home, a family must fight for survival as a pack of savage coyotes closes in.

APPOFENIACS is a new horror movie that focuses on the dangers of AI deepfakes when used purely for evil. Or rather, to create chaos which can (and will) escalate to have wild consequences. Read our full Appofeniacs movie review here!

APPOFENIACS is getting its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest, where I’m sure it will resonate with audiences. In fact, I can’t imagine it won’t be relatable for anyone who watches it.

We live in a world where it feels appropriate to question everything we see – even if not everyone does. No matter how real something looks at first glance, AI and deepfake production have gotten scary good in record time.

Continue reading our Appofeniacs movie review below.

Would you fall for these AI deepfakes?

When watching Appofeniacs, we obviously see AI deepfakes that are not AI, but have been created for the purpose. But the question remains: Would you fall for it?

I have seen plenty of obvious AI productions and various deepfake videos, but they are getting extremely good. In this movie, we’re confronted with a tool that makes AI deepfakes in seconds.

Videos that are indistinguishable from the real thing.

WHAT ARE DEEPFAKES?

Simply put, a deepfake is a video showing a person whose face and/or body has been digitally altered, so they appear to be someone else. Here are some funnier examples of deepfakes >

A real creep, Duke (Aaron Holliday), decided to create some havoc and make several personal deepfake videos with complete disregard for any consequences. However, there are huge consequences, and this movie focuses on them.

Lives are ruined and even ended left and right for no reason. It’s all based on deepfake videos full of lies. But lies that somehow resonate with those who watch it. Just as Duke intended!

Why are people easy to manipulate?

The title of Appofeniacs comes from the word “apophenia”, which is our all-too-human tendency to find patterns or connections in random or unrelated things. Be that data, objects, or events.

To experience this in real life, look at the comments on any social media platform where news is shared. Regardless of religion or ideology, we want to find patterns and have things fit together in ways that support our assumptions.

When we combine confirmation bias with paranoia, conspiracy theories can run amok.

In Appofeniacs, this is used by someone who just wants to annoy people he doesn’t like. He uses a new tool to create deepfake videos of various kinds and sends them to relevant people or shares them on social media platforms.

The results are instant: If you watch a video of someone spewing hate or having an affair, it may confirm something you already suspected (or feared), and it’s easier to accept it.

The lesson of this movie is as obvious as it is difficult to live by: Question everything! And also, please just talk to one another. Communication can help avoid some of the worst examples we see in this movie, though all are believable!

Appofeniacs is screening at Fantastic Fest

Chris Marrs Piliero is the writer and director of Appofeniacs, which will undoubtedly be a hit at the film festival where it’s enjoying its North American premiere.

Previously, Chris Marrs Piliero has made music videos for Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, and Ariana Grande. Now, he has made the move to feature films, and it is looking very good. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Also, the casting of Appofeniacs featured some amazing talent, including Michael Abbott Jr., Sean Gunn, Jermaine Fowler, and even the director. Chris Marrs Piliero steps in front of the camera in a cameo as a barista!

While Appofeniacs deals with something we’re all witnessing in the real world, it highlights the dangers and horrors of AI deepfakes with a nice touch of dark humor. We’re so easy to manipulate… both to anger and laughter.

Appofeniacs is getting its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025. The world premiere was at FrightFest in London.

Details

Director: Chris Marrs Piliero
Writer: Chris Marrs Piliero
Cast: Sean Gunn, Jermaine Fowler, Aaron Holliday, Michael Abbott Jr, Simran Jehani, Amogh Kapoor, Will Brandt, Paige Searcy, Harley Bronwyn

Plot

When Duke goes on a frenzy of reckless deepfake creations, his callous disregard for the consequences reveals a chilling truth: with just a few clicks on a phone app, anyone can fabricate a convincing, deceptive video of an unsuspecting victim — and ruin their life… or end it.

MEAT KILLS is a new Dutch horror slasher (org. title: Vleesdag) that doesn’t quite deliver what I was hoping for. Screening at Fantastic Fest 2025, where I suspect audiences will still have fun with it. Read our full Meat Kills movie review here!

MEAT KILLS (org. title: Vleesdag) is getting its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025. I can’t imagine the film festival audience won’t have a blast watching this. However, it does objectively leave a lot to be desired. Too much, really.

