The Hexploitation Film Festival's RETRO GRADE movie night series continues with a screening of the 1988 heavy metal cult creature feature BLACK ROSES preceded by an exclusive walking tour of the film's Dundas, ON shooting locations!
BLACK ROSES (1988) || RETRO GRADE ||
DIR. JOHN FASANO, 84 MIN. CANADA/USA
TOUR TIME: Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 11:00am (Thirsty Cactus, Dundas, ON) MOVIE TIME: Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 8:30pm (Staircase Theatre, Hamilton, ON)
SHORT SUMMARY
Demons hypnotize the general public by posing as a rock and roll band.
MOVIE DESCRIPTION
1980s satanic panic becomes reality in this hilariously schlocky glam rock, heavy metal horror creature feature filmed almost entirely in Dundas and Hamilton, ON!
When the sleepy town of Mill Basin (aka. Dundas, Ontario) is invaded by a sleazy band of satanic rockers, the self-righteous adults of the town attempt to shut down the concert series. But when the band -- BLACK ROSES -- overcomes parental censorship and takes to the stage, all hell breaks loose and the town's population of good kids begin to turn bad. BLOODSHED, RIOTS, and MASS MURDER assail the defenseless townspeople as their youth begin to change into murderous monsters before their very eyes!
RETURN TO MILL BASIN -- BLACK ROSES LOCATIONS TOUR
Join Hexploitation Film Festival director Aaron Allen for a personal, guided tour of the film's exterior shooting locations in historic Dundas, ON. Take a trip back to 1987 and experience, first hand, the extensive use of Dundas landmarks and locations immortalized in BLACK ROSES to portray the sleepy, midwestern town of Mill Basin USA. Learn interesting and quirky trivia about the making of this obscure yet endearing heavy metal horror flick in the days before Hamilton became a hot Hollywood shooting location.
* Exclusive Tour Swag for all tour attendees including:
Exclusive Poster
T-Shirt
Other surprise goodies to be announced!
Departure Location: The Thirsty Cactus (2 King Street East, Dundas, ON L9H 1B8)
Check-in Time: 11:00am
Tour Duration: Approx. 90min
Tour Ticket Purchasers will receive an email with detailed tour information.
Starring: John Martin (Fire in the Night), Sal Viviano (The Jitters), Paul Kelman (My Bloody Valentine), Julie Adams (Creature form the Black Lagoon), Frank Dietz (Zombie Nightmare)
The Hexploitation Film Festival's RETRO GRADE movie night series continues with a screening of the 1988 heavy metal cult creature feature BLACK ROSES preceded by an exclusive walking tour of the film's Dundas, ON shooting locations!
BLACK ROSES (1988) || RETRO GRADE ||
DIR. JOHN FASANO, 84 MIN. CANADA/USA
TOUR TIME: Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 11:00am (Thirsty Cactus, Dundas, ON) MOVIE TIME: Saturday, October 20, 2018 @ 8:30pm (Staircase Theatre, Hamilton, ON)
SHORT SUMMARY
Demons hypnotize the general public by posing as a rock and roll band.
MOVIE DESCRIPTION
1980s satanic panic becomes reality in this hilariously schlocky glam rock, heavy metal horror creature feature filmed almost entirely in Dundas and Hamilton, ON!
When the sleepy town of Mill Basin (aka. Dundas, Ontario) is invaded by a sleazy band of satanic rockers, the self-righteous adults of the town attempt to shut down the concert series. But when the band -- BLACK ROSES -- overcomes parental censorship and takes to the stage, all hell breaks loose and the town's population of good kids begin to turn bad. BLOODSHED, RIOTS, and MASS MURDER assail the defenseless townspeople as their youth begin to change into murderous monsters before their very eyes!
