NIGHTSTREAM Weekend | What to Watch

With the film industry heavily impacted by COVID-19, film festivals have had to get creative with how to proceed in sharing the work of filmmakers from around the world. That’s why I am so excited to be covering the first ever NIGHTSTREAM virtual film festival happening this weekend.

Comprised of the Boston Underground Film Festival (MA), Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (NY), North Bend Film Festival (WA), the Overlook Film Festival (LA), and Popcorn Frights Film Festival (FL), the festival will be showcasing a variety of genre films. Proceeds from the festival go directly to the filmmakers and artists, as well as various charities from the respective festival’s host towns.

I’ll be posting some full reviews to come this weekend, but for now, I wanted to share some to look out for – at the festival and also for future wide release. Here’s my quick list of the ones I’m most excited for.

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HUNTED

From director/writer Vincent Paronnaud, alongside screenwriting partner Léa Pernollet, Hunted is billed as a “survival horror” with a twist on the story of Little Red Riding Hood. The film introduces us to Eve (Lucie Debay), who after meeting a man at a bar, will uncover his more sinister intentions. Premiering for US audiences at NIGHTSTREAM, the film has been acquired by horror streaming platform Shudder.

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BLOODY HELL

Horror-comedy Bloody Hell from director Alister Grierson and writer Robert Benjamin premiers this weekend. The film follows Rex (Ben O’Toole), who after a bank robbery, becomes infamous for his questionable heroics. He ventures off to Finland in the hopes of escaping the attention, but his trip quickly turns sour. Full review coming soon

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AN UNQUIET GRAVE

Perhaps one I’m most excited for, AN UNQUIET GRAVE, directed by Terence Krey, is a story of desperation in the time of loss. A year after his wife died in a car accident, a widower will revisit the seen of the wreck, with his sister-in-law in tow, to perform a ritual.

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ROSE PLAYS JULIE

From directors Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, Rose Plays Julie follows a young woman (Ann Skelly) who tracks down her birth parents, looking for answers to her identity. But what could be a joyous reunion, turns into twisted revenge thriller. Full review coming soon

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MY HEART CAN’T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO

A unique spin on a vampire tale, My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To stars Patrick Fugit and Ingrid Sophie Schram as siblings, trying to help their sick brother – who needs blood to thrive. It also serves as the directorial debut for Jonathan Cuartas.

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BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL

Another vampire-related tale, Boys From County Hell is a horror-comedy about a group of friends from a small Irish town, finding joy in tormenting tourists thanks to a local vamp legend. However things quickly take a frightening turn when the legend proves true. The film is directed and written by Chris Baugh.

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