Hebrew horror, killer santas, carrot-wielding maniacs, demented descents, a Werewolf musical, the end of the world and Troll Hunters – it can only be Film4 FrightFest, back for a terrifying twelfth year.

From Thursday August 50 to Monday August 29 the UK’s premiere event for horror fans will be at the Empire Cinema in London’s Leicester Square to present 37 films in two screens. Empire 1 will house the main event while the Discovery strand will play in Empire 4. There are eleven countries represented, with seven world premieres and a record-equalling twenty UK or European premieres.

The lineup is absolutely massive, so read on to see what will be playing and watch this spot over the next few days for breaking new stills.

This year’s line-up reflects a healthy resurgence of home grown talent, with a record ten Brit titles in the line-up, including Ben Wheatley’s brutal chiller KILL LIST (pictured above), Cristian Solimeno’s psychological twister THE GLASS MAN, THE WICKER TREE (the eagerly awaited companion piece to `The Wicker Man’) and cyber-space shocker PANIC BUTTON. Then there’s Alex Chandon’s riotously gore-soaked INBRED, Susan Jacobson’s sinister thriller THE HOLDING, trippy terror GUINEA PIGS, directed by Ian Clarke and the closing night film A LONELY PLACE TO DIE. Plus, in the Discovery Screen, we have Sean Hogan’s dread-ridden gem THE DEVIL’S BUSINESS and Dan Turner’s nerve-shredding thriller STORMHOUSE.

From America there are a plethora of exciting titles including the eagerly-awaited TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL, which is well worth the wait, as is the zombie comedy DEADHEADS. DETENTION is the movie Scream 4 should have been and Lucky McKee’s THE WOMAN and Ti West’s THE INNKEEPERS are further prime examples of American contemporary horror at its very best. Also, from the depraved minds of Adam Rifkin, Tim Sullivan, Adam Green and Joe Lynch we have the anthology CHILLERAMA. Plus, FrightFesters will be one of the first audiences in the world to see the blockbusters FINAL DESTINATION 5 3D and FRIGHT NIGHT 3D.

Two countries to have never ever made a horror film before are represented this year – Switzerland’s stunning SENNENTUNTSCHI: CURSE OF THE ALPS and Israel’s remarkable RABIES (pictured below). From Europe there is also the Dutch sensation SAINT and the German subterranean shocker URBAN EXPLORERS. From Australia we have the opening night film DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK.

This year’s Discovery strand offers twelve titles, including the gripping, twisty A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE, the Swedish fear-freezer BLOOD RUNS COLD, the vampire indie MIDNIGHT SON. the fantastic Paul Naschy documentary THE MAN WHO SAW FRANKENSTEIN CRY and the intense home-invasion movie KIDNAPPED

Other special events in the main auditorium include our usual bestselling attraction – The International Short Film Showcase, which this year, is sponsored by The Horror Channel, the line-up for which will be announced soon. This terrifying treat is double-billed with the clamoured for return of `ANDY NYMAN’S QUIZ FROM HELL 2.

Total Film Magazine will be presenting LARRY FASSENDEN IN CONVERSATION WITH JAMIE GRAHAM, plus AMERICAN HORROR: A PANEL DISCUSSION where Larry Fessenden will be joined on stage by Ti West, Lucky McKee, Adam Green, Joe Lynch and Andrew van den Houten to discuss the US scare scene. This is your chance to get the inside track on where American horror is right now.

Plus there’s a free screening of THE DEAD accompanied by a live commentary by the Ford brothers. One of the hits of last year’s festival, this is a chance to get the low-down on what really happened behind the scenes.

Julia Wrigley, Head of Film4 Channel, said: ‘We are delighted to be the headline sponsor of Film4 FrightFest for the fifth successive year. It is bigger and better than ever, and we are particularly excited by the record amount of British films in the line-up, including the thrillingly inventive Film4 Production, Kill List. The FrightFest fortnight on the channel is always one of our most popular recurring seasons, and this year promises to be more terrifying than ever.’

Although this year’s guest list is still to be finalised, we can reveal that, alongside those joining the panel discussion, are Dick Maas, director of SAINT, Michael Steiner, director of SENNENTUNTSCHI, Robin Hardy, director of THE WICKER TREE, Emily Hagins, director of MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE, Buddy Giovinazzo, Karim Hussein and David Gregory, directors of THE THEATRE BIZARRE, and the cast and crews from Ben Wheatley’s KILL LIST, Alex Chandon’s INBRED, Cristian Solimeno’s THE GLASS MAN, The Pierce Brothers’ DEADHEADS, Susan Jacobson’s THE HOLDING, Chris Crow’s PANIC BUTTON, Julian Gilbey’s A LONELY PLACE TO DIE and Sean Hogan’s THE DEVIL’S BUSINESS. Plus there will be plenty of surprise guests – in the true FrightFest fashion.

