Longlegs has hit a couple of impressive milestones five weeks into its theatrical run. Neon’s R-rated horror film has rung up more than $100 million globally, including $72 million domestically. It now sits as the highest-grossing independent film of 2024 as well as the top independent horror film of the past 10 years.
Starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage, Longlegs is the biggest-grossing R-rated horror film year of the year. In addition, it’s the highest-grossing movie in Neon’s history.
“In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree,” reads Neon’s synopsis. Maika Monroe stars as FBI Agent Lee Harker, and an unrecognizable Nicolas Cage plays the titular character, a twisted serial killer. Alicia Witt, Kiernan Shipka, and Blair Underwood also star.
Written and directed by Osgood Perkins, Longlegs was produced by Dave Caplan of C2, Dan Kagan of Traffic, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones from Range, Nicolas Cage under his Saturn Films banner, and Chris Ferguson of Oddfellows. C2 financed the film.
Neon picked up the film at the 2023 EFM in Berlin, and much of its success can be credited to its marketing campaign on social media. Influencers and cryptic ads drew in horror fans, and keeping Nicolas Cage’s appearance hidden until the film was released proved to be a tantalizing teaser.
Next up for Perkins is The Monkey, based on the Stephen King short story. The Monkey, starring Theo James (The White Lotus), Tatiana Maslany (She–Hulk: Attorney at Law), Elijah Wood (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency), and Christian Convery (Sweet Tooth), will open in theaters on February 21, 2025. Perkins also recently wrapped up production on Keeper with Maslany and Rossif Sutherland.
Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna in ‘La Maquina’ (Courtesy of Hulu)
Life-long friends Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna reunite for Hulu’s La Máquina, the streamer’s first Spanish-language original series. The six-episode drama follows a boxer (Bernal) fighting to save his career and the manager (Luna) who’s dedicated to supporting him.
“After a devastating loss, Esteban ‘La Máquina’ Osuna is at a low point in his boxing career. Lucky for him, his manager and best friend Andy Lujan is determined to get him back on top. But when a nefarious organization rears its head, the stakes of this rematch become life or death,” reads Hulu’s synopsis. “While struggling to mount a comeback, Esteban must also juggle his own personal demons and protect his family, including his ex-wife Irasema, a journalist who finds herself on a collision course with the dark side of the boxing world.”
Eiza González stars as Irasema. The cast also includes Jorge Perugorría, Andrés Delgado, Karina Gidi, Dariam Coco, and Lucía Méndez.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Luna talked about how the project came about. “We found a great vehicle to talk about the issues that matter to us, to play again, to be critical about a world we belong to somehow, or we witness at least from our perspectives as actors,” said Luna. “And more importantly, something that would make us work together in Mexico again with the people and family that we’ve grown with for these last 25 years.”
Marco Ramirez (Daredevil) is the showrunner and executive produces. Bernal, Luna, Gerardo Gatica, Leandro Halperín, Adam Fishbach, and Kyzza Terrazas also serve as executive producers. Gabriel Ripstein (An Unknown Enemy) directs. Searchlight Television and Bernal and Luna’s La Corriente del Golfo produced the series.
La Máquina premieres on Hulu on October 9, 2024.
Diego Luna, Gael García Bernal, and Eiza Gonzalez (Photo by: Cristian Salvatierra/Hulu)Eiza Gonzalez and Gael Garcia Bernal (Photo by: Cristian Salvatierra/Hulu)Gael García Bernal (Courtesy of La Corriente del Golfo/Carlos Samonte)Eiza Gonzalez (Courtesy of Hulu)Diego Luna in ‘La Maquina’ (Photo by: Alexandro Bolaños Escamilla/Hulu)Diego Luna (Courtesy of La Corriente del Golfo/Carlos Samonte)
Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly in ‘Dark Matter’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller Dark Matter has earned a second season, with Apple TV+ announcing the series has been renewed just two months after its season one finale.
“Thanks to everyone who tuned-in for season one – book fans and new fans – and, of course, our partners at Apple and Sony, my amazing producing partner, Matt Tolmach, our tremendous cast and crew, and the great city of Chicago – you were so good to us,” commented showrunner and author Blake Crouch. “In the process of writing and filming season one, we discovered that there’s so much more story to tell, and we’ve only scratched the surface of these characters as they fight for survival and to find their way home through a landscape of mind-bending realities. See you in the Box!”
Season one stars Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen, Oscar winner Jennifer Connelly as Daniela Vargas Dessen, Alice Braga as Amanda Lucas, and Jimmi Simpson as Ryan Holder. Dayo Okeniyi is Leighton Vance and Oakes Fegley plays Daniela and Jason’s son, Charlie Dessen.
“Dark Matter is a story about the road not taken. The series follows Jason Dessen (Edgerton), a physicist, professor, and family man who – one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago – is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived,” reads Apple TV+’s synopsis. “In this labyrinth of realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.”
Author Blake Crouch created the series, based on his bestselling novel, and serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Joel Edgerton, Matt Tomach, and Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry.
“Making Dark Matter was a longtime dream, and I’m so proud to see Blake’s vision come to life and to connect with so many people,” stated executive producer Matt Tomach. “Seeing the Dessens’ journey resonate with audiences has been extremely gratifying, and we can’t wait to bring more of this world – and others – to life in season two. Huge thanks to Apple TV+, Sony, and our amazing cast and crew. Here we go!”
Season one premiered on May 8, 2024. The sci-fi drama currently sits at 83% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
“The thought-provoking and gripping Dark Matter has quickly become a global hit, capturing audiences’ imaginations and making it a beloved and integral part of Apple’s world-class sci-fi lineup,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+. “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Blake Crouch, our partners at Sony and the rest of the creative team and cast – led by the remarkable Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly – on a new season that will captivate viewers with more twists and turns as we dive deeper into the mysteries of the multiverse.”
