NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE
OPENING NIGHT FILM

Genre: Horror
Country: USA
Runtime: 110 minutes
Rating: TBC
Festivals: Fantastic Fest 2024 , Monster Fest 2024
Directors: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods 
Cast: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace

A24’s HERETIC, the most anticipated horror of the year, opens Terror-Fi 2024!   

In his first horror, Hugh Grant delivers a career best performance as Mr. Reed, a man hell bent on upending the belief system of two unsuspecting missionaries… played by the brilliant Sophie Thatcher (‘Yellowjackets’, ‘Prospect’) and Chloe East (‘The Fablemans’, ‘The Wolf of Snow Hollow’). 

Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.

“A clever twist on the religious horror genre, bolstered by three strong performances, particularly Grant’s gregarious yet haunting Mr. Reed.” – Ross Bonaime, Collider 

“It’s an intoxicating story setup that leads to a striking final act.” – Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant 

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE
OPENING NIGHT FILM 2

Genre: Horror
Country: USA
Runtime: 125 minutes
Rating: R18
Festivals: Fantastic Fest 2024 , Monster Fest 2024
Director: Damien Leone
Cast: Laura LaVera, David Howard Thornton, Antonella Rose, Elliot Fullam 

Slasher fans are in for a treat on Opening Night of Terror-Fi 2024. If you thought TERRIFIER 2 was delightfully depraved…  TERRIFIER 3 takes the diabolical franchise to a whole new level. Come bathe in the blood bath with us! 

After surviving Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother struggle to rebuild their shattered lives. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. However, just when they think they’re safe, Art returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare.

“Terrifier 3 is Gene Siskel’s worst nightmare. It’s senseless violence! It’s reprehensible sleaze! It’s vile, disgusting trash! Hooray 🙂” – Jonathan DeHaan, Nightmare on Film Street 

“Limbs fly, heads are gashed and split in two by hand, and blood bursts from every wound at geyser force. In short, it’s exactly what slasher fans want.” – Norman Gidney, HorrorBuzz 

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE
CLOSING NIGHT FILM

Genre: Thriller
Country: USA
Runtime: 97 minutes
Rating: tbc
Festivals: Fantastic Fest 2023, Fright Fest 2024
Director: JT Mollner
Cast: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Madisen Beaty, Bianca A. Santos, Ed Begley Jr, Barbara Hershey

The ‘Film of Year’, STRANGE DARLING, will have its premiere at Terror-Fi 2024!  

Shot entirely on 35mm, this twisted tale will put you on the edge of your seat, then throw you around until you don’t know which way is up! An absolute ‘must see’ on the big screen!  

A relentless predator tracks an injured woman through the Oregon wilderness. The woman does her best to outsmart her attacker, but with each tense moment she grows weaker and less able. He’s a man on a mission, and it’s only a matter of time before he captures his prey.

“The most exciting, electrifying genre movie of the year, with a once-in-a-generation turn from a truly fearless Willa Fitzgerald.” – Ben Robbins, HeyUGuys 

“An electric thriller with blood on its hands, flesh in its mouth, and deviance on its mind.” – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast 

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE

Genre: Horror, Comedy
Country: USA
Runtime: 98 minutes
Rating: tbc
Festivals: Toronto 2024, Beyond Fest 2024, Stiges 2024, Fantastic Fest 2024
Director: Marielle Heller
Cast: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden

Amy Adams transforming into a dog… need we say more!?!  

We’re incredibly excited that you get to see the NZ Premiere of this blockbuster comedy, horror hit hot off its World Premiere in Toronto… and a month before it hits our cinemas. Woof!!! 

An artist who pauses her career to be a stay-at-home mum seeks a new chapter in her life and encounters just that, when her nightly routine takes a surreal turn and her maternal instincts begin to manifest in canine form.

