I’m a fairly recent convert to the horror genre. As a fledgling member of the Scaredy Cat Club, I used to avoid those movies like the plague. I had one rule and one rule only: horror films must begin in the A.M. That meant I would have enough time to brush off the heeby jeebies throughout the day.
Not anymore.
Now I seek it out, and it just so happens that Grimmfest, a terrific horror movie festival in Manchester in the North West of England, is almost upon us! On Thursday, October 3rd, Grimmfest begins and will end on Sunday, October 6th, the day I will be attending.
So what’s going on? What are the headliners, and what can we expect from the extended weekend?
The standout highlights for Thursday’s opening night are plain to see.
Black Cab is the new film fronted by Nick Frost, known for his work with Simon Pegg in films like Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Paul. In this film, he’ll be playing a charming cabbie… scratch that; he’ll be playing a psychopathic cabbie! Nick Frost and other cast members will also be attending the festival for a Q&A!
Tales from the Void is an upcoming horror anthology series set to be released in 2025. A special preview of three episodes is going down on Thursday, including stories about a creepy porcelain doll, a mysterious black square, and some freaking creepy goings-on with hacked baby monitors. Heavens to Betsy, keep me away from spooky dolls that come to life! Oh, that’s the name of the doll? DAMNIT!
Friday’s offering has some very interesting titles from European cinema, with the primetime slots going to The Well and Delivery Run from Italian and Finnish directors, respectively.
The Well tells the story of a young restorer attempting to put a new shine on some medieval paintings in a small village. However, just like the Vigo portrait in Ghostbusters 2, she may have cursed artwork to restore. Terrifier 2 alum Lauren LaVera fronts this gothic horror from Federico Zampaglione and will be attending the event.
Delivery Run, on the other hand, is a good old-fashioned dude-runs-afoul-of-another-dude-and-then-the-second-dude-tries-to-kill-him story. This time, it’s a delivery driver with a gambling problem who gets on the bad side of a snowplow driver. He’s not as friendly as Mr. Plow! Director Joey Palmroos, along with the cast, will also be conducting a Q&A.
The most high-profile movie on Saturday’s docket is the UK premiere of Tim Travers & The Time Traveler’s Paradox. When a time traveler (Tim Travers, duh) goes back in time and kills a past version of himself just to see what would happen, wackiness ensues. This movie boasts a terrific cast, including Felicia Day, Danny Trejo, Keith David, and Samuel Dunning. The composers Si Begg & Deadly Avenger will be attending the event.
The Swedish film From Darkness is the other movie I’d like to highlight. Nordic directors tend to get horror. Dense forests, pitch black night, and creepy cave banshees scupper a park ranger’s attempt to find a missing woman in a nature reserve. Director Philip W. da Silva and some of the cast will present the film and hold a Q&A at Grimmfest.
Sunday is the day I will be attending Grimmfest, and I’m stoked! I want to pick out Succubus and KillHer as my most anticipated movies.
Succubus, directed by R.J. Daniel Hanna, is about a recently single/separated father who just wants to get back out there. He joins a dating app and matches with a beautiful young woman. Or maybe it’s a monster who wants to steal his soul or something. Ron Perlman and Rosanna Arquette are among the more famous actors in this film. Hellboy versus a demon? Only one winner, right?
And then there’s KillHer. It’s going to be my palette-cleansing masked killer in the woods movie of the weekend, and I’m totally there for it. It’s a classic setup for a reason! A group of friends camp out in the woods, away from the comforts of society and constant attention-grabbing technology, to plan a friend’s wedding. Things don’t quite go to plan, to say the least. The director and cast will be attending the festival to present the film and have a Q&A!
Grimmfest is being held in the Odeon in the Great Northern, which means good food is not hard to come by. So, in your thirty-minute break between showings, you can easily grab a bite or a beverage before your next film begins.
Or, if you’re not in need of sustenance, there will be copious market stalls from creators and artists looking to sell you their wares (as a vendor from Resident Evil might say). Horror works and paraphernalia are sure to be available to gorge on!
But first, you need to secure your place in the fun. Tickets are still available for Grimmfest’s weekend of gruesome terror and hijinks from October 3rd to October 6th! Go ahead! Join the fun!
Tickets are available here, and say hello if you see me there.
