This year’s South By Southwest Film Conference and Festival (SXSW 2015), which will run from March 13-21 in Austin, Texas, has unveiled the lineup for its beloved Midnighters section, which aims to showcase the best and brightest in genre filmmaking, from thriller to horror to science-fiction. Attendees will witness 11 titles including nine world premieres at Midnighters this year, with filmmakers like Karyn Kusama and Rodney Ascher in the mix.
SXSW’s senior programmer Jarod Neece commented on the Midnighters lineup, stating:
“Creepy, clever, engrossing, and frightening are just a few words that come to mind when I think about this year’s SXSW Midnighters lineup. These nine world premieres and two festival favorites are helmed by five first-time filmmakers and several SXSW alumni.”
Midnighters always introduces some fascinating genre pics, and whether there’s something here that will go on to Oculus-style success remains to be seen, but it’s a sure bet that the films on display will surprise and terrify, as per usual.
Check out the full list of titles below, and let us know which Midnighters entry you’re most looking forward to letting under your skin this year at SXSW.
The Corpse of Anna Fritz (Spain)
Director: Hèctor Hernández Vicens, Screenwriters: Hèctor Hernándes Vicens, Isaac P. Creus
Anna Fritz, a famous and beautiful actress, has died recently. Three young men sneak into the
morgue to see her naked. Fascinated by her beauty, they decide to become the last people to
have sex with her. Cast: Alba Ribas, Cristian Valencia, Bernat Saumell, Albert Carbó
(World Premiere)
Deathgasm (New Zealand)
Director/Screenwriter: Jason Lei Howden
New kid in town Brodie and bad-boy Zakk quickly bond over their mutual admiration of heavy
metal. But when these two metal thrashing losers unwittingly summon malevolent forces, their
dreams of stardom may just have to be put on hold. Cast: Milo Cawthorne, James Blake,
Kimberley Crossman, Stephen Ure (World Premiere)
The Diabolical
Director: Alistair Legrand, Screenwriters: Alistair Legrand, Luke Harvis
When a single mother and her two young children are tormented by an increasingly strange and
intense presence, she turns to her science teacher boyfriend to help take on the violent forces
that paranormal experts are too frightening to face. Cast: Ali Larter, Arjun Gupta, Max Rose,
Merrin Dungey, Chloe Perrin, Kurt Carley, Patrick Fischler, Wilmer Calderon, Tom Wright, Laura
Margolis (World Premiere)
Excess Flesh
Director: Patrick Kennelly, Screenwriters: Sigrid Gilmer, Patrick Kennelly
Obsessed with her sexy roommate, Jill violently imprisons Jennifer in their apartment in a
twisted attempt to bring them closer together. Cast: Bethany Orr, Mary Loveless, Wes McGee,
Sheresade Poblet, Jill Jacobson, Dana L. Wilson, Kristin Minter, Robert Maffia, Jules Bruff, Juan
Riedinger (World Premiere)
HANGMAN
Director: Adam Mason, Screenwriters: Adam Mason, Simon Boyes
Returning from vacation, the Miller family find their home has been broken into. After cleaning
up the mess they continue with their lives, shaking off the feeling of being violated. But little do
they know the nightmare has just begun. Cast: Jeremy Sisto, Kate Ashfield, Ty Simpkins, Ryan
Simpkins, Amy Smart, Ross Partridge, Vince Ventresca, Bruno Acalinas, Ethan Harris-Riggs,
Jamie Lee (World Premiere)
He Never Died
Director/Screenwriter: Jason Krawczyk
Jack is a man battling his eternal struggle with cannibalism. There are very few reasons to live
when you can’t die. Cast: Henry Rollins, Steven Ogg, Kate Greenhouse, BooBoo Stewart,
Jordan Todosey (World Premiere)
The Invitation
Director: Karyn Kusama, Screenwriters: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi
While attending a dinner party at his former home, a man thinks his ex-wife and her new
husband have sinister intention for their guests. Cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy
Blanchard, Michiel Huisman, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Lindsay Burdge, John Carroll Lynch, Mike
Doyle, Michelle Krusiec, Karl Yune, Jordi Vilasuso (World Premiere)
The Nightmare
Director: Rodney Ascher
The Nightmare is an original horror documentary from the Oscar winning producer of
Undefeated, the producer of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and the producer of The Pact and is directed
by Rodney Ascher, the acclaimed director of the Room 237.
Pod
Director/Screenwriter: Mickey Keating
A family intervention goes horrifically awry within the snowy confines of an isolated lake house.
Cast: Lauren Ashley Carter, Dean Cates, Brian Morvant, Larry Fessenden, John Weselcouch
(World Premiere)
Turbo Kid (Canada / New Zealand)
Director/Screenwriter: RKSS Collective
In a post-apocalyptic future, The Kid, a young solitary scavenger obsessed with comic books
must face his fears and become a hero when he meets a mysterious girl named APPLE.
Cast: Michael Ironside, Munro Chambers, Laurence Leboeuf, Edwin Wright, Aaron Jeffrey
We Are Still Here
Director/Screenwriter: Ted Geoghegan
In the cold, winter fields of New England, there sits a house that wakes up every 30 years and
demands a sacrifice. Cast: Barbara Crampton, Andrew Sensenig, Larry Fesseden, Lisa Marie,
Monte Markham (World Premiere)