Podcasts about Fantastic Fest

Trick or Treat! A surprise POST MORTEM podcast is waiting for your ears! Mick's MASTERS OF HORROR series AND the great Fantastic Fest both celebrated their 20th anniversaries together in Austin, TX, in front of a live audience, with a panel featuring Joe Dante, Don Coscarelli, and Ernest Dickerson, moderated by Mick… and now you can be there! Look forward to expect surprise drops like this in the future! Now… stay scary! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The most wonderful time of the year has come to a close, but don't fret! Dianna and her annual spooky season guest share their favorite films from Fantastic Fest 2025. We also discuss TORSO (1973). Dianna is joined by TikTok creator, Dillon Tillman, for this seasonal episode! Follow the podcast on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ / Follow host Dianna on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠Letterboxd⁠⁠ / Follow ⁠⁠Slasher Reviews⁠⁠ / Logo by ⁠⁠Matt Gauck⁠⁠ / Music by ⁠⁠Dream Division⁠⁠Spoiler warning: Giallo of the Month Club explores, in depth, subversive themes and social relevance surrounding the giallo film genre. Each episode may contain spoilers.

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Black Phone 2 is a 2025 American supernatural horror film directed by Scott Derrickson from a script he co-wrote with C. Robert Cargill, and produced by Jason Blum. It serves as a sequel to The Black Phone (2021). The film stars Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and Jeremy Davies reprising their roles with Demián Bichir joining the cast.Black Phone 2 premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 20, 2025, and was released in the United States by Universal Pictures on October 17. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $42.8 million worldwide with a budget of $30 million.Disclaimer: The following may contain offensive language, adult humor, and/or content that some viewers may find offensive – The views and opinions expressed by any one speaker does not explicitly or necessarily reflect or represent those of Mark Radulich or W2M Network.Mark Radulich and his wacky podcast on all the things:https://linktr.ee/markkind76alsohttps://www.teepublic.com/user/radulich-in-broadcasting-networkFB Messenger: Mark Radulich LCSWTiktok: @markradulichtwitter: @MarkRadulichInstagram: markkind76RIBN Album Playlist: https://suno.com/playlist/91d704c9-d1ea-45a0-9ffe-5069497bad59 

We've been deep in the heart of Texas—Austin, to be exact—for our FANTASTIC FEST 2025 coverage! From midnight screenings to surprise premieres, we've got the highlights, the weirdness, and the best genre gems to put on your radar. But first, we lock the doors and draw the blinds for our review of THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2. Does this long-awaited sequel breathe new life into one of horror's most unsettling franchises, or is it just knocking on nostalgia's door? Festival chaos, masked killers, and maybe a little Texas kolache talk: join us for all that and more. Enjoy the show and drop your thoughts in the comments!   TIME INDEX:   8:18 - Review: THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2   23:37 - Spoilers: THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 2   34:43 - Discussion of highlights from FANTASTIC FEST 2025:        ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER;        SIRAT;        BUGONIA;        THE PLAGUE;        V/H/S HALLOWEEN;        GOOD LUCK HAVE FUN DON'T DIE;        FORBIDDEN CITY Listen to more MBP movie reviews and special episodes for FREE! on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Or, you can watch videos of our shows on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/moviebearspodcast, our website: www.moviebearspodcast.com,  or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/moviebearspodcast.  Please leave a comment or review, we'd love to read it on the next episode!

Upcoming genre directors Chris Stuckmann (Shelby Oaks) and Mercedes Bryce Morgan (Bone Lake) join Vespe for a very special live recording from this year's Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX. This broad King conversation hones in on a couple of specific titles, including the recent The Long Walk adaptation, Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep adaptation, and someone insane tries to defend Secret Window starring Johnny Depp.