“Very funny, a little gross, & an unforgettable role for Adams.” – Graeme Guttmann, Screen Rant 

“Amy Adams goes full beast mode in Heller’s honest depiction of the pain and power of motherhood.” – Josh Korngut, Dread Central 

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE

Genre: Sci-Fi
Country: Ukraine, Belgium
Runtime: 90 minutes
Rating: M
Festivals: Toronto 2024, Fantastic Fest 2024
Director: Pavlo Ostrikov
Cast: Volodymyr Kravchuk, Leonid Popadko, Darya Plakhtiy, Alexia Depicke

U ARE THE UNIVERSE is indie filmmaking at its finest. This breathtakingly and beautiful sci-fi will make you laugh, make you cry… and feel everything in between!  

This Terror-Fi exclusive will be your only chance to see the film on the big screen! 

After Earth explodes, Ukrainian space trucker Andriy Melnyk becomes the last person in the universe until he receives a call from Catherine, a French woman on a distant space station. Despite the obstacles, Andriy decides to find her.

“Blends existential sci-fi, romance and cosmic comedy into a genre-fluid exploration of love, loneliness and the human need for connection.” – Martin Kudlac, Cineuropa 

“Its sparkling dialogue and inventive filmmaking will assure its place among cinephiles.” – Murtada Elfadl, Variety 

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE

Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Runtime: 102 minutes
Rating: tbc
Festivals: SXSW 2024, Overlook Film Festival 2024
Director: Michael Felker
Cast: Adam David Thompson, Riley Dandy, Chloe Skoczen, Sarah Bolger, Justin Benson  

Fans of films like ‘The Endless’ and ‘Something in the Dirt’ will adore this brilliant indie time-travel thriller… produced by Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. Tense and trippy… this a rabbit hole you’ll be glad you went down. 

 This Terror-Fi exclusive will be your only chance to see the film on the big screen! 

Fleeing the police after a close-call robbery, two estranged siblings escape to a mysterious farmhouse that transports them to a different time. 

“A film you’ll want to rewatch as soon as it ends.” –  Ross Bonaime, Collider 

“Touches the heart and tickles the brain.” –  Carlos Aguilar, Variety 

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE

Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Romance
Country: France, Belgium
Runtime: 100 minutes
Rating: tbc
Festivals: Toronto 2024, Stiges 2024
Directors: Thibault Emin
Cast: Edith Proust, Matthieu Sampeur, Lika Minamoto

A stunningly beautiful fever dream with French indie filmmaking sensibilities, ELSE is a body-horror romance like you’ve never seen before. One of those ‘hidden gem’ films you love to discover at a festival! 

This Terror-Fi exclusive will be your only chance to see the film on the big screen! 

Anx has just met Cass when a mysterious virus breaks out: everywhere, people’s bodies are merging with objects. Stuck in their apartment, the couple must face this dreadful threat.

“Thibault Emin’s metamorphic, metaphysical body horror romance turns its locked-in lovers into something rich and strange.” –  Anton Bitel, Projected Figures 

“It takes us into a world that is far bigger than us and often beyond easy understanding, creating arresting visuals that implant themselves in your mind.” – Chase Hutcherson, TheWrap 

WORLD PREMIERE + Q&A

Genre: Sci-Fi, Experimental, Found Footage
Country: New Zealand
Runtime: 83 minutes
Rating: M
Festivals: Terror-Fi 2024
Directors: Doug Dillaman
Cast: Doug Dillaman, Sarah Dillaman

We’re incredibly excited to present the World Premiere of New Zealand director Doug Dillaman’s trippy post-apocalyptic sci-fi GUT INSTINCT, where you are an active participant in this one-of-a-kind, epic, eye-popping experiment. 

There will be some sweet treats to enjoy during the film… at the narrator’s command! 

Director Doug Dillaman will also be joining us for a Q&A in Wellington and Auckland!

After the alien gut microbe invasion that brought about the collapse of civilisation and the death of 93% of humanity, life has been … less than ideal. But no longer! Interself’s revolutionary Gut Instinct purification programme will free your mind – and your guts – forever!