Festival & day passes go on sale from July 2nd. Tickets for Individual films on sale from 1st August.

CLICK ANY LINKED TITLE BELOW FOR IMAGES, POSTERS, TRAILERS AND MORE

PROGRAMME – SCREEN 1

THURSDAY AUG 25

18:30 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (UK Premiere; review)

Your worst bedtime nightmares are about to come true thanks to producer/co-writer Guillermo del Toro. Young Sally moves to Rhode Island to live with her architect father and his new girlfriend in the 19th-century mansion they are restoring. But the foreboding edifice has a dark past… Based on the acclaimed 1973 US TV movie and bearing del Toro’s distinct touch of class, director Troy Nixey explores the demonic tooth fairy myth in a tense flight of terrifying fantasy orchestrated with stylish verve, commanding atmosphere and stunning sound design.

100 mins Director Troy Nixey Australia 2011

Katie Holmes – Kim
Bailee Madison – Sally Hirst
Guy Pearce – Alex Hirst
Alan Dale – Jacoby
Jack Thompson – Harris

21:15 FINAL DESTINATION 5 3D (UK Premiere)

This is the latest chapter in the top-grossing horror thriller franchise first. In this fifth instalment, written by Eric Heisserer, scripter of the up-coming THE THING remake, Death is just as omnipresent as ever, and is unleashed after one man’s premonition saves a group of co-workers from a terrifying suspension bridge collapse. But they were never supposed to survive, and, in a terrifying race against time, the ill-fated assembly frantically to discover a way to escape the Grim Reaper’s sinister agenda. You can run, but no matter where you hide, you can’t cheat Death – even in 3D!

95 mins Director: Steven Quale USA 2011

Nicholas D’Agosto – Sam Lawton
Emma Bell – Molly
David Koechner – Dennis
Tony Todd – Bludworth
Courtney B. Vance – Agent Jim Block

23:30 THE THEATRE BIZARRE (European Premiere)

Down a seedy city street in her neighbourhood, young Enola Penny is obsessed with what appears to be a long abandoned theatre. One night, she sees that the front door is slightly ajar and impulsively decides to sneak inside. But there in the dark, decrepit auditorium, a show unlike any other unfolds before her eyes. Its host is the eerie human puppet Pegg Poett who introduces her to six weird tales. Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome to THE THEATRE BIZARRE.

108 mins Directors: Richard Stanley, Tom Savini, Douglas Buck, Karim Hussain, Buddy Giovinazzo, Jeremy Kasten, David Gregory USA/France 2011

Virginia Newcomb – Enola Penny
Udo Kier – Pegg Poett
Debbie Rochon – Carla
Tom Savini – Dr. Maury
Catriona MacColl – Mere Antoinette

FRIDAY AUG 26

10:40 ROGUE RIVER (UK Premiere; review)

Wanting to spread her father’s ashes at a significant place, Mara drives to a remote part of the beautiful Rogue River in Southern Oregon. When her car is towed away by she accepts the offer of a ride into town by a kindly passerby named Jon (TEXAS CHAINSAW 2 and DEVIL’S REJECTS horror legend Bill Moseley). So begins Mara’s nightmare descent into utter horror and disgust, making her wish she had parked her car somewhere else.

90 mins Director: Jourdan McClure USA 2010

Michelle Page – Mara
Bill Moseley – Jon
Lucinda Jenney – Lea
Michael Cudlitz – Sheriff Boyd
Chris Coy – Andrew

12:45 THE HOLDING (World Premiere)

A heart-pounding suspense thriller set in the rugged and atmospheric landscape of the English countryside. Cassie Naylor’s husband Dean has mysteriously disappeared and now she’s desperately trying to run their isolated farm alone with her two girls. Then an enigmatic stranger arrives at the smallholding, claiming to be an old friend of her husband and soon charms his way into their lives. But unknown to Cassie, Aden’s altruistic motivation has a sinister edge and when the truth about Dean’s vanishing finally comes to light, Cassie and her girls must fight for their survival like never before.