In this episode, Sean is joined by DJ Intel, a festival goer and co-owner of The Brewed Coffee Shop in Chicago. They explore DJ Intel's experiences at film festivals like Fantastic Fest, Panic Fest, Chicago International, and Music Box of Horrors, highlighting standout films such as 'The Forbidden City' and 'Obsession.' The conversation shifts to DJ Intel's 31 Days of Horror movie list, touching on classics and hidden gems. They also discuss the Halloween atmosphere at Brood Coffee Shop and share personal experiences and preferences for horror films and seasonal activities. 00:00 Introduction and Announcements 01:23 Special Guest: DJ Intel 03:14 Film Festivals and Favorite Movies 06:15 Fantastic Fest Highlights 10:56 Other Film Festivals and Experiences 23:42 31 Days of Horror Movie List 36:37 Discussing 'Trim Season' and Other Horror Films 37:31 Exploring 'Long Weekend' and 'April Fool's Day' 38:53 Praising 'Fallen' and Other Classic Horror Movies 41:45 Nostalgic Horror Films and TV Specials 45:23 Halloween Favorites and Traditions 59:11 Upcoming Horror Directors and Films 01:04:47 Halloween Events and Coffee Talk 01:09:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another episode of Death Don't Do Fiction, the AIPT Movies podcast! The podcast about the enduring legacy of our favorite movies! It's October, so that means it's time for our “Shocktober” series, where we cover movies that go bump in the night! In this week's episode, Alex, Tim, and returning guest Tony Sedani discuss Tom Savini's overlooked 1990 remake of the George Romero classic, Night of the Living Dead!A quick pace! Mild undead nudity! Shocking neck violence! A door you can punch through! A female lead who transitions from damsel in distress to legitimate action hero! Fantastic makeup effects and memorable zombie designs, including one that's twisted up like a pretzel! A great "one awful night in a single location" movie! No real explanation for the horrors that ensue! Social commentary on division and class war! Good ol' boys toying with zombies! Feelings of hopelessness! An impossible Candyman reference! A cast that includes the legendary Tony Todd, Laura Dern's stunt double from Jurassic Park, Patricia Tallman, the writer of The Gingerdead Man, William Butler, an unrecognizable Bill Moseley, and Tom Towles as the worst dude ever! While it may live in the shadow of the 1968 original, it's one of the better remakes and some people's preferred version of Night of the Living Dead! In addition, Alex talks about his favorite movies from Fantastic Fest 2025, including the Iko Uwais-produced martial arts extravaganza Ikatan Darah, Johannes Roberts' monkey-gone-mad creature feature Primate, Justin Long's unique take on corrupt cops in Los Angeles, Night Patrol, Steve Kostanki's Deathstalker, V/H/S/Halloween, the shark thriller Beast of War, and Curry Barker's oddly funny cautionary horror tale, Obsession!Finally, Tony shares his spoiler-free thoughts on The Long Walk, One Battle After Another, Good Boy, and The Smashing Machine, while Alex does the same for the Shudder original Night of the Reaper, and the realization of a plumber's worst nightmare, Scared Shitless!You can find Death Don't Do Fiction on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As always, if you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave us a positive rating, subscribe to the show, and tell your friends!The Death Don't Do Fiction podcast brings you the latest in movie news, reviews, and more! Hosted by supposed “industry vets,” Alex Harris and Tim Gardiner, the show gives you a peek behind the scenes from two filmmakers with oddly nonexistent filmographies. You can find Alex on Twitter, Bluesky, or Letterboxd @actionharris. This episode's guest, Tony Sedani, can be on Instagram @tsedani. Tim can't be found on social media because he doesn't exist. If you have any questions or suggestions for the Death Don't Do Fiction crew, they can be reached at aiptmoviespod@gmail.com, or you can find them on Twitter or Instagram @aiptmoviespod.Theme song is “We Got it Goin On” by Cobra Man.

Fresh off of Fantastic Fest in Austin Texas we get an in depth look into the award winning film The Vile with director Majid Al Ansari. The Vile is brought to you by the producers of films such as Insidious, Late Night With The Devil, Weapons, and gave us such a unique experience into the world of genre films with this Emirati feature. With the foundation of drama, polygamous relationship, and the effects it has on families in Muslim culture this could have been a movie on it's own without the horror elements, but as Majid sprinkles in black magic and supernatural forces around the events, he turns this riveting family drama into an even wilder ride. Was so cool to pick his brain and get even more layers on how this came to be and how this film is going against the grain of how the majority of movies are made in his country.

