Frightening Strikes

Fréwaka is a slow-burning Irish-language folk horror that deftly weaves ancient fairy folklore and family trauma with part of Ireland's past that haunts to this day. At its centre is Shoo, a woman caught between her personal history and the unseen forces that still command respect in remote corners of the country. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Shoo is not just visiting a haunted place - she is part of its story. From Celebration to Tragedy The film opens with a wedding celebration in rural 1970s Ireland, gate-crashed by masked strangers. The bride, unsettled by their appearance, mysteriously vanishes without trace, setting an eerie tone for the strange tale that follows. Fast-forward to the present and we are introduced to Shoo and her fiancée, Mila, arriving at Shoo’s late mother’s flat to clear it out after her suicide. There is tension between them: Shoo is short-tempered and pragmatic, keen to dispose of the contents of the flat without sentiment, while Mila ...

I love a good found-footage film and Butterfly Kisses ticks all the boxes with the added bonus that the narrative unfolds using documentary-style storytelling combined with supernatural horror, making for a suspenseful and unsettling experience. Gavin York is a struggling filmmaker who stumbles upon a collection of old video tapes shot by student filmmakers Sophia and Feldman in 2004. The tapes chronicle their investigation into the urban legend of "Peeping Tom," a sinister entity said to haunt an abandoned train tunnel. According to the lore, staring down the tunnel without blinking for an hour will summon Peeping Tom, who draws ever closer each time you blink until he's up-close and personal - and not in a good way. Gavin is fascinated by the tapes and becomes obsessed with proving their authenticity, seeing a chance to become the filmmaker he's always wanted to be as well as securing financial stability along the way. However, his determination soon spirals into ...

Richard Walters writes, directs and stars in  Distort,  a found footage horror film that taps into familiar themes while crafting its own unique experience. Drawing inspiration from classics like The Blair Witch Project , it manages to pay homage without becoming a mere impersonator. Richard is a musician who ventures into the remote forests of County Wicklow, Ireland, to rekindle his creativity. Set against the backdrop of the pandemic lockdown, his solitary journey begins as an artistic escape - camping in the wilderness and recording an album, stripped of digital conveniences. But his retreat soon takes a sinister turn. Growing Unease A restless first night filled with strange sounds and the sense that a stray dog is nearby, gives way to an eerie discovery the next morning - an old cassette tape hidden beneath a pile of leaves. Intrigued but not alarmed, Richard decants to a nearby ruin to continue recording, only to be interrupted again by the sound of stones being throw...

The Possession is a 2012 supernatural horror that treads familiar ground but does so with enough heart to make it worth your while. It tells the story of the Brenek family whose lives are torn apart when the younger daughter, Emily, buys a curious, old wooden box at a yard sale. Unbeknown to them it contains a dybbuk - a malicious spirit drawn from Jewish folklore, who has intentions to live through Emma, destroying her in the process. A Sinister Force The parents, Clyde and Stephanie, have separated but remain on reasonably good terms, as they re-build their lives and co-parent their two daughters. But everything changes when younger daughter Emily, opens the ancient, sealed box and the sinister force within starts to exert its control over her causing her to behave in ways previously unimaginable. From there, the film dives into darker territory. when Clyde becomes increasingly convinced that the box is at the root of the change in Emily and starts to investigate as she is consumed ...

May isn't known as the spookiest month of the year but is shaping up to be a solid month for horror fans, with a handful of new releases set to hit screens and streaming platforms. From slow-burning thrillers to classic supernatural scares, there’s a mix of styles and stories on the way. Whether you're after something eerie, unsettling, or full-on terrifying, here’s a look at a selection that’ll be haunting screens this May - brace yourself. Rosario Wall Street stockbroker Rosario Fuentes has to spend the night with the body of her estranged grandmother, Griselda who died suddenly, when a heavy snowstorm locks her inside Griselda’s apartment. Surrounded by unfriendly neighbours and with menacing supernatural forces plaguing her, Rosario who finds herself the target of a deadly family curse that spans generations. Rosario must must confront her family's past in an attempt to break the cycle of evil. We can look forward to a chilling descent into ancestral horror with this d...

The Shadow of God is a theological horror that aims to subvert genre expectations by posing a provocative question: what if God is the villain? It’s a premise that promises depth, dread, and philosophical tension. Unfortunately, the execution doesn't live up to the idea. World Weary Priest Mason Harper is an experienced but weary exorcist, who returns to his hometown seeking respite after a series of exorcists are murdered on the same day. With a hotline to the Vatican, Mason is clearly valued by the powers that be in the ongoing war against evil. As he settles in and rekindles friendship with Tanis from his pre-priesthood days, he's plagued by visions of his father, Angus - a man he believed long dead, and who left Mason with deep physical and emotional scars. Initially, Mason wants to help his father, in spite of the past, believing that his behaviour back then was caused by demonic intervention. But as the plot unfolds, the truth becomes far more disturbing. In a surprisin...