Guillermo Del Toro calls it “The Woodstock of gore”. And the UK’s number one horror and fantasy film festival marks its tenth year with over 30 premieres and a move to the country’s largest screen.
The Film4 FrightFest 2009 celebrates 10 years of chills, thrills and kills by moving to the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square to serve up its distinctive and controversial mix of must-see and yet-to-be discovered genre movies from around the world.
From Thurs 27 August to Monday 31 August, 35 new films will play over two screens, with Empire 1 housing the main event and the FrightFest Discovery section playing in Empire 4. You can find a full list of films in both venues on the Film4 FrightFest website. This year 12 countries are represented across four continents and there are a record 11 world premieres and 15 UK premieres.
British horror scores heavily, as the festival opens with the world premiere of Christopher Smith’s shocker Triangle and the closing night finale sees the world premiere of The Descent: Part Two.
Fans of An American Werewolf In London will get the chance to meet John Landis, who is attending the festival with the cast, to present a fully restored version of the classic and a new documentary feature.
“Film4 FrightFest's tenth anniversary is a major validation for horror fantasy,” says Alan Jones, joint director of FrightFest. “FrightFest's mandate has always been to showcase the best the genre has to offer and this year we can do that on an even better scale on the UK's biggest screen at the Empire cinema, Leicester Square, and in our FrightFest Discovery strand focusing on the gems of the future."
Full festival passes cost £140, with day passes priced at £21.50 and single tickets at £10.
Tickets are available by calling 08714 714 714 or by visiting the Empire website.
Main Programme – Empire 1
Thursday 27 August
18.30 Triangle (World Premiere)
21.15 The Hills Run Red (UK Premiere)
23.15 Infestation (UK premiere)
Friday 28 August
11.00 The Horseman
13.45 Beware The Moon: Remembering An American Werewolf In London (World Premiere)
16.15 An American Werewolf In London (World Premiere of the fully restored version)
19.30 Shadow (World Premiere)
21.40 The Horde (Special Sneak Preview)
Saturday 29 August
11.30 Smash Cut (UK Premiere)
13.45 Hierro (UK Premiere)
15.45 Millennium: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (UK Premiere)
19.00 Giallo (London Premiere)
21.00 Trick ‘R Treat (UK premiere)
23.15 Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl (UK Premiere)
Sunday 30 August
11.30 Dead Snow (UK Premiere)
13.45 The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (World Premiere)
15.50 Coffin Rock (World Premiere)
18.45 Night Of The Demons (World Premiere)
21.00 Clive Barker’s Dread (UK Premiere)
Monday 31 August
11.00 Zombie Women Of Satan (World Premiere)
13.15 The House Of The Devil (UK Premiere)
15.30 Case 39 (UK Premiere)
18.30 Heartless (World Premiere)
21.15 The Descent: Part Two (World Premiere)