So the Goodrich trailer seems to give away a lot of the film. There could still be twists and turns to come, but if you prefer to go in without much knowledge, do not watch the trailer.
Oscar nominee Michael Keaton stars as a dad who’s forced to take over the care of his young kids. Mila Kunis plays his pregnant adult daughter, with Carmen Ejogo, Michael Urie, Kevin Pollak, and Viven Lyra Blair also starring. The ensemble includes Nico Haraga, Danny Deferrari, Lauren Benanti, and Andie MacDowell.
“Andy Goodrich’s (Keaton) life is upended when his wife and mother of their nine-year-old twins enters a 90-day rehab program, leaving him on his own with their young kids,” reads Ketchup Entertainment’s synopsis. “Thrust into the world of modern parenthood, Goodrich leans on his daughter from his first marriage, Grace (Kunis), as he ultimately evolves into the father Grace never had.”
Goodrich is set to open in theaters on October 18, 2024.
Hallie Meyers-Shyer (2017’s Home Again) wrote and directed the dramedy, with Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Kevin Mann, and Dave Caplan producing. Executive producers include Michael Keaton, Mila Kunis, and Amy Pascal.
Building the Band’s AJ McLean, Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and Liam Payne (Photo Credits: Tyler Shields, Maxwell Poth, Cécile Boko, Kenneth Cappello / Provided by Netflix)
Netflix’s Building the Band, an unscripted musical competition series, has signed up Pussycat Dolls, One Direction, and Destiny’s Child alum as judges. Nicole Scherzinger, Liam Payne, and Kelly Rowland will judge the competition, with Scherzinger serving as a mentor. Plus, Backstreet Boys will be represented by AJ McLean as host.
“Building the Band brings together talented singers for a truly unique competition show where building the perfect band is all about chemistry. The singers are in complete control as they seek to form their very own bands in individual ‘booths’ without ever seeing each other,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “All they have to go on is musical compatibility, connection, chemistry, and merit. What will happen when the bands finally meet, and looks, choreography, and style come into play? With incredible performances, compelling drama, and one big goal—to find the next great music band—the stage is set for an unforgettable experience.”
Filming is expected to begin soon. Netflix hasn’t announced a premiere date.
The new series is executive produced by Cat Lawson, Alison Holloway, Katrina Morrison, Clara Elliot, and Simon Crossley. Remarkable Entertainment, Banijay UK produces the series.
“Building the Band is a brave and bold undertaking for all involved as we hand over power to the singers themselves to form their own band based on chemistry first. With looks out of the equation, can they create a deeper connection with their bandmates? With limited bands, there are difficult decisions and heart-stopping moments along the way, but ultimately, the outcome is truly amazing, with bands forming, who in my opinion, are worthy of the very biggest stage!” stated Cat Lawson, Executive Producer, Remarkable Entertainment, Banijay UK.
The 76th Emmy Awards are going to be a real family affair. Father-and-son Emmy winners Eugene and Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) have committed to hosting this year’s Emmys, marking the first time a father-son team has ever taken on the Emmys hosting gig.
“For two Canadians who won our Emmys in a literal quarantine tent, the idea of being asked to host this year in an actual theater was incentive enough,” said Eugene and Dan. “We’re thrilled to be able to raise a glass to this extraordinary season of television and can’t wait to spend the evening with you all on Sept. 15.”
The 2024 Emmys will be held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live. ABC will air the awards show live on September 15th, beginning at 5pm PT and 8pm ET.
“Eugene’s and Dan’s comedic intuition and uncanny ability to capture the hearts of viewers will make for a memorable Emmys telecast honoring this year’s best and brightest,” stated Craig Erwich, president, Disney Television Group.
Alex Rudzinski is confirmed to direct, Brian Stonestreet serves as the production designer, and Jon Macks is the head writer. Rickey Minor’s on board as the music director for the sixth time. Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay are executive producing.
“We are thrilled to welcome two generations of comedy genius to the Emmy’s stage as hosts,” stated Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego. “Eugene and Dan Levy are known for creating unforgettable laugh-out-loud moments on screen, and together, they are super-charged. I cannot wait for Emmy fans to see what they have in store for all of us.”
“Eugene and Dan Levy created two of the most iconic TV characters in recent history and are a perfect fit to host television’s biggest night,” said Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay for Jesse Collins Entertainment. “We look forward to the audience having an unforgettable experience with this dynamic duo.”
Eugene Levy is currently starring and executive producing Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler. He’s also guest-starring in Only Murders in the Building season four, premiering on August 27, 2024. Dan Levy made his directorial debut with 2024’s Good Grief, starring Himesh Patel and Ruth Negga. Upcoming projects include The Smurfs Movie, Animal Friends, and At the Sea.
Timber Cleghorn in ‘Alone’ season 11 (Photo Credit: The History Channel)
History’s Alone season 11 episode nine takes the action from Day 40 through Day 53, with just four competitors remaining in the survival challenge. The weather’s turned harsh, the river’s freezing over, and food has become even more difficult to find. Episode 11 begins with Timber, Sarah, Dub, and William battling the elements and hunger, and ends with just three survivalists still in the running for the $500,000 grand prize.
Recap ahead with spoilers – you’ve been warned!
Timber – Age 35, Salem, Indiana
Day 40, 8:59am – Timber’s built a cabin that rivals any shelter built over the previous 10 seasons. After filling it with smoke in episode eight, episode nine begins with Timber explaining that he’s used his remaining moose skin to trap and conduct smoke out the chimney. He films another skit, playing two characters discussing “hair” versus “hare.” Surprisingly, it’s also one of the better skits on the series.
As he leaves to check his snares, Timber reveals that the mice in his cabin are out of control. One even fell on his head last night while trying to get to his moose jerky. Timber confesses his teeth are sore from chewing on the jerky, but he’s rationing his fish. He’d really like to get some more fresh meat, but his snares are empty.
He’s going stir-crazy in his shelter and goes for a walk to the spot where he killed the moose. Timber finds its ribs covered with snow and decides to use them for craft projects.
