The Fantastic Pavilion presents a weekly recap with the most relevant news about the world of genre cinema.
News
The latest trailer for Edgar Wright’s The Running Man (2025) promises tons of action, humor, and a story of survival. Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, The Running Man stars Glen Powell and is set to hit the big screen on November 14.
Synopsis: “In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television, a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite, and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.”
A pet chimp turns deadly in the official trailer for Johannes Roberts’ Primate (2025). This animal attack movie had its world premiere last month at Fantastic Fest. It’ll screen in Mexico City at the upcoming Mórbido Fest (October 29-November 9) and open theatrically in the U.S. on January 9 – thanks to Paramount Pictures –.
Synopsis: “A group of friends’ tropical vacation turns into a terrifying, primal tale of horror and survival.”
After debuting as a secret screening at Fantastic Fest, Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025) has gotten a full trailer. The “twisted reimagining” of the notorious 1984 slasher is being released in U.S. theaters by Cineverse on December 12.
Synopsis: “After witnessing his parents’ brutal murder on Christmas Eve, Billy transforms into a Killer Santa, delivering a yearly spree of calculated, chilling violence. This year, his blood-soaked mission collides with love, as a young woman challenges him to confront his darkness.”
Netflix confirmed that Guillermo del Toro, Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac will visit Mexico City to promote their Gothic horror picture Frankenstein (2025), which reaches select cinemas in said country on October 23. “On Monday, November 3, Mexico City will witness a grand celebration where the master of fantasy will reunite face to face with his fans,” the streaming platform informed.
Del Toro’s Frankenstein is currently playing in U.S. theaters. It becomes available to stream on November 7.
Fantasia and Mórbido Fest selection In Our Blood (2024) has been described as “found footage desert horror.” The flick follows “filmmaker Emily (Brittany O’Grady) and cinematographer Danny (E.J. Bonilla),” as they “shoot an intimate documentary about reuniting with Emily’s estranged mother after a decade apart.” However, “when her mother suddenly goes missing, Emily and Danny must piece together increasingly sinister clues to find her before it’s too late.” Utopia is bringing In Our Blood to the silver screen in the U.S. on October 24 (trailer here).
Festivals
Genre films like Ben Wheatley’s Bulk (2025), Cédric Jimenez’s Dog 51 (Chien 51, 2025), Jan Kounen’s The Shrinking Man (L’homme qui rétrécit, 2025), and Takahide Hori’s Junk World (2025) are part of the lineup for this year’s Trieste Science+Fiction Festival, to be celebrated from October 28 to November 2.
Home video
Wes Craven’s second feature, The Fireworks Woman (1975), was put out on Blu-ray by Quality X. The movie is notoriously “Craven’s sole foray into hardcore.”