Nick reunites with film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to catch up on Steve's trip to Fantastic Fest, talk box office trends, and review new releases including Tron: Ares, The Kiss of the Spider Woman starring Jennifer Lopez, Roofman with Channing Tatum, and a heartfelt new documentary about John Candy. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to dive into the bizarre world of Billy Corgan's $20 Goth Smoothie, the nostalgia of those old “Scary Sounds” Halloween CDs, and memories of Erehwon mountain stores at the mall. They also swap stories about some of Hollywood's most misguided side projects—from James Caan's Sicilian Vampire to Marlon Brando in drag and Christopher Walken partying with The Country Bears Jamboree. [Ep 393]

How do you make enough money to support yourself as an independent filmmaker? It's nearly impossible. So these scrappy filmmakers tried something new. Moviegoers at this year's edition of Fantastic Fest were in for a surprise when the credits of the horror world premiere Dolly rolled: several QR codes lingered on screen. If you liked the movie, you could tip the filmmakers directly, through Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and Paypal (those links are live in case you support the idea): In addition to the tip jar, they also put themselves in the movie so they could also find a revenue stream as actors, and they've since added to their website a high-priced opportunity to be in the sequel to Dolly as one of the victims. On this episode of the No Film School Podcast, NFS Founder Ryan Koo discusses these innovations with writer-director Rod Blackhurst, producer Noah Lang, and producer Ross O'Connor. In this episode… Why the Dolly team added a “tip jar” at the end of their movie using QR codes How creating additional revenue streams as actors and content creators might be a new model for indie filmmakers The story behind casting wrestler Max the Impaler as Dolly Using 16mm film to enhance the grindhouse horror tone and the challenges of daily shipping undeveloped reels The VFX, SFX, and editing craft that made the gore and kills land effectively The DIY spirit that fueled every part of this low-budget horror's production Putting themselves in the film for potential SAG residuals Plans to build Dolly into a franchise and the playful spirit they bring to that The lesson that proper channels aren't always the best path—sometimes you just DM a star and see what happens Memorable Quotes: “Putting a tip jar in the credits—if not us, then who? If not now, then when?” (42:20) “We couldn't afford to license music, so we made our own band.” (42:30) “It's both the most pathetic thing ever and the greatest idea of all time.” (43:50) “We will be in every Dolly. That is 100% the plan.” (50:12) Guests: Rod Blackhurst Noah Lang Ross O'Connor Resources: Tip the Dolly filmmakers (No Film School post with QR codes) Fantastic Fest Amanda Knox (Netflix documentary by Rod Blackhurst) Here Alone (Rod & Noah's previous Tribeca Audience Award-winning film) Blood for Dust (Starring Kit Harington & Scoot McNairy) Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram  

Jahan and Drew discuss the recent increase in Game Pass prices after a brief discussion of Fantastic Fest 2025. Fresh Movies: The Smashing Machine; One Battle After Another; Black Phone 2; Sisu: Road to Revenge; Bugonia; Shelby Oaks; Silent Night, Deadly Night; Primate; Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die Fresh TV: Peacemaker Fresh Games: Borderlands 4; Ghost of Yotei; Hades 2 Find us on Bluesky: @dmunhausen.bsky.social and @jahananon.bsky.social

Erica and Steve eat too many pretzels, drink too many beers, and watch too many movies at Fantastic Fest!The Horror Hippies on Social Media:Instagram: http://instagram.com/thehorrorhippiesErica Nelson on Social Media:Instagram: http://instagram.com/ericablair___Steven Hugh Nelson on Social Media:Instagram: http://instagram.com/stevenhughnelson/IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3841612/

Send us a textOn today's episode, we recap the 20th anniversary of Fantastic Fest, the largest gathering of genre film in the land, which took place in Austin, Texas, from September 18th-25th for eight days of thrilling world premieres.Follow us on Social Media: @pvdhorror Instagram, X, TikTok, FacebookWatch us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@pvdhorrorSpecial thanks to John Brennan for the intro and outro music. Be sure to find his music on social media at @badtechno or the following:https://johnbrennan.bandcamp.com

An audio documentary podcast series about the sea-faring classic - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. On this very special bonus episode, I join one of the original online movie news men, Alan Cerny, to discuss the long overdue 4K release of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.Guest: Alan Cerny has been writing reviews for several years. Formerly known as Nordling at Ain't It Cool News until 2016, he began writing for ComingSoon.net and is now a writer and reviewer for Vital Thrills. He has also contributed guest articles to CHUD and Birth.Movies.Death. Cerny has been a member of the Houston Film Critics Society since 2011 and has previously served as both Vice President and Secretary of the organization. He has covered the South by Southwest Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, Houston's Cinema Arts Festival, and WorldFest Houston.Publications: ComingSoon.net, VitalThrills.comNarrator: Ken JeacleTheme composer: Andrew VillerJoin our Patreon for as little as $1 a month for an exclusive weekly podcast + access to the OHM discord here.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/one-heat-minute-productions/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Send us a textWe are pleased to welcome actor, writer, comedian, and professional wrestler Ryan Nemeth to today's episode. Our conversation will cover our experiences at Fantastic Fest and our favorite horror films and wrestling moments. You can catch Ryan in action on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Make sure to tune into TNA Bound For Glory 2025 on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, and streaming live on TNA+.Follow us on Social Media: @pvdhorror Instagram, X, TikTok, FacebookWatch us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@pvdhorrorSpecial thanks to John Brennan for the intro and outro music. Be sure to find his music on social media at @badtechno or the following:https://johnbrennan.bandcamp.com