Day 42, 1:27am – Timber confesses he’s sleeping less now, even though the nights are longer. (Alone says nights are now 14 hours long.) He built a deadfall trap on Day 40 to catch the mice that have been running amok in his cabin, and he’s stationed himself to watch for their activity.
Day 45, 2:11pm – Timber’s decided to make gorge hooks from the moose’s rib bones. He describes gorge hooks as like a big splinter. If these work, he’ll be in good shape. If not, he only has four hooks left out of his initial 25.
4:08pm – He chews on jerky as he checks his snare line while admitting he thinks this season will go beyond 70 days. He believes Jake, William, and Dub are tough and could still be in the competition. (He’s right on two counts.)
He’s caught a large hare with a snare and dispatches it with a stick. Timber’s grateful to have gotten a hare and Alone says this hare equals about 2,000 calories. He believes between the moose lard and the hare, his odds of remaining in the competition have increased.
Timber takes a moment to honor the hare and honor life.
6:18pm – He’s cooked the hare and is feeling pretty comfortable. As he eats, he explains that he’s a humanitarian aid worker who grew up believing the government would steal kids away from their families. And then his brother, John, was shot by a gang while delivering pizza. John survived, but the shooting changed Timber’s life.
When he visited the spot where John was shot, there were buckets of blood on the ground. At that moment, Timber realized there is more to life than living in fear. He was offered a mission trip through his church to Ukraine and visited orphanages. It was there that he saw people loving others less fortunate than themselves. Love helped the orphans’ fear disappear.
Now, he goes to countries where people don’t have as much – even countries where it’s illegal to help. “I want to see fear go away from somebody’s eyes like it went away when love found me,” says a tearful Timber. (Can I just say I’m now firmly #TeamTimber.)
Day 51, 11:29am – He casts his lines with his gorge hooks and returns to his cabin to work on furry foxes for his boys. He promised his nine-year-old he wouldn’t tap just because he missed him.
Timber’s lost 30 pounds since Day 1, even though he’s eating.
He heads down to check his lines and spots a mink. His line is straight out, and he pulls in a fish. It was caught using a gorge hook from a moose bone, and Timber celebrates the win. He opens its mouth and shows the bone sticking out the side of its mouth, making it impossible for the fish to escape.
It’s been a great day and he’s happy living out there like a wild beast. His wife told him to have fun, and that’s what he’s doing.
Sarah Poynter in ‘Alone’ season 11 (Photo credit: The History Channel)
Sarah – Age 48, Skwentna, Alaska
Day 41, 10:28am – She’s happy to see the sun and decides to heat up her soup. Sarah’s a bit dehydrated and cooks the broth, made from dock roots and sweetvetch, while wondering how the other survivalists are doing. “I may not be great at what I’m doing, but I’m stubborn enough to keep trying,” says Sarah.
After hydrating, she cuts firewood until she feels a pain below her rib. She’s forced to take numerous breaks because she’s uncomfortable. It’s probably because her body is depleted, and she needs more nourishment.
Day 42, 4:22am – Sarah’s left kidney is hurting and she can’t sleep. It feels like a knife is plunging into her kidney, and she’s worried about long-term damage.
11:23am – She’s pretty sure it’s a kidney issue that kept her up all night. Despite the pain, she heads out to try and find a bird. Her brain’s spinning and she wonders what she ate or drank that’s causing this pain. Sarah’s aware she could be causing lasting damage if she doesn’t get medical attention.
She returns to camp and makes the call to tap out. The pain is of the sort that she can’t just suck it up. Sarah knows an organ issue is a valid reason to tap. Alone has been challenging her mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and she’s proud of what she accomplished.
She slayed a few demons while in the wilderness and feels like she’s walking out a better person.
Dub Paetz in ‘Alone’ season 11 (Photo Credit: The History Channel)
Dub – Age 44, Frederic, Michigan
Day 41, 11:38pm – Dub wakes up hungry and digs into his stash. He puts a fish head on his bed, prepares it, and then tosses it on the fire to cook. He goes off about having food on his bed for midnight snacks, and it’s obvious he woke up in a weird mood.
His gillnet’s calling to him and admits he doesn’t check it often enough. Even though it’s the middle of the night he heads down to the river with his light. Wolves are howling nearby, and he pauses to listen, admitting it’s spooky. He hopes they don’t come through his area and continues to walk toward the river.
He was going to look at the stars but discovers his glasses are broken again, forcing him to return to his shelter.
Day 42, 2:39am – Dub heats up the paracord to mend his glasses. It’s as good as a weld, and he uses snare wire to attach reattach the arms. The glasses look funky but are functional.
Day 47, 1:36am – Dub can’t stop burping and feels nauseous.
Day 50, 12:32pm – Dub finally feels a little better and it turns out he’s been really sick for three days. All he’s been capable of doing is checking his lines and gillnet. He’s had diarrhea and isn’t sure why. Dub boiled reindeer moss he had inside his shelter and ate it, and that helped some. He also ate charcoal.
His gillnet is empty and he admits it’s rough out there. “This is hell out here,” says Dub. He’s hungry, tired, and worries every night he might get visited by a bear. A burbot he caught on Day 47 is next on his menu to cook and has been continuing to force himself to eat. He’s lost 35 pounds since Day 1.
His energy level is down, and he hopes the fish won’t make him sick. As he’s chewing, he realizes there are worms in his fillet. Tapeworms can infect humans, but he’s considering eating the fish anyway. It’s the best-tasting fish he has, and he thinks he can boil it more and not get sick. But he’s just getting over being ill and his body won’t survive another round of nausea. Dub also realizes the day he caught the fish was the day he got sick.
11:43pm – Dub confesses the tapping urge is building. He understands why people tap out when their stomachs hurt. It just gets worse when you don’t have food or water. He hates this feeling and isn’t sure how much more he can take.
