Photo Credit: Jesse Haddock
Movie fans in Los Angeles are set to be scared this month, as Screamfest Horror Film Festival has announced the first wave of its official 2018 film line up. Now in its 18th year, America’s largest and longest running horror film festival is scheduled from October 9-18 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood. The festival has provided a platform for filmmakers and actors to showcase their latest work to audiences.
Actress Lin Shaye, the star of the successful horror franchise, ‘Insidious,’ as well as other popular horror films as ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’ ‘Dead End,’ ‘2001 Maniacs’ and the soon-to-be-released reboot, ‘Grudge,’ will serve as this year’s festival ambassador. “Screaming is good for the soul,” said Shaye. “I am extremely excited and honored to serve as this year’s Screamfest ambassador! I’m thrilled to support and celebrate a space where filmmakers, actors and fans can unveil their hard work, and celebrate the horror genre.”
Screamfest Horror Film Festival, which is best known for discovering ‘Paranormal Activity’ in 2007, will offer access to some of the most creative forces in the horror genre. That access will be granted through film screenings, Q&As and conversations with some of the most captivating artists working in the industry today. Film festival badges and individual film are currently on sale on the festival’s official website. All screenings are open to the general public.
Screamfest Horror Film Festival has announced that the following films have been admitted to the festival:
Splinter-Versary – 10 year anniversary screening of ‘Splinter’:
‘Splinter’ premiered at Screamfest 2008 and took home six awards that year.
Synopsis: A couple retreats to the wilderness for the weekend but are car-jacked by an escaped convict and his girlfriend on the run from the police. As they travel the backroads, they find themselves in deeper trouble. A parasitic creature has taken over the woods, and the two couples are now in its sights. Finding shelter at a gas station, they must use their wits and every weapon at their disposal to stave off the onslaught, not only from the insatiable creature, but also each other.
Directed by: Toby Wilkins
Written by: Ian Shorr and Kai Barry
Main Cast: Shea Whigham, Paulo Costanzo and Jill Wagner
‘Amityville Murders’: (US) – 2018
Directed and written by: Daniel Farrands
Cast: John Robinson, Chelsea Ricketts, Paul Ben-Victor, Diane Franklin, Burt Young and Lainie Kazan
Synopsis: On the night of November 13, 1974, Ronald DeFeo, Jr. took a high-powered rifle and murdered his entire family as they slept. At his trial, DeFeo claimed that “voices” in the house commanded him to kill. This is their story.
World Premiere
‘Dementia II’ (US) – 2018
Directed, written and produced by: Matt Mercer and Mike Testin
Cast: Suzanne Voss, Matt Mercer, Najarra Townsend and Graham Skipper
Suzanne wasn’t always this confused. She wasn’t always dead either… When an ex-con takes a job as a handyman for an unstable elderly woman to avoid a parole violation, it becomes a choice he may regret.
West Coast Premiere
‘Discarnate’ (US) – 2018
Directed by: Mario Sorrenti
Written by: Mario Miscione and Marcella Ochoa
Cast: Thomas Kretschmann, Nadine Velazquez, Josh Stewart, Chris Coy and Bex Taylor-Klaus
A neuroscientist’s obsession with a drug that expands the human mind inadvertently unleashes a deadly supernatural force on his team.
World Premiere
‘The Final Wish’ (US) 2018
Directed by: Timothy Woodward Jr.
Written by: Jeffrey Reddick, Jonathan Doyle and William Halfon
Cast: Shaye, Michael Welch (‘Twilight’ franchise, ‘All The Boys Love Mandy Lane‘) Tony Todd (‘Final Destination,’ ‘Hell Fest,’ ‘Candyman’) Spencer Locke (‘Insidious: The Last Key,’ ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife,’ ‘Resident Evil: Extinction’)
Synopsis: From the creator of the ‘Final Destination’ franchise comes a new tale of death. Following the passing of his father, Aaron Hammond (Welch) returns to his hometown to help his devastated mother (Shaye) and to confront his past demons. Shifting through his father’s belongings, Aaron comes upon a mysterious item that is far more than it seems.
World Premiere
‘Open 24 Hours’ (US) 2018
Directed and written by: Padraig Reynolds
Cast: Emily Tennant, Brendan Fletcher and Vanessa Grasse
Synopsis: A paranoid delusional woman, Mary White (Grasse), has just been released from a mental hospital for setting her serial killer boyfriend on fire. Her boyfriend, James Lincoln Fields is a brutal serial killer known as The Rain Ripper. After being released from the Hospital, Mary’s vulnerable demeanor aids her in obtaining employment at an all night petrol station. However, left alone to her own devices, her paranoia and hallucinations return with furious consequences. Customers and friends suddenly start turning up dead, mutilated, all around her. Is The Rain Ripper back to finish her off?
West Coast Premiere
‘Pledge’ (US) 2018
Directed by: Daniel Robbins
Written by: Zack Weiner
Cast: Zachery Byrd, Aaron Dalla Villa, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Phillip Andre Botello, Jesse Pimentel, Erica Boozer, Joe Gallagher, Weiner and Jean-Louis Droulers
A group of college freshmen pledge an exclusive fraternity but soon realize there’s more at stake than they could have ever imagined.
US Premiere
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