RETURN TO MILL BASIN -- BLACK ROSES LOCATIONS TOUR
Join Hexploitation Film Festival director Aaron Allen for a personal, guided tour of the film's exterior shooting locations in historic Dundas, ON. Take a trip back to 1987 and experience, first hand, the extensive use of Dundas landmarks and locations immortalized in BLACK ROSES to portray the sleepy, midwestern town of Mill Basin USA. Learn interesting and quirky trivia about the making of this obscure yet endearing heavy metal horror flick in the days before Hamilton became a hot Hollywood shooting location.
* Exclusive Tour Swag for all tour attendees including:
Exclusive Poster
T-Shirt
Other surprise goodies to be announced!
Departure Location: The Thirsty Cactus (2 King Street East, Dundas, ON L9H 1B8)
Check-in Time: 11:00am
Tour Duration: Approx. 90min
Tour Ticket Purchasers will receive an email with detailed tour information.
Starring: John Martin (Fire in the Night), Sal Viviano (The Jitters), Paul Kelman (My Bloody Valentine), Julie Adams (Creature form the Black Lagoon), Frank Dietz (Zombie Nightmare)
The Hexploitation Film Festival's brand new RETRO GRADE moving night series kicks off its inaugural show with a special screening of the 1983 cult Canadian slasher CURTAINS with star LYNNE GRIFFIN (also of BLACK CHRISTMAS and STRANGE BREW fame) in attendance!
Every ticket-buyer will have a chance to win some exclusively cool horror movie prizes.
Saturday, August 18 @ The Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St. N, Hamilton: 8:30PM - 10:30PM
SHORT SUMMARY
Six young actresses auditioning for a movie role at a remote mansion are targeted by a mysterious masked murderer.
FULL DESCRIPTION
In Curtains, a group of actresses are stalked by a masked killer while they are auditioning at the remote mansion estate of a sleazy, shady film director. What begins as a casting session to replace the film's intended and emotionally unstable star devolves into madness and murder when a witch-masked slasher with a creepy doll and some well-sharpened tools makes each wannabe star fight for her life. Curtains features direction by the acclaimed cinematography Richard Ciupka.
Curtains stars a cast of cult film icons including John Vernon (Animal House, Killer Klowns from Outer Space), Samantha Eggar (The Brood, Demonoid), and Lynne Griffin (Black Christmas, Strange Brew).
*IN ATTENDANCE* STAR LYNNE GRIFFIN
RETRO GRADE is a new, ongoing film series presented by the Hexploitation Film Festival where audience are given the chance to grade our selections from our back catalog of interesting and entertaining thrillers, chillers, and cinematic killers of yesteryear. We also invite special celebrity guests, horror genre film experts, cinema scholars, podcasters, and writers to drop knowledge bombs about the making of these freaky flicks and school us with their insidious insights and anecdotes
So sharpen them pencils, grab your notebooks, and prepare to venture into the hallowed halls of hackademia for a lurid lesson in retro horror.
The Hexploitation Film Festival is proud to bring announce our full 2018 lineup of thrills, chills, and kills coming this March 23 - 25 at the Staircase Theatre (27 Dundurn St. N.) in Hamilton, ON.
Feature films just added to the schedule include the Hamilton Premiere of Canadian killer pagan cult horror tale THE HERETICS, the Ontario Premiere of UK police thriller CHARISMATA, the Canadian Premiere of extreme weekend getaway gone wrong RUIN ME, and the Canadian Premiere of grindhouse horror spoof THE VELOCIPASTOR. These films join our first wave of announced features: Troma's RETURN TO RETURN NUKE'EM HIGH (aka VOL. 2), Mexican fright film I WISH I WISH, horror-comedy BLOODSUCKA JONES VS. THE CREEPING DEATH, as well as a our highly anticipated special event: THE HILARIOUS HOUSE OF FRIGHTENSTEIN 48th Birthday Celebration and panel event featuring Special Guest Mitch Markowitz.
Scroll down to see the complete day-to-day schedule and to buy tickets to screenings at the 2018 Hexploitation Film Festival. Click film names for more information.
