The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival announced an impressive full slate of programming for its 2023 edition, running October 12-19 with all screenings held at Nitehawk Cinema’s Williamsburg and Prospect Park locations.
From the press release:
The Opening Night film is the World Premiere of KILL YOUR LOVER from directors Alix Austin and Kier Siewert, who previously announced themselves to the BHFF audience last year with their short film SUCKER. The 2023 festival boasts the World Premieres of three more exciting new films: GAIA director Jaco Bouwer’s unsettling BREATHING IN, Aimee Kuge’s audacious debut CANNIBAL MUKBANG, and Tyler Chipman’s powerfully creepy debut THE SHADE. The festival’s other spotlight titles include director Pascal Plante’s recently announced Utopia Distribution title RED ROOMS as the festival’s Centerpiece Film, and Jenn Wexler’s ’70s supernatural Christmas horror THE SACRIFICE GAME as the Closing Night Film.
Additional highlights include NYC horror royalty Larry Fessenden’s latest, the werewolf chiller BLACKOUT; the Adams Family’s decade-spanning HELLBENDER follow-up, WHERE THE DEVIL ROAMS; SXSW official selection MONOLITH; Brazilian chamber piece PROPERTY; Amanda Kramer’s tech-minded documentary SO UNREAL; Cannes selection TIGER STRIPES; Robert Morgan’s trippy animation/live-action hybrid STOPMOTION; and Jason Yu’s SLEEP, hot off its inclusion as part of TIFF Midnight Madness.
Festival badges are on sale now and a limited amount of individual tickets go on sale this Friday at 12PM EST here. Full program info is detailed below.
KILL YOUR LOVEROPENING NIGHT FILM
World PremiereUK | 2023 | 77 Min. | Dir. Alix Austin, Kier SiewertDakota has had enough of her unhealthy and toxic relationship with Axel, but the feeling isn’t mutual. As she tries to end things, Axel begins turning into something different, something monstrous. Both an uncompromising breakup film and a wild new entry into the body horror canon, co-directors Alix Austin and Kier Siewert’s debut feature roars with a punk edge and killer practical effects and soars via dynamite performances from newcomers Paige Gilmour and Shane Quigley-Murphy.
RED ROOMSCENTERPIECE FILMEast Coast PremiereCanada | 2023 | 118 Min. | Dir. Pascal PlanteA serial killer is put on trial for the gruesome murders of three little girls while an enigmatic stranger searches for the missing snuff video needed to indict him.THE SACRIFICE GAMECLOSING NIGHT FILMEast Coast PremiereUSA | 2023 | 97 Min. | Dir. Jenn WexlerYuletide terror invades a Catholic school as two teenagers spend the holidays with their teacher.ALL YOU NEED IS DEATHEast Coast PremiereIreland | 2023 | 91 Min. | Dir. Paul DuaneA secret organization seeking out obscure songs unleashes a series of supernatural events when they come across the wrong tune in this uniquely creepy work of Irish folk horror.BLACKOUTNYC PremiereUSA | 2023 | 103 Min. | Dir. Larry FessendenAfter a string of grisly murders rocks his small town, tortured artist Charley (Alex Hurt) starts to suspect that he transforms into a werewolf during his frequent drinking binges.BOOGERU.S. PremiereUSA | 2023 | 78 Min. | Dir. Mary DautermanA woman undergoes a strange transformation following the sudden death of her roommate and best friend.BREATHING INWorld PremiereSouth Africa | 2023 | 105 Min. | Dir. Jaco BouwerGAIA director Jaco Bouwer returns with a moody, quietly unsettling chamber piece, adapted from a South African play, in which a wounded General at the turn of the 20th century looks for help inside the wrong home.CANNIBAL MUKBANGWorld PremiereUSA | 2023 | 100 Min. | Dir. Aimee KugeAn introverted nerd finds himself dangerously deep inside the crazy world of mukbanging after he falls head over heels for a mysterious woman.CONANNNY PremiereBelgium, France, Luxembourg | 2023 | 105 Min. | Dir. Bertrand MandicoGenre cinema’s incomparable auteur Bertrand Mandico returns to Brooklyn Horror with his craziest work yet, a time-jumping and visually wild riff on the Conan the Barbarian story.CRUMB CATCHERNYC PremiereUSA | 2023 | 105 Min. | Dir. Chris SkotchdopoleShane and Leah’s already fraught honeymoon takes quite the turn for the worse when they are bombarded with an unexpected visit from an ill-intentioned inventor and his wife.FEMMENY PremiereUK | 2023 | 99 Min. | Dir. Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon PingAfter suffering a brutal homophobic attack, drag queen Jules emerges back on the scene in this propulsive and ferocious revenge thriller, co-starring George MacKay (1917).THE J-HORROR VIRUSNorth American PremiereUK | 2023 | 95 Min. | Dir. Sarah Appleton, Jasper SharpMore than two decades ago, a group of Japanese directors including Hideo Nakata, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Takashi Shimizu ushered in a new wave of horror cinema that completely changed the game.MONOLITHNY PremiereAustralia | 2022 | 94 Min. | Dir. Matt VeselyWith her career on the ropes, a journalist (Lily Sullivan, EVIL DEAD RISE) happens upon a disturbing mystery involving a black brick destroying the lives of those who come across it.ONLY THE GOOD SURVIVENYC PremiereUSA | 2023 | 92 Min. | Dir. Dutch SouthernA burglary gone horribly sideways leaves one survivor to tell the tale in this refreshingly unpredictable and vibrant genre mash-up of horror, comedy and heist film.PROPERTYNY PremiereBrazil | 2023 | 101 Min. | Dir. Daniel BandeireOn the verge of losing their only source of work and shelter, tensions erupt as a community of exploited farmhands wage bloody rebellion against their employers.
