Official Selections - 2017 || HXFF


Fright Night Theatre Film Festival - 2017


Feature Film Competitive Programme - 2017

CAT SICK BLUES (AUS) || Canadian Premiere || Trailer
Directed by Dave Jackson


A man pushed to a traumatic mental breakdown following the death of his beloved cat believes he can bring his feline friend back from the dead by dressing up like a cat and collecting 9 human lives. Insane. Offensive. Prosthetic Cat Penis. None of these words come close to describing the unbridled madness that is destined to make CAT SICK BLUES a certifiable cult hit.

WINNER: MOST SHOCKING FILM 
WINNER: FUNNIEST FILM
WINNER: BEST DIRECTOR
WINNER: BEST WRITING
WINNER: BEST SPECIAL FX
WINNER: BEST VILLAIN 
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THE LURE (POL) || Hamilton Premiere || Trailer
Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska


In an alternate version of 1980s Poland, a pair of mermaid sisters come ashore and join an adult night club as strippers and singers. While one seeks love with humans the other hungers to dine on the human population of the city. THE LURE is a bloody, bold, and genre-defying sensation featuring stunning musical numbers, special effects, and savage sexuality. Starring Marta Mazurek, Michalina Olszanska, Kinga Preis.

WINNER: BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER: BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 
WINNER: BEST VISUAL FX 
WINNER: BEST SCORE
WINNER: BEST MONSTERS
WINNER: ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP FX
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RED CHRISTMAS (AUS) || Ontario Premiere || Trailer
Directed by Craig Anderson


A cloaked stranger interrupts the Christmas Day festivities of a strong willed matriarch (Dee Wallace) who is celebrating with her dysfunctional family. When the stranger goes on the offensive, the family is subjected to an un-silent night of holy terror in which the cinematic carnage that makes victims of naughty and nice alike.

WINNER: SCARIEST FILM 
WINNER: BEST ACTRESS
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WHO'S WATCHING OLIVER (USA) || Ontario Premiere || Trailer
Directed by Richie Moore


WHO'S WATCHING OLIVER tells the story of a mentally unstable loner lost in a life of depraved violence forced upon him by his psychopathic mother. His only savior and possible way out of a life of sleazy violence comes in the form of the beautiful Sophia. Or will she end up like all the beautiful women in his life: cut up into little pieces?

WINNER: BEST ACTOR
WINNER: BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
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BLOOD HUNTERS (CANADA) || Hamilton Premiere || Trailer
Directed by Tricia Lee


A character-driven horror film about a single mother who wakes up in a medical facility to find that everyone is dead and she's nine months pregnant. And to make matters worse, strange blood-hungry creatures are lurking in the darkness. Starring Julian Richings (Man of Steel, The VVITCH, Cube), Lara Gilchrist (Battlestar Galactica), Mark Taylor (Flashpoint), and Torri Higginson (Stargate: Atlantis).

WINNER: BEST FILM *AUDIENCE CHOICE*
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POOL PARTY MASSACRE (USA) || Canadian Premiere || Trailer
Directed by Drew Marvick


What starts out as a relaxing summer day by the pool for a group of high-maintenance socialites quickly turns into a gory nightmare as the unknown killer begins to stalk and murder the young girls in increasingly bloody ways. This hilarious homage to 80s slashers from hot up-and-coming horror writer/director Drew Marvick is Slumber Party Massacre meets Mean Girls. Definitely a pool-side treat for fans of bodacious, blood-soaked bikini body counts. Starring LeeAnna Vamp, Alexis Adams, Mark Justice.

WINNER: FUNNIEST FILM
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LONG LIVE THE KING (USA) || Hamilton Premiere || Trailer
Directed by Frank Dietz and Trish Geiger


Feature documentary about the enduring legacy of the character King Kong, and how the 1933 film has inspired countless artists, writers and filmmakers. Featuring interviews with Joe Dante (Gremlins), Doug Jones (Hellboy), Dana Gould (The Simpsons), Bob Burns (monster movie historian and collector), Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead) and more.


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Short Film Competitive Programme
  • DEATH METAL (USA) || Director: Chris McInroy
    • WINNER: BEST HORROR SHORT
    • WINNER: BEST COMEDIC SHORT

  • WHEN SUSURRUS STIRS (USA) || Director: Anthony Cousins
    • WINNER: MOST SHOCKING SHORT 
  • THE FISHERMAN (ESP) || Director: Alejandro Suárez Lozano
    • WINNER: BEST SCI-FI SHORT



  • KASKA (GER) || Director: Alexander Dannhauser
    • WINNER: BEST FANTASY SHORT
  • FLIES IN MAY (AUS) || Director: Caroline Jiang
    • WINNER: BEST ANIMATED SHORT
  • STUDDED NIGHTMARE (CAN) || Director: Jean-Claude Leblanc
    • WINNER: BEST CANADIAN SHORT 
  • PYOTR495 (CAN) ||  Director: Blake Mawson
    • WINNER: BEST CANADIAN SHORT 
  • YOUR DATE IS HERE (USA) || Directors: Todd Spence & Zak White
    • WINNER: BEST FILM *AUDIENCE CHOICE*
  • UNDRESS ME (CAN) || Director: Amelia Moses
  • BORN AGAIN (USA) || Director: Jason Tostevin 
  • CHEWED (CAN) || Director: Mike Trebilcock
  • JUST JUSTICE III KUNGFU KARATE ANNIHILATOR (ESP) || Director Rafael Dengrá
  • JASON (CAN) || Director Greg Kovacs


  • PEEPHOLE (CAN) || Director: Doug Cook


  • POLICY (USA) || Director: Donavan Thompson

  • CURVE (AUS) || Director: Tim Egan