It’s heeeeeere! The mighty third wave of Popcorn Frights Film Festival programming is upon us, bringing with it malevolent mannequins, masked killers and a mind-bending movie quiz hosted by your very own FANGORIA fam and the legendary Anne Bobby!
The ninth annual Popcorn Frights is a fully hybrid experience, offering a huge batch of virtual and in-person offerings from August 10 – 20. The first and second wave announcements have already got us excited for world premieres of Deliver Us, Big Easy Queens, Puzzle Box and much, much more. The third wave sees the 30th anniversary of Fred Williamsons’ super-rare made-in-Miami murder mystery South Beach starring Gary Busey, Peter Fonda and Robert Forster, as well as the theatrical premiere of Severin Films’ 4K restoration of the complete version of the 1981 horror thriller Nightmare.
So without further ado, let’s get into this stacked third wave:
IN-THEATER LINEUP (Third Wave)
The Black Mass
World Premiere
United States | 2023 | 85Min. | Dir. Devanny Pinn
*Director Devanny Pinn and cast expected to attend
Inspired by real events, this sinister tale is set over a 24-hour period in Florida during the winter of 1978 when college girls were being stalked by a serial killer.
Bloody Bridget
US Premiere
United States | 2023 | 80 Min. | Dir. Richard Elfman
A Haitian voodoo deity transforms a burlesque dancer into a “Valentine vampire.” Blood only whets her appetite –she must eat her victims’ beating hearts!
Dark Windows
North American Premiere
United States | 2023 | 80 Min. | Dir. Alex Herron
A peaceful getaway turns into a fight for survival when a masked killer terrorizes a group of teens at a remote farmhouse in the countryside.
Don’t Look Away
World Premiere
United States | 2023 | 81 Min. | Dir. Michael Bafaro
A chance encounter with this supernatural entity proves devastating for a young woman after she learns that once you see the mannequin, there may be no end in sight, except for your own.
Founders Day
World Premiere
United States | 2023 | 104Min. | Dir. Erik Bloomquist
*Director Erik Bloomquist, writer Carson Bloomquist, and cast expected to attend
In this bold political slasher, a small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated mayoral election. As accusations fly and the threat of a masked killer darkens every street corner, the residents must raceto uncover the truth before fear consumes the town.
Frogman
World Premiere
United States | 2023 | 77Min. | Dir. Anthony Cousins
*Director Anthony Cousins expected to attend
Three friends in search of the Loveland Frogman are about to find out he is more than just a local legend.
Hundreds of Beavers
Florida Premiere
United States | 2023 | 108 Min. | Dir. Mike Cheslik
In this 19th century, supernatural winter epic, a drunken applejack salesman must go from zero to hero and become North America’s greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers.
Somewhere Quiet
Southeast US Premiere
United States | 2023| 98Min. | Dir. Olivia West Lloyd
This unsettling thriller follows a woman as she readjusts to normalcy after a kidnapping. Her sense of reality begins to deteriorate when she travels to her husband’s family compound.
Sour Party
Florida Premiere
United States | 2023 | 84 Min. | Dir. The Drextons
*Directors The Drextons expected to attend
Two broke, flailing 30-somethings are on a quest to scrounge money from a collection of low lives and failed artists in an attempt to show up to one of their sister’s baby shower with a proper gift.
That’s A Wrap
World Premiere
United States | 2023| 85 Min. | Dir. Marcel Walz*
Director Marcel Walz and cast expected to attend
In this giallo thriller, the cast of a film arrives at a wrap party, but someone has dressed up as the slasher in the movie and begins to stage their own kill scenes. One by one, the cast disappears until the true nature of the evening is revealed.
VIRTUAL FEATURE FILM LINEUP (Third Wave)
Bibi
Southeast US Premiere
United States | 2023 | 95Min. | Dir. Christopher Beatty
In this gripping psychological thriller, a grieving woman consumed by her own demons must confront a relentless stalker who blurs the boundaries between nightmare and reality, forcing her to question her sanity.
Beaten to Death
Florida Premiere
Australia | 2022 | 90Min. | Dirs. Sam Curtain
A desperate choice leads Jack down a path that leaves him beaten and bruised as he struggles against man, nature, and his own insanity
For the full lineup (including more information about Popcorn Frights’ retro film lineup and in-person events) head over to the official site where you can also grab your tickets and passes! We’ll see you there!