90 mins Director: Susan Jacobson UK 2011

Kierston Waring – Cassie Naylor
Vincent Regan – Aden
David Bradley – Cooper
Georgia Groome – Gemma
Terry Stone – Karsten Rabe

15:05 The Total Film Interview: Larry Fessenden in conversation with Jamie Graham

Larry Fessenden is the most underrated American filmmaker working in horror today. His four features (NO TELLING, HABIT, WENDIGO, THE LAST WINTER) have established the 48-year-old New Yorker’s inimitable brand of low-key, naturalistic scares, and his haunting work often exhibits heartfelt ecological concerns while featuring real people in recognisable surroundings – even when his protagonists are vampires. Larry has also acted in nearly 50 films and produced 40-odd titles, including Ti West’s THE ROOST, THE HOUSE OF THE DEVILl and, at FrightFest this year, THE INNKEEPERS. Total Film looks forward to introducing the mysterious maven of mayhem to the FrightFest stage.

Plus – American Horror: A Panel Discussion

Total Film and Larry Fessenden will be joined on stage by Ti West, Lucky McKee, Adam Green, Joe Lynch and Andrew van den Houten to discuss the US scare scene. This is your chance to get the inside track on where American horror is at, right here, right now!

90 mins

17:00 URBAN EXPLORERS (UK Premiere)

Eager to travel around the mysterious hidden world under metropolitan Berlin, four spelunkers hire local guide Kris, who leads them into the dark, dank and cavernous maze of escape tunnels and subterranean fortifications to find old Nazi war rooms. It’s when Kris suffers a bad fall that things start to go horribly wrong. Out of the shadows comes Armin, a former East German border guard, who has made this unchartered territory his underground kingdom. THE DESCENT meets CREEP in a nightmare as epic as the stunning subterranean locations.

88 mins Director: Andy Fetscher Germany 2011

Klaus Stiglmeier – Armin
Max Riemelt – Kris
Nathalie Kelley – Lucia
Nick Eversman – Denis
Brenda Koo – Juna

19:05 THE GLASS MAN (World Premiere)

Martin Pyrite has lost his job. But instead of telling his wife he continues his work routine and gets into enormous monetary difficulties. Then late one night a sinister debt collector bangs on his door with an offer – if Martin helps him carry out an important task he’ll wipe the financial slate clean. In accepting, Martin goes on a journey through his own private hell where he’s forced to confront his worst dreads in a mesmerizing vortex of soul-destroying madness. Director Cristian Solimeno’s compact psychological horror chiller is the indie Brit discovery of the year.

120 mins Director: Cristian Solimeno UK 2011

Andy Nyman – Martin Pyrite
James Cosmo – Pecco
Neve Campbell – Julie Pyrite
Cristian Solimeno – Toby Huxley
Don Warrington – Anton

21:55 TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL (London Preview; review)

An endearingly cheeky tribute to a diverse array of suspense and slasher classics (everything from FARGO and FRIDAY THE 13th to THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and WRONG TURN) this horror comedy finds best hillbilly buddies Tucker and Dale headed to their new vacation cabin in the West Virginia mountains. But when they have a nasty run-in with a group of college kids on a camping weekend a series of deranged misunderstandings begins that starts the body count setting in motion the bloodiest of shock deaths.

86 mins Director: Eli Craig USA 2010

Tyler Labine – Dale
Alan Tudyk – Tucker
Katrina Bowden – Allison
Jesse Moss – Chad
Philip Granger – Sheriff

23:55 VILE (World Premiere; review)

Fifty years ago Yale University professor Stanley Milgram held a series of social experiments based on Nazi war criminals’ psychology. They were devised to answer a simple question; how far are people willing to go when instructed by authority? Nick, his girlfriend Tayler and their two best friends are about to find out. Abducted after a camping trip, they wake up in an unknown prison with two vials wired into the base of their skulls. Their task, set by a mysterious video figure, is to fill the vials with chemicals the brain produces under extreme pain…

88 mins Director: Taylor Sheridan USA 2011

Eric Jay Beck – Nick
April Matson – Tayler
Akeem Smith – Tony
Greg Cipes – Sam
Maya Hazen – Tara

SATURDAY AUG 27

11:00 TROLLHUNTER (Preview; review)

After successfully redefining the vampire and thriller genres with LET THE RIGHT ONE IN and THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, the Scandinavians now turn their attention to the creature feature. The adorably weird result is the coolest monster movie import since THE HOST. This slyly compelling and dryly humorous hybrid details what happens when a group of documentary filmmakers attempt to expose an infamous bearskin poacher…who actually turns out to be Norway’s only living troll hunter. A silly, scary and sincere balance of horror, adventure and mockumentary that both reinvents and pays homage to the creature classics of old.

