★★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

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Crossword (2024) is a psychological thriller that pays close attention to the smallest details and is rich in symbolism. James is struggling to come to terms with the drowning of his young daughter, Lily. His grief is expressed through the daily crossword puzzle, which he believes is an omen communicating with him.

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

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Being an independent horror movie maker isn't easy. Eddie Mathews sacrifices everything in his power to keep his directing dreams alive. If that means living in his disapproving mother-in-law's house and pitching presidential bobbleheads as a side hustle, then that's what he has to do. The horror must be made!

★★★ out of ★★★★★

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What the Tide Dragged In (Lo Que Trajo La Marea) is an emotionally charged, Chilean tale of sisterhood and loss. Two sisters go to the coast to comply with their mother's wish to have her ashes cast to the sea. Their mom warned them of the mysteries of the sea, and it has a vast power that will come to claim what it wants.

★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

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Teacher's Pet goes back to school and follows Clara, an overachieving foster care teenager who has become the target of a serial killer masquerading as a substitute teacher. The characters are compelling, even if the plot has some blind spots regarding distinctive red flags that should have exposed the villain's deception.

Popcorn Frights 2025 banner
Last, but certainly not least. The final content announcement for the much-anticipated Popcorn Frights Film Festival 2025. They're pullin' out all the stops!
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18 years and counting! Atlanta's Buried Alive Film Festival is back for its 2025 season and it's better than ever. This year the 13-day Sinema Challenge festival/contest stands on its own!
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One of the biggest, one of the best! Florida's Popcorn Frights Film Festival returns for its 11th season of shocks, scares, and screams. We've got the official Second Wave announcement giving even more fantastic details about the upcoming event!
Popcorn Frights 2025 banner
This summer, it’s bigger, bloodier, and bolder than ever as the 11th Annual Popcorn Frights Film Festival returns August 7-17 for an electrifying 11-day takeover of South Florida.
★★★★ out of ★★★★★

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Are you a fan of obscure and cheesy cult films? Odds are, you would appreciate the efforts of Sinister Cinema, the Medford, Oregon-based distribution company that lovingly restored and distributed thousands of almost-forgotten films. This documentary from Jack Perez goes in-depth on the company that wouldn't let these films die.

★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

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How is it that babysitting, traditionally the lowest common denominator flexible starter job, is so dangerous? Dooba Dooba is a lo-fi found footage film exploring the perils of a woman babysitting an odd girl full of tricks and dark secrets. If you think you know babysitter horror, think again; this movie has some wild twists. The film creates a moat of anxiety which will have you twitching from the dramatic irony of knowing too much, while the characters head blindly into awful decisions.

★★ out of ★★★★★

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In a slightly dystopian future, Mia Sheldon finds herself imprisoned at home for the crime of having a miscarriage. She has been acquitted of her husband's death, which was ruled a suicide. What opens as a promising premise slides into the overly familiar. Unfortunately, the film dodges what could have been a fascinating sociological critique. House of Ashes contains some humorous and chilling moments, but overall, the film fell a little flat.

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

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It Needs Eyes examines the link between the dangers of obsessive and addictive behavior when coping with grief. "It", in this case, is the dark web. Brutal social media requires people to watch the dreadful material to have any power. It has found an addict, corrupting the otherwise innocent Rowan, who is struggling through grief by watching things she should not see. This is a beautiful, slow-burning movie featuring terrific performances from young actresses Raquel Lebish and Isadora Leiva. The film never terrifies, but the story will get under your skin and unnerve you.

★★★★ out of ★★★★★

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Alma and the Wolf spins a strange and surprising story that weaves themes of unfulfilled dreams and dark secrets. Ethan Embry, Li Jun Li, and the rest of the cast provide an emotionally poignant and ultimately tragic fable. Part psychological thriller, part folk horror, this film may be the best showcase of Embry's acting chops in his extensive filmography. This movie was the opening film at the Portland Horror Film Festival.

THE MOST DIVERSE HORROR FEST IN THE WORLD TURNS 10!

Our hometown favorite film festival is kicking off its tenth annual showcase of independent horror films. World-renowned for their horror short films and underground horror features from across the globe, The Scariest Things is once again proud to be associated with them. Our team will cover the films, interview the filmmakers, and once again run the Horror Movie Greenlight Pitch experience at the Saturday night closing party, outdoors and under the stars at Dot's Cafe. Be part of the Portland Horror Film Fan community and join us!

Overlook, the great New Orleans Horror Film Festival, has delivered its goods. Long-time Patreon supporter of The Scariest Things, Robyn Marcotte, joined us to share her experiences with Eric and Liz on the festival. More than ever, I found that I didn't have enough time to see nearly enough of the movies. Still, I was able to catch eight feature films and 23 short films. You have to pick and choose, as it is physically impossible to see all the movies. So, it became a bit of a guessing game as to what was going to be the best watch. In this episode, we share our thoughts on everything we did at the Festival.
★★★ out of ★★★★★

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Clown in a Cornfield is a return-to-basics teen slasher movie that gets all the little things right, but shares the same narrative limitations as its precedent source material. Sometimes hilarious, often bloody, this adaptation of a popular YA novel by Adam Cesare is tonally pitched still at a younger audience, and will likely be quite popular with the teen scene.

Horror Shorts are often the heartbeat of horror film festivals. They are frequently overlooked by audiences, but not at this year's Overlook Film Festival. Each session was full of horror fans, which was great. Listen in to these emerging directors and writers for insight into how to make festival-worthy films.
★★1/2 out of ★★★★★

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Ash is a big, bombastic science fiction horror film that wears its influences on its sleeves. It offers a thrilling opening sequence and a monstrous conclusion but gets completely lost in its storytelling. Director/composer Flying Lotus crafted lovely psychedelic visuals and composed a soundtrack that thunders with propulsive energy, but unmemorable characters prove to be this film's undoing.

★★★★.5 out of ★★★★★

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It Ends travels with four college students on a road trip as a last hurrah before sending one of their own into the working world. What was meant to be a simple food run becomes a trip down a dreadful and endless road. As the miles add up, the group struggles to determine why they have been dealt this fate, fearing that this might be the afterlife with no off-ramp in sight.

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