The Fantastic Pavilion presents a weekly recap with the most relevant news about the world of genre cinema.
News
Neon Rated shared the first teaser trailer for The Life of Chuck (2024), Mike Flanagan’s fantasy drama based on Stephen King’s novella of the same name. The film, which won last year the People’s Choice Award at TIFF, stars Tom Hiddleston and has been compared to Stand by Me (1986). It’ll hit the big screen in June.
Empire published a piece about The Running Man (2025), featuring an official behind-the-scenes photo of director Edgar Wright. This new adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 novel is going to be, according to Wright himself, “a very intense, dangerous road movie.” The Running Man, starring Glen Powell, opens in U.S. and UK theaters on November 7.
After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, the Norwegian satirical horror movie The Ugly Stepsister (Den stygge stesøsteren, 2025) is heading to U.S. cinemas on April 18, via IFC Films and Shudder. Directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister is said to be a riff on the Cinderella story. Here’s its synopsis: “The Ugly Stepsister follows Elvira (Lea Myren) as she prepares to earn the prince’s affection at any cost. In a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will compete with the beautiful and enchanting Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss) to become the belle of the ball.”
Bloody Disgusting debuted the poster for Screamboat (2025), the upcoming slasher flick that was inspired by the classic Disney short Steamboat Willie (1928). Screamboat will have a limited theatrical run in the U.S., from April 2 to 6.
Official synopsis: “Be our guest on a New York City ferry ride that turns into a hilarious nightmare when a mischievous mouse named Steamboat Willie (David Howard Thornton) becomes a monstrous reality. Can the unsuspecting passengers survive the creature’s miniature murder and mayhem?”
There’s a new trailer for John Farrelly’s An Taibhse (The Ghost, 2024), which has been labeled as the very first horror film in the Irish language.
Synopsis: “Amid the desolate landscape of post-famine Ireland, a father and daughter take on the solitary task of maintaining a remote mansion through the brutal winter. As isolation sets in, they are drawn into a nightmarish descent, haunted by something far more sinister than the cold.”
Festivals
The 9th edition of the Overlook Film Festival is set to take place in New Orleans, from April 3 to 6. The festival’s first wave of titles was announced last week and includes: Christopher Landon’s Drop (2025) – which will serve as opening night film –, David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds (2024), Babak Anvari’s Hallow Road (2025), Grace Glowicki’s Dead Lover (2025), Eli Craig’s slasher Clown in a Cornfield (2025), Alexandre O. Philippe’s documentary Chain Reactions (2024), and The Ugly Stepsister.
Additionally, the festival will welcome Flying Lotus not just to present his latest feature, Ash (2025), but also as guest curator. FlyLo’s program features Neil Marshall’s The Descent (2005), Robert Zemeckis’ Death Becomes Her (1992), and David Lynch’s Lost Highway (1997). Find the full announcement here.
The Sitges Film Festival has opened its calls for Fanlab submissions. You can now submit projects and profiles for: Sitges FanPitch, WomanInFan – Sitges Fanlab Residence, and WomanInFan – Sitges Fanlab Short Film-Teaser Creation Competition. The 58th edition of Sitges is scheduled for October 9-19.