Day 53, 10:57am – His gillnet caught its first fish in a while on what’s probably its last day of usefulness. He pulls in a coney and can’t get over its size. It’s probably a week’s worth of food, and Alone says it’s 38 inches. Dub cleans it while talking about his rough childhood and being picked on. Tough as it was, he wouldn’t change a thing.
1:26pm – He’s finally feeling normal again and throws his fish into the cooler back at his shelter. When he does, he discovers a mouse has been eating and defecating all over the fish. He tosses the pike he caught on Day 37 out of his shelter and doesn’t know what to do with the 50 pounds of fish he has stored up. The pike shows signs the mouse has eaten its insides and pooped inside of it.
He can’t eat any of this and realizes that’s why he’s been sick for a week. He’s been eating mice poop that contains salmonella. Dub’s entire food stash is trash.
Dub examines it closer and decides he can save the pike’s tail but nothing else. He mistakenly believed the mouse crap was dirt. Now, he has to toss out all of his food.
“If I wasn’t so stubborn, I’d tap right now,” says Dub.
William Larkham Jr in ‘Alone’ season 11 (Photo Credit: The History Channel)
William – Age 49, Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador
Day 42, 3:44am – His mind’s been racing, thinking of everything he wants to do. His shelter’s in good shape. His family photo’s right above his head so he can look at it whenever he wants.
Day 43, 5:08pm – William’s had issues with a marten robbing his food cache, but fortunately nothing got to his beaver. He retrieves a hind leg and leaves the rest for later. The hind leg is high in protein, potassium, and iron, according to Alone.
6:40pm – He’s already hauled in his gillnet since the river’s about to freeze over, so the beaver is his main source of calories right now. After boiling it, he shows off the fat on the paw and enjoys a small meal. When he’s done with his dinner, all that’s left are the claws.
Day 45, 10:33am – It’s 21 degrees when William leaves his shelter. First up, he checks his snares but they’re empty. He heads to his food cache and discovers marten tracks by his hiding place.
12:37pm – The marten stole his beaver! He piled large rocks on the remaining beaver, but somehow the marten got to it. William’s shocked, certain there’s no way the marten could have gotten through the rock barrier. Unfortunately, it did, and the beaver’s all gone. Even the tail.
William admits this is the worst state he’s been in since Day 1. He is completely out of food.
Day 46, 10:37am – William knows that it’s how you handle trouble that counts. He’s not going to cry over the beaver’s disappearance. Instead, he’ll try to ice fish. He works on building a ladder to make it to the center, realizing it’s quite risky. He uses paracord to tie the rungs together, certain he can’t fast much longer.
12:51pm – Two grouse fly over as he’s working on his ladder. He counts a total of four and decides to grab his snare pole. They land in a nearby tree. He has to stay quiet and move slowly as he nears the tree. He reaches out with his stick and places the snare in front of one. William snags it on his second attempt.
He feels incredibly lucky and blessed as he plucks its feathers. He even breaks out in a happy jig as he celebrates having food. This bird will buy him time until he catches fish. William blows up the grouse’s crop and explains they hang these on Christmas trees back home.
Jelly Roll’s “Get By” from his upcoming album provides the backdrop for Tulsa King‘s season two trailer. The Grammy nominee will also have a cameo in the upcoming season of the crime drama starring three-time Oscar nominee Sylvester Stallone.
The new trailer shows Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi won’t be sidelined by legal problems for long. The trailer also provides our first look at who Dwight’s crew will be battling for control of Tulsa in season two.
In addition to Stallone, season two stars Martin Starr, Jay Will, Max Casella, Vincent Piazza, Tatiana Zappardino, Annabella Sciorra, and Neal McDonough. Frank Grillo, Domenick Lombardozzi, Andrea Savage, Garrett Hedlund, and Dana Delany also star in the new season.
“In season two, Dwight (Stallone) and his crew continue to build up and defend their growing empire in Tulsa but, just as they get their bearings, they realize that they’re not the only ones who want to stake their claim,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “With looming threats from the Kansas City mob and a very powerful local businessman, Dwight struggles to keep his family and crew safe while keeping track of all his affairs. Plus, he still has unfinished business back in New York.”
Stallone, Taylor Sheridan, Terence Winter, Craig Zisk, and David C. Glasser serve as executive producers along with Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Braden Aftergood, and Keith Cox.
The series debuted on Paramount+ on November 13, 2022. Season two premieres on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
HBO’s set a September 19, 2024 premiere date for the comic book-inspired limited series The Penguin. New episodes of the eight-episode season will debut on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT beginning September 29th.
HBO’s premiere date announcement was accompanied by the official poster. However, HBO didn’t offer any new plot details other than the basic “starring Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb (aka “The Penguin”), the DC Studios series continues filmmaker Matt Reeves’ The Batman epic crime saga that began with Warner Bros. Pictures’ global blockbuster The Batman.”
Cristin Milioti plays Sofia Falcone, Rhenzy Feliz is Victor Aguilar, Michael Kelly is Johnny Viti, and Shohreh Aghdashloo plays Nadia Maroni. Deirdre O’Connell stars as Francis Cobb, Clancy Brown is Salvatore Maroni, James Madio is Milos Grapa, and Scott Cohen is Luca Falcone. Rounding out The Penguin cast are Michael Zegen as Alberto Falcone, Carmen Ejogo as Eve Karlo, and Theo Rossi as Dr. Julian Rush.
Lauren LeFranc developed the series and serves as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, Colin Farrell, Craig Zobel, Daniel Pipski, and Bill Carraro. Zobel directed the first three episodes.
Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the U.S., will kick off its 2024 run with the premiere of The Rule of Jenny Pen starring Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow. This year’s festival takes place September 19th – 26th, with screenings held at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, TX.
First-time feature film director Brandon Espy’s Mr. Crocket has been set as the closing night film, wrapping up the festival which will include 28 world premieres, 15 U.S. premieres, and 23 North American and International premieres.