99 mins Director: Andre Ovredal Norway 2010

Otto Jespersen – Hans the Troll Hunter
Glenn Erland Tosterud – Thomas
Johanna Morck – Johanna
Tomas Alf Larsen – Kalle
Hans Morten Hansen – Finn

13:15 THE WICKER TREE (European Premiere)

From the makers of the cult classic THE WICKER MAN, and based on director Robin Hardy’s own novel `Cowboys for Christ’, a Texas gospel singer and her boyfriend, both devout evangelical Christians, are sent to Scotland on a mission to spread the word of God. After a concert in Glasgow Cathedral the pair are invited by Sir Lachlan Morrison to preach in his remote border village, but soon the horrifying reality dawns on the couple as they learn the true significance of the Celtic pagan rites. Reuniting Hardy with legendary actor Christopher Lee for a story in the style of the 1973 landmark fantasy comes the most eagerly anticipated horror movie of the year.

90 mins Director: Robin Hardy UK 2011

Brittania Nicol – Beth
Henry Garrett – Steve
Graham McTavish – Sir Lachlan Morrison
Honeysuckle Weeks – Lolly
Christopher Lee – Old Man

15:35 PANIC BUTTON (World Premiere)

Push the button for THE SOCIAL NETWORK of shock, Four people win a trip of a lifetime to New York, courtesy of their favourite social-networking website – All2gethr.com. Boarding a private jet, they hand in their mobiles ready to take part in the in-flight entertainment – a new online gaming experience. But this is no ordinary game. Trapped at 30,000 feet, they must play for their lives and the lives of their loved ones by their invisible captor, who knows every intimate secret. This inventive twister explores the chilling consequences of posting too much information online and how in cyber-space no one can hear you scream.

95 mins Director: Chris Crow UK 2011

Scarlett Alice Johnson – Jo
Michael Jibson – Dave
Jack Gordon – Max
Elen Rhys – Gwen
Joshua Richards – Alligator

18:00 FRIGHT NIGHT 3D (Preview)

Based on the 1985 classic comes the year’s most anticipated remake; it’s fangs for the memory with a horror comedy you can really sink your teeth into. Is horror movie addict Charley Brewster’s suave new next-door-neighbour Jerry Dandridge really an evil vampire responsible for a string of recent deaths? No one believes the teenager of course so he recruits Peter Vincent, the host of his favourite TV horror show to help him prove the facts. A winning fusion of laughs and scares, this canny update of the much-loved Tom Holland original features an all-star cast including Colin Farrell, David Tennant and Toni Collette.

120 mins Director: Chris Gillespie USA 2011

Colin Farrell – Jerry Dandridge
Anton Yelchin – Charley Brewster
David Tennant – Peter Vincent
Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Evil Ed
Toni Collette – Jane Brewster

21:00 THE WOMAN (UK Premiere; review)

From author Jack Ketchum (THE LOST, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR) and director Lucky McKee comes a scandalous tale of two extremes, a feral female force of nature and an abusive parent, on collision course for a brutal showdown and the family caught in between. When Chris Cleek discovers a primitive woman in the wilderness on a hunting trip, he traps and locks her up in a cellar to domesticate her. With psychological twists and emotional reveals that keep its haunting climax impossible to turn away from, this stark study of a dysfunctional family is unforgettable.

100 mins Director: Lucky McKee USA 2011

Pollyanna McIntosh – The Woman
Angela Bettis – Belle Cleek
Sean Bridgers – Chris Cleek
Zach Rand – Brian Cleek
Lauren Ashley Carter – Peggy Cleek

23:30 CHILLERAMA (European Premiere)

From the depraved minds of Adam Rifkin (DETROIT ROCK CITY), Tim Sullivan (2001 MANIACS), Adam Green (FROZEN), and Joe Lynch (WRONG TURN 2), a horror fantasy anthology in the classic spirit of BLACK SABBATH, CREEPSHOW and TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE. A celebration of the golden age of B movies, there’s something for everyone’s bad taste in this quartet of schlock featuring the monster mania rampage WADZILLA, the gay Beach Party musical I WAS A TEENAGE WEREBEAR, the black-and-white insanity THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANKENSTEIN and the creeping fleshy ZOM-B-MOVIE.