If a film is listed as Sold Out in advance, you can still try for tickets in person by joining the Rush Line at the venue; you will be issued a number on a first come, first served basis. After an empty seat count, a few mins before the show, any spare tickets will be issued to Rush Line number-holders in the order they were received.
Seating is limited. Avoid disappointment at the door; buy your Tickets & Passes now!
All screenings are Restricted to Adults Age 18+ with the exception of all THE HILARIOUS HOUSE OF FRIGHTENSTEIN 48TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, which is free and all-ages.
Five cousins discover a diabolical board game that grants their deepest desires, they just have to be prepared to lose the most valuable things in their lives to see their wishes come true. Screens with short film LATCHED by Justin Harding and Rob Brunner
2017, DIR. ANDY COLLIER & TOOR MIAN, 96 MIN. UK **Director & Producer In Attendance for Q&A!**
Psychological horror about a rookie police detective whose sanity begins to unravel as she investigates a series of brutal ritualistic murders. When the chief suspect takes a personal interest in her, a game of cat and mouse ensues which sees Rebecca's grasp on reality beginning to spiral out of control. Screens with short film A DOLL DISTORTEDby Niall Shukla
The Hexploitation Film Festival invites you and your family to join us on March 24th for a free Saturday Morning Cereal Buffet as we celebrate this historic made-in-Hamilton series with a special screening of two original episodes It'll be fiendishly funny fun for the whole family
Hexploitation Film Festival director Aaron Allen moderates a panel discussion about the history and cultural legacy of The Hilarious House of Frighteinstein and its origins in Hamilton. Panel guests include Mitch Markowitz (co-producer and co-star), Stacey Case (filmmaker, musician, and Frightenstein Super Fan), and Chris Alexander (filmmaker, film critic, and composer)
A program of the best in indie horror, exploitation, and cult genre shorts from Canada and around the world including local Hamilton filmmakers. This block includes:
A notorious cult kidnaps a young girl, and sacrifice themselves by the light of the locust moon. The next morning the girl awakes, caked in dried blood and surrounded by corpses...but safe - or so she thinks. Years later, the locust moon is about to rise again and the girl is captured once more by a surviving member of the cult. She is taken to a remote cabin where she learns that a demon has been growing inside of her all these years, and before the dawn it will rise. Screens with short SCRAPSby Christopher Giroux
In Volume 2 of Troma's two-part event film RETURN TO NUKE'EM HIGH, Lauren and Chrissy, two lesbian lovers, must face and defeat not only the mutant glee-club Cretins who have taken over Tromaville High but also the corrupt and evil forces of the Tromorganic Foodstuffs Conglomerate which threatens to destroy Tromaville... and the world! Screens with short TERMITATORby Camille Monette, Roxane De Koninck, and Keenan Poloncsak
After losing his parents, a priest travels to China, where he inherits a mysterious ability that allows him to turn into a dinosaur. At first horrified by this new power, a hooker convinces him to use it to fight crime. And ninjas. Screens with short THE JERRY SHOW by Stephen Stull
The baddest mofo with the killer afro -- Bloodsucka Jones -- and his gorgeous sidekick Vanessa must help a couple of idiots fight an army of zombies unleashed by an evil group of vampires. Screens with short film LUNCH LADIES(a Clarissa Jacobson production directed by J.M. Logan).
Alexandra reluctantly tags along for Slasher Sleepout, an extreme event that is part camping trip, part haunted house, and part escape room. But when the fun turns deadly, Alex has to play the game if she wants to make it out alive. Screens with short BON APPETIT by Erenik Beqiri.
The wait is almost over! On February 20, we will reveal the full lineup and schedule for the 2018 Hexploitation Film Festival in Hamilton, Ontario (March 23-25).
Formerly known as the Fright Night Theatre Film Festival, the Hexploitation Film Festival (HXFF) has carved a bloody name for itself as Hamilton, ON's only screening event dedicated to premiering and showcasing the best in indie horror, exploitation, and cult genre entertainment. If you're looking for shocking gross weirdness, scary tales of terror, and sexy n' silly B-movies choked full of maniacs, monsters and murder, then this is the festival for you.