All the characters are ultimately unlikable, and while the practical effects are good, they are also a tad too sloppy for me. The same goes for the story that has way too many holes. Yes, I am admittedly quite disappointed in this one.

Continue reading our Meat Kills movie review below.

Joining the Animal Army

The plot of Meat Kills sounds intriguing enough for an animal lover such as myself. Well, to a point, as I have no desire to become a radical activist. I still believe in love and dialogue over hate and violence.

Though I understand those who have lost faith in it. These are indeed trying times.

Mirthe (Caro Darkx) is a person who has lost faith in dialogue and wants to take action. That’s why she secured a job at a local pig farm as a way to earn her way into the radical activists known as “Animal Army”.

While working at the pig farm, Mirthe documents the abhorrent conditions the animals are living (and dying) in. This becomes her ticket for acceptance, but also the highway to criminal and very violent actions.

Soon, events spiral out of control, and instead of avenging the pigs, it becomes a battle for survival. For everyone, really!

Plenty of potential in the plot

While I was ultimately disappointed in Meat Kills, much of it has to do with the obvious potential of the movie. I mean, it’s a horror slasher that plays out at a local pig farm, which is somehow also a slaughterhouse.

Now, I don’t mean to nitpick (and yet, I absolutely will), but everything about the location just feels off. It’s both a farmhouse for a family, pigs are being bred and raised, and it’s a fairly big slaughtering facility?!

DON’T WORRY, IT COULD BE WORSE

This movie with pigs, slaughtering, and murders got just 1 out of 5 >

It’s just too much for one small family-owned location. Also, I recognize that much of this is for the purpose of the story, but it still needs to make sense. And having a filthy slaughterhouse where everything is somehow “on” even when it’s not being actively used is just stupid.

Then again, if this were my main issue with the movie, I could get past it. What I cannot get past is that everyone is ultimately unlikable and idiotic in their behaviour.

From the whole “running up the stairs when you should be running out the front door”-trope highlighted by Sidney Prescott in Scream almost three decades ago, to “twists” that are as predictable as they are stupid.

Meat Kills is getting its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest

Meat Kills (org. title: Vleesdag) comes from director Martijn Smits and screenwriter Johan Paul de Vrijer. I wish I had liked this more than I did. I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it due to the plot, but that’s sort of the point.

Also, I recognize that I probably wasn’t supposed to root for any of the people in this movie, but that just does not work for me. If I don’t care for or about them, then I don’t care whether they live or die, and what is left to keep me going?

Whatever happens at this one farm, it doesn’t change anything. And again, I recognize that this is the point, but it sure isn’t one that the filmmaker is busy making. It’s all about wild kills and crazy practical effects.

Well, I need more!

The actors in this cast all delivered what the script required. Their characters just weren’t nuanced (or not in believable ways), which they can’t change.

Meat Kills is getting its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025 in Austin, Texas. While Austin is more of a liberal big city, Texas is definitely farming country as well, so it seems only appropriate that it premieres there.

Meat Kills will also be playing at Sitges International Film Festival, which is arguably one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. Spain is another place famous for amazing pork products, so again, an interesting location.

Details

Director: Martijn Smits
Writer: Paul de Vrijer
Stars: Caro Derkx, Derron Lurvink, Sem Ben Yakar, Emma Josten, Bart Oomen, Chardonnay Rillen, Tommy Zonneveld, Sweder de Sitter, Juliëtte van de Weerdt

Plot

A young woman is eager to join the ‘Animal Army,’ a group of radical activists dead set on ending the killing of animals for human consumption. To prove herself, she infiltrates a local pig farm, capturing footage of its incredibly cruel conditions. Galvanized, the group invites her to join them on a late-night rescue mission, but when they arrive, they realize they are too late.

BAD HAIRCUT is a Thriller-Comedy with characters that make it the most insane watch. I absolutely loved it. The villain is unforgettable, and I find myself wanting to keep watching him. Screening at Fantastic Fest 2025. Read our full Bad Haircut movie review here!

BAD HAIRCUT is getting its world premiere at Fantastic Fest, and it seems like a perfect fit for this crazy thriller-comedy. In fairness, one could also label it a horror-comedy, or even add “romance” to the list of genres. It’s on IMDb, too.

The vibe of this genre-hybrid is definitely weird for much of its runtime, but that is exactly what makes it work so well. Okay, and also, Frankie Ray as Mick is a stroke of pure genius. Give me more!

