Like horror a bit? Like horror a lot? Like horror so much that nothing sounds better than the prospect of being up to your eyeballs in survivalist slashers, creature features, ghost stories, goreflicks, psychothrillers and apocalyptic nightmares for four-and-a-half days solid? Well, the Film4 FrightFest 2008 will have something for you.
This, the UK’s (nay, the world’s) biggest and best horror and fantasy film festival, will as usual be spread (like a contagion) over the August Bank Holiday, in the underbelly of Leicester Square’s Odeon West End. A full weekend pass will grant you access to 26 new features (including six world and 16 UK premieres), as well as the usual assortment of special guest appearances, Q&A’s, sneak previews, short films, signings, competition prizes and give-aways – but if that sounds like overkill, day passes and individual film tickets are also available.
This year’s FrightFest features more new British horror than ever – six features in all from the UK, including Steven Sheil’s Mum & Dad and Sean Ellis’ The Broken, and starting with the world premiere of James Watkins’ controversy-baiting ‘hoodie horror’ Eden Lake (which will open the festival).
From the rest of the world, likely highlights will be Sweden’s well-received genre hybrid Let the Right One In, France’s near-unwatchably extreme Martyrs, Korea’s frantic psycho-noir The Chaser, Spain’s meticulously plotted Time Crimes (soon to be remade by David Cronenberg), the bonkers body horror of Japan’s Tokyo Gore Police, and the ‘fully immersive’ splatter of the US’s Scar 3D. Also, coming from cult eighties director Frank Henenlotter (the man who brought us late-night favourites Basket Case, Brain Damage and Frankenhooker), Bad Biology promises to toss all manner of bones at the sick puppies amongst us.
The Film4 FrightFest 2008 – 21st-25th August, Odeon West End. The full programme and ticketing details can be found at www.frightfest.co.uk. If you like horror at all, missing it would be murder.
