Editor

Be afraid! Be very afraid! Horrorthon 2009 returns 22nd-26th October 2009

The IFI once again plays host to five days of madness, mayhem and blood-curdling suspense. Horror fans and genre aficionados are preparing to descend upon the IFI over the October Bank Holiday to indulge Dublin’s most disturbing and depraved film festival that is now in its 12th spine-tingling year.

Ed King, Horrorthon Director, launched the programme this morning saying ‘It has been a terrific year for Horror with an overabundance of brilliant new titles to choose from. The result is that this year’s programme is packed full of new films giving Horrorthon-goers more sneak previews of the goriest movies we could bear to watch.’

Opening this year’s festival is Jennifer’s Body; a slick, smart big budget studio horror that proves that the Horror genre is alive and undead in Hollywood. Despite the unlikely horror combination of ‘babe’ of the moment Megan Fox (Transformers) and writer Diablo Cody (Juno), Jennifer’s Body delivers the goods when it comes to terror; a small-town-teenage-temptress (possessed by a demon), a Satan-worshipping rock band, and a nerdy best friend who is the only one who can stop the madness.

Other highlights of the festival include the guest appearance of Irish director Conor McMahon’s home-grown fright flick The Disturbed; a world premiere (with Q&A with director Stephen Peros) of The Undying featuring American Civil War era phantoms reinhabiting corpses and falling in love (with inevitably unhappy consequences); and a brilliant new documentary Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film.

Those looking for a bit of nightmarish nostalgia should head to the 1984 classic Gremlins in a rare screening of a top quality 70mm print. Director Joe Dante crafted this Chris Columbus written tale of Gizmo, Stripe and pals who should never, ever be fed after midnight into an anarchic roller-coaster ride of dark comedy, shocks and one of the sickest kids’ movies ever. Also making a reappearance due to popular demand are a trio of George A. Romero classics Day of the Dead, Zone of the Dead, featuring special guest appearances from cast members Joe Pilato and Ken Foree.

Most Horrorthon tickets are at normal IFI prices for the easily frightened but for hardcore fans who can endure a more prolonged exposure to terror there are a variety of good value festival passes from one day passes to the full 5 Day Festival Pass. Nothing else in Dublin features as many thrills, chills, spills and supernaturally inspired psychopaths; all in time for Halloween.

Don’t miss out, let people know where you’ll be, and be sure to come in groups; tickets can be booked at the IFI Box Office in person, by telephone on 01 679 3477 or online at www.ifi.ie.

For more information, images and interview requests with Horrorthon director Ed King, spokesperson Derek O’Connor, or any of our special festival guests please contact Patrick Stewart at the IFI Press Office on 01 612 9447 or pstewart@ifi.ie

Horrorthon Listings Schedule

Thursday 22nd October
Opening Film: Jennifer’s Body 8.40pm
Trick ‘R Treat 10.45pm

Friday 23rd October
The Disturbed 6.30pm
Grace 8.30pm
Black Dynamite 10.30pm
The Sinful Dwarf 10.45pm

Saturday 24th October
Emmanuelle and the White Slave Trade 2pm
Day of the Dead 3.50pm
Zone of the Dead 6.00pm
House of the Devil 8.30pm
Contamination 10.30pm
Resurrecting the Street Walker 10.45pm

Sunday 25th October
At Midnight I Will Take Your Soul 12 noon
The Hills Run Red 12 noon
Tony 2.30pm
Black 4.30pm
Horrorthon Surprise Film 6.30pm
The Undying 8.30pm
Samurai Cop 10.30pm
Silent Night, Deadly Night 10.45pm

Monday 26th October
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue 12 noon
Beyond the Door 12 noon
Salvage 2.30pm
The Horseman 4.30pm
Gremlins (70mm) 6.30pm
Closing Film: The Descent 2 8.30pm


The Irish Film Institute is supported by the Arts Council