Continue reading our Bad Haircut movie review below.

I won’t cut my hair

Having watched Bad Haircut, I’m not sure I’d ever feel safe going to a new hairdresser. This movie certainly highlights the dangers of being trapped by someone with scissors at their disposal.

Though, to be fair, the scissors are rarely the most dangerous thing about the barber, Mick (Frankie Ray). That would be his whole essence!

When Billy (Spencer Harrison Levin) finds himself wanting a new look, his friends take him to get the best haircut he has ever had. Actually, his friends are the ones who think he should get a new look, but after the opening scene, Billy agrees.

Off they all go to see Mick.

Mick the Barber

Mick has his own salon and is famous for being a barber who only charges seven (yes, 7!) dollars for a haircut. Also, he does not gladly accept tips. Cutting hair is his calling, and he is quick and talented.

Well, usually, he works fast.

However, Billy is a new client, so he needs to take his time and wait for inspiration. What happens next is impossible to explain and should be experienced firsthand.

Let’s just say that tension runs deep and there is much more to this barbershop than meets the eye.

Frankie Ray is a Star!

Billy needs to figure out how to handle Mick, who continues to surprise. Whether with a taco run or a 1970s-style suit.

Also, Mick’s hair is almost a character in itself. I absolutely adored it.

Frankie Ray (The Ice Cream Truck) plays Mick with so much heart and intensity that you almost root for him at times. Of course, he’ll soon do or say something that changes that.

Still, the entertainment value of this character is priceless, and it is all thanks to how Frankie Ray throws himself into portraying him. This actor is perfect for genre-comedy hybrids.

Bad Haircut world premiere at Fantastic Fest

Writer and director of Bad Haircut is Kyle Misak, who delivers on every level. It’s funny, weird, scary, entertaining, and absolutely crazy in all the right ways. A true genre gem that should resonate with film festival audiences worldwide.

I can’t help but wish for more with Frankie Ray’s “Mick”. Every time I thought I knew where this was heading, some new twist came, and made it even better.

When you get the chance to watch this thriller-comedy, you’d better jump at it. This is the kind of movie that could (and should) gain a cult following and become the kind of movie that launches a much bigger career for Kyle Misak.

Bad Haircut is getting its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025.

Details

Director: Kyle Misak
Writer: Kyle Misak
Stars: Spencer Harrison Levin, Frankie Ray, Jake Busey, Kevin Dunn, Larry Hankin

Plot

When a college kid goes to a new place to get a haircut, he discovers that his barber is a psychopath.

CRUSHED is a new psychological thriller with dark horror elements. This is not for the weak of heart – such as myself. A movie that stays with you and can be difficult to forget, which is clearly the point. Screening at Fantastic Fest 2025. Read our full Crushed movie review here!

CRUSHED is a horror-thriller with a psychological driver of a story. One that gets under your skin. Especially if your weak spot is for children or animals. Mine is both, but particularly animals, which is the same for the young girl in the story.

And when I say “young girl”, I do mean a young child. She will also come to play a role that leaves scars on one’s soul. Clearly, this is the intention of the filmmaker, and I respect that. We cannot pretend it doesn’t happen in real life.

Continue reading our Crushed movie review below. Screening at Fantastic Fest 2025.

Your faith in everything will be challenged

Crushed plays out in the suburbs of Bangkok, Thailand. Here, we meet a British pastor, Daniel (Steve Oram), his Thai wife, May (Nattapohn Rawddon), and their ten-year-old daughter, Olivia.

Their lives are seemingly peaceful and idyllic, with Olivia going to school and Daniel caring for his congregation. They discuss scripture at home, and as a pastor, he believes in love and compassion.

Unfortunately, Olivia is about to have her faith in a loving God challenged.

It all begins when a video depicting extreme animal cruelty is circulating. An older boy shows Olivia this video, solely to torment her.

Olivia cannot let go of these disturbing images, and when her beloved new kitten disappears shortly after, nightmares about its fate start haunting her. She sets out to find and rescue her kitten, and instead, she’s captured herself.

Daniel and May struggle to cope with their daughter’s disappearance, which will soon lead them to a world they knew existed, but clearly hoped never to be confronted with.

Now, this is true horror

At its core, Crushed is essentially a true crime horror movie. Everything we see and hear about in the movie happens in the real world. Every single day. Fortunately, most of us are blessed that we’re not confronted with it.