THE STUCKMANIZED INTERVIEW!! From YouTube Critic to Horror Director! Why He Quit Reviewing "Bad" Movies & the Personal Trauma That Inspired SHELBY OAKS. — Greg Alba sits down with Chris Stuckmann for one of our most personal, craft-focused conversations yet. We cover the full journey from YouTube film critic to feature filmmaker, the decision to stop reviewing movies he dislikes (and the rise of “performative mocking” online), and how fatherhood and a former religious background (ex–Jehovah's Witness) shaped his storytelling. We dig into SHELBY OAKS (theatrical release Oct 24, with early Thurs night shows Oct 23): inspirations like Lake Mungo and Noroi: The Curse, why Japanese horror gets under the skin, M. Night Shyamalan's influence (faith vs. fear), and how Chris writes with the edit/shot list in mind. Production talk galore: 20-day indie shoot in Ohio, a year of prep, DP Andrew Baird, why the First AC (focus puller) is the unsung set hero, PAs saving the day, and how star Camille Sullivan (Hunter Hunter) elevated scenes so intensely the chest mic captured her heartbeat; plus working with Sarah Durn and Keith David (The Thing, They Live). Industry context: Mike Flanagan producing, NEON distributing, The Newton Brothers scoring, festival reactions (Fantastic Fest, LA premiere), and how being on set changed the way Chris now reads reviews and watches indie films. We also hit fun stuff: Metal Gear Solid directional-mic jokes, Tarantino vs. Scorsese-style self-watching, first horror clips he'll show his kids (Jaws, Jurassic Park moments), comic-book horror he'd love to tackle (Clayface, Scarface, Scarecrow), and why he still feels like “a guy from Ohio who got it done.” If you're into horror filmmaking, YouTube career arcs, screenwriting, directing, faith and art, or modern indie distribution, this one's for you. Intense Suspense by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Follow Us On Socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  Tik-Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reelrejects?lang=en Twitter: https://x.com/reelrejects Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ Music Used In Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB:  https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER:  https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Bone Lake" is an American independent horror thriller film directed by Mercedes Bryce Morgan and written by Joshua Friedlander. It stars Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, Andra Nechita, and Marco Pigossi. It tells the story of a couple whose romantic getaway to the secluded Bone Lake takes an unexpected turn when they are forced to share a mansion with a mysterious and alluring couple. As tensions escalate, the retreat devolves into a web of deception, desire, and manipulation, gradually revealing long-buried secrets. The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Fantastic Fest, where it received positive reviews. Director Mercedes Bryce Morgan was kind enough to spend time speaking with us about her work and experience making the film, which you can listen to below. Please be sure to check out the film, which will be released in theaters on October 3rd by Bleecker Street. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

INFESTATION: FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – MARTIN AND GUINEVERE THOMAS WEIGH IN In what is becoming a Fantastic Fest tradition at Oneofus.net, we invite our good friend Martin Thomas in to discuss some of the films he got to see and loved but Wright and Chris didn't get to. Only this time, in a first for […]

In this week's episode of The CineSnob Podcast, Kiko finally makes his big return! Cody starts with a recap of Fantastic Fest 2025 before moving on to reviews of "One Battle After Another" and "All of You."

