What goes into the making of a family-owned haunted attraction? You can find out this fall when the documentary Spookers makes its US premiere at the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival, which will also host the world theatrical premiere of Night Creep, a movie filmed in 2002 that co-stars the late, great Don Calfa (The Return of the Living Dead).
Press Release: PHILADELPHIA, PA, September 6th, 2017, Set to haunt the Proscenium Theater at the Drake in Center City Philadelphia from Thursday, September 28th, to Sunday, October 1st, the second annual edition of the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival (“PUFF”) is excited to announce the latest and final additions to their 2017 line-up. In addition to such acclaimed genre fare as “Tragedy Girls,” “Terrifier,” and “Ruin Me,” as well as the World Premiere of the highly-anticipated “100 Acres of Hell,” PUFF is proud to add two extremely unique films to their roster, including a shot-on-video horror film that has been lost for over 10 years as well as an emotionally-gripping documentary on one of the world’s most renowned haunted attractions.
Officially selected as the Closing Night Film for PUFF 2017, the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival will host the World Theatrical Premiere of “Night Creep,” a shot-on-video horror film that is so shocking, bizarre, and absolutely insane that it must be seen to be believed. Directed by “Dark Seduction” filmmaker Greg Travis and starring “Return of the Living Dead” icon Don Calfa in one of his final roles, this tongue-in-cheek genre offering was shot nearly 15 years ago, released directly to DVD in Africa and South America, and has remained out-of-print for over a decade. PUFF is excited to bring a new, high-definition remaster of “Night Creep” to U.S. audiences for the very first time.
Set in Los Angeles, “Night Creep” stars Christine Sparks as Cindy Cinnamon, a down-on-her-luck exotic dancer who, following a sudden break-up, moves into an apartment owned by an eccentric and strange stroke victim (Calfa). Shortly afterwards, she experiments with a psychotropic drug called “Night Creep,” fueling visions of a disturbing visitor taking on the visage of her landlord. As her world falls apart around her, Cindy’s nightmares begin to blend in with her reality. Is it her past coming back to haunt her? Or is it the work of… the Night Creep?!
Co-starring Patricia Scanlon (“Getting On”), Paula Shaw (“Freddy vs. Jason”), and Greg Travis (“Lost Highway”), “Night Creep” is a singular genre experience, offering twisted thrills that inhabit the underground spirit on which PUFF thrives. As shameless and jaw-dropping as anything the exploitation genre has to offer, “Night Creep” will make its big-screen debut at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 1st. However, be warned: “Night Creep” is absolutely, positively not for the easily offended.
In addition to “Night Creep,” PUFF 2017 also welcomes the U.S. premiere of Florian Habicht’s documentary “Spookers,” following one of the world’s largest and most successful family-run haunted attractions. Receiving high praise from critics around the globe, “Spookers” is an emotionally-driven and unique cinematic experience that fans of the haunt business and demented documentaries are sure to embrace.
Previously featured at such lauded international festivals such as Toronto’s Hot Docs International Documentary Festival as well as Poland’s New Horizons Film Festival, “Spookers” follows the eponymous New Zealand-based haunted attraction, infamously set at the defunct psychiatric institute, Kingseat Hospital. A family-run affair with a staff of dedicated and passionate performers who embody zombies, killer clowns, and murderous nurses with one-of-a-kind production value, this charming and occasionally surreal story delves into the minds behind this renowned horror hotspot. The Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival is proud to bring “Spookers” stateside for this exclusive theatrical engagement on Saturday, September 30th at 2:30 p.m.
Badges for PUFF 2017 as well as individual tickets for all programmed films can be purchased via Film Freeway HERE. For more information, including our schedule and feature film trailers, please visit the official Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival website HERE. You can also get exclusive updates and previews for PUFF 2017 via the festival’s Facebook and Twitter. You can also find our full listing of previously-announced screenings below:
Thursday, 09/28/2017
7:00 p.m.: “Imitation Girl” (Dir. Natasha Kermani)
Starring Lauren Ashley Carter (“Darling,” “The Mind’s Eye”), “Imitation Girl” is a meditative sci-fi film in which a mysterious young woman materializes in the middle of the desert, adjusting to her new existence and the world around her only to discover that she has a twin with whom she shares more than just an outward appearance.
Q&A with Filmmaker Natasha Kermani to follow.
9:30 p.m.: “Terrifier” (Dir. Damien Leone)
Starring Jenna Kanell (“The Bye Bye Man”) and Catherine Corcoran (“Return to Nuke ‘Em High”), this gory slasher based on the segment of the same name from the anthology horror film “All Hallows Eve” follows a terrifying clown named Art as he wreaks havoc on unsuspecting partygoers.
Opening Night Film presented by Arrow-in-the Head; Preceded by Legacy Award Ceremony.
Friday, 09/29/2017
7:00 p.m.: “Tragedy Girls” (Dir. Tyler MacIntyre)
With an all-star cast that includes Brianna Hildebrand (“Deadpool”), Alexandra Shipp (“X-Men: Apocalypse”), Josh Hutcherson (“The Hunger Games”), Nicky Whelan (“Halloween II”), Kevin Durand (“The Strain”), and Craig Robinson (“This is the End”), this horror-comedy follows two death-obsessed teenage girls who aim to cement their legacy as modern horror legends on social media before graduation. Described as a cross between “Mean Girls” and “Scream,” “Tragedy Girls” has previously played to critical acclaim at South by Southwest, Fantasia International Film Festival and FrightFest.
Preceded by Prom-Themed Lobby Party.
