Popcorn Frights Announces First Waves of Programming
Check out the lineup so far.
popcorn scarers is back with a vengeance for its eighth edition to celebrate the genre cinema it champions in its jaw-dropping world-tour showcase of some of the medium’s most boundary-pushing and thought-provoking films.
Popcorn Frights Opening Night is presented by Giggster. It will open with the world premiere of small cinemaTyler Cornack’s sequel to his acclaimed provocative feature debut butt boy. In his twisting new anthology, a mysterious stranger tells harrowing tales of terror of seemingly unrelated strangers whose lives will forever change in incredible and bizarre ways.

Functioning August 11-21the first wave of films has six world premieres of feature films, including the documentary Living with Chucky with interviews with Don Mancini, Jennifer Tilly, John Waters and Brad Dourif discussing the magic of chucky franchise. Also premiering at the festival is the Tim Burtonesque fairy tale with zombies. The loneliest boy in the worldas well as the ultra-violent slasher Last summer. it will play with She came from the woods as part of a special Night at Camp Frights doubleheader presented by Slasher Energy.
On the occasion of its centenary, Nosferatus will receive a one-night-only screening accompanied by a live performance of an original score composed by Miami artist Richard Vergez. The festival program also includes Carter Smith’s fascinating horror tale about the queer body. Swallowed with Jena Malone and Nightmare on Elm Street 2 Mark Patton. It will be complemented by a free special presentation of Carter Smith’s cult classic creature feature The ruins.
All over the world, the weird and wonderful genre films are returning with a selection of titles that refuse to be categorized. Highlights include the North American premiere of Floridian filmmaker Sylvia Caminer’s stylish psychosexual thriller Am hereargentinian gore fest pussy cakeand native Canadians Slash/back, a genre-bending alien invasion story about a group of Arctic Inuit teenagers who defend their town from malevolent aliens.
Recognized as the largest genre film event in the Southeastern United States and one of the “World’s 50 Best Genre Festivals” by MovieMaker Magazine, Popcorn Frights will complement its indoor festival schedule with a virtual component. available online for streaming across the United States for those unable to travel to the festival in South Florida.
Notable features played exclusively in the Popcorn Frights virtual program include the world premieres of the gripping supernatural nail biter They wait in the dark and the harrowing survival thriller Distress signalsas well as the #metoo-tinged furiously cathartic avenger compulsivemacabre humor The leechthe strange ghost story the creeperthe revealing documentary about one of the most influential comic book creators of all time Mike Mignola: drawing monstersretro style slasher parodies Third Saturday in October and its sequel Part Vand the dreamy, psychedelic love letter to horror movies Honeycomb.
To complete the program for the first wave of Popcorn Frights, Virtual reality live created in partnership with the O Cinema, an independent association based in Miami. Hosted on AltSpaceVR, the virtual reality environment features live events and an exclusive selection of short films premiering in this one-of-a-kind digital experience. Visitors have the opportunity to fully explore the virtual reality world, walk the red carpet and even fly through space before entering each designated portal to view the short films. The AltSpaceVR platform is free to access and available through Quest, STEAM headsets or on PC.
The second wave of Popcorn Frights 2022 titles will be announced in the coming weeks with additional in-theatre and virtual programming.
Access to the theatrical experience will be available through individual tickets or a full access badge, which will provide an all-inclusive experience for movies and special events held at the Savor Cinema Fort Lauderdale and O Cinema South Beach (“The Alter Screening Room”), official host locations for Popcorn Frights this year. Separate virtual passes are also available that will grant access to all streaming films from the festival’s virtual program. To order an All-Access In-Theater badge, click here, to order a Virtual All-Access pass, click here.
This year’s official Popcorn Frights poster was created by South Florida artist Kent Hernandez, who previously created images for the 2021 event, and designed an original new poster for the festival.
The eighth edition of Popcorn Frights Film Festival is made possible thanks to the support of its generous sponsors, including ALTER, The Betsy, Giggster, O Cinema, Savor Cinema, Screambox, Slasher Energy, Tubi and its loyal fans. For more information about Popcorn Frights, visit PopcornFrights.com
THEATER FILM PROGRAM
small cinema (world premiere)
United States | 2022 | 90 minutes. | Real. Tyler Mahout
A Mysterious Stranger tells the twisted story of seemingly unrelated strangers whose lives will forever change in incredible and bizarre ways.
Last summer (world premiere)
United States | 2022 | 90 minutes. | Real. John Isberg
In the wake of a tragedy in the summer of 1991, a group of camp counselors find themselves fighting for their lives against a masked killer.