INFESTATION: FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – MARTIN AND GUINEVERE THOMAS WEIGH IN In what is becoming a Fantastic Fest tradition at Oneofus.net, we invite our good friend Martin Thomas in to discuss some of the films he got to see and loved but Wright and Chris didn't get to. Only this time, in a first for […]

Bonus episode incoming! Fantastic Fest 2025 has officially wrapped and gave us some amazing films to check out early. On this special episode, we're highlighting some of our favorites and giving you tons of recommendations for movies you NEED to add to your watchlist. Thank you again to the entire Fantastic Fest team for giving us the opportunity to review these movies to share with our listeners!Want more screams and laughs? Join our Fright Club at http://patreon.com/frightmicpodcast and get access to tons more episodes, discussions, rankings, watch parties and more!Fright Mic is an independent horror podcast. We would love to have you join our Fright Fam by following us on all our socials!PATREONMERCHFacebookFRIGHT CLUBInstagramBlueskyTwitterTiktokDiscordSupport the show

Mercedes Bryce Morgan unpacks the whirlwind making of Bone Lake, an 18-day Atlanta shoot that battled storms, injuries, and lost gear before completing its night-boat climax on a Los Angeles soundstage. After a Fantastic Fest premiere and Deadline-breaking international sales, the erotic survival thriller heads to U.S. theaters with buzzy audience reactions and a proudly “fun, commercial, popcorn” spirit.Mercedes traces her path from mini DV Star Wars shorts and USC to festival features, describing her taste as a mix of Oldboy's devastation and Amélie's heart. Other past influences include Barbarians, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The House of Yes, Funny Games, and The One I Love. Her TIFF-premiering Fixation (2022) sparked her love for erotic thrillers.On craft, she argues the best twists are guessable seconds before they land, and test screenings help her fine-tune which parts of the mystery viewers might sense without solving it too soon. Her advice to young filmmakers: embrace constraints as boot camp, stick with collaborators who love the work, design for the audience experience, and make sure you enjoy the day-to-day… because the process is the life.What Movies Are You Watching?Introducing the Past Present Feature Film Festival, a new showcase celebrating cinematic storytelling across time. From bold proof of concept shorts to stand out new films lighting up the circuit, to overlooked features that deserve another look. Sponsored by the Past Present Feature podcast and Leica Camera. Submit now at filmfreeway.com/PastPresentFeatureListen to all episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more, as well as at www.pastpresentfeature.com. Like, subscribe, and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature

Live from the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin as part of Fantastic Fest, Doug welcomes Owen Egerton, John Erler, Anna Lore and 6 others to the show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE MOVIE REVIEW Despite the ‘official' premiere of the first Gore Verbinski film in eight years being at Beyond Fest on 9/28, the ACTUAL world premiere was at the final secret screening of Fantastic Fest on 9/25. His new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is a dystopian sci-fi […]

BUGONIA MOVIE REVIEW Based on a 2003 South Korean film called Save The Green Planet!, the latest film from Yorgos Lanthimos unsurprisingly stars his new muse Emma Stone but it is her co-star Jesse Plemons who steals the show. Bugonia was a secret screening this year and we were here for it (in both a […]

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER MOVIE REVIEW At Fantastic Fest every year they have a series of ‘secret screenings'. These can vary from tiny films you've never heard of to premieres of giant films. Way back when, the fest got on the map when they did the premiere of There Will Be Blood at a secret […]

WHEN WE WERE LIVE MOVIE REVIEW In his documentary about Public Access Television in Austin, Texas in the 80s and 90s, director John Spottswood Moore had a LOT of material to sift through. Austin's station was by far one of the most prolific in the country (second only to NYC, I believe). Let me tell […]

WHEN WE WERE LIVE MOVIE REVIEW In his documentary about Public Access Television in Austin, Texas in the 80s and 90s, director John Spottswood Moore had a LOT of material to sift through. Austin's station was by far one of the most prolific in the country (second only to NYC, I believe). Let me tell […]

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER MOVIE REVIEW At Fantastic Fest every year they have a series of ‘secret screenings'. These can vary from tiny films you've never heard of to premieres of giant films. Way back when, the fest got on the map when they did the premiere of There Will Be Blood at a secret […]

BUGONIA MOVIE REVIEW Based on a 2003 South Korean film called Save The Green Planet!, the latest film from Yorgos Lanthimos unsurprisingly stars his new muse Emma Stone but it is her co-star Jesse Plemons who steals the show. Bugonia was a secret screening this year and we were here for it (in both a […]

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON'T DIE MOVIE REVIEW Despite the ‘official' premiere of the first Gore Verbinski film in eight years being at Beyond Fest on 9/28, the ACTUAL world premiere was at the final secret screening of Fantastic Fest on 9/25. His new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die is a dystopian sci-fi […]

