Friday Night Frightfest

Whistle and Iron Lung

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we are diving into two of the most concept-driven horror hits of early 2026! We’re comparing Corin Hardy’s supernatural teen-slasher Whistle (2026) with Mark “Markiplier” Fischbach’s record-breaking indie sci-fi horror debut, Iron Lung (2026). Whether it’s a sound that marks you for death or a submarine welded shut in an ocean of blood, there is absolutely no escape in tonight’s double feature! Whistle (2026) Directed by Corin Hardy (The Nun, The Hallow), Whistle is a stylish, high-stakes spin on the “cursed object” subgenre. A group of high school outcasts, led by Dafne Keen (Logan, The Acolyte) and Sophie Nélisse (Yellowjackets), discover an ancient Aztec Death Whistle. They soon learn the terrifying truth: anyone who hears the whistle’s piercing shriek has their future death summoned to hunt them down in the present. The film blends Final Destination-style irony with a tender, sapphic romance, as the characters face grotesque, personalized demises—like a car crash that happens inside a bedroom. Hardy utilizes his signature practical effects to bring these “future deaths” to life with visceral, contorted realism. Iron Lung (2026) Marking the massive feature directorial debut of Markiplier, Iron Lung is a a film filled with existential dread and “minimalist” horror. Based on the 2022 cult hit game, the film is set in a future where a “Quiet Rapture” has caused all stars and planets to vanish. The remnants of humanity discover an ocean of blood on a desolate moon and send a convict (Fischbach) down to explore it in a ramshackle, windowless submarine nicknamed the “Iron Lung.” Welded inside and relying only on a graining camera and a ticking proximity sensor, the protagonist must navigate the crimson depths while something massive lurks outside. It is a grueling, 127-minute descent into madness that has taken the box office by storm. One film uses a deafening scream to signal your end, while the other relies on a terrifying, blood-soaked silence. Which 2026 horror standout left you more breathless? Spoilers start around 5:10.

28 Years Later and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we are witnessing the rebirth of the film that redefined the zombie genre! Two decades after the infection first broke out, the original dream team of director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland have returned to unleash a new trilogy. We are diving into the high-stakes survival of the long-awaited 28 Years Later (2025) and its immediate, myth-expanding follow-up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026). The Rage virus is back, and it’s evolved. 28 Years Later (2025) Set nearly three decades after the initial outbreak in London, this film explores a world that has “normalized” the presence of the Infected. Cillian Murphy returns as Jim, now a veteran survivor navigating a fragmented Britain where isolated walled cities try to maintain a semblance of society. When a new, more aggressive strain of the virus threatens to breach the final strongholds, Jim must lead a new generation through a desolate landscape. Boyle returns to the gritty, digital aesthetic that made the original a masterpiece, proving that “fast zombies” are still the most terrifying thing in cinema. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) Directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman) from a script by Garland, this second chapter in the new trilogy takes a turn into the folk-horror and gothic. The Bone Temple shifts the focus to the rugged northern territories, where a cult-like society has formed around the idea of “coexisting” with the Infected. The “Bone Temple” itself is a macabre monument built by those who believe the virus is a divine cleansing. This installment dives deep into the psychological toll of long-term apocalypse and introduces a haunting, ritualistic atmosphere that expands the lore of the franchise in shocking new directions. Join us as we analyze this massive cinematic event. We’ll discuss how Boyle and Garland managed to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle energy of the original, the transition of directors for the sequel, and how the “Bone Temple” introduces a brand of horror we’ve never seen in this universe before. Has the 28-year wait been worth it? (Spoiler: Absolutely.) Spoilers start around 08:35