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE

Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Country: Sweden
Runtime: 115 minutes
Rating: M
Festivals: Toronto After Dark 2023
Directors: Victor Danell
Cast: Inez Dahl Torhaug, Jesper Barkselius, Sara Shirpey, Eva Melander 

With ‘Super 8’ vibes and a Scandi sense of humour, UFO SWEDEN takes you on a delightfully entertaining sci-fi adventure…  the type cinemas were made for… leaving you with a satisfied grin all over your face! 

This Terror-Fi exclusive will be your only chance to see the film on the big screen! 

When a teenage rebel in foster care suspects that her father is not dead but kidnapped by UFOs, she enlists the help of an underground UFO association to find out the truth.

“A delightfully charming throwback to the high concept, family friendly sci-fi adventures of the 80s and 90s, UFO Sweden dazzles with good humour and big emotions.” – Andrew Parker, The Gate 

“Sci-fi with heart!” – Jacob Hall, SlashFilm 

NEW ZEALAND PREMIERE

Genre: Adventure, Horror
Country: Australia
Runtime: 69 minutes
Rating: M
Festivals: Monster Fest 2024, Nightmares Film Festival 2024
Directors: Jason Trost
Cast: Jason Trost, Aina Dumiao, Tallay Wickham, Nick Principe, Bru Muller 

Inspired by the timeless terror of 1930s monster movies, classic video games, and H.P. Lovecraft, the world’s first side-scrolling horror comes creeping to our shores hot off its World Premiere this October. A truly unique indie gem! 

This Terror-Fi exclusive will be your only chance to see the film on the big screen! 

A special agent is dispatched to investigate a distress call from a round-the-world cruise, only to find the ship eerily abandoned and haunted by a malevolent force that twists sanity into terror.

“Effectively uses its smaller means to great effect within the realm of surreal psycho-horror.” –  Cain Noble-Davies, Film Link 

“A must-watch for enthusiasts of adventure and horror.” – Rahul Mourya, Filmy4wap 

WORLD PREMIERE 4K REMASTER + Q&A

Genre: Horror, Comedy
Country: New Zealand
Runtime: 94 minutes
Rating: R13
Directors: Jonathan King
Cast: Nathan Meister, Oliver Driver, Danielle Mason, Peter Feeney, James Ashcroft 

We’re bringing you the World Premiere of the 4K Remaster of a New Zealand horror comedy classic… BLACK SHEEP… remastered in collaboration with Jonathan King, Park Road Post, and Umbrella Entertainment. Kiwi genre films don’t come much better than this!

Director Jonathan King will be in attendance for Q&As in Wellington and Auckland! In Wellington, there’s also a Lamb Sandwich food option!

As this is our dress up event, so we’d love you to get creative and come as your genre take on what a classic Kiwi outfit would be – Zombie Buzzy Bee or Killer Kiwifruit perhaps? Prizes for best dressed! 

Sheep-fearing Henry returns to his brother’s farm, hoping his sibling will buy out his share of the property. However, what he finds are genetically altered sheep that prey on humans and turn their victims into undead, woolly killers. Shear madness ensues as Henry, an animal-rights activist and a farmhand set out to stop the rampaging animals.

BLACK SHEEP was digitised to 4K at Park Road Post as part of Umbrella’s commitment to discovering, restoring and releasing Australasian cinematic treasures. 

25th ANNIVERSARY + Q&A

Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
Country: New Zealand
Runtime: 94 minutes
Rating: R16
Directors: Rob Sarkies
Cast: Taika Waititi, Willa O’Neill, Neill Rea, Ashleigh Seagar, Charlie Bleakley 

Join us to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of SCARFIES, the riotous black comedy that features Taika Waititi in his first acting role! Kiwi cult classics don’t come much better than this. 

Director Rob Sarkies will be in attendance for a Q&A in Wellington!

Five kiwi flatmates find something growing in their basement much to their delight, but when the rightful owner comes knocking and finds that they have appropriated the goods things start to go awry.