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FrightFest Plans Horror DVDs with Wildbunch
The credibility FrightFest has built up within the horror fraternity (both talent and fans) has given it the confidence to extend its brand into the homevid arena. The fest team is in advanced negotiations with French producer-distributor Wild Bunch to launch a DVD label in February with the intention of releasing 12-15 titles a year in the U.K.
The partners are looking to acquire pics jointly, which has strengthened the festival’s hand when trying to persuade producers to release pics for the event.
“It gives us a bit of a presence in the market,” says Ian Rattray, one of fest founders and a film booker-distrib with 20 years’ experience. “It opens doors. Suddenly films become available that might never have been.”
The festival also plans to launch a film market next year, focused on its Discovery strand. The move came after the fest learned that foreign distribs were using the event to seek fresh blood for their slates. “There’s no such thing as a dedicated horror film market,” Rattray says. “Horror films tend to get lost at film markets like Cannes.”
After four years, terror finally comes home. Zach Cregger’s Barbarian will arrives in physical format for the first time on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray SteelBook.
Look for the stunning SteelBook that features brand-new art by Creepy Duck Design to arrive on August 11.
Special features will include:
- Audio Commentary with Zach Cregger & Roy Lee
- ‘Behind Barbarian’ featurette
- Deleted Scenes
That’s thrilling news, considering nearly a year ago Cregger was lamenting the lack of progress on the release. “I have banged the drum, made phone calls, and tried my best to get some sort of physical media,” Cregger said of Barbarian. “I’m not making headway, and it kind of bums me out.”
In the film, starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, a young woman books a rental home, only to discover that a man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.
This is long overdue for the film’s fans. I wrote in my review, “All rules get tossed out the window, resulting in a confrontational and chilling feature that slams into you like a freight train and leaves you breathless. It’s smartly written, well crafted, and boasts a fantastic cast committed to the insanity. More importantly, it’s the type of violent, ruthless, and bloody horror that leaves a mark.”
Of course, Cregger has since made even bigger waves in horror with Weapons. His Resident Evil arrives soon after his debut feature, Barbarian, makes its long-awaited home video release.
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