FrightFest, the U.K.’s No. 1 horror and fantasy film festival, triumphantly returns to The Odeon LUXE Leicester Square for the festival’s 2025 edition. Running Thursday August 21–Monday 25 August, this year’s lineup boasts 69 feature films from 14 countries and 4 continents, ranging from world premieres of fear fare to 4K restorations of beloved classics, along with four showcases of short films. Here are a half-dozen of the features that we are greatly looking forward to watching! The following information is from official press announcements and the FrightFest official website.
For more information, visit https://frightfest.co.uk/.
A Blind Bargain
Set in 1970, A Blind Bargain is a reimagining of the lost 1922 Lon Chaney silent film. It follows a desperate young man who makes a sinister pact with an eccentric doctor, offering up his mother as a subject for the doctor’s twisted experiments.
Lon Chaney, “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” was a silent-era icon whose groundbreaking makeup and haunting performances in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925) defined horror cinema. His 1922 film A Blind Bargain, where he played both a mad scientist and his monstrous creation, was lost in the 1965 MGM vault fire, surviving only through a few stills. Over a century later, A Blind Bargain is reborn. Set in 1970 and shot on vivid 16mm, the remake follows a desperate young man who offers his mother to an eccentric doctor’s twisted experiments. Director: Paul Bunnell.
The Caretaker
A character-driven horror-thriller set at Lockbridge Academy, an isolated school on the coast, run by the powerful aristocratic Aberdeen family who are hiding a dark secret. Eddie is a mute, burdened with caring for his cruel ailing mother, while on the cusp of losing their home, takes a caretaker position at the foreboding Lockbridge. There, he meets a cleaner named Marie, sparking an instant connection that will alter the trajectory of his life, while unravelling a sinister mystery lurking within the school that could shatter the Aberdeen’s family legacy forever. Director: Luke Tedder.
Five
FrightFest is delighted to welcome back Dani Barker, last here with her spectacular tour-de-force lead performance in Follow Her in 2022. This time she’s returning as director, co-writer and cameo performance actor in a horror comedy destined for cult status. Five revolves around fallen movie legend Melody Palmer, who after a spectacular run of box-office flops and a period in rehab, is hoping her star will rise again with the rom-com ‘Renovated Romance’. But while on location shooting her hopeful comeback, she finds a cabin in the woods and becomes possessed by a demonic force causing havoc amongst the crew. Director: Dani Barker.
The Haunting at Jack the Ripper’s House
A group of renowned YouTubers, famous for their paranormal “ghost hunting” vlogs, embarks on their most ambitious investigation yet determined to silence sceptics who accuse them of faking their encounters. When relentless comments urge them to explore Jack the Ripper’s home, the lure of fame and fortune leaves them with little choice. But as they step into the notorious dwelling, they quickly realize they’ve ventured too far. What begins as a quest for viral content turns into a harrowing fight for survival, as a sinister presence makes it clear escape won’t come without consequences as they confront their deepest fears. Cowriters/codirectors: Stephen Staley and Natasha Tosini.
Healing Andy
When Andy gets left at the altar, his best friends turn his Italian honeymoon into a ‘bros trip’ for the world to see. But as their influencer-fuelled getaway spirals into a nightmare, they soon realize some things aren’t meant to be filmed. In an era where online personas have become carefully curated performances, an exploration of the stark contrast between what influencers present to their audiences and the stark reality behind the scenes exposing the underlying ethical void. Blending sharp social critique with bold genre storytelling, a horror comedy found footage film entirely shot on an iPhone. Writer/director: Villablanca.
Sane Inside Sanity: The Phenomenon of Rocky Horror
What is the secret behind the success of The Rocky Horror Show? Is it the rock music? The actors? Sexy comedy? In the year of its 50th Anniversary, this fabulous documentary charts it all, from humble 2-page script written in crayon and Off West End smash hit to flop film adaptation and global Midnight Movie cult success. With fantastic archive footage, new key cast interviews and a wealth of trivia information, this is the ultimate chronicle about the Queen Mother of B movie musicals, one that has grossed over more than $500 million. Don’t dream it, be it! Writer/director: Andreas Zerr.