“The Fantastic Fest team is absolutely elated about this year’s festival. We can’t wait to share the very best new films from around the world and enjoy our sensational events together this September,” states Festival Director Lisa Dreyer. “We’re also honored to be joined by a number of notable guests, and welcome our Fantastic Fest family back to Austin to celebrate cinema, whether it’s your 1st time or 19th!”
Fantastic Fest 2024 Logo
2024 FANTASTIC FEST LINEUP
AJ GOES TO THE DOG PARK (Burnt Ends Selection)
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 79 min
Director – Toby Jones
A very mediocre man must complete a heroic Odyssey-like quest to restore order to his town and protect the comforts of his routine life.
ANIMALE
France, 2024
North American Premiere, 99 min
Director – Emma Benestan
After leaving a party with her male co-workers, aspiring bullfighter Nejma begins to experience physical and sensory perception changes after she’s attacked in a field in the middle of the night.
ANORA
USA, 2024
Austin Premiere, 138 min
Director – Sean Baker
Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Julia Garner as Terry Gionoffrio in ‘Apartment 7A’ (Photo Credit: Gareth Gatrell/Paramount+)
APARTMENT 7A
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 104 min
Director – Natalie Erika James
When a struggling, young dancer (Julia Garner) suffers a devastating injury, she finds herself drawn in by dark forces when a peculiar, well-connected, older couple promises her a shot at fame.
THE BABADOOK
Australia, 2014
10th Anniversary Screening, 94 min
Director – Jennifer Kent
Back for its 10-year anniversary, this psychological horror and possession film terrified us in 2014 with its harrowing take on grief. Now it’s back to remind us all of the dangers of reading to children!
BABY ASSASSINS NICE DAYS
Japan, 2024
Texas Premiere, 112 min
Director – Yugo Sakamoto
The Baby Assassins are back at Fantastic Fest to spread joy, dessert, and sick kills in the delightful third entry to this Japanese action franchise.
BIG TOP PEE-WEE
USA, 1988
World Premiere of 4K Restoration, 86 min
Director – Randal Kleiser
When a tornado blows a circus onto his farm, agricultural chemist Pee-wee Herman is tempted away from a life of contentment with his fiancée and her mediocre sandwiches by an alluringly beautiful acrobat.
BINARY
The Netherlands, 2024
International Premiere, 42 min
Director – David-Jan Bronsgeest
As Nisha prepares for gender confirmation surgery, violent and confusing images move from haunting her dreams to impacting her clients and friends, and Nisha must decide what she will do to live her authentic life.
THE BIRTHDAY
Spain, 2004
20th Anniversary Screening of 4K Restoration, 117 min
Director – Eugenio Mira
Corey Feldman gives the performance of his career in this newly restored O.G. Fantastic Fest stunner.
THE BLACK HOLE (Burnt Ends Selection)
Estonia, Finland, 2024
North American Premiere, 115 min
Director – Moonika Siimets
Aliens land in Estonia to collect teeth and change the lives of bored, frustrated citizens in this triptych film of existential humor and strangely beautiful creature design.
BODY ODYSSEY
Italy, Switzerland, 2023
North American Premiere, 104 min
Director – Grazia Tricarico
A female bodybuilder trades in her obsession with crafting the perfect body for an all-consuming pursuit of a younger man.
BONE LAKE
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 94 min
Director – Mercedes Bryce Morgan
In an attempt to rekindle their stagnant love life, Diego and Sage rent a property on the aptly named Bone Lake. When a mysterious young couple shows up at their door, their romantic getaway devolves into a twisted psychosexual nightmare.
BOOKWORM
New Zealand, 2024
US Premiere, 103 min
Director – Ant Timpson
An 11-year-old girl sets out into the New Zealand backcountry with her estranged father to capture photographic evidence of the mythological Canterbury Panther, hoping to claim the reward and pay her mom’s medical bills.
BRING THEM DOWN
Ireland, UK, Belgium, 2024
US Premiere, 105 min
Director – Christopher Andrews
Christopher Abbott and Barry Keoghan lock horns as the sons of two warring Irish shepherding dynasties.
CARNIVAL OF BLOOD (Presented by AGFA)
USA, 1970
Texas Premiere, 88 min
Director – Leonard Kirtman
AGFA presents a dreamy proto-slasher from the gutters of NYC.
CHAIN REACTIONS
USA, 2024
Texas Premiere, 103 min
Director – Alexandre O. Philippe
In his latest documentary—and right on time for the film’s 50th anniversary—Alexandre O. Philippe explores the profound impact and lasting influence the TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE had on five international artists.
CHAINSAWS WERE SINGING
Estonia, 2024
US Premiere, 117 min
Director – Sander Maran
Tom and Maria’s courtship is cut short by a cannibalistic spree killer and his dysfunctional family. Equal parts Stephen Sondheim and Lloyd Kaufman, this Estonian slasher musical is a truly unique odyssey.
CHILDREN OF THE WICKER MAN
UK, 2024
International Premiere, 90 min
Directors – Dr. Chris Nunn, Justin Hardy & Dominic Hardy
Justin and Dominic Hardy reflect on their relationships with their father, Robin Hardy, and the cult classic he directed, THE WICKER MAN.
CLOUD
Japan, 2024
US Premiere, 123 min
Director – Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Ryosuke makes his living as an online wholesaler, flipping goods from desperate sellers for a profit. As his business grows, so does his paranoia. Auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s latest is another masterful examination of dread and contagion in modern Japan.
DADDY’S HEAD
UK, 2024
World Premiere, 97 min
Director – Benjamin Barfoot
After the death of his father, a young boy is terrorized by a gruesome creature that bears an uncanny resemblance to his dad.
DANIELA FOREVER
Spain, Belgium, 2024
US Premiere, 113 min
Director – Nacho Vigalondo
Nicolas mourns his dead girlfriend in a unique way—by taking an experimental drug that allows him to relive his memories when he dreams.
