Horror Highlights: Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2019, DEATH TRAP Kickstarter, KILLER SHORTS Screenplay Competition, BLACK SUNDAY #1

The first wave of films to be showcased at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2019 has been revealed! Girl on the Third Floor, 1BR, Daniel Isn't Real, and many more films have been announced. Continue reading for more details. Also in today's Horror Highlights: Death Trap Kickstarter details, Killer Shorts screenplay competition details, and a look at over 5 preview pages for Black Sunday #1.

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2019 Lineup Announced: "The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival returns to bring the best and most provocative horror cinema to local screens across Brooklyn from October 17th - 24th! We’re proud to announce wave one of the lineup, which includes premieres from around the globe and spotlights films that push the boundaries and expectations of the horror genre.

Embracing Brooklyn’s genre prowess more than ever before, BHFF will showcase two films that have roots firmly planted in the borough: the opening night film, THE BEACH HOUSE, Jeffrey A. Brown’s directorial debut that was made with a largely BK-based crew, and as centerpiece, DANIEL ISN’T REAL, director Adam Egypt Mortimer’s psychological masterwork that was filmed entirely in Brooklyn. And in the general program, BHFF is set to unveil feature films from a multitude of countries, including Laos, Sweden, Argentina, and France, as well as bring back its special Fear In Focus sidebar, first introduced with BHFF 2017’s Fear In Focus: Mexico lineup, to this time, shine a light on three excellent and innovative new Brazilian horror films.

“Since day one, we’ve dedicated Brooklyn Horror to defying the expectations of horror fans and naysayers alike with films that challenge the genre and reinvent its classic tropes, and 2019’s program does that in spades,” says BHFF Senior Programmer Matt Barone. “From wild new variations on haunted houses and the living dead to time-traveling ghosts and erotically charged ghouls, the films that we’re showing this year further prove what die-hard fans have long known: Horror is, and always will be, the most progressive genre in all of film.’

BHFF 2019’s second wave of programming, including the final batch of features and the festival’s entire shorts lineup, will be revealed in mid-September. Until then, here’s your first look at what promises to be the fest’s most exciting year to date:

The Beach House

North American Premiere

USA | 2019 | 88 Min | Dir. Jeffrey A. Brown

Hoping to reignite their relationship, Emily and Randall arrive at their weekend getaway only to discover a peculiar older couple already staying there. They all agree to share the home and after an indulgent night of partying, wake up to a living nightmare of apocalyptic proportions. Something is infecting the water and fog is making its way ashore. THE BEACH HOUSE calls to mind the best of ‘50s science fiction with an updated twist.

Director Jeffrey A. Brown and producer Andrew Corkin in attendance.

Daniel Isn’t Real

New York Premiere

USA | 2019 | 96 Min | Dir. Adam Egypt Mortimer

Dealing with social anxieties and the stress of caring for his mentally disturbed mother, Luke (Miles Robbins) pulls a desperation move and turns to an odd source of help: the confident and manipulative Daniel (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Luke’s imaginary friend from childhood. The more Daniel asserts his control, though, the deeper Luke falls into a waking nightmare. Perfectly balancing emotional depth and sensitivity with horror imagery that brings to mind a young Clive Barker, Adam Egypt Mortimer’s sophomore feature equal parts mesmerizing and devastating.

Director Adam Egypt Mortimer in attendance.

The Yellow Night

North American Premiere

Brazil | 2019 | 100 Min | Dir. Ramon Porto Mota

A group of teenagers arrives in the middle of the night to a desolate Brazilian seaside town. High school has just ended and they are ready to party in style, but cell service sucks and as the days progress, things get very weird. Is time melting, repeating, or going backward, and did you just see what you think you saw? A tale of friendship and young love for a generation who live through their screens and screen through their lives. Trippy, freaky, angry, and sharply humorous, THE YELLOW NIGHT is a hypnotic millennial nightmare not to be missed.

Select talent in attendance.

The Father’s Shadow

US Premiere

Brazil | 2018 | 90 Min | Dir. Gabriela Amaral Almeida

A young girl, already struggling with the recent loss of her mother, is dealt more strife after a tragic workplace incident causes her father to slowly lose his grip on reality. Dalva, mature beyond her years, recklessly turns to witchcraft in her desperate battle to save her rapidly decaying family. A film that wears its cinematic inspirations directly on its sleeve, THE FATHER'S SHADOW begs the question: How far would you go to bring your loved ones back from the dark?

Sick, Sick, Sick

New York Premiere

Brazil | 2019 | 100 Min | Dir. Alice Furtado

It’s love at first sight when teenager Silvia meets the charismatic Artur, with whom she begins a passionate and world-changing relationship. That is, until Artur suddenly dies, leaving Silvia in a debilitating state of loss, complete with intense depression and physical sickness. While on a beachside vacation with her family, though, she meets a local who introduces her to the notion of voodoo—specifically, bringing loved ones back from the dead. Proudly inspired by PET SEMATARY, Alice Furtado repurposes the themes of Stephen King’s classic resurrection story onto a hypnotic film that’s both distinct to her Brazilian culture and visually decadent.

