Fantastic Fest Turns 20 With PRIMATE, WHISTLE, and a Bloody Avalanche of Premieres
- Horror Movies Uncut
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
20 Years of Carnage: Fantastic Fest Unveils Epic 2025 Lineup With ‘Primate,’ ‘Whistle,’ and a Whole Lotta Blood
By Travis Brown – Horror Movies Uncut
Fantastic Fest is turning 20, and rather than fade gently into middle age, the world’s most delirious genre film festival is doubling down on blood, chaos, and cinematic excess. Taking over Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar from September 18–25, the 2025 edition kicks off with the world premiere of Paramount’s PRIMATE—Johannes Roberts’ tropical terror tale—and closes with the brutal teen curse flick WHISTLE from Corin Hardy and Owen Edgerton.
In between? A tsunami of madness.
The lineup boasts a record-breaking 45 world premieres, plus new chapters from genre giants: BLACK PHONE 2, THE STRANGERS – CHAPTER 2, and a Halloween edition of V/H/S. Blumhouse, A24, Shudder, NEON, Lionsgate, and more are showing out, but it’s not all sequels and legacy IP. Fantastic Fest 2025 is also launching Fantastic Pitches, offering $100,000 and a distribution deal to one lucky filmmaker—judged live by a panel including Nirvana the Band’s Matt Johnson.
The Studio Mayhem
Among the studio-backed carnage, we’re getting:
SISU: ROAD TO REVENGE – Jalmari Helander’s blood-soaked sequel with Stephen Lang.
VICIOUS – Bryan Bertino’s return to psychological terror starring Dakota Fanning.
IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU – A24’s cryptic family drama from Mary Bronstein.
SHELBY OAKS and SIRÂT – NEON drops two buzzy U.S. premieres.
BLACK PHONE 2 – Scott Derrickson digs deeper into the Grabber’s legacy.
Shortcuts to Hell: Burnt Ends & Shudder Showcase
The Burnt Ends sidebar is back, and it’s completely unhinged. We’re talking stop-motion nightmares (THE SHRINE OF ABOMINATIONS), hand-drawn chaos (ANIMAL MATH), and gonzo low-budget lunacy (TIE MAN, DINNER TO DIE FOR