★★★★ Frankie Freako writer/director Steven Kostanski is certainly no stranger to the strange and unusual. After all, this is the same guy responsible for The Void, Leprechaun Returns, and perhaps most notably, Psycho Goreman. The latter film certainly feels closest in tone to this genre mish-mash, a pastiche of extraordinarily repugnant late 80s/early 90s content … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: Frankie Freako
Fantastic Fest 2024: Ebony and Ivory
★★★ As if writer/director Jim Hoskins had not crafted a strange enough film with 2016’s immaculately terrible The Greasy Strangler, along comes Ebony and Ivory to even the playing field. For viewers who found that film to be a particular brand of insanity, just wait for what lies in Ebony and Ivory. Loosely plotted and overflowing … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2024: Ebony and Ivory
Fantastic Fest 2023 Wrap-Up
While some of the most exciting Fantastic Fest titles were only in person (including those secret screenings!), back here in New York, we still managed to cover quite a few titles virtually. In fact, one of the films is definitely among the best foreign titles of the year. Don't miss our full coverage of the … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 Wrap-Up
Fantastic Fest 2023: Totally Killer
★★★★★ For my final film of 2023’s Fantastic Fest, retro slasher horror/comedy Totally Killer closes out the festival with a bloody bang! In the vein of camp-tastic slashers The Final Girls, Freaky, and Happy Death Day, this Blumhouse/Amazon Studios production appears destined for yearly Halloween-season viewing. New blood in the genre sometimes reaps the best … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: Totally Killer
Fantastic Fest 2023: Your Lucky Day
★★★★ “What would you do if you had one million dollars?” This age-old question recurs even today, often driving people to some dangerous extremes in order to make money. Promising to be “based on the American dream,” Your Lucky Day is a twisted modern thriller wrapped in a morality fable. Dedicated to the late Angus … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: Your Lucky Day
Fantastic Fest 2023: The Animal Kingdom
★★★★★ A grounded, frequently disturbing sci-fi/fantasy drama, The Animal Kingdom tears into chilling body horror elements and complex commentary about embracing the animal inside. Set in the near future, a “disease” characterized by physical, animalistic transformations has spread across the world. Those infected face intense outward discrimination, not to mention asylum experimentation. Embracing the obvious … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: The Animal Kingdom
Fantastic Fest 2022: Terrifier 2
★★★★★ At long last, new horror icon Art the Clown makes his triumphant return to the big screen! Terrifier 2, from writer/director Damien Leone, is one of the best cinematic bloodbaths in years. Evoking Halloween Kills, The Devil’s Rejects, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, the nightmarish delights of this high-concept indie slasher title easily … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2022: Terrifier 2
Fantastic Fest 2022 Wrap-Up
2022's epic Fantastic Fest finally comes to a close, and with it so does our coverage. We ran plenty of reviews this week, but if you’ve been wondering about some of those titles on the fringes, we have got our readers covered! Check out our full coverage of the festival after the jump, including Birdemic … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2022 Wrap-Up
Fantastic Fest 2022: The Offering
★★★ The Offering promises an alternative brand of horror drenched in Jewish folklore and demonology, and thankfully, that is exactly what it delivers. Forget about the occasionally stilted acting and the sometimes-iffy CGI—let yourself get wrapped up in the eerie, mysterious vibes. Movies like The Vigil and The Possession would be proud to count The … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2022: The Offering
Fantastic Fest 2022: Smile
★★★★★ 2022 is officially the year of horror, as the genre continues its absolute domination courtesy of yet another excellent title. Smile, the memorable new flick from debut writer/director Parker Flynn, may channel The Ring by way of narrative, but the horrific imagery and biting humor is a brand all its own. The whole ordeal … Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2022: Smile