The Room

North American Premiere

France, Belgium, Luxembourg | 2019 | 95 Min. | Dir. Christian Volckman

Looking for a change, Matt (Kevin Janssens from Coralie Fargeat’s REVENGE) and Kate (Olga Kurylenko) relocates from New York City to quaint New Hampshire. While cleaning out their new home, the couple discovers a secret room in which any wishes one speaks out loud materialize. At first, it’s all fun, money wishes and games until Matt and Kate realize what this could mean for their inability to have a child. And with that MONKEY’S-PAW-esque setup, Christian Volckman’s bold psychodrama THE ROOM constantly surprises with its unpredictable turns while maintaining an air of subtly potent dread.

A Night of Horror: Nightmare Radio

North American Premiere

Argentina, New Zealand | 2019 | 100 Min | Dir. Luciano and Nicolás Onetti, Sergio Morcillo, Joshua Long, Jason Bognacki, Adam O´Brien, Matt Richards, A.J. Briones, Pablo S. Pastor, and Oliver Park.

As the host of a popular horror-themed radio show, disc jockey Rod shares tales of terror with his eager listeners, and although this particular night is no different, there are also the unexpected wrinkles of alarming calls from a scared-to-death child. How that all ties together is part of the magic behind A NIGHT OF HORROR: NIGHTMARE RADIO, an anthology constructed by Argentinian duo Nicolas and Luciano Onetti, who’ve assembled an impressive lineup of recent festival-touring horror shorts to deliver a refreshingly unique new kind of omnibus.

The Long Walk

East Coast Premiere

Laos | 2019 | 115 Min | Dir. Mattie Do

Living in isolation in rural Laos, a somber man spends his days coming to terms with painful events from youth; specifically, the discovery of a young woman’s corpse. Fifty years later, he’s constantly followed by the spirit of that woman and, as a result, is able to perform acts that defy logic. Returning to Brooklyn Horror after opening our inaugural festival in 2016 with her excellent ghost story DEAREST SISTER, Laos’ filmmaking maverick Mattie Do has taken her craft to new heights. Weaving subtle sci-fi into the supernatural, THE LONG WALK is a haunting gem from one of genre cinema’s most exciting on-the-rise voices.

Sator

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2019 | 85 Min | Dir. Jordan Graham

Deep in the woods, it’s hard to really say what’s whispering in the night. Ask grandma, though, and she’ll tell you it’s Sator—a protective dark force among the trees, a satanic presence, a ritualistic killer who’s haunted their family for generations. A young man ventures back to the forest in an attempt to rebuild a relationship with his brother who’s been hibernating in seclusion after traumatic events led to the disappearance of their mother years past. A disturbing meditation on family bonds and mental illness, SATOR is an impressive cinematic feat by first-time filmmaker Jordan Graham.

Director Jordan Graham in attendance.

1BR

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2019 | 90 Min | Dir. David Marmor

For recent LA transplant Sarah, the Asilo Del Mar apartment complex seemed like the perfect place to start her new life; safe with friendly and considerate neighbors who treat each other like family. Hiding behind this utopian exterior is an all-consuming evil that wants to form her into its image and never let her go. 1BR taps into the universal fears of moving to a new city, forming a tableau, not of unimaginable terror but something much worse.

Director David Marmor in attendance along with lead actress Nicole Brydon Bloom and producers Alok Mishra and Shane Vorster.

Rock, Paper, and Scissors

East Coast Premiere

Argentina | 2019 | 83 Min | Dir. Macarena García Lenzi and Martín Blousson

Coping with the death of their father was the easy part for Jesus and Maria, that is until their half-sister Magdalena returns to claim her share of the inheritance. The siblings, unwilling to sell the house, begin a series of sick games where it is impossible to define who is the rock, the paper or the scissors. First-time directors Macarena García Lenzi and Martín Blousson have crafted a raucous black comedy based on an Argentinian stage play of the same name written by García Lenzi.

Girl on the Third Floor

New York Premiere

USA | 2019 | 93 Min | Dir. Travis Stevens

For married man Don Koch (Philip “CM Punk” Brooks), remodeling his new home gives him the chance to start anew while trying to overcome legal troubles and fidelity struggles. Once inside the fixer-upper, Don is helpless against the house’s goo-dripping walls, sordid history, and inner demons, the latter hideously exposing those of its new owner. Utilizing the expertise acquired from producing several critically acclaimed indie horror films, including STARRY EYES and WE ARE STILL HERE, Travis Stevens makes his directorial debut with a slick and wildly entertaining haunted house movie that’s truly like no other.