115 mins Directors: Adam Rifkin, Tim Sullivan, Adam Green, Joe Lynch USA 2011

Ray Wise – Dr. Weems
Joel David Moore – Adolf Hitler
Lin Shaye – Nurse Maleva
Richard Riehle – Cecil B. Kaufman
Kane Hodder – Meshugganah

SUNDAY AUG 28

10:30 THE DIVIDE (Preview; review)

From Xavier Gens, director of FRONTIER(S), a post-apocalyptic shocker about the nightmare unraveling of humanity under the most extreme circumstances imaginable. New York City is decimated in a nuclear holocaust, As the survivors sit in the makeshift fallout shelter the `divide’ begins. With no one knowing the evil each person in the group is capable of, trust issues arise, paranoia emerges, factions form and values are debased in a brutal and visceral vision of a broken future.

110 mins Director: Xavier Gens USA 2011

Michael Biehn – Mickey
Milo Ventimiglia – Josh
Lauren German – Eva
Rosanna Arquette – Marilyn
Courtney B. Vance – Delvin

13:00 THE HORROR CHANNEL PRESENTS THE INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM SHOWCASE

+ ANDY NYMAN’S QUIZ FROM HELL 2

16:00 THE INNKEEPERS (UK Premiere; review)

The indie king of the slow-burn horro,r flick Ti West, returns to FrightFest with something akin to THE SHINING done slacker style After 100 years of silver service, The Yankee Pedlar Inn is shutting its doors for good. The last remaining employees – Claire and Luke – are determined to uncover proof that the hotel is haunted. As the Inn’s final days draw near, odd guests check in as the pair of amateur ghostbusters begins to experience strange and alarming events that may ultimately cause them to be mere footnotes in the establishment’s long unexplained history.

102 mins Director: Ti West USA 2011

Sara Paxton – Claire
Pat Healy – Luke
Kelly McGillis – Leanne Rease Jones
George Riddle – Old Man
Alison Bartlett – Angry Mom

18:35 SAINT (UK Premiere; review)

Dutch director Dick Maas (AMSTERDAMMED delves into grim fairytales for his latest bloody blockbuster. It’s December 5th: time for the Saint Nicolas festivities to commence in earnest. Student Frank and friends prepare to party dressed up as the legendary Saint and his little helpers the Black Peters. But the real centuries old Saint Nick was a sadistic killer, a rogue bishop-turned-pirate, No one believes the fable but then a medieval schooner is spotted sailing towards Amsterdam harbour and a sudden wave of shocking murders begins…

85 mins Director: Dick Maas The Netherlands – 2010

Huub Stapel – Niklas
Egbert-Jan Weeber – Frank
Caro Lenssen – Lisa
Bert Luppes – Goert
Escha Tanihatu – Sophie

20:50 KILL LIST (UK Premiere; review)

THE TOTAL FILM SPONSORED SCREENING

From the DOWN TERRACE team comes a darkly funny, brutally visceral and surprising tale of terror. Ex-soldier-turned-hit-man Jay hasn’t worked in months whicj is taking its toll on his marriage. Then his pal Gal comes up with an assignment for a mysterious client and as the hits progress so does Jay’s increasing bloodlust, Progressing confidently from uneasy character study to intense crime thriller to stark shocker, director Ben Wheatley’s unique chiller is one of the year’s unforgettable horror highlights.

90 mins Director: Ben Wheatley UK 2011

Neil Maskell – Jay
MyAnna Buring – Shel
Michael Smiley – Gal
Emma Fryer – Fiona
Harry Simpson – Sam

23:30 DETENTION (UK Premiere; review)

From rock video director Joseph Kahn (Lady GaGa, Kylie, Eminem, Britney, U2) comes a fast and furious teen comedy slasher. High school outcast Riley Jones has a secret crush on cool kid Clapton Davis but can’t stand the angst anymore so decides to commit suicide. Suddenly a serial killer dressed as the horror movie icon `Cinderhella’ arrives to help her along. Riffing equally on BACK TO THE FUTURE and PROM NIGHT and ramping up its genre elements, self-awareness and one-liners to a dizzying pace, this DETENTION centre is pure post-modern playfulness.

93 mins Director: Joseph Kahn USA 2011

Josh Hutcherson – Clapton Davis
Shanley Caswell – Riley Jones
Parker Bagley – Billy Nolan
Dane Cook – Principal Verge
Spencer Locke – Ione

MONDAY AUG 29

10:45 GUINEA PIGS (World Premiere)

Seven volunteers drawn from all walks of life attend a clinical trial run by ProSyntrex Pharmaceuticals. In exchange for a fee of