Just look at the films already confirmed for this year's festival!
RETURN TO RETURN TO NUKE'EM HIGH (aka. Volume 2)
|| HAMILTON PREMIERE || FEATURE FILM
2017, DIR. LLOYD KAUFMAN, 84 MIN. USA
Return to Return Nuke 'Em High (aka Volume 2) is the continuation of Lloyd Kaufman's two-part indie event film, the first part of which took home our coveted BEST FILM - AUDIENCE CHOICE award in 2014. Lauren (Catherine Corcoran) and Chrissy (Asta Paredes), two lesbian lovers, must face and defeat not only the mutant Cretins who have taken over Tromaville Highschool but also the corrupt and evil forces of the Tromorganic Food Stuffs corporation which threatens to destroy not only Tromaville... but the world! Boobs! Blood! Farts! Slime! Mutant Ducks! The last film appearance of Lemmy Kilmister! Grab your festival pass today to guarantee enrollment for Return to Return to Nuke'em High (aka Volume 2).
I WISH I WISH
(Deseo Deseo)
|| CANADIAN PREMIERE || FEATURE FILM
2017, DIR. EDUARDO M. CLORIO, 82 MIN. MEX
Five cousins reunite while cleaning out their recently deceased grandmother's estate. Hidden amongst the junk, they discover a curious board game titled "I WISH I WISH (Deseo Deseo)" that promiseds to make their dreams come true for a price. The rules are simple: each player may ask for 3 wishes that will be fulfilled after completing a challenge presented by the game. If they carry it out they will have what they desire otherwise there are extreme consequences. For those who have chosen not to fulfill the challenge, the game releases a vicious creature to enforce punishment. They soon discover that the only way to survive is to keep playing, even if it means only one will make it out alive.
BLOODSUCKA JONES vs. THE CREEPING DEATH
|| CANADIAN PREMIERE || FEATURE FILM
2017, DIR. JUSTIN ARMAO, 96 MIN. USA
The baddest mofo with the killer afro -- Bloodsucka Jones (Preston Gant) -- and his gorgeous sidekick Vanessa must help a couple of idiots fight an army of zombies unleashed by an evil group of vampires. Bloodsucka Jones is back bigger and more hilarious than ever. More gorgeous girls! More graphic violence! More giggles and guffas! Bloodsucka Jones vs. The Creeping Death is a rapid-fire, free-wheeling exercise in comedy destined for cult film status.
FIRST WAVE - SHORT FILMS
Screening March 23-25 at the HXFF
HUMAN CATTLE
|| SHORT FILM || 2017, DIR. CARLOS HENRIQUES & PHIL PATTISON, 9 MIN. CAN
The Amazon is a beautiful place to visit but you wouldn’t want to die there! Three sexy teenagers take a fun-filled trip out to the Amazon for an exciting getaway filled with seductive pleasures and forbidden desires. Failing to hear the canoe tour guide’s (Mitch Markowitz, The Hilarious House of Frightenstein) warnings about the evils that lurk in the Jungle, they will now have to fight for survival against trigger-happy bounty hunters, blood-thirsty Cannibals and massive flesh-eating monsters. Featuring gruesome gore and crazy creature FX by Hamilton's The Butcher Shop FX Studio, HUMAN CATTLE is a non-stop, action-packed, all you can eat buffet that critics are calling a “Full-Throttle Balls Out Mind Melter!” (Chris Alexander, ShockTillYouDrop.com).
We dare you to come along for the ride!
BUZZCUT
||HAMILTON PREMIERE|| SHORT FILM
2017, DIR. JOHN RHOADS & MIKE MARRERO, 8 MIN. USA
Jane is just a girl trying to get some loving from her girlfriend Melanie who refuses to have sex until Jane's awful haircut is fixed. While Jane is in the process of having her head shaved, the apocalypse happens and her barber is reduced to a pile of ash leaving Jane's hair in even worse condition. She must navigate the crumbling world, fighting zombies and demons along the way to find a barber who can finish her buzzcut so she can get laid before she dies.
