In the Red Room with a VUE, the chorus of delighted FrightFester’s are set to join together in joyous song for the chorus of their clawed and shrivelled icon…

One, two, Freddy’s coming for you.

Three, four, Better lock your door

Five, six, grab your crucifix.

Seven, eight, Gonna stay up late.

Nine, ten, He’s back again.”

If life can be described as a disappointment, of a vortex of uncertainty, then the one constant is FILM4 FrightFest, which, like a beacon of light, guides us to safely towards a guaranteed trip of unadulterated pleasure into the Dark Heart of Cinema every August Bank Holiday.

So what news has fallen upon our ears to add a little more detail to what the landscape of FrightFest 15 looks like?

Well, this year’s Film4 FrightFest guest list brings together the great, the grand and the gifted as over 100 filmmakers, performers, writers and producers from all over the world set to converge on the Vue West End from Thurs 21st – 25th August.

None more prominent than a certain Robert Englund. While other notable guests include that of rising star Maika Monroe, and comic book legend Alan Moore gives a rare public interview.

Englund’s attendance marks a celebration of old and new, as he celebrates the 30th Anniversary of that Wes Craven classic (screening on Sunday Aug 24) and to launch the latest production in which he stars, The Last Showing, which screens on Friday Aug 22.

Festival co-director Alan Jones commented, “Englund is one of the genre’s originals and we are thrilled to host such an icon of fright.”

In support of the opening film The Guest, today’s hottest Scream Queen, Monroe, will be present to celebrate the UK premiere of her tension-laden shocker. Monroe is also the star of horror sensation It Follows and is rapidly becoming the go-to-girl for genre glamour.

Meanwhile in a major coup for his legion of fans, Moore will not only be introducing but talking about his short film trilogy Show Pieces with director Mitch Jenkins. Dubbed the best graphic novel writer in history, this is rare public appearance from someone who it is no exaggeration to call a National Treasure and even the “FATHER OF MODERN COMICS.”

Then there’s director John McNaughton who changed the horror movie forever with his once-seen-never-forgotten masterpiece Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. McNaughton drops in on FrightFest to promote his unusual thriller The Harvest.

Essie Davis is currently winning a plethora of Best Actress awards for her emotionally complex and stunning role as the stressed out mother Amelia in the Australian phenomenon The Babadook – attending as the Total Film Magazine sponsored guest of honour.

Now for the icing on the cake, the other key directors scheduled to attend include Nacho Vigalondo, who has three films on show – the epic crowd-pleaser Open Winsows, his sci-fi comedy Extraterrestrial and V/H/S Viral. Belgian filmmaker Fabrice Du Welz, for his extraordinary thriller Alleluia, Till Kleinert, director of post-modern slasher The Samurai, Starry Eyes directors Kevin Kolsch & Dennis Widmyer and the ever-popular Adam Green with his unusual offering, Digging Up the Marrow. From South America comes Argentine director Adrian Garcia Bogliano with his werewolf winner Late Phases and Venezuelan director Alejandro Hidalgo with The House at the End of Time, as well as a host of others filmmakers in attendance. 

If the directors are attending what would FrightFest be without a the stars of the films turning out in force (with more to be confirmed at a later date) that include: Pit Bukowski and Michel Diercks (The Samurai), Rupert Evans and Steve Oram (The Canal), The Last Showing stars Emily Berrington, Finn Jones and Malachi Kirby, XMOOR stars Nick Blood & Sofie Harkness, Deadly Virtues actor Edward Akrout, Shaun Dooley (Blood Moon), Leila Mimmock & Joseph Beatty (The Sleeping Room), Ashley C. Williams (Julia) Joshua Dickinson & Nate Fallows (The Mirror) and Emily Booth (Selkie).

Tickets for Individual films are now on sale.

 Bookings: www.myvue.com/Frightfest   

08712 240 240 (24 hour booking line)

Screens 5, 6 & 7 will house the main event while the Discovery strands will play in Screens 3 & 8.

For full programme details go to: www.frightfest.co.uk