Movies
Popcorn Frights’ Third Wave Unleashes Giallo Thrillers, Found Footage Creature Features, and So Much More
Popcorn Frights‘ third wave of programming is here, bringing even more delightful frights and curated programming for their most ambitious year yet. Prepare for a weeklong, face-melting celebration of genre cinema with 48 feature film presentations from 20 countries, industry sessions, beach parties, live performances, horror trivia, live comedy, and so much more.
The fest is back this year for its ninth edition, both in-person and virtually, from August 10-20 in Fort Lauderdale, South Beach and virtually nationwide.
Highlights from the third wave of Popcorn Frights 2023 programming include the Bloomquist Brothers’ political slasher FOUNDERS DAY, Marcel Walz’s giallo thriller THAT’S A WRAP, Anthony Cousins’ found footage creature feature FROGMAN, Devanny Pinn’s Florida-set serial killer thriller THE BLACK MASS, as well as the killer mannequin creepfest DON’T LOOK AWAY, the 30th anniversary of Fred Williamsons’ super-rare made-in-Miami murder mystery SOUTH BEACH starring Gary Busey, Peter Fonda, Robert Forster, and Vanity. This closing night screening comes with a rare and sure to be entertaining live commentary. The Festival will host the theatrical premiere of Severin Films’ 4K restoration of the complete version of the 1981 sun & scuzz horror thriller NIGHTMARE. Joining the special event is producer/actor Mik Cribben, who will participate in an extended conversation about the making of this controversial, gore-soaked gem.
The excitement doesn’t end with the films — prepare for Horror Movie Trivia hosted by Fangoria and actress Anne Bobby! And if that’s not enough, industry sessions moderated by Fangoria’s Editor-in- Chief Phil Nobile Jr. and a continental breakfast for filmmakers await you at the renowned The Betsy South Beach. When night falls, the party continues at The Betsy with an outdoor bash and complimentary drinks. The fest even offers a walking tour of South Beach’s prominent filming locations.
A finale wave of Popcorn Frights 2023 titles is still yet to come, including the fest’s short film selection.
In the meantime, here’s the official second wave of programming:
IN-THEATER LINEUP
The Black Mass
World Premiere
United States | 2023 | 85 Min. | 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 | 104 Min. | 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 race to uncover the truth before fear consumes the town.
Frogman
World Premiere
United States | 2023 | 77 Min. | 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 | 98 Min. | 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
Bibi
Southeast US Premiere
United States | 2023 | 95 Min. | 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 | 90 Min. | 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.
RETRO FILM LINEUP
In Tribute to Kenneth Anger
Special Presentation
*Live Performance Event
Nightmare
Theatrical Restoration Premiere
United States-Italy | 1981 | 97 Min. | Dir. Romano Scavolini
*Producer/Actor Mik Cribben expected to attend
A mental patient embarks on a murder spree upon escaping from an institution.
South Beach
30th Anniversary Presentation
United States | 1993 | 93 Min. | Dir. Fred Williamson
*Live Commentary
A tough former cop and football star finds himself in trouble, and gets his old teammates to jump in.
Head over to PopcornFrights.com for badges, and stay tuned for the next wave of killer programming.
Sony returns to their own Marvel universe with the upcoming Kraven the Hunter, which has been bumped all over the release schedule. This week, it’s been bumped once more.
There was a time when Sony was going to unleash Kraven in theaters in October 2023, but the film was then bumped to August 2024. It’ll now release on December 13, 2024.
Kraven the Hunter will be the very first Marvel movie from Sony to be released into theaters with an “R” rating, with lots of bloody violence being promised.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as the title character, Marvel’s ultimate predator.
“Kraven the Hunter is the visceral story about how and why one of Marvel’s most iconic villains came to be. Set before his notorious vendetta with Spider-Man, Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as the titular character in the R-rated film.”
Ariana DeBose will play Calypso in the upcoming Kraven the Hunter movie.
Christopher Abbott (Possessor) is playing The Foreigner, with Levi Miller (Better Watch Out) also on board. Alessandro Nivola (The Many Saints of Newark) will play another villain, but character details are under wraps. Russell Crowe and Fred Hechinger also star.
J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year) is directing Kraven the Hunter.
The screenplay was written by Art Marcum & Matt Holloway and Richard Wenk.
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