Director Travis Stevens and lead actor Phil “CM Punk” Brooks in attendance.

Blood & Flesh: The Reel Life and Ghastly Death of Al Adamson

New York Premiere

USA | 2019 | 101 Min | Dir. David Gregory

Throughout the late 1960s and the entirety of the ’70s, B-movie director Al Adamson earned infamy with his no-budget productions, tantalizing genre fans with titles like SATAN’S SADISTS and DRACULA VS. FRANKENSTEIN and then treating them to earnestly made schlock. His hustle could make even Roger Corman blush. Unfortunately, Adamson’s legacy became forever tainted by his shocking 1995 passing, the details of which are stranger than his cinematic exploits. Severin Films founder and director David Gregory’s BLOOD & FLESH is an exhaustive and captivating analysis of Adamson’s singular career and inexplicable end.

Producers Heather Buckley and Mike Capone in attendance with cast member Sam Sherman.

Koko-Di Koko-Da

New York Premiere

Sweden, Denmark | 2019 | 86 Min | Dir. Johannes Nyholm

In the wake of tragedy, married Elin and Tobias head out on the open road for a camping trip. But along the way, a group of homicidal deviants, propelled by the sounds of an ominous children’s song, disrupt their commute again and again—and again and again. Forced to keep reliving the brutality, Eli and Tobias finally have to reckon with the worst moment of their shared lives. A head-spinning and unnerving examination of grief that’s also profoundly sad, Swedish filmmaker Johannes Nyholm’s KOKO-DI KOKO-DA is a ghoulish riff on the GROUNDHOG DAY time loop conceit.

Porno

New York Premiere

USA | 2019 | 98 Min | Dir. Keola Racela

For a staff of Christian teenage theater workers in 1992, their Friday night crew screening options are between A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, ENCINO MAN or a mysterious old film reel they found in the basement. After convincing their projectionist Heavy Metal Jeff to load up the mystery film, the teens are entranced by a ritualistic erotic art film, mistakenly unleashing a sex demon in the process. They'll have to keep their raging hormones in check as they battle for their souls in this raucous and gory mix of SAVED! and THE EVIL DEAD.

Select talent in attendance.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Germany | 1920 | 80 Min | Dir. Robert Wiene

Not only one of the greatest horror films ever made, but Robert Weine’s THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI is also one of the most important, a masterwork of German Expressionism that essentially gave birth to the genre as a whole back in 1920. On the eve of the film’s 100th anniversary, the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival will present a special screening of Weine’s game-changer accompanied by a live score from the NYC-based duo The Flushing Remonstrance.

Blood Machines

East Coast Premiere

France | 2019 | 50 Min | Dir. Seth Ickerman

Holy fuck! Get ready for a ride. Inspired by ‘80s films and music, BLOOD MACHINES is a 50-minute sci-fi facemelter written and directed by Seth Ickerman (alias for Raphaël Hernandez and Savitri Joly-Gonfard), and scored by the synth-wave artist Carpenter Brut. The film follows two space hunters tracking down a machine trying to free itself until the soul of the ship itself emerges in the form of a woman complete with a glowing crucifix on her chest. Shocked at the sight of this miracle they begin an epic chase through space to find out who she is.

Apocalypse After

New York Premiere

France | 2018 | 38 Min | Dir. Bertrand Mandico

Less of a narrative and more of an extreme and visually audacious trip across film genres, APOCALYPSE AFTER follows the cinematic efforts of the fictional Joy d’Amato, an inhibition-free filmmaker whose encounters with strangers send them into her worlds of post-apocalyptic anarchy, sexually depraved horror and erotic madness. This expanded short film from lauded French director Bertrand Mandico (THE WILD BOYS) is an unclassifiable knockout armed with beautifully deranged imagery, as well as a bonkers homage to Italian exploitation director Joe d’Amato (ANTROPOPHAGUS).

The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies presents a conversation with Karen Arthur

This talk will discuss the formative experiences that shaped Karen Arthur’s journey in becoming a filmmaker, her artistic process in the creation of LEGACY and THE MAFU CAGE, the inner workings and personal reflections on breaking the glass ceiling in the male-dominated industry of television, and her films in the 1980s that deal with the complexities of sexual assault and toxic masculinity within a culture of often dangerous male supremacy.

Moderated by filmmaker and writer Remy Bennett

Gas Station Horror

Long-running comedy show Gas Station Horror takes the wildest clips from horror flicks and let's some of NY's best comedians finish the scenes in new and hilarious ways. Having recently celebrated their six-year anniversary, GSH has been featured in the NY Times, TimeOutNY, Horror Society, the skint, nonsensenyc, and has been sponsored by Sony Pictures for the premiere of FLATLINERS. The show features free candy, prize raffles, and horror fun facts.