FEAR IN FOCUS: JAPAN
Fear in Focus is back with a special Japan edition! The festival’s perennial sidebar, this year presented by Arrow Video, which celebrates a specific region’s exceptional work within horror, turns its eyes to one of the original and most enduring purveyors of the genre.The program includes a rare screening of the 1926 silent masterwork A PAGE OF MADNESS, featuring a live original score from The Flushing Remonstrance, and a 35th anniversary presentation of 1988’s forgotten home invasion shocker DOOR. The J-Horror era is also represented by a 25th anniversary screening of 1998’s essential RINGU as well as the North American premiere of THE J-HORROR VIRUS, a new documentary that delves into the history and lasting impact of this highly influential wave in horror cinema.Rounding out the offerings will be a fascinating session from the popular Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies with Professor Sigmund Shen highlighting the aforementioned RINGU and GOJIRA as allegories to reckon with a traumatic past.A PAGE OF MADNESS (w/ Live Score)Japan | 1926 | 88 Min. | Dir. Teinosuke KinugasaJ-horror’s earliest, and arguably most nightmarish, silent film masterwork is brought to new life courtesy of a live score from The Flushing Remonstrance.
DOOR – 35th AnniversaryNY PremiereJapan | 1988 | 93 Min. | Dir. Banmei TakahashiSmitten with a lonely housewife, a slighted psycho salesman terrorizes her and her young son in this outrageous home invasion classic unreleased outside of Japan until now.
Miskatonic Institute Of Horror Studies: Nightmares of War: Haunted Scientists in RINGU and GOJIRADespite recent Hollywood portrayals of the Manhattan Project (OPPENHEIMER) and Operation Paperclip (INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY), one controversial World War II operation remains largely taboo and obscure: the human medical experiments conducted by Unit 731 of the Imperial Japanese Army. Please join Professor Sigmund Shen for a fascinating analysis of Hideo Nakata’s RINGU (1998) and Ishiro Honda’s GOJIRA (1954) as allegories for the struggles of Japanese historians, journalists, and scientists to reckon with memories of this traumatic past.
RINGU – 25th Anniversary (4K Restoration)Japan | 1998 | 88 Min. | Dir. Hideo NakataA seminal work of scary-as-hell J-horror excellence, Hideo Nakata’s classic receives a well-deserved special 25th anniversary screening to give fans and newcomers alike post-viewing sleepless nights.
STAFF PICKS
As evidenced by this year’s VHS-packed poster, Brooklyn Horror’s 2023 edition is the festival’s lively trip back to the days of box covers and rewind-worthy horror discoveries, taking on the spirit of an eight-day haunted video store experience. And much like the local video store employees did for customers back in the day, our programmers have curated a selection of classic “Staff Picks” to either introduce or reacquaint audiences with a few hardcore gems of yesteryear.ANGST – 40th AnniversaryAustria | 1983 | 73 Min. | Dir. Gerald KarglExperience one of the most disturbing serial killer films ever made in this special 40th anniversary screening of Austrian filmmaker Gerald Kargl’s brilliant exercise in bleakness.
MANIAC COP – 35th Anniversary (w/ Q&A)USA | 1988 | 85 Min. | Dir. William LustigCelebrate 35 years of ’80s horror excellence as we screen NYC horror royalty Bill Lustig’s raucous classic Maniac Cop, in which an undead police officer goes on a gruesome Big Apple rampage.
MESSIAH OF EVIL – 50th AnniversaryUSA | 1973 | 90 Min. | Dir. Willard Huyck, Gloria KatzLong before they made 1986’s Howard the Duck, Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz went in an entirely other direction for this immensely disturbing cosmic horror masterpiece, newly restored by AGFA and Radiance Films.
TORSO – 50th AnniversaryItaly | 1973 | 90 Min. | Dir. Sergio MartinoHead back to early 1970s Italy and watch the body count rise as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sergio Martino’s exceptional giallo classic with a special late-night screening.