Still, all the more reason to recognize and acknowledge that we are indeed the lucky ones. Also, it probably means you (like myself) live in a part of the world where the rights of children and animals are offered better protection.

Well, in theory, anyway. Surely, we all still acknowledge that abuse of children and animals happens worldwide. And no, I’m not just talking about child labor or the meat industry, but actual abuse for the sake of causing physical harm.

Like I said, Crushed is not for the weak of heart. As someone who cannot stand when animals are hurt or abused, this was a very difficult watch for me. However, this filmmaker never utilizes gratuitous shots.

Instead, he uses sound and implies things, so our own minds fill in the blanks. It’s both brilliant and impacts its viewers even deeper. Well, this viewer, anyway.

Crushed has its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest

Simon Rumley is the writer and director of Crushed. He previously made the movie Red White & Blue (2010). That movie also stayed with me for quite some time after watching it – as will this 2025 movie.

Also, the topic of “crushing”, featured in this movie, has already been explored by Simon Rumley. That happened in the short “P is for Pressure”, which was a segment in The ABCs of Death (2012).

There is usually a physical aspect to the horror in his movies and stories, but somehow, they are still mainly in the psychological horror realm. Not least when the villains of this movie point out certain double standards.

Crushed is not a movie I enjoyed watching, but this is clearly very intentional. Also, it ensures I certainly won’t forget it anytime soon. A raw and relentless look at the darker side of human nature.

Crushed is screening at Fantastic Fest 2025.

Details

Director: Simon Rumley
Writer: Simon Rumley
Stars: Steve Oram, Kevin Lea Davies, May Nattaporn Rawddon, Christian Ferriera, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Nadech Chatwin, Margaux Dietrich

Plot

A family’s faith and resilience are tested when their daughter is kidnapped, leading to a harrowing journey of discovery and justice.

THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN is a new documentary about a city that becomes Halloweentown once a year on Halloween. This isn’t true crime or anything, but rather about the love of the spooky season. Read our The Spirit of Halloweentown documentary review here!

THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN is a new documentary about a city that becomes Halloweentown every Halloween. Or rather, the residents of the city turn it into the iconic town of the Disney movie Halloweentown.

And this decision has proved very good for business. This isn’t a true crime documentary. We’re covering it because it’s about people who love the spooky season so much that it’s now in the DNA of the city of St. Helens, Oregon.

Continue reading our The Spirit of Halloweentown documentary review below. The documentary just had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024.

From Disney classic to smalltown tradition

The Spirit of Halloweentown is about the Halloween destination in St. Helens, Oregon, that has over 50,000 visitors every October.

It all began in 1998 when the Disney Channel Original Movie Halloweentown was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon. Since then, St. Helens has embraced its Halloween status more than anyone could have anticipated.

This new documentary is described as “an observational portrait of St. Helens 25 years later” and it couldn’t be said much better, so I won’t attempt to.

In The Spirit of Halloweentown, we’re focusing on a few select residents as the entire town prepares to transform the town from St. Helens to Halloweentown.

This has become part of their identity while they also adhere to the small-town stereotype of being weary of outsiders. You may be from a city over or the other side of the country, but you’re an outsider all the same.

There isn’t too much drama in that respect, but outsiders should certainly mind their manners. As one new restaurant owner will learn the hard way. It’s his own fault really (which he agrees on), but this one instance is classic small-town drama.

Not everyone loves the spooky season

Of course, if you’re living in St. Helens and aren’t a fan of Halloween, then you’re in for a tough time each and every October. Of course, one could say this goes for any town all over the USA, but it’s still more extreme in St. Helens, Oregon.

Not least due to all the tourists that come from near and far. Good for business, bad for spooky season haters. However, also entertaining for us documentary viewers as we get to hear why this one God-fearing (of course!) woman hates it!

We follow people as they prepare for events during Halloween.

From the zombie cheerleaders getting their routine down and making sure they do so without smiling. And on to the woman, who makes rubber duck surprises for kids who might be overwhelmed by it all.

And, of course, a stellar haunted house where the woman greeting visitors has lost her voice after just a few days. But she still hangs in there and just saves her voice in between opening hours.