DEAD TALENTS SOCIETY
Taiwan, 2024
US Premiere, 110 min
Director – John Hsu
Dying is just the beginning of one young woman’s problems when she learns the hard way that the afterlife is a competitive world of celebrity scarers and desperate wannabes, and the cost of failure is a fate worse than death.
A DIFFERENT MAN
USA, 2024
Texas Premiere, 112 min
Director – Aaron Schimberg
Aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare as he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.
DISEMBODIED (Presented by BLEEDING SKULL)
USA, 1998
World Premiere of 4K Restoration, 77 min
Director – William Kersten
Bleeding Skull presents a cinematic acid trip through a surreal, haunting world of mutations and murder.
DON’T MESS WITH GRANDMA
Canada, 2024
World Premiere, 81 min
Director – Jason Krawczyk
Michael Jai White is just a grandson who loves his grandma. When a motley group of thieves attempt to break into her home, he gives them a punishing lesson in etiquette while keeping her comfortably in the dark.
THE DRAFT!
Indonesia, 2023
International Premiere, 84 min
Director – Yusron Fuadi
Five college friends go to a cabin in the woods for the weekend and start to experience strange, violent events in this meta-horror movie with bloody kills and zany comedy.
DRAGON DILATATION
France, 2024
North American Premiere, 114 min
Director – Bertrand Mandico
Director Bertrand Mandico puts his own unmistakable spin on two famous works: Stravinsky’s PETROUCHKA and Dante’s THE DIVINE COMEDY, in this visually arresting experimental film.
EBONY AND IVORY
UK, 2024
World Premiere, 88 min
Director – Jim Hosking
The untold story of Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder’s pop classic, as only the maniac behind THE GREASY STRANGLER could tell it.
ELSE
France, 2024
US Premiere, 99 min
Director – Thibault Emin
A new strange pandemic has hit the world, causing the infected to fuse with their surroundings. Two freshly acquainted lovers take refuge in a flat, trying to avoid the disease that spreads through eye contact.
ESCAPE FROM THE 21ST CENTURY
China, 2024
US Premiere, 98 min
Director – Li Yang
A trio of teenage friends find themselves able to inhabit their future bodies in this coming-of-age/coming-of-middle-age martial arts comedy.
THE FALL
USA, South Africa & India, 2008
North American Premiere of 4K Restoration, 117 min
Director – Tarsem Singh
Los Angeles, circa 1920s, a little immigrant girl in a hospital recovering from a fall, strikes up a friendship with a bedridden man. He captivates her with a whimsical story that removes her far from the hospital doldrums into the exotic landscapes of her imagination.
FRANKIE FREAKO
Canada, 2024
International Premiere, 82 min
Director – Steven Kostanski
The creator of PSYCHO GOREMAN introduces the raddest & baddest li’l goblin squad since the Ghoulies.
GAZER (Burnt Ends Selection)
USA, 2024
North American Premiere, 114 min
Director – Ryan J. Sloan
Frankie tries to reclaim her life in this paranoia/neo-noir/body horror gem about the decline of America and the terrifying and awesome power of the feminine.
GET AWAY
UK, 2024
World Premiere, 86 min
Director – Steffen Haars
Ignoring the warnings from the Swedish mainlanders, the Smith family takes a vacation on the small, charming island of Svälta… which turns into a killer trip.
GHOST KILLER
Japan, 2024
World Premiere, 105 min
Director – Kensuke Sonomura
Fumika Matsuoka is a young woman with a terrible job, a friend in a bad relationship, and the ghost of an assassin bound to her until she gets revenge on his behalf.
GIRL INTERNET SHOW: A KATI KELLI MIXTAPE (Burnt Ends Selection)
USA, 2023
Texas Premiere, 79 min
Director – Kati Kelli
A compilation of early YouTube uploads by artist Kati Kelli posthumously showcases her deranged genius as an outsider artist and social commentator.
THE GUEST
USA, UK, 2014
Theatrical World Premiere of 4K Restoration, 100 min
Director – Adam Wingard
A mysterious soldier befriends the family of a fallen comrade and quickly makes himself an indispensable part of their lives, but the secrets he’s hiding put them all in danger in THE GUEST, a nail-biting, retro-stylish thriller from director Adam Wingard and screenwriter Simon Barrett (YOU’RE NEXT, A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE).
HEADS OR FAILS (Burnt Ends Selection)
Belgium, 2024
World Premiere, 86 min
Directors – Lenny Guit & Harpo Guit
Armande Pigeon steps in more shit than a latrine cleaner, living off a series of less and less endearing gambles and grifts. When luck rolls her way, she just has to walk away, but where’s the fun in that?
HEAVIER TRIP
Finland, 2024
World Premiere, 96 min
Directors – Juuso Laatio & Jukka Vidgren
Impaled Rektum, the world’s most brutal metal band, must escape Norwegian prison and save a reindeer slaughterhouse from foreclosure before battling a Faustian promoter offering Rock God superstardom in exchange for selling out.
HOUSE OF SPOILS
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 101 min
Directors – Bridget Savage Cole & Danielle Krudy
Follows an ambitious chef (Ariana DeBose) as she opens a restaurant on a remote estate where she battles kitchen chaos, crushing self doubts…and a haunting presence who threatens to sabotage her at every turn.
I, THE EXECUTIONER
South Korea, 2024
US Premiere, 118 min
Director – RYOO Seung-wan
The veteran detective Seo Do-cheol (HWANG Jung-min) and his team at Major Crimes, relentless in their pursuit of criminals, join forces with rookie cop Park Sun-woo (JUNG Hae-in) to track down a serial killer who has plunged the nation into turmoil.
ICK
USA, 2024
US Premiere, 90 min
Director – Joseph Kahn
In Joseph Kahn’s breakneck sci-fi/horror satire, a high school science teacher (Brandon Routh) does battle with a parasitic alien entity, as well as the apathy of the small town it has been gradually absorbing.
THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED UP ZOMBIES!!?
USA, 1964
Texas Premiere of Severin Restoration, 82 min
Director – Ray Dennis Steckler
AGFA presents the first monster musical!
THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA (Season 3, Episodes 1 & 2)
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 52 min
Directors – Eugene Lee (Ep. 1) & Young Heller (Ep. 2)
In Season Three of The Legend of Vox Machina, everything is at stake – our lovable band of misfits must rise above inner (and outer) demons to try and save their loved ones, Tal’Dorei, and all of Exandria.
THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF CHRISTOPHER LEE
UK, 2024
North American Premiere, 103 min
Director – Jon Spira
Descended from royalty and the real-life inspiration for James Bond, this documentary shows Christopher Lee’s struggle to succeed as an actor before discovering the joys of playing monsters and villains—transforming him into an icon and a legend, seemingly overnight.
LITTLE BITES
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 106 min
Director – Spider One
A mother, a monster, and a terrible secret.
MADS
France, 2024
North American Premiere, 88 min
Director – David Moreau
Tweaked-out French club kids battle a rage virus during one crazy night, all in one single, unbroken shot.
MALDOROR
Belgium, France, 2024
North American Premiere, 150 min
Director – Fabrice du Welz
When a dedicated but impulsive young officer is taken off a clandestine surveillance team tasked with catching a child predator, he becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, despite the risks to his family and his sanity.
MEMOIR OF A SNAIL
Australia, 2024
Texas Premiere, 95 min
Director – Adam Elliot
Placed in separate foster care homes after the death of their father, two siblings grow up in families with different values. Gilbert and Grace learn to live apart, but their hope of being reunited never fades.
THE MISSION (Presented by AGFA)
Hong Kong, 1999
25th Anniversary Screening, 84 min
Director – Johnnie To
Come celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Hong Kong auteur Johnnie To’s towering gangster film masterpiece, presented from AGFA’s rare 35mm archival print!
MR. CROCKET
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 88 min
Director – Brandon Espy
A single mother thinks she’s found the key to calming her child down—a VHS copy of a strange children’s program named Mr. Crocket’s World. However, a darker, bloodier secret waits to invade their home from inside the tape.
Anthony B. Jenkins as Samuel, Halle Berry as Momma and Percy Daggs IV as Nolan in ‘Never Let Go’ (Photo Credit: Liane Hentscher)
NEVER LET GO
USA, 2024
Gala Screening, 101 min
Directed by: Alexandre Aja
Written by: KC Coughlin & Ryan Grassby
Produced by: Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, Dan Levine, Alexandre Aja
Executive Producers: Halle Berry, Holly Jeter, Daniel Clarke, Emily Morris, Christopher Woodrow, Connor DiGregorio
Cast: Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, Anthony B. Jenkins
From visionary director Alexandre Aja (THE HILLS HAVE EYES, CRAWL) and the creative minds behind STRANGER THINGS and ARRIVAL comes NEVER LET GO. In this new psychological thriller/horror, as an evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother, played by Academy Award® winner Halle Berry (Actress in a Leading Role, 2001 – MONSTER’S BALL), and her twin sons is their house and their family’s protective bond. Needing to stay connected at all times – even tethering themselves with ropes – they cling to one another, urging each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival. Lionsgate presents, in association with Media Capital Technologies, a 21 Laps / HalleHolly production.
NIGHT CALL
France, Belgium, 2024
North American Premiere, 91 min
Director – Michiel Blanchart
A locksmith finds himself accused of a crime he didn’t commit, kicking off the longest night of his life.
NINE QUEENS
Argentina, 2000
US Premiere of 4K Restoration, 114 min
Director – Fabián Bielinsky
In this gorgeous 4K restoration, two con artists set up a plan to sell a sheet of counterfeit rare stamps known as the Nine Queens to a collector.
PÁRVULOS
Mexico, 2024
US Premiere, 119 min
Director – Isaac Ezban
In the aftermath of a devastating global catastrophe, three brothers must fight against the dangers of a post-pandemic world and keep their family intact.
PLANET B
France, Belgium, 2024
International Premiere, 118 min
Director – Aude Léa Rapin
In a near future shaken by violent protests, activist Julia wakes up in an unknown world after being shot in the face with a non-lethal round. Welcome to PLANET B, a place where your worst nightmares are generated to torture you.
PLASTIC GUNS
France, 2024
North American Premiere, 96 min
Director – Jean-Christophe Meurisse
A world-renowned criminal profiler leads authorities to arrest an innocent man, mistaking him for a notorious killer. Meanwhile, two amateur detectives bumble through their own investigation, and the real killer sees an opportunity to start a new life.
QUEENS OF DRAMA
France, Benelux, 2024
North American Premiere, 115 min
Director – Alexis Langlois
A tabloid-headline, torrid affair between a pop princess and her secret pop-punk songstress stretches into the 2050’s in this camp musical.
RAZE
USA, 2013
Anniversary Screening, 92 min
Director – Josh C. Waller
Awakening after being abducted, Jamie finds herself in a concrete bunker, and she discovers that she is not alone.
THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF IBELIN
Norway, 2024
Texas Premiere, 103 min
Director – Benjamin Ree
Mats Steen, a Norwegian gamer, died of a degenerative muscular disease at the age of 25. His parents mourned what they thought had been a lonely and isolated life, when they started receiving messages from online friends around the world.
RESPATI
Indonesia, 2024
Texas Premiere, 112 min
Director – Sidharta Tata
Deep in the recesses of a spiritual hive mind connecting an orphaned teenager to the victims of a demon, the boy must also confront his own demons in the demented and deeply unsettling Indonesian horror RESPATI.
John Lithgow in ‘the Rule of Jenny Pen’ (Photo Courtesy of Fantastic Fest)
THE RULE OF JENNY PEN
New Zealand, 2024
World Premiere, 103 min
Director – James Ashcroft
Admitted into a state care facility, Geoffrey Rush engages in a battle of wits with his deranged tormentor, John Lithgow.