Silent Night, Deadly Night - 1984 and 2025

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re unwrapping a gift that keeps on giving… or rather, slaying. We are celebrating the return of the most controversial Santa in cinema history, comparing the infamous 80s slasher that caused parents to protest in the streets, Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), with the brand-new, twisted reimagining, Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025). Lock your chimneys and check your list twice—Billy is back! Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) Directed by Charles E. Sellier Jr., the original Silent Night, Deadly Night is a cornerstone of holiday horror. After witnessing his parents’ brutal murder by a man in a Santa suit and enduring years of psychological abuse at a strict orphanage, young Billy Chapman snaps. Donning the red suit himself, he goes on a relentless rampage to “punish the naughty.” This film is legendary for its iconic kills and the massive real-world controversy it sparked for “ruining” Christmas iconography. Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025) Directed by Mike P. Nelson (Wrong Turn 2021), this new vision brings Billy Chapman into the modern era with some truly ambitious twists. Starring Rohan Campbell (Halloween Ends) as a more nuanced, brooding Billy, the 2025 remake shifts the focus toward a psychological “anti-hero” journey. This version features a literal “voice in his head” guiding his vengeance and a central romance with a woman named Pamela (Ruby Modine). It’s a stylish, hyper-violent blend of slasher horror and a Dexter-style character study. Join us as we break down these two generations of holiday terror. Which Billy captures the true spirit of “Killer Santa”? Tune in for a sleigh ride through the blood-stained snow! Spoilers start around 7:05.

Christmas Bloody Christmas and It's a Wonderful Knife

Deck the halls with boughs of… horror! This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we’re celebrating the dark side of the holiday season and pitting two modern festive slashers against each other: the neon-soaked, robotic rampage of Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022) and the clever, multiversal “what if” slasher It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023). Grab your cocoa (and maybe an axe), because Santa is coming to town—and he’s not bringing toys. Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022) Directed by Joe Begos, this film is a loud, proud, and incredibly gory tribute to 80s synth-horror and The Terminator. Tori Tooms (Riley Dandy), a record store owner who just wants to spend Christmas Eve drinking and partying, finds her night turned into a bloodbath when a high-tech robotic Santa Claus at a local toy store malfunctions. Reverting to its original military programming, the metal Saint Nick goes on a relentless killing spree. The film is a visual feast of 16mm grain, saturated neon lights, and practical splatter effects that feel like a fever dream from the video rental era. It’s a Wonderful Knife (2023) Directed by Tyler MacIntyre and written by Michael Kennedy (Freaky), this film offers a brilliant horror spin on the classic It’s a Wonderful Life. A year after saving her town from a masked killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie Carruthers (Jane Widdop) finds her life falling apart. In a moment of despair, she wishes she had never been born—only to find herself transported to a nightmare parallel universe where she doesn’t exist. In this timeline, the killer was never stopped and has turned the town into a desolate, fear-stricken wasteland. Winnie must team up with the town’s outcasts to unmask the killer and find a way back home. Join us as we break down these two very different takes on holiday horror. We’ll discuss the gritty, relentless energy of the “Robot Santa” versus the meta-humor and emotional stakes of the “Wonderful Life” slasher. Which film captures the holiday spirit best—by drenching it in blood? Tune in to find out which one earns the star on top of our tree! Spoilers start around 5:15.

Renfield and Vampire's Kiss

This week on Friday Night Frightfest, we are celebrating the glorious, chaotic energy of Nicolas Cage as we compare two distinct vampire films, both featuring his unique brand of eccentric intensity: the modern horror-comedy Renfield (2023) and the 90s psychological vampire tale Vampire’s Kiss (1988). Renfield (2023) Directed by Chris McKay, Renfield is a dark comedy-horror film that reimagines the classic Dracula story through the eyes of his long-suffering henchman, R. M. Renfield (Nicholas Hoult). Nicolas Cage delivers an unforgettable performance as Count Dracula himself, portraying the iconic vampire as a narcissistic, manipulative boss straight out of a modern workplace nightmare. The film blends intense action, splatter gore, and sharp humor as Renfield seeks to break free from his toxic, immortal relationship. Vampire’s Kiss (1988) Directed by Robert Bierman, Vampire’s Kiss is a bizarre, psychological dark comedy that is a foundational piece of Nicolas Cage’s eccentric cinematic persona. Cage stars as Peter Loew, a literary agent in New York who believes he has been bitten by a beautiful vampire and is slowly turning into one himself. The film focuses on his rapid mental breakdown and increasingly unhinged behavior as he attempts to adopt a vampiric lifestyle, showcasing Cage’s over-the-top acting style in a non-traditional horror setting. Join us as we dissect these vampire films in in Cage’s filmography. We’ll compare the deliberate, comedic menace of his Dracula in Renfield to the unhinged, psychological terror of his possibly-vampiric protagonist in Vampire’s Kiss. Spoilers start around 5:55