Friday Night Frightfest

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re diving into the darker side of holiday cheer with two films that twist the festive season into something sinister. We’ll be comparing Terrifier 3 (2024) and The Jester (2023). Terrifier 3 (2024) Directed by Damien Leone, Terrifier 3 continues the gruesome legacy of Art the Clown. This slasher sequel promises more blood, more gore, and more terror as Art wreaks havoc on a new group of unsuspecting victims. The Jester (2023) Directed by Christian James, The Jester is a holiday horror film that reimagines the classic slasher formula. A mysterious figure known only as The Jester stalks and kills a group of friends during a Christmas party. Join us as we review these two festive fright fests and discuss their unique takes on holiday horror. Spoilers start around 9:03.

This Halloween season, we’re taking a spooky detour from the familiar slasher formula to explore two unique horror films that embrace the darker side of the holiday. We’ll be comparing Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) and Terrifier 2 (2022). Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, Halloween III is a standalone film that departs from the Michael Myers saga. The story follows a small-town doctor who uncovers a sinister plot involving a mysterious toy company and a deadly ritual. This film is known for its unique blend of horror and science fiction, and its eerie exploration of Halloween traditions. Terrifier 2 (2022) Directed by Damien Leone, Terrifier 2 is a gory and disturbing slasher film that follows the return of the iconic horror villain, Art the Clown. This film is praised for its intense violence, practical effects, and its ability to shock and disturb audiences. Join us as we dissect these two unconventional horror films and discuss their impact on the genre. Spoilers start around 6:38.

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re celebrating Halloween with a double feature of horror anthologies. We’ll be comparing All Hallows Eve (2013) and its sequel, All Hallows Eve 2 (2015), both directed by Damien Leone. We’re also beginning the first of three episodes with films featuring Art the Clown!! All Hallows Eve (2013) This anthology film is a tribute to classic horror movies, featuring a 3 interconnected short films that explore various horror themes. From haunted houses to demonic possessions, All Hallows Eve offers a nostalgic and terrifying journey through the world of horror. All Hallows Eve 2 (2015) The sequel continues the anthology format, picking up where the first film left off with new characters and eight new gruesome tales. Join us as we dive into the spooky and terrifying world of these Halloween horror anthologies. Spoilers start around 3:06.

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re delving into the grotesque and disturbing world of body horror. We’ll be comparing two films that explore the horrifying consequences of medical experimentation gone awry: The Substance (2024) and Body Melt (1993). The Substance (2024) Written, directed, and produced by Coralie Fargeat, this film centers on Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), renowned for an aerobics show and long career in Hollywood. On her 50th birthday she is fired – only to be replaced by a younger star. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself. Body Melt (1993) In this film directed by Philip Brophy and written by Brophy and Rod Bishop, the residents of Pebbles Court in the suburb of Homesville in Melbourne, Australia are the unknowing test subjects for a new variety of dietary supplement pills that arrive for free in their mailboxes. The pills are designed to produce the ultimate healthy human, but have unexpected side effects, including hallucinations and mutations. Join us as we explore the unsettling themes of body horror, experimentation, and the dangers of scientific advancement in these two disturbing films.

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re diving into the terrifying world of artificial intelligence gone awry. We’ll be comparing two films that explore the dark side of technology: Afraid (2024) and I Am Mother (2019). Afraid (2024) Produced and directed by Chris Weitz, Afraid is a science-fiction horror film that follows a family whose smart home AI increasingly interjects itself into their lives. I Am Mother (2019) Directed by Grant Sputore, I Am Mother is a post-apocalyptic science fiction film that tells the story of a young girl named Daughter who is raised by a robot named Mother. As Daughter grows older, she begins to question the world around her and the true nature of her upbringing. Join us as we explore the dangers of artificial intelligence in these two chilling films.