The Fantastic Pavilion presents a weekly recap with the most relevant news about the world of genre cinema.
News
After screening at Fantasia and FrightFest last year, Shelby Oaks (2024) is finally heading to U.S. theaters on October 3, thanks to Neon Rated. According to IndieWire, Chris Stuckmann’s horror feature – originally financed through crowdfunding – underwent reshoots and was reedited. You can watch here its official trailer.
FrightFest’s synopsis: “When the four investigators of the popular YouTube channel Paranormal Paranoids go missing in the abandoned town of Shelby Oaks, Darke County, everyone thinks it’s a hoax to promote ratings. But 12 years later there is still no sign of any of them or a rational explanation for their disappearance, so Mia decides to independently search for her beloved sister Riley, the star of the show. As Mia uncovers new and disturbing leads related to Riley’s mysterious exit, she uncovers evidence of a hidden supernatural evil dating all the way back to her and Riley’s childhood.”
IFC and Shudder released the poster for Ben Leonberg’s Good Boy (2025), as well as some fresh stills that show the protagonist: a retriever named Indy. This horror picture hits U.S. cinemas on October 3.
Full synopsis: “Our canine hero, Indy, finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner – and best friend – Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering. After moving in, Indy is immediately vexed by empty corners, tracks an invisible presence only he can see, perceives phantasmagoric warnings from a long-dead dog, and is haunted by visions of the previous occupant’s grim death. When Todd begins succumbing to the dark forces swirling around the house, Indy must battle a malevolence intent on dragging his beloved Todd into the afterlife.”
As we previously reported, Ben Wheatley’s experimental sci-fi flick Bulk (2025) is set to premiere on August 14 at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. And now Empire has revealed its trailer and the following synopsis: “When an overzealous scientist pushes his experiments with string theory too far, his brane explodes. That’s brane, not brain – but that means someone has to sort out the mess he has created. Our hero Corey Harlan is sent in – kicking and screaming – to find the heart of the brane and its creator Anton Chambers. Now manifested as a normal town house hosted by the enigmatic and multi-dimensional Aclima, his adventure begins. A house where opening a door from one room to another can lead you to other worlds, not just the kitchen.”
Universal Pictures unleashed both the full trailer and a first-look featurette for Justin Tipping’s HIM (2025). In the latter, director Tipping says that HIM is a “mashup where sports meets horror,” while producer Jordan Peele warns us that “it goes to some really terrifying places.” HIM opens in U.S. theaters on September 19.
Synopsis: “Former college wide-receiver Tyriq Withers plays Cameron Cade, a rising-star quarterback who has devoted his life, and identity, to football. On the eve of professional football’s annual scouting Combine, Cam is attacked by an unhinged fan and suffers a potentially career-ending brain trauma. Just when all seems lost, Cam receives a lifeline when his hero, Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans), a legendary eight-time Championship quarterback and cultural megastar, offers to train Cam at Isaiah’s isolated compound that he shares with his celebrity influencer wife, Elsie White (Julia Fox). But as Cam’s training accelerates, Isaiah’s charisma begins to curdle into something darker, sending his protégé down a disorienting rabbit hole that may cost him more than he ever bargained for.”
Traumatika (2024) is a supernatural horror movie that was shown at several festivals in 2024, including Sitges, FrightFest and Mórbido Fest. Directed by Pierre Tsigaridis, Traumatika is about a boy whose mother “begins showing signs of demonic possession.” It arrives on the big screen on September 12, via Saban Films (trailer).
Festivals
Flush (2025) – the French film about a “coke fiend” who “gets stuck in a bar’s toilet with drugs stolen from the resident dealer” – won the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the 2025 Fantasia Festival. The Kyrgyz horror thriller Burning (Ot, 2024) was chosen by the festival-goers as Best Asian Feature, while Death Does Not Exist (La mort n’existe pas, 2025) got the Audience Award for Best Animated Feature. View the full list of winners on Fantasia’s website.
Home video
A new 4K UHD box set includes the first seven movies from the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985), A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988), A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child (1989), Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991), and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994). It’ll be available on September 30 (for more details visit Bloody Disgusting).