FRC Feature – Grimmfest Preview

With the opening Gala of Grimmfest just days away, Tom takes a look at the festival lineup to see which films should not be missed.

Once again Grimmfest is shaping up to be an excellent horror festival, and with a variety of cult favourites and potential modern classics in the lineup it is tricky to decide which films to watch. As an avid horror fan I like to think I have a good grasp of the genre and these are the films that have peaked my interest and are likely to be unmissable screenings:

Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut

Fewer films cry out ‘missed potential’ than Nightbreed, and Clive Barker’s epic vision of a secret underworld ruled by mutant outcasts was heavily cut by the studios on release and floundered due to these changes. His book, which I am currently re-reading in anticipation, is a modern horror classic that should have translated into something far greater than what was first seen in cinemas back in 1990. Thought lost forever, the extended cut of Nightbreed is said to flesh out the plot considerably and will undoubtedly be a highlight of Grimmfest

Basket Case

An often neglected cult classic, Basket Case is a fun B-movie that would appeal to fans of Peter Jackson’s earlier work Bad Taste and Braindead. The comic potential for a deformed conjoined twin separated at birth who dwells in a basket is not under-utilised but there are still some gruesome and horrific scenes that recall a time when special effects were far more inventive.

Sinister

The advertising campaign for Sinister has been in overdrive these past few days and if early reviews are anything to go by then Sinister could be shaping up to be this year’s Insidious. Ethan Hawke stars as Ellison, a writer who moves his family into a new home only to discover that a horrific murder took place there in the past. His family begins to notice strange occurrences and it is not long before Ellison figures out that the two may be connected.

Cockneys vs Zombies

Ever since Shaun of the Dead hit cinemas back in 2004 there has been a plague of epic proportions spreading throughout the world. Zombie comedies are one of the most popular horror sub-genres out there and Cockneys Vs Zombies is the latest send up of the shuffling undead hordes that just keep coming at us. Saxophone Busker Zombie and Old Age Home Shotgun Zombie are just two of the characters and I for one can’t wait to see what else is in store for the gang of bank robbers who are forced to fight their way out of an infected London.

Grabbers

The residents of a small island off the coast of Ireland find that the only way to fend off an invasion of bloodsucking creatures is to get drunk in what looks set to be an inspired monster movie. Already receiving a warm reception from its appearances at other horror festivals, Grabbers is said to be as gruesome as it is funny, and the few glimpses of the creatures in the trailer indicate that this could be something very special indeed.

Further recommendations for the weekend:

The Devil rides out – Classic satanic horror considered to be one of Hammer horror’s finest hours

Some Guy Who Kills People – Grimm’s very first movie features a serial killer fresh from a stint in the lunatic asylum who sets out on a killing spree

Stitches - Comedian Ross Noble makes his début film appearance as a clown who comes back to haunt those who have wronged him
Attack of the werewolves – A homage to the werewolf films of the 80s, Attack of the werewolves could be Spain’s answer to An American Werewolf in London

For the full lineup and to buy tickets head over to http://grimmfest.com/ for further information.