This year's poster was created by Richard Smykowski and Brendan Meadows featuring model Keenan Tracey. Richard Smykowski and Photographer Brendan Meadows teamed up for the third time to create their possession inspired poster art for the fourth annual Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. They previously collaborated on the marketing artwork for Channel Zero and the fourth season of The Magicians. Richard is based out of Woodstock, NY, as a freelance Art Director with YouTube. Brenden currently resides in Vancouver and Los Angeles.

His work will be on display November 9 - December 31 in Toronto at the Dylan Ellis Gallery."

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Death Trap Kickstarter Details: "Teamed with the ghost of her dead father, who haunts his badass old Mercury Cougar, Ollie's on the road to revenge in the hunt for her dad's killer. Burning rubber in a world of a sideshow freak crime family, weirdo clowns and fish girls, a rocket-powered dog, dancing bears, and more, Ollie will discover the truths about herself and her Dad in the filth and depravity of the methed-out rival carnie camp. But that realization will come at a price -- and she'll find those she trusted the most betrayed her and her father in the most egregious ways.

DEATH TRAP is a super fun story with plans to grow and expand in this rich world of wacky madness. Grab the "Trade Waiter" tier for the whole graphic novel, or an exclusive issue 1 if you like floppy comics!

WHO'S MAKING THIS SUPER-FUN COMIC?

Matt Miner (words) - GWAR, Poser, Liberator, All We Ever Wanted
Christopher Peterson (art) - Grindhouse: Doors Open at Midnight, Mayday, Broken World
Josh Jensen (colors) - GWAR, Lab Raider, House of Fear, Doctor Crowe
Matt Krotzer (letters) - Strayed, Retcon, Lab Raider, House of Fear
Cover A: by Christopher Peterson and Josh Jensen
Cover B: by Darren Lo (@DLo168), movie poster design by Matt Krotzer."

For more information, visit Death Trap's Kickstarter page, here.

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Killer Shorts Screenplay Competition Details: "The Screenwriters Network is thrilled to partner with literary agents, managers, and producers from several major talent agencies and production companies to unearth the next visionary talent in horror through the launch of its 1st Annual Killer Shorts Horror Short Screenplay Competition.

The top three screenplays will be read by producers from Grey Matter Productions (“Lights Out” ) and representatives from Good Fear Content, Affirmative Entertainment and Paradigm Talent Agency. Clients of the latter include genre heavyweights James Wan and Leigh Whannell, whose own careers were kick-started by the discovery of their 2003 short film, “Saw”.

In the past few years, horror shorts have become a goldmine for Hollywood. Feature films such as “Lights Out” and “Mama” originated as proof-of-concept shorts. Recent shorts “Whisper”, “The Burden”, “Behind”, “Sweet Tooth” and “Milk” amongst others have since been discovered by producers and are now also in development as features.

It all starts with a screenplay.

“Our goal is to motivate, inspire and guide screenwriters to write horror shorts with feature adaptation potential,” said Alison Parker, Contest Director. “We’re looking for big ideas. The best horror shorts rely heavily on visual scares and unique world-building. Putting this kind of terror on the page isn’t for the faint of heart. For the few who succeed, this could be the break that launches their career.”

In addition to guaranteed industry reads, a combined $3,000+ worth of prizes are up for grabs for the winners including a copy of Final Draft screenwriting software for the top three places, waived entry fees to multiple screenwriting contests, in-depth analysis and actionable advice from The Script Butcher and free subscriptions to on-demand horror streaming service Shudder.

Entry fees start at $15 for ‘Early Bird’ entries submitted by October 15, 2019, with a final deadline of December 15, 2019. VIP members of The Screenwriters Network can enter for free. Entries can be submitted via Coverfly and FilmFreeway.

For more information, including full details on qualifying criteria, competition rules, and deadlines visit: KillerShortsContest.com

About The Screenwriters Network
Established in 2016, The Screenwriters Network is the world’s most popular screenwriting Discord server, with a fast-growing community of over 3000+ amateur and professional screenwriters. The server offers both free and premium VIP membership with additional perks and benefits.

For more information visit: KillerShortsContest.com/The-Screenwriters-Network"

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Take a Look at Black Sunday #1 Preview Pages: "BLACK SUNDAY #1
Publisher: American Gothic Press
Writer: Matt Dreiling
Artist: Polychrome
Letterer: Catbot
Price: $0.99 Digital
Release Date: September 2019

A slow-burn horror story that takes place during the Great American Depression, BLACK SUNDAY comes from Matt Dreiling's award-winning script and is illustrated in a unique black and white storybook-style by Polychrome. Issue 1 frames the Leikam family against trials of dust storms, drought, and a sinister voice coming from a neighboring farm's well."

For more information, visit American Gothic Press' website.