The Spirit of Halloweentown premiered at Fantastic Fest 2024

Acclaimed documentary filmmakers Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb (Jasper Mall, Butterfly in the Sky) have created a heartfelt portrait of the residents of St. Helens as they celebrate Halloween.

Of course, along with all the quirky people who just love turning St. Helens into Halloweentown, there are those who believe the city is actually haunted.

For me, that was the weakest part of the documentary. It could’ve been anywhere as we just see them going around in different rooms like every other “haunted” documentary. In fact, I found it boring while everything else was fascinating.

If you’re a fan of Halloween (and the movie Halloweentown, in particular), then you should check out this documentary. It’s a character study that never judges its participants but rather allows them to show us who they are.

The Spirit of Halloweentown is reviewed as Fantastic Fest 2024 coverage.

Details

Directed by: Bradford Thomason & Brett Whitcomb
Field Producer: Rebecca Sheehan
Cinematographer: Brett Whitcomb
Editor: Bradford Thomason
Genres: Horror, Documentary

Plot

In 1998, the Disney Channel Original Movie “Halloweentown” was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon. Since then, the town has become a de facto Halloween destination with over 50,000 visitors each October.

“The Spirit of Halloweentown” is an observational portrait of St. Helens 25 years later focusing on its residents as they transform the town and navigate their inescapable identity. Just as ghouls and ghosts inhabit the Halloweentown of the movie, many St. Helens residents believe their town to be truly haunted. As visitors pour into the city and specters of all kinds fill the autumn air, life for the locals in Halloweentown becomes much more than the celebration of a movie. It’s a quest for belonging and a reckoning with demons both personal and spiritual.

GHOST KILLER is a Japanese Supernatural Action-Thriller with a World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024. It’s absolutely awesome, so you’ll want to check it out as soon as possible. Read our full Ghost Killer movie review here!

GHOST KILLER is a new action-thriller from Japan. Its plot is essentially a supernatural horror story but with action and comedy as the main drivers. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it!

This Japanese Supernatural Action-Thriller just celebrated its World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2024. I think it’s the perfect place for it to premiere as it’s a gorgeous genre hybrid that deserves a strong world premiere.

Continue reading our Ghost Killer movie review below.

A new kind of ghost story

If you remember the iconic 1990 movie Ghost, then you should imagine a young Japanese girl instead of the Whoopi Goldberg character, and a Japanese hitman instead of the charming and kind character played by Patrick Swayze.

Also, a lot of amazing stunts and action sequences with the most delicious martial arts fight scenes!

Fumika Matsuoka (Akari Takaishi) is a young woman struggling with all the same issues as any other young person. She’s getting an education while holding a crappy job to live in her tiny (yet barely affordable) apartment.

Also, her best friend has a boyfriend who is abusive and she’s constantly fighting off much older men, who think they can get with her.

All is normal for Fumika until she becomes the vessel for a professional assassin. Hideo Kudo (Masanori Mimoto) is the ghost of the assassin who is now following her around. And yes, sometimes takes over her body.

However, only with her consent. The first accidental possession wasn’t one either of them expected. Now, to get rid of this ghost, she must help him make things right. In the case of Hideo, he must avenge his own death by killing his assassin.

Also, Hideo is more than happy to help Fumika dole out some justice of her own along the way.

Ghost Killer premiered at Fantastic Fest 2024

Ghost Killer is directed by Kensuke Sonomura. He has been a stunt performer and action director on almost 70 feature films. Basically, he has made a huge impact on the way Japanese action has evolved over the past two decades.

Looking at movies that have screened at Fantastic Fest, he’s been the lead fight choreographer for six titles. His style is unbelievably smooth and so damn fast. If you blink, you will miss awesome moves.

Of course, this also requires a lot of the two lead actors, but Akari Takaishi (as Fumika) and Masanori Mimoto (as Hideo) are more than up for the task. Also, both have excellent comedic timing which is another thing required in this movie.

Ghost Killer is a movie you should look forward to checking out. In fact, I’m already looking forward to watching it again!

Ghost Killer is reviewed as part of our Fantastic Fest 2024 coverage.

Details

Director: Kensuke Sonomura
Writer: Yugo Sakamoto
Stars: Akari Takaishi, Mario Kuroba, Masanori Mimoto

Plot

After being possessed by the ghost of vengeful hit man Kudo, college student Fumika Matsuoka agrees to help him finish his quest for vengeance from beyond the grave.