ALUMNI
BLACK LAKE : DIRECTOR’S CUT
Directed by K/XI
Whilst house-sitting in a secluded home in Scotland, Aarya, an expressionist painter, is gifted a red scarf sent by her aunt from Pakistan, and becomes haunted by a Churail - a demonic and malevolent South-Asian Witch.
United Kingdom | 90 minutes
CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS
Directed by Alice Maio Mackay
When true-crime podcaster and sleuth Lola visits her hometown at Christmas for the first time since running away and transitioning, the vengeful ghost of a historical murderer and urban legend seemingly arises to kill again. Lola must solve the case before her community is slaughtered. She's up against not only a psychotic killer, but also a town haunted by secrets.
Australia | 70 minutes
CAT PEOPLE (1942)
w. Faculty of Horror
Directed by Jacques Tourneau
Irena Dubrovna, a New York City--based fashion designer who hails from Serbia, begins a romance with marine engineer Oliver Reed. After the couple gets married, Oliver becomes concerned about Irena's notion that she is cursed and may transform into a large cat in the heat of passion. Confiding in his beautiful assistant, Alice Moore, about his marital issues, Oliver unwittingly triggers Irena's curse, with tragic results.
United States | 73 minutes
Followed by one hour live podcast
THE DEVIL ON DERBY STREET
Directed by Luke St Germaine
Chelsea receives a nightmarish phone call and realizes her reality is not what it seems.
Salem MA | 8:17
THE GRUDGE (2004)
w. Horror Queers
Directed by Takashi Shimizu
Matthew Williams, his wife, Jennifer, and mother, Emma, are Americans making a new life in Tokyo. Together they move into a house that has been the site of supernatural occurrences in the past, and it isn't long before their new home begins terrorizing the Williams family as well. The house, as it turns out, is the site of a curse that lingers in a specific place and claims the lives of anyone that comes near.
United States | 100 minutes
Followed by one hour live podcast
MY MOTHER’S EYES
Directed by Takeshi Kushida
A mother and daughter literally share a single vision of the universe through use of a new, futuristic contact lens device with built-in camera inserted into the eyes and set up together with VR goggles. This psychological fantasy weaves together the lives of the mother and daughter with their shared vision as they ultimately find a true bond while transcending the boundaries of body and mind.
Japan | 94 minutes
OVERNIGHTS
Directed by Shannon Brown
An overworked veterinary technician picks up a late night shift to make ends meet. She's soon tormented by the very thing she's dedicated her life to.
United States | 9:09
THE POWER OF THE STRIKE
Directed by Dima Barch
One totally f***ed up night in a bowling alley.
Germany | 15 minutes
SWEET RELIEF
Directed by Nick Verdi
Parents and teachers are in a panic over kids playing Sweet Relief, an online murder challenge where the player must nominate someone they'd like to see die. Three teenagers play the game as a joke, unaware of the dire consequences. Meanwhile, Jess has mysterious and dangerous inclinations of her own, finding her way into a deadly situation when she meets Gerald, a confidential police informant and sadistic child killer.
Western MA | 87 minutes
THE THAW
Directed by Sarah Wisner, Sean Temple
In 19th century Vermont, a young woman's parents drink sleeping tea in order to survive the harsh winter, but an early thaw leads to horrifying results.
United States | 16:31
May 3 - May 5, 2024
Grants access to all screenings, lectures, podcasts, parties and more. All sales final. Includes official SHF 2024 lapel pin.