By 8 Bit Waffles is going back to Fantastic Fest for its 20th anniversary! As the festival resumes its run in Austin, Texas from Sept 18th to the 25th, there is much to look out for in its lineup including thrilling world premieres, outlandish revelries, and feasts of merriment! From a survival thriller starring Justin Long and Kate Bosworth to the return of Ethan Hawke in “Black Phone 2” to the long-awaited sequel to Jalmari Helander’s “Sisu”, this is an anniversary of an event that you’d be sure to not miss!
Check out the promo video here:
Check out the five films below I’m excited for at this year’s festival:
Appofeniacs (2025; dir – Chris Marrs Piliero); Horror
Synopsis:
A young man is obsessed with creating deepfake videos, eagerly finding new ways to exploit the technology. From pornography to manufacturing a racist rant, his videos are incredibly cruel and vile. As his creations are unleashed into the world, he sows havoc, with absolutely no regard for the consequences. Lives are ruined and lost, all due to fake videos created for seemingly no good reason at all, except that the technology exists, so why not use it?
Why I’m Excited:
I’m almost willing to watch something that pushes the boundary of cinema. Being that Pillero is an accomplished music video director, I’d be excited to see what he brings to his debut feature as he tackles the potential dangers of AI with horror thrown in the mix. The cast here looks intriguing as well including Sean Gunn, Jermaine Fowler and Michael Abbott Jr.
Coyotes (2025; dir – Colin Minihan); Horror, Comedy
Synopsis:
When a scorching wildfire hits the Hollywood Hills, a family is stranded as their neighborhood is destroyed and their home becomes a blazing prison. What begins as an intimate domestic drama quickly escalates into a pulse-pounding survival thriller as a pack of predatory coyotes disoriented by the fires tighten their perimeter around the house. Rendered powerless by collapsing roads and no electricity, the family must rely on their courage, resilience, and love for one another to survive both the inferno and the snarling threat outdoors.
Why I’m Excited:
First of all, it’s always a pleasure to see Justin Long in a horror film (I hope he makes it in this one!). Secondly, he’s acting alongside his real-life partner Kate Bosworth. With their real life chemistry hopefully bursting through in their acting, I’m catching “Together” vibes from this film and I honestly don’t think the acting nor the thrills will disappoint. Bloodthirsty coyotes threatening to burst through in wildfires is a terryifying concept and I can’t wait to see how Minihan will bring such a fear to life.
Trailer:
Bulk (2025; dir – Ben Wheatley); Sci-Fi
Synopsis:
A man named Corey Harlan is sent to a seemingly ordinary townhouse inhabited by an enigmatic, multidimensional entity named Aclima. There, he is asked to go on a mission to locate the overzealous scientist Anton Chambers, creator of a mysterious rupture in reality known only as “the bulk.” Corey is suddenly thrust into the unknown, where each door in this house is a portal to multiple realities, each stranger than the last. What begins as a straightforward search quickly becomes a chaotic, adrenaline-fueled plunge into overlapping timelines, alternate selves, and cosmic uncertainty.
Why I’m Excited:
Even reading the plot for this film, I’m not exactly sure what it’s about but I’m still excited to watch it. Ben Wheatley is a director I’ve kept my eye on since Kill List, an independent horror film that blew me away when I watched it. I have no doubt that this black-and-white sci-fi odyssey will do the same. This film is boasted to be both intimate and epic in its scope and I’m a sucker for a director swinging for the fences at all costs.
Trailer:
The Piano Accident (2025; dir – Quentin Dupieux); Dark Comedy
Synopsis:
Magalie Moreau, a shock‑content social media star played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, is out on yet another viral video shoot when she falls victim to a freak piano accident. While recovering, she seeks refuge in a secluded mountain chalet with her devoted assistant, Patrick, hoping for a moment of respite. Her solitary getaway is compromised once journalist Simone Herzog tracks her down and demands an interview in exchange for not revealing the true reason why Magalie is hiding out.
Why I’m Excited:
I’m a sucker for films playing on the theme of the fine line between fame and clout. Dupieux, a well-known surreal director that’s been shocking audiences since his 2010 film “Rubber” is in no way out of his wheelhouse in this sardonic critique of fame. I’m also excited to see Exarchopoulos in the lead role, knowing she can tackle both comedy and drama effortlessly. I think “The Piano Accident” is going to be an unforgettable, surreal ride that probably won’t be for everyone but is definitely for me.
Trailer:
Bad Haircut (2025; dir – Kyle Misak); Horror, Comedy
Synopsis:
Billy wants to change his look and decides to get the best haircut he’s ever had. His friends take him to the local barber shop run by Mick, a barber with a disturbing edge but an undeniable talent for crafting the perfect style using just a simple pair of scissors. When Billy’s turn in the chair arrives, he suddenly finds himself alone with the unhinged Mick. As the clippers buzz and the small talk dies down, it becomes clear this barbershop is more of a trap than a beauty parlor.
Tension mounts as Billy realizes Mick’s eccentricities hide a deeply troubled mind. Before he knows it, he finds himself trapped in Mick’s delusions, taken hostage in the shop’s basement while the barber rages like a madman. To survive, Billy must navigate this bizarre and terrifying ordeal and fight in order to make it out alive.
Why I’m Excited:
“Bad Haircut” seems like a horrifically fun ride. The villain seems interesting and hilarious and the premise seems fun as well. I’m excited to see the tense clockwork universe the protagonist is put in and how he tries to escape this deranged barber. An unhinged barber as a horror villain is definitely a recipe for hilarity and I’m intrigued to see how much director Misak will deliver on that hilarity.
I hope you will join me or at the very least, enjoy my coverage of this wild, exciting festival.
Check out their full selection of films here.
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