Now in its 14th year, for lovers of horror and fantasy cinema Film4 FrightFest is the place to be.
Every August Bank Holiday thousands of film fans descend on the Empire cinema in London’s Leicester Square for five days of fear n’ fun. And with over 50 movies playing across multiple screens, Frightfest 2013 promises to be another gala year of ghoulish delights.
Cinemagoers this August can expect a bodybag crammed with the most exciting, innovating and enjoyable movies from the UK, Hollywood and around the globe.
Glossy high budget thrills come courtesy of Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges’ comic book adaptation R.I.P.D (receiving its UK premiere at FrightFest), the barmy fun of Odd Thomas with Star Trek’s Anton Yelchin, the European Premiere of the eagerly anticipated Curse of Chucky, Die Hard 2 director Renny Harlin’s The Dyatolov Pass Incident and more.
On top of this, Frightfest 2013 opens and closes with two must-see movies. The Ford Brothers’ The Dead 2: India, a follow-up to 2010’s zombie gem The Dead, kicks off events in grisly style and promises to be another interesting journey down the oft-trod zombie road. You can read my interview with the Fords discussing the first movie here.
Closing events after five breathless days is Big Bad Wolves, a black comedy thriller from the directors of Israeli smash Rabies.
Between these two are other hits guaranteed to provide meat for the mind and fireworks for the senses. Movies we’re tingling with excitement to see are We Are What We Are, the English language remake of the 2010 Argentinean belter, Dark Tourist, a Taxi Driver style thriller co-starring Melanie Griffith, Haunter, from Splice and Cube director Vincenzo Natali, and V/H/S/2, the follow-up to 2011’s portmanteau pulse-quickener.
Stars in attendance include The Raid director Gareth Evans who may reveal secrets of his hotly-awaited second instalment, comedy legend Bobcat Goldthwait, bringing his movie Willow Creek, visionary director Ben (Kill List) Wheatley, Southland star Michael Culditz and many others… including Hollyoak’s Jemma Dallander and Eastenders’ Joe Absolom if you need to get soapy. They’ll be discussing shocker sequel I Spit On Your Grave 2.
Beyond the movies, the party atmosphere is what makes FrightFest an event to visit again and again. Organisers Alan Jones, Paul McEvoy, Ian Rattray and Greg Day put blood, sweat, tears and more blood into ensuring everyone leaves smiling, and the FrightFest fans are possibly the best festival crowd with whom to get scared.
Be excited, be very excited…
Rob Daniel
FrightFest 2013 runs from Thursday 22nd to Monday 26th August. More details can be found on the official FrightFest site.
And remember, turn off your bloody phone!
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