Fantastic Fest 2025 has come and gone. I watched a total of 12 films for my remote coverage of the festival. Here's a recap of my watches and my thoughts on each. I can't wait to see what this festival has in store next year!Bad Haircut 04:05Coyotes 04:3913 Days Till Summer 06:32The Vile 10:10Marama 12:18The Curse 14:53Appofeniacs 21:54Deathstalker 24:26Beast of War 27:18Theater is Dead 29:38Dolly 32:38Meat Kills 34:56Join me at the Esquire theater on the 3rd Friday of the month for Frightful Fridays! ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.esquiretheatre.com/Follow me ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/OldManBrad/https://linktr.ee/oldmanbradBecome a patron for even more content! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/OldManBradSupport me on Kofihttps://ko-fi.com/oldmanbradA huge thank your to the patrons of Old Man Brad: Two Peas on a Podcast, Flicks and Friends, Nerdrovert, Chris Yeany, Brett Parker, KaraMusic:Ghoul by Carl Kasey @ White Bat Audio

Somehow, by the might of too many individuals, another Fantastic Fest is in the books. This year marks the festival's 20th anniversary, which both Matts were able to cover. Donato was in Austin, soaking in all the cinematic goodness, while Monagle watched screeners from afar. In this episode, the Matts run down their favorite movies from Fantastic Fest, while also touching on as many other highlights as possible. Listen in to hear about what upcoming genre releases you should prioritize!

Tony Salvaggio checks in to discuss the highlights of Fantastic Fest 2023, where he watched an impressive 35 movies across various genres. From horror films exploring trauma to unique international cinema, Tony breaks down standout films like "Marama," "Obsession," and the newest "Silent Night, Deadly Night." He shares insights into the current state of genre filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of independent film festivals in showcasing diverse storytelling. Hear about secret screenings, unexpected gems, and Tony's passionate take on why genre cinema remains vibrant and essential.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/castle-of-horror-podcast--4268760/support.

Coverage of The Brood will be released later this week. Thank you for being so patient. Enjoy this episode on upcoming horror films to keep your eyes peeled for! Freddy and Prince wrap up their experience for the 20th anniversary of Fantastic Fest! Prince was able to attend half of the festival in person while Freddy covered the festival remotely. With almost 20 films covered in 4 days between the two, these are the ones they think you should be on the lookout for. Skip to 21:59 for upcoming films ————————————————————— We officially have ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Shop your little demonic heart! Want to keep the horror chats alive? Do you want to join a super awesome community that loves the genre and Knight Light? Want to have access to exclusive content? You should join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!  For as little as $2 a month, you can watch the video podcast version and participate in polls to choose the film that we cover to conclude the month! —————————————————————  Sign up on our Patreon to access our Patreon-exclusive shows. Sign up for a 7-day trial, and if you like what we offer, stick around! Want to be a part of the growth of Knight Light? Please support us at these links! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PATREON⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DISCORD⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PRINCE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FREDDY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIDNEY Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OBSESSION MOVIE REVIEW We've all been in a position where we cared so very deeply for someone and wished they felt the same for us but felt hopeless to make it happen. Bear (Michael Johnston) probably isn't hopeless with his feelings for Nikki (Inde Navarrette) being reciprocated but he'll never know. Because he used a […]

BEAST OF WAR MOVIE REVIEW When a ship of Australian soldiers goes down in the middle of the ocean on their way to fight in WWII, only a handful survive. They find themselves in a calm, windless sea on a makeshift raft. There's no water, food, several are seriously injured, and there's one big and […]

SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE MOVIE REVIEW Actor Jorma Tommila returns to his character in Sisu (no, his name is not Sisu) in a bigger, bloodier, more insane affair, as you would expect to a sequel to Sisu. Road to Revenge has him returning to the part of Finland that he used to live with his […]

THE FORBIDDEN CITY MOVIE REVIEW Genre-fusing sometimes is an awkward affair, ending up with a film that doesn't know what it is. But sometimes it creates something that feels very new. Sometimes it ends up being epic. Fortunately this is the case for The Forbidden City. The story follows Mei, a girl who along with […]

IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU MOVIE REVIEW Linda (Rose Byrne) is so very, very tired. She has a young daughter with severe enough of an eating disorder that she needs to be fed by a stomach tube or she will die. Her husband is away for work so she has to do everything […]

