The Fantastic Pavilion presents a weekly recap with the most relevant news about the world of genre cinema, plus our latest exclusives.
News
A new movie based on Mike Mignola’s comic book character Hellboy is coming out this year. Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024) stars Jack Kesy as the titular antihero, who was previously portrayed on the big screen by Ron Perlman (2004’s Hellboy and 2008’s Hellboy II: The Golden Army) and David Harbour (2019’s Hellboy). Directed by Brian Taylor (Mom and Dad, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Crank) and co-written by Mignola himself, Hellboy: The Crooked Man is set in Appalachia during the 1950s. Its first teaser trailer was released last Monday by Ketchup Entertainment.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024), Tim Burton’s sequel to his 1988 supernatural comedy, is heading to Venice prior to its wide release. On August 28, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will serve as the opening film of the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The sequel has Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara reprising their roles, while Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe play new characters. It opens theatrically from September 4.
Blumhouse and Sony Pictures released the official trailer for AFRAID (2024), the latest sci-fi horror flick that deals with the rise of artificial intelligence. Clearly in the same vein as M3GAN (2022), AFRAID centers on a family that suffers the consequences of AI getting out of control. The movie arrives in U.S. theaters August 30.
Fantastic Pavilion’s exclusives
Since the brutal Indian action-revenge film Kill (2023) opens theatrically in the U.S. tomorrow (July 4) – via Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions –, it’s a good time to share our interview with director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, conducted by Fantastic Pavilion’s editor-in-chief Eric Ortiz.
Festivals
Everything is set for the 28th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival, which kicks off on July 18 and lasts until August 4. The massive Montreal-based festival announced its final wave of programming, including high-profile titles like the Hunter Schafer-starring Cuckoo (2024), the acclaimed Vulcanizadora (2024), Steven Kostanski’s Frankie Freako (2024), the Quinzaine-selected anime film Ghost Cat Anzu (Bakeneko Anzu-chan, 2024), the Jackie Chan vehicle A Legend (Chuan Shuo, 2024), Alice Lowe’s Timestalker (2024), Hong Kong actioner Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024), and Carlota Pereda’s fantasy horror The Chapel (La ermita, 2023). Additionally, Fantasia revealed that they’ll honor director Mike Flanagan with the 2024 Cheval Noir career award.
The first wave of programming for MOTELX – Lisbon International Horror Film Festival 2024 has been announced. Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala’s 18th century drama The Devil’s Bath (Des Teufels Bad, 2024), Can Evrenol’s female Revengeamatic Sayara (2024), and the South Korean chiller Exhuma (Pamyo, 2024) will all screen in Portugal during the 18th edition of MOTELX, to be held from September 10 to 16.
The San Sebastian Horror and Fantasy Film Festival is currently accepting submissions for its 35th edition, to be celebrated from October 25 to November 1. The deadline for submissions is August 19.
Home video
Arrow Video revealed the titles that they’ll release in September and, undoubtedly, the highlight is a three-disc set dedicated to Spanish maestro Álex de la Iglesia. The set contains Mutant Action (Acción mutante, 1993), The Day of the Beast (El día de la bestia, 1995), Perdita Durango (1997), and of course a bunch of extras (including the 1990 short Mirindas asesinas). The limited edition set, called Love, Death & Apocalypse: Three Films by Álex de la Iglesia, will be released on September 23, on both 4K UDH and Blu-ray (Region B).
As part of their Summer Subscriber Week, Vinegar Syndrome officially announced the Blu-ray edition of Intrépidos punks (1988) and Vengeance of the Punks (La venganza de los punks, 1991). The Blu-ray features the two Mexican trash cult movies restored from their 35mm original negatives, a pair of making-of documentaries, and a booklet.