What Happened to Dorothy Bell? (2024) #FantasticFest

What Happened to Dorothy Bell? presents an intriguing concept that blends supernatural horror with deep, introspective themes surrounding generational trauma and mental health. Directed by Danny Villanueva Jr., the film follows Ozzie Gray as she unravels her family’s dark history, confronting a chilling urban legend connected to a haunted library in her hometown. This found footage horror cleverly intersperses VHS tapes, security footage, video diaries, and camcorder recordings to create an unnerving sense of disorientation and paranoia.

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The Draft! (2023) #FantasticFest

The Draft!, directed by Yusron Fuadi, is an energetic Indonesian horror-comedy that combines familiar genre tropes with a playful, meta-narrative twist. At its core, the film is a love letter to the horror genre and a cheeky exploration of the struggles a screenwriter faces when drafting a story—literally. The premise is deceptively familiar: five college archetypes—the jock, the nerd, the pretty one, the rich one, and the popular one—set off on a weekend trip to an isolated cabin.

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The Spirit of Halloweentown (2024) #FantasticFest

The Spirit of Halloweentown is an intriguing documentary that captures the essence of St. Helens, Oregon—a town forever tied to its starring role in Disney's Halloweentown. Directed by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb, the film blends a nostalgic charm with quirky human drama, giving viewers a glimpse into the lives of residents who have embraced the legacy of Halloween and the magic it brings each year. The documentary excels in highlighting the devotion and enthusiasm the town's inhabitants pour into celebrating Halloween.

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Pater Noster and the Mission of Light (2024)

Underground auteur Christopher Bickel is back with Pater Noster and the Mission of Light! A psychedelic neo-grindhouse nightmare sprinkled with record store culture and delivered with punk rock panache, writer/director/producer/cinematographer/editor/composer Bickel once again demonstrates why he should be considered a king of the low-budget horror and exploitation scene. Amongst other things, this movie contains stabbings, burnings, copious drug use, geriatric nudity, gruesome practical effects, bizarre imagery, psychedelic freak-outs in cinematic form, and more creativity in its severed big toe than most blockbusters can muster on fifty times the budget.

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Plan B (2024)

Plan B is a charming and heartfelt comedy that delivers a refreshing take on the classic romcom formula. Directed by Brandon Tamburri, the film follows Piper Brennan, played by the effortlessly talented Jamie Lee, as she navigates the complexities of an unexpected pregnancy and the search for the perfect partner to start a family with. The film's premise may draw comparisons to Knocked Up, but Plan B quickly establishes its own identity, offering a different perspective and a unique blend of humor and emotion.

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Bookworm (2024) #FantasticFest

Bookworm, directed by Ant Timpson, delivers a charming and heartfelt adventure that manages to blend quirky humor, family dynamics, and a touch of magic in an unexpectedly delightful package. Set against the backdrop of New Zealand's lush landscapes, the film tells the story of Mildred, brilliantly portrayed by Nell Fisher, a clever and guarded girl on a mission to find the mythological Canterbury Panther. The stakes are personal: her mother is in the hospital, and Mildred hopes that a picture of the elusive beast will help her claim a reward large enough to cover the medical bills.

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Tenants (2024)

Tenants, a film produced by 13th Floor Productions in association with EXIT 19 and Wallick Productions, brings an anthology of horror that weaves together seven terrifying tales within a single apartment complex. Directed by Blake Reigle, Jonathan Louis Lewis, Sean Mesler, and Buz Wallick, this 94-minute thriller follows one woman’s desperate search for her sister, navigating through the twisted stories of the tenants, each encounter spiraling into madness and terror. The premise is simple but effective: Joni, played by Mary O’Neil, is desperately searching for her sister Emily in a building that becomes stranger with each passing floor.

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