9:00 p.m.: Bizarre Shorts Block (Various Directors)
A selection of experimental, weird, and shocking films from around the globe. This screening is free to anyone who purchased a ticket to another film at PUFF 2017.
11:00 p.m.: “Assholes” (Dir. Peter Vack)
Body Horror meets John Waters in Peter Vack’s gross-out directorial debut, which tells the tale of two recovering addicts in New York who fall in love in, become hooked on poppers, and descend into weird and wild depravity. An unclassifiable oddity that could never find its way into the multiplex, “Assholes” will leave the midnight genre crowd in hysterics… if they’re not heaving and hurling, that is.
Saturday, 09/30/2017
2:30 p.m.: “Spookers” (Dir. Florian Habicht)
Previously featured at such lauded international festivals such as Toronto’s Hot Docs International Documentary Festival as well as Poland’s New Horizons Film Festival, “Spookers” follows the eponymous New Zealand-based haunted attraction, infamously set at the defunct psychiatric institute, Kingseat Hospital. A family-run affair with a staff of dedicated and passionate performers who embody zombies, killer clowns, and murderous nurses with one-of-a-kind production value, this charming and occasionally surreal story delves into the minds behind this renowned horror hotspot.
4:30 p.m.: International Shorts Block
From Israel, Canada, Australia, and the United States, these frightening genre shorts range from strange and beautiful to brutal and bloody.
7:00 p.m.: “Charismata” (Dir. Andy Collier, Toor Mian)
Sarah Beck Mather (“Black Mirror”) stars as a female detective obsessed with a strange and brutal string of ritualistic murders that she believes to be the work of a serial killer. Her dismissive male coworkers refuse to take her seriously, yet as she gets closer to this bizarre case, she finds herself losing touch with reality.
Q&A with filmmaker Andy Collier to follow.
9:00 p.m.: “Ruin Me” (Dir. Preston DeFrancis)
Convinced by her boyfriend to take part in an immersive “horror movie” experience in secluded forest grounds, a troubled woman suspects that the people behind this interactive game have far more sinister intentions in mind. Previously selected by London’s Frightfest, PUFF is excited to host the U.S. Premiere of this twisty horror-thriller.
Sunday, 10/01/2017
1:00 p.m.: “Rift” (Dir. Erlingur Óttar Thoroddsen)
The winner of the Artistic Vision Award from the 2017 L.A. Outfest, “Rift” follows two ex-lovers who reunite after a mysterious and concerning phone call brings them to a secluded cabin. Forced to face the remnants of their broken relationship, the two men soon discover that they are not alone.
3:30 p.m.: “100 Acres of Hell” (Dir. Jay Lee)
Starring former WWE Superstars Gene Snitsky and Sam Anoai (a/k/a Samu), PUFF is proud to present the World Premiere of the hard-hitting slasher throwback “100 Acres of Hell.” Featuring supporting turns by Ernest O’Donnell (“Clerks”), Eileen Dietz (“The Exorcist”), and Catherine Corcoran (“Terrifier”), “100 Acres of Hell” follows Buck Severs (Snitsky), a down-and-out ex-pro wrestler who is lured out of seclusion by his friends for a weekend of hunting and partying on an abandoned wildlife preserve. However, Severs and his friends soon learn that they’re not alone, as the bloodthirsty local legend Jeb Tucker (Anoai) aims to raise hell to dispose of these trespassers.
Q&A with Cast and Crew to follow.
5:30 p.m.: Local Shorts Block
This year our local filmmakers have taken PUFF in an all-new direction with an interesting mix of genres and topics. Our 2017 block of local films includes a tearjerker, a dark comedy and, of course, horror.
To be followed by Best Local Film award ceremony.
8:00 p.m.: “Night Creep” (Dir. Greg Travis)
From actor / director Greg Travis, “Night Creep” follows an exotic dancer who begins having shocking nightmares after taking a psychotropic drug. As these nightmares become more vivid and terrifying, she begins to question her own reality. Has her past come back to haunt her? Or is she a victim of… the Night Creep?! Lost for nearly 15 years and featuring a shocking performance from “Return of the Living Dead” actor Don Calfa, PUFF is excited to bring “Night Creep” to U.S. audiences for the very first time. Trust us: you won’t want to miss this jaw-dropping genre experience.
World Theatrical Premiere & Closing Night Film.
About Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival 2017
Founded by genre film enthusiasts and journalists Madeleine Koestner and Alex Gardner in 2016, the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival is dedicated to bringing some of the most underrepresented and unusual genre films from around the world to eastbound and underground fans. After a successful first year, which included screenings of such acclaimed horror and cult film fare as “We Go On,” “Night of Something Strange,” “Karate Kill,” “Egomaniac,” “Bad Blood: The Movie” and “Dead Body,” PUFF has expanded to a new venue and bigger program for 2017, taking residence at the Proscenium Theater at the Drake in Center City Philadelphia from 9/28 - 10/01.
In addition to their upgraded location and showcase, PUFF 2017 also marks their first collaboration with a media sponsor, Arrow in the Head, a part of the JoBlo Movie Network. Beyond their participation with this year’s festival, PUFF is proud to bestow Arrow in the Head with their inaugural Legacy Award, to be presented to the outlet’s founder, filmmaker John Fallon, as well as their current editor-in-chief, celebrated genre journalist Eric Walkuski.
With a bigger and bolder line-up, as well as an increased focus on the regional filmmakers and output, Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival hopes this step forward for the event will be one of many in the future. For more information on PUFF 2017, please visit their website at www.unnamedfilmfestival.com.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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