Horror Highlights: THE MRS. WOLF SHOW, HYSTERIA FEST, BLIND COP 2

THE MRS. WOLF SHOW: "A friendly housewife, an unsuspecting salesman, and a live studio audience. What could go wrong?"

Director's Bio: Drew Highlands (Writer & Director) is a film and stage actor, director, writer, and producer. His debut short film, In the Water, an autobiographical coming-of-age story, was selected for 13 film festivals, including the Florida Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, and HollyShorts, winning Best Dramatic Short at the Poulsbo Film Festival. In the Water was released on the indie platform Film Shortage, where it has garnered over 7 million views. He's currently in post-production on his latest short, 143, starring Lauren Weedman (Hacks, Looking, Euphoria).

Obsessed with physical media from a young age while growing up in rural Mississippi, Drew tries to do other things with his life, like playing golf, grilling, gardening, and keeping social pace with his very extroverted wife — but mostly, all he wants to do is watch movies, talk about movies, and make movies. And of course, spend time with his rescue dog, Rhubarb.

Director's Statement:

"I think it's terribly important to be sensitive to the plight of other people, to understand their problems, to try to help them." — Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone, 1959 Emmy acceptance speech

On the surface, The Mrs. Wolf Show is a nostalgic dive into 1950s television, evoking the world of I Love Lucy — complete with a catchy theme song, punchy jokes, and a magnetic star who keeps viewers coming back each week. But beneath the surface lurks a violent, desperate fight for survival, one that challenges audiences to reflect on society's growing desensitization to violence.

This genre film stems from a lifelong fascination with how horror can serve as allegory to illuminate deeper truths. Growing up on reruns of The Twilight Zone and films like The Devil's Backbone, The People Under the Stairs, Get Out, The Babadook, and It Follows, I came to appreciate horror as a powerful way to explore trauma, race, class, and societal norms.

From the purity of golden age TV, to the first broadcast of mass violence during the Vietnam War, to the present daily inundation of violent imagery on our phones, The Mrs. Wolf Show asks: how did we become so saturated with the suffering of others that we are no longer spurred to take action? When did we start scrolling past real people in real pain, hiding behind the masks of voyeurism?

Stay tuned for more information on the release and availability of The Mrs. Wolf Show.

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HYSTERIA FEST 2026 ANNOUNCES FIRST WAVE OF PROGRAMMING INCLUDING MIDWEST PREMIERE OF UGLY CRY, WORLD PREMIERE OF HAG, AND JAPANESE HORROR FOCUS: "Hysteria Fest returns July 8–12, 2026 for its fifth year, continuing its rise as one of the underground horror scene’s fastest-growing genre festivals. This year’s edition leans heavily into Japanese horror cinema while also featuring acclaimed festival hits, world premieres, repertory screenings, filmmaker discussions, and expanded programming across multiple venues in St. Louis.

Leading the first wave announcement is the Midwest Premiere of Ugly Cry, Emily Robinson’s psychological horror film that has quickly become one of the most talked-about genre titles on the festival circuit following screenings at SXSW, Overlook Film Festival, and the Maryland International Film Festival. The film stars Robinson (Eighth Grade) alongside a cast featuring performers from Fear Street and other recent genre standouts. Early reactions have drawn comparisons ranging from Black Swan to The Substance for its psychological descent and surreal body-horror atmosphere.

Hysteria Fest will also host the World Premiere of Hag, the newest feature from filmmaker Jackie Kelly and legendary cult director/producer Eric Stanze. Already generating strong anticipation within underground horror circles, Hag is expected to be one of the defining events of the festival.

As part of this year’s Japanese horror focus, the festival will feature repertory screenings including Battle Royale, Audition, Ringu, and a special 4K 100th anniversary screening of the silent horror landmark A Page of Madness. The Japanese programming extends beyond repertory titles, with contemporary Japanese shorts, filmmaker spotlights, and live events centered around J-Horror history and influence.

Additional programming includes the World Premiere of Down the Long River starring Felissa Rose and WWE superstar Matt Cardona, Reaper Road from filmmaker Mando Franco, filmmaker Q&As, outdoor screenings, trivia, and a live J-Horror podcast hosted by Destroy the Brain.

Hysteria Fest will also once again partner with the St. Louis International Film Festival to award one selected film an invitation to screen at SLIFF later this year, continuing the festival’s goal of bridging underground genre filmmaking with the broader international film community.

“Hysteria Fest has always been about building a space where international cinema, repertory horror, underground filmmaking, and modern genre culture all collide together,” said festival director Paul Hibbard. “We wanted this year to feel like both a celebration of horror history and a snapshot of where independent genre cinema is heading.”

The full lineup for Hysteria Fest 2026 will be announced June 5."

https://www.hysteriafilmfest.com/

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BLIND COP 2: "When an influx of illegal weapons trafficking explodes onto the scene, a grieving blind police officer must purge the city streets or risk mass chaos breaking loose."

Directed by Alec Bonk

Starring George Fearing, Isaac McKinnon, Steven Vogel

Coming to VOD May 29 via Chroma