THE FORBIDDEN CITY MOVIE REVIEW Genre-fusing sometimes is an awkward affair, ending up with a film that doesn't know what it is. But sometimes it creates something that feels very new. Sometimes it ends up being epic. Fortunately this is the case for The Forbidden City. The story follows Mei, a girl who along with […]

SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE MOVIE REVIEW Actor Jorma Tommila returns to his character in Sisu (no, his name is not Sisu) in a bigger, bloodier, more insane affair, as you would expect to a sequel to Sisu. Road to Revenge has him returning to the part of Finland that he used to live with his […]

In this episode, Ryan Koo and Jourdan Aldredge explore what makes the 20th edition of Fantastic Fest so crucial for genre and indie filmmakers. They discuss the festival's unique energy, audience connection, and events, spotlight standout films like Shelby Oaks, Sisu: Road to Revenge, Black Phone 2, Luger, Vicious, Primate, Whistle, Coyotes, and others. The conversation culminates in a new initiative—Fantastic Pitches—marking a shift in the fest's ecosystem from exhibiting work to helping get new projects made. In this episode, No Film School's Ryan Koo and Jordan Aldridge discuss: How Fantastic Fest blends genre film exhibition with audience experience, making film festivals more fun, accessible, and communal. The importance of seeing what genre filmmakers are doing with limited resources—especially horror, fantasy, action—and how those constraints often spawn creative solutions. Highlights of films at Fantastic Fest 2025: Shelby Oaks (Chris Stuckmann's debut), Sisu: Road to Revenge, Black Phone 2, Vicious, Primate, Whistle, Coyotes, The Piano Accident, and Luger among others, with a look at what makes them stand out visually, tonally, and in terms of audience response. The exciting new Fantastic Pitches competition: structure, reward (including a $100,000 funding prize, guaranteed premiere, distribution, post‑production support), what it means for early‑stage projects, and how such programs shift festivals from merely showing films toward incubating them. Practical advice for filmmakers: how to attend Fantastic Fest (buy early, badge types, use online ticket systems), pro tips for navigating ticket demand, the importance of authenticity in genre work, and why festivals like Fantastic that lean into live audience momentum are more important now than ever. Memorable Quotes: “It is the 20th year of the Fantastic Fest … Fantastic Fest equals FunTastic Fest.” “If you come from an authentic place of loving horror movies … I think the audience will always connect with it.” “It's really a vital experience now more than ever, especially for genre films, which play so well theatrically.” “Fantastic Pitches was fantastic. The pitches really were fantastic … for the first time when this event happened for the first time.” Resources: Fantastic Fest 2025 — Full Film Guide & Lineup Sisu: Road to Revenge Black Phone 2 Vicious Coyotes The Piano Accident Luger Shelby Oaks Primate Whistle Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram  

SHELBY OAKS MOVIE REVIEW A popular online video series of paranormal haunt investigators turns into a huge mystery when after going to investigate an abandoned town, Shelby Oaks, all four members of the cast go missing. The case drags on for years and years until only the sister of one of them still is determined […]

THE CURSE MOVIE REVIEW Bringing back a 90's J-horror vibe, director/writer Kenichi Ugana (Visitors) dives into technology curses with their new film, The Curse. Riko and her roommate have a friend back in Taiwan who has posted an odd and creepy picture on their social media. Even weirder, the text is uncharacteristically dark as are […]

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT MOVIE REVIEW We could understand if trashy slashers from the 80s (no matter how fun they might be to some of us) were not your thing, that you might avoid a modern remake of one of the most infamous of them, Silent Night, Deadly Night. However, you would be doing yourself […]

PRIMATE MOVIE REVIEW Lucy is coming home from college to stay with her family in their implausibly awesome home on a cliff in Hawaii. Her two friends Kate and Hannah are coming as well but Hannah is in for a big surprise: there's another member of the family they didn't tell her about: a chimpanzee […]

IKATAN DARAH MOVIE REVIEW This Indonesian action film from legend Iko Uwais's new production banner follows Mega, a talented athlete and fighter whose career is sidelined from an injury. Her brother is a serious but unsuccessful gambler and after gambling the deed to their house away, goes to the gangster he owes money to in […]

INFESTATION: FANTASTIC FEST 2025 – COYOTES Justin Long and Kate Bosworth both are a married couple and play one in this horror film set in the Hollywood Hills. When coyotes suddenly start showing up in their neighborhood and attacking/killing the neighbors, the family must band together, with the additional aid of a ‘lady of the […]