Am here (North American premiere)
United States | 2022 | 95 mins. | Real. Sylvia Caminer
An aspiring actress answers a mysterious classified ad and finds herself trapped in her new boss’s twisted revenge fantasy.
Living with Chucky (world premiere)
United States | 2022 | 95 mins. | Real. Kyra Gardner
A filmmaker who grew up alongside the Chucky doll and whose father helped bring him to life finally meets the other families surrounding the Chucky franchise.
The loneliest boy in the world (world premiere)
United Kingdom | 2022 | 95 mins. | Real. Martin Owen
After the tragic loss of his mother, a boy is threatened with custody unless he finds a new family. And that’s exactly what he does… He digs one up at the local cemetery.
Nosferatu, a symphony of horrors (Presentation of the centenary)
Germany | 1922 | 84 mins. | Real. F.W. Murnau
Celebrating 100 years since the release of FW Murnau’s silent expressionist masterpiece, with a live original composed by Miami artist Richard Vergez.
pussy cake (First in Florida)
Argentina | 2022 | 95 mins. | Real. Pablo Pares
A struggling all-girl rock band embarks on a new tour in hopes of rekindling their popularity. But when they attract the attention of horrors beyond our reality, the band realizes that being overlooked by their fans is the least of their problems.
The ruins (special presentation)
United States | 2008 | 95 mins. | Real. Carter Smith
A quiet vacation in Mexico goes awry when a group of friends and another tourist embark on a secluded archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins.
She came from the woods (WIP presentation)
United States | 2022 | 101 min. | Real. Erik Bloomquist
In this contemporary ode to ’80s summertime horror, a group of counselors accidentally unleash a decades-old evil on the last night of camp. As the chaos and madness turn bloody, the staff at Camp Briarbrook are forced to confront which stories are worth telling and which secrets are worth keeping.
Slash/back (First in Florida)
Canada | 2022 | 86 mins. | Real. Nyla Innuksuk
Something sinister from outer space lands just a stone’s throw from the Arctic Circle, and humanity’s first line of defense turns out to be a group of Inuit girls armed with nothing but their wits and skills. a bunch of traditional hunting and fishing tools, and strategies they learned from their favorite horror movies.
Swallowed (First in Florida)
United States | 2022 | 92 mins. | Real. Carter Smith
On their last night together, two best friends suddenly find themselves in a disturbing situation that turns into a nightmare of drugs, bugs, and horrific intimacy.
RANGE OF VIRTUAL FILMS
compulsive
Canada | 2022 | 80 mins. | Real. Tara Thorne
A woman’s safety is essential in a community where known abusers receive their just desserts from an unlikely vigilante.
the creeper
United Kingdom | 2022 | 94 mins. | Real. Jamie Hooper
A worried young woman moves to care for her ailing grandmother and soon finds herself battling a malevolent presence with a dark secret.
Distress signals
United States | 2022 | 80 mins. | say. Terence Krey, Christine Nyland
When a fall down a steep rock face separates her from her friends, a woman finds herself stranded. Now, alone and with a dislocated shoulder, she has to get out of the woodwork and make it through.
Honeycomb
Canada | 2022 | 84 mins. | Real. rapid avalon
Five small-town girls abandon their social life and move into an abandoned cabin. Increasingly isolated, their world fills with imaginary rituals and rules, but the events of a midsummer night threaten to abruptly end their Age of Innocence forever.
The leech
United States | 2022 | 82 Mins. | Real. Eric Pennycoff
A devout priest welcomes a troubled couple into his home at Christmas time. What begins as a simple act of kindness quickly becomes the ultimate test of faith once the sanctity of one’s home is compromised.
Mike Mignola: drawing monsters
United States | 2022 | 98 mins. | say. Jim Demonakos, Kevin Konrad Hanna
The definitive story of one of the most influential and important comic book creators of all time includes interviews with Guillermo del Toro, Neil Gaiman, Patton Oswalt and Doug Jones, among others.
Third Saturday in October
United States | 2022 | 102 Min. | Real. Jay Burleson
When a psychopath goes on a rampage after surviving a botched execution, only two survivors of his initial attack can stop him.
Third Saturday in October, Part Five
United States | 2022 | 89 mins. | Real. Jay Burleson
In this sequel, an unstoppable killer hunts down and massacres the occupants of several homes on the stretch of a lonely country road as the townspeople prepare to watch the annual college football game.
They wait in the dark (world premiere)
United States | 2022 | 84 mins. | Real. Patrick Rea
A young woman and her adopted son are on the run from her abusive ex until a supernatural force from his dark past begins to haunt them.
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