SATAN WAR (Presented by AGFA)
USA, 1979
World Premiere of Restoration, 62 min
Director – Bart La Rue
AGFA presents a new restoration of the Satanic panic mindwarp.
THE SEVERED SUN
UK, 2024
World Premiere, 80 min
Director – Dean Puckett
When a headstrong woman rebels against her religious father, she unleashes a powerful beast intent on picking off members of her isolated community.
SHE LOVED BLOSSOMS MORE
Greece, France, 2024
Texas Premiere, 88 min
Director – Yannis Veslemes
Three brothers enter a world of cosmic horror as they try to bring their mother back from the beyond.
SISTER MIDNIGHT
UK, Northern Ireland, India & Sweden, 2024
North American Premiere, 110 min
Director – Karan Kandhari
Stuck on the outskirts of Mumbai following an arranged marriage, Uma turns to black magic to dislocate her domestic blues.
SPERMAGEDDON
Norway, 2024
North American Premiere, 79 min
Directors – Rasmus A. Sivertsen & Tommy Wirkola
A coming-of-age love story set in parallel universes: a teenage boy chasing his first experience of coitus, and two companion sperm swimming upstream in hot pursuit of their holy grail, the egg. It’s also an animated musical comedy that slays.
THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 95 min
Directors – Bradford Thomason & Brett Whitcomb
Have you ever dreamed of living in a place where Halloween is celebrated year-round? Welcome to St. Helens, a charming town that revolves around the cult classic film HALLOWEENTOWN.
STEPPENWOLF
Kazakhstan, 2024
US Premiere, 101 min
Director – Adilkhan Yerzhanov
Set against a ravaged dystopian wasteland, a ruthless killer joins forces with a traumatized young mother in the search for her missing son in this hard-hitting, genre-bending B-movie from Kazakh auteur Adilkhan Yerzhanov.
STRANGE HARVEST: OCCULT MURDER IN THE INLAND EMPIRE
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 94 min
Director – Stuart Ortiz
STRANGE HARVEST follows the investigation of one of the worst, yet least reported and discussed serial killers in the history of Southern California.
TEACUP (Season 1, Episodes 1 & 2)
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 65 min
Writer / Executive Producer – Ian McCulloch
Director – E.L. Katz
From James Wan’s Atomic Monster & UCP, TEACUP follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive. Inspired by the New York Times bestselling novel STINGER by Robert McCammon.
TERRIFIER 3
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 128 min
Director – Damien Leone
Art the Clown is set to unleash chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County as they peacefully drift off to sleep on Christmas Eve.
TOUCHED BY ETERNITY
Latvia, 2024
World Premiere, 95 min
Director – Mārcis Lācis
Although lacking any zest for life, middle-aged hermit Fatso is obsessed with immortality. When a friendly duo of vampires materializes with a proposition, he has second thoughts when he learns what’s at stake in this playful vampire satire.
TRIZOMBIE
Belgium, 2024
International Premiere, 78 min
Director – Bob Colaers
When a zombie plague hits Belgium, a group of unlikely heroes embarks on a perilous journey to save one of their missing friends.
U ARE THE UNIVERSE
Ukraine, 2024
US Premiere, 101 min
Director – Pavlo Ostrikov
After planet Earth explodes, space trucker Andriy is left alone, drifting through space with an AI computer as his sole companion. When a message from a French scientist reaches him, he risks everything to cross the universe and meet her.
UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
Canada, 2024
US Premiere, 89 min
Director – Matthew Rankin
A surreal, hilarious, and touching meditation on family and place.
V/H/S/BEYOND
USA, India, 2024
World Premiere, 110 min
Directors – Jordan Downey, Christian Long & Justin Long, Justin Martinez, Virat Pal, Kate Siegel, & Jay Cheel
The seventh installment of the V/H/S franchise will feature six new bloodcurdling tapes, placing horror at the forefront of a sci-fi-inspired hellscape.
WAKE IN FRIGHT
Australia, 1971
International Premiere of 4K Restoration, 109 min
Director – Ted Kotcheff
Come witness Ted Kotcheff’s 1971 thriller about a schoolteacher marooned in an Australian town full of drunken madmen. A magnificent 4K restoration supervised by Mark Hartley (NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD), WAKE IN FRIGHT is an unmissable cult classic.
WHAT HAPPENED TO DOROTHY BELL?
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 80 min
Director – Danny Villanueva Jr.
Years after a terrifying attack by her grandmother, Ozzie returns to her hometown in an attempt to understand her own mental illness and the supernatural being haunting her family.
THE WILD ROBOT
USA, 2024
Texas Premiere, 101 min
Director – Chris Sanders
After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot named Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh environment, gradually bonding with the island’s animals and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.
WILL & HARPER
USA, 2024
Texas Premiere, 115 min
Director – Josh Greenbaum
When Will Ferrell finds out his close friend of 30 years is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to embark on a cross-country road trip to process this new stage of their relationship in an intimate portrait of friendship, transition, and America.
WITTE WIEVEN
The Netherlands, 2024
International Premiere, 61 min
Director – Didier Konings
Frieda is desperate to get pregnant. When she’s ostracized by her medieval Dutch community for surviving a trip to the nearby woods and supposedly conspiring with the Devil, she slowly lets the darkness in.
THE WORKOUT (Burnt Ends Selection)
USA, 2024
World Premiere, 82 min
Director – James Cullen Bressack
Following the shocking death of his wife and facing his own terminal injury, a former Army Ranger sets out on a path of revenge in this stunt-forward, found footage action movie.
ZÉNITHAL
France, 2024
International Premiere, 80 min
Director – Jean-Baptiste Saurel
A man with a giant dick is killed by a jealous, evil man attempting to take over the world. Only women can save us now! You know how it goes…