LATCHED
||HAMILTON PREMIERE|| SHORT FILM
2017, DIR. JUSTIN HARDING & ROB BRUNNER, 16 MIN. CAN
A choreographer pursues creative inspiration at a cottage retreat while attempting to wean her demanding toddler — and unknowingly awakens a vile fairy corpse in the process. When she discovers the creature’s terrifying intentions, she will have to put her creativity to good use to lure the repugnant beast.
If you're looking for shocking gross weirdness, scary tales of terror, and sexy n' silly B-movies choked full of maniacs, monsters and murder, then Hamilton's HEXPLOITATION FILM FESTIVAL is an annual can't-miss event. Formerly known as the Fright Night Theatre Film Festival, the Hexploitation Film Festival (HXFF) has carved a bloody name for itself as Hamilton, ON's only screening event dedicated to premiering and showcasing the best in indie horror, cult and exploitation genre entertainment.
This year’s event, which takes place in the Staircase Theatre from March 23-25, is shaping up to be equally insane. To wet your appetite, we are thrilled to announce our FIRST WAVE of officially selected features, shorts, and special events!
SPECIAL EVENT - SAT, MAR 24, 2018
The HXFF is proud to present the HILARIOUS HOUSE OF FRIGHTENSTEIN 48th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION featuring Special Guest MITCH MARKOWITZ!
Take a trip back, waaaay back, to gory, gory Transylvania, home of Count Frightenstein, Igor, the Wolfman, Grizelda, the Librarian, Supper Hippy and the whole host of kooky creeps that populated the classic Canadian children's television series The Hilarious House of Frightenstein. Conceived in 1970, produced by CHCH-TV in Hamilton, and aired in 1971, the Hilarious House of Frightenstein was syndicated both in Canada and across the world, sparking the imaginations of monster kids everywhere (including those on our festival team!). The Hexploitation Film Festival invites you and your family to join us on March 24th for a free Saturday Morning Cereal Buffet as we celebrate this historic made-in-Hamilton series with a special screening of two episodes of the show followed by a panel discussion about the history and legacy of the show with Mitch Markowitz (co-star and co-producer) and other special guests to be announced. It'll be fiendishly funny fun for the whole family.
MARCH 24 @ The Staircase Theatre (27 Dundurn St. N)
EPISODES & CEREAL BAR: 10:00am – 12:00pm
PANEL and Q&A - THE LEGACY OF FRIGHTENSTEIN: 12:00pm-1:00pm
FIRST WAVE - FEATURE FILMS
Screening March 23-25 at the HXFF RETURN TO RETURN TO NUKE'EM HIGH (aka. Volume 2)
|| HAMILTON PREMIERE ||
2017, DIR. LLOYD KAUFMAN, 84 MIN. USA
The long anticipated sequel to Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 is coming to Hamilton!
Years in the making. A cast of a thou--uh a bunch. A bank-breaking budget in slime. Lloyd Kaufman's politically-incorrectly carnage de gras of lesbian teenager toxic mutant high school will have its Hamilton Premiere at the Hexploitation Film Festival.
Return to Return Nuke 'Em High (aka Volume 2) is the continuation of Lloyd Kaufman's two-part indie event film, the first part of which took home our coveted BEST FILM - AUDIENCE CHOICE award in 2014. Lauren (Catherine Corcoran) and Chrissy (Asta Paredes), two lesbian lovers, must face and defeat not only the mutant Cretins who have taken over Tromaville Highschool but also the corrupt and evil forces of the Tromorganic Food Stuffs corporation which threatens to destroy not only Tromaville... but the world! Boobs! Blood! Farts! Slime! Mutant Ducks! The last film appearance of Lemmy Kilmister! Grab your festival pass today to guarantee enrollment for Return to Return to Nuke'em High (aka Volume 2).