SHORT FILMS
NIGHTMARE FUELFor truly scary filmmaking, look no further than this yearly dose of terrifying shorts, with 2023’s batch including new spins on folk horror, home invasions, and CHRISTINE-like automotive horror. Stop Dead, dir. Emily Greenwood (UK); A Whim to Kill, dir. Tiange Xiang (China); Leech, dir. George Coley (UK); Mosquito Lady, dir. Kristine Gerolaga (USA); Alicia, dir. Tony Morales (Spain); Ride Baby Ride, dir. Sofie Somoroff (USA); I Wanna See, dir. Max Friedman (USA); The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras, dir. Craig Williams (UK); The Queue, dir. Michael Rich (USA); My Scary Indian Wedding, dir. Ramone Menon (USA)HEAD TRIPBack to annihilate your senses with all things creepy, psychological, soul crushing and satirical, these shorts play all over the horror sandbox to really screw you up. Oddities, dir. Tyler Savage; Catching Spirits, dir. Vanessa Beletic; Every House is Haunted, dir. Bryce McGuire; I Could Just Die, and That Would Be All Right, dir. A.K. Espada; Pruning, dir. Lola Blanc; The Influencer, dir. Lael Rogers; Meadowville, dir. Phillip Clark DavisSLAYED: LGBTQ Horror Shorts – Presented by Horror PressIntimate body horror, wild forays into the supernatural, and a first-class giallo homage fuel this year’s edition of Brooklyn Horror’s popular queer horror celebration.Ringing Rocks, dir. Gus Reed (USA); High Fun, dir. Adesh Prasad (India); Pool Party, dir. Ellie Stewart (Canada); In Your Hands, dir. Luigi Sibona (UK); The Angels, dir. Abby Rae Cornelius, Cheri Green (USA); La Vedova Nera, dir. Fiume, Julian McKinnon (France); Vibrator Girl, dir. Kara Strait (USA)LAUGH NOW DIE LATERAlways raucous and can’t-miss, Brooklyn Horror’s annual collection of horror-comedy excellence returns with post-apocalyptic hijinx, mind-warping insects, and incompetent slashers.We Forgot About the Zombies, dir. Chris McInroy (USA); CONTENT: The Lo-Fi Man, dir. Brian Lonano (USA); Dead Enders, dir. Fidel Ruiz-Healy, Tyler Walker (USA); Sylvie Made It, dir. Adrien Orville (Belgium); Tiny Thing, dir. Joshua Guiliano (USA); Fck’n Nuts, dir. Sam Fox (USA); Murder Camp, dir. Clara I Aranovich (USA)HOME INVASION #1 – Presented by Cool Hand MoversYour one-stop shop for the best in local genre shorts, this annual program is an ever-impressive showcase for the boundless talent and twisted imaginations of NYC filmmakers.Florence in Customer Care, dir. Jordan Sommerlad, Corey Stonebrook; hArmless, dir. Elizabeth Cappuccino; Beneath Cracked Pavement, dir. Marcus Fahey; All Your Women Things, dir. Madison Bloom; Mercury, dir. Clara Dubau; Rejoice in the Lamb; dir. Will Carington, Courtney Bush, Jake Goicoechea; Ties, dir. Esteban BaileyHOME INVASION #2 – Presented by Cool Hand MoversThe perennial madness continues as Brooklyn Horror presents a second lethal dose of the best genre shorts from NYC filmmakers. Red Gloves, dir. Santiago Saba Salem; The Third Ear, dir. Nathan Ginter; Leaving Yellowstone, dir. Kayla Arend; Variations on a Theme, dir. Peter Collins Campbell; Versace Softboi, dir. Charlie Gillette, Sarah Metcalf; Smothered, dir. Heather Luscombe; Boyhoarder, dir. Gabrielle Carrubba
SPECIAL EVENTS
Final Exam Horror Trivia – Presented by Dark Sky FilmsDo you think you know more about horror films than the rest of Gotham? Then it’s time to prove it via five blistering rounds of expert level creepy trivia with hosts Ted Geoghegan (director of WE ARE STILL HERE and Shudder’s BROOKLYN 45) and journalist Michael Gingold (of Fangoria and Rue Morgue fame)! Meet new friends, win amazing prizes, and learn more about horror cinema exclusively at Final Exam!Certified Forgotten Podcast Certified Forgotten is a 60-minute bi-weekly horror movie podcast with a focus on underseen films. Hosts Matt Donato and Matt Monagle speak with creators, filmmakers, and critics about their lifelong relationships to the horror genre. Each episode also highlights another unique genre title with ten-or-fewer reviews on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes that’s picked by the guest, letting them champion each episode’s title to their heart’s content.
LEVIATHAN AWARD
2023 also marks the introduction of the Leviathan Award, Brooklyn Horror’s first-ever tribute award created to honor the luminaries of horror and acknowledge their monstrous contributions to the genre. This year’s recipient is none other than legendary NYC horror filmmaker and conservationist William Lustig. From a catalog of enduring canonical efforts such as MANIAC and MANIAC COP to his invaluable contributions to film restoration with his distribution label Blue Underground, Lustig has dedicated a decades-long career to championing genre film. A true lover and supporter of cinema, we can think of no one more deserving of this inaugural award than him. The award presentation will be followed by a special 35th anniversary screening of his 1988 NYC action-horror classic MANIAC COP and a Q&A.
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