I WISH I WISH
(Deseo Deseo)
|| CANADIAN PREMIERE ||
2017, DIR. EDUARDO M. CLORIO, 82 MIN. MEX
Five cousins reunite while cleaning out their recently deceased grandmother's estate. Hidden amongst the junk, they discover a curious board game titled "I WISH I WISH (Deseo Deseo)" that promiseds to make their dreams come true for a price. The rules are simple: each player may ask for 3 wishes that will be fulfilled after completing a challenge presented by the game. If they carry it out they will have what they desire otherwise there are extreme consequences. For those who have chosen not to fulfill the challenge, the game releases a vicious creature to enforce punishment. They soon discover that the only way to survive is to keep playing, even if it means only one will make it out alive.
Winner: Best Feature Film of Hemoglozine Horror Film Festival, Spain
Winner: Audience Award of Morbido Fest, Mexico City Winner: Best Feature Film of Freak Show Horror Film Festival, Florida
BLOODSUCKA JONES vs. THE CREEPING DEATH
|| CANADIAN PREMIERE ||
2017, DIR. JUSTIN ARMAO, 96 MIN. USA
The baddest mofo with the killer afro -- Bloodsucka Jones (Preston Gant) -- and his gorgeous sidekick Vanessa must help a couple of idiots fight an army of zombies unleashed by an evil group of vampires.
Back in 2013, we had the pleasure of hosting the world premiere of Justin Armao's Bloodsucka Jones, a horror-comedy we dubbed the ANCHORMAN of horror comedies: irreverent, unpredictable, goofball, chaotic, supremely quotable, and completely hilarious. Now, with its follow up, Bloodsucka Jones is back bigger and more hilarious than ever. More gorgeous girls! More graphic violence! More giggles and guffas! Bloodsucka Jones vs. The Creeping Death is a rapid-fire, free-wheeling exercise in comedy destined for cult film status.
FIRST WAVE - SHORT FILMS
Screening March 23-25 at the HXFF
HUMAN CATTLE
2017, DIR. CARLOS HENRIQUES & PHIL PATTISON, 9 MIN. CAN
The Amazon is a beautiful place to visit but you wouldn’t want to die there! Three sexy teenagers take a fun-filled trip out to the Amazon for an exciting getaway filled with seductive pleasures and forbidden desires. Failing to hear the canoe tour guide’s (Mitch Markowitz, The Hilarious House of Frightenstein) warnings about the evils that lurk in the Jungle, they will now have to fight for survival against trigger-happy bounty hunters, blood-thirsty Cannibals and massive flesh-eating monsters.
Featuring gruesome gore and crazy creature FX by Hamilton's The Butcher Shop FX Studio, HUMAN CATTLE is a non-stop, action-packed, all you can eat buffet that critics are calling a “Full-Throttle Balls Out Mind Melter!” (Chris Alexander, ShockTillYouDrop.com).
We dare you to come along for the ride!
BUZZCUT
||HAMILTON PREMIERE||
2017, DIR. JOHN RHOADS & MIKE MARRERO, 8 MIN. USA
Jane is just a girl trying to get some loving from her girlfriend Melanie who refuses to have sex until Jane's awful haircut is fixed. While Jane is in the process of having her head shaved, the apocalypse happens and her barber is reduced to a pile of ash leaving Jane's hair in even worse condition. She must navigate the crumbling world, fighting zombies and demons along the way to find a barber who can finish her buzzcut so she can get laid before she dies.
LATCHED
||HAMILTON PREMIERE||
2017, DIR. JUSTIN HARDING & ROB BRUNNER, 16 MIN. CAN
A choreographer pursues creative inspiration at a cottage retreat while attempting to wean her demanding toddler — and unknowingly awakens a vile fairy corpse in the process. When she discovers the creature’s terrifying intentions, she will have to put her creativity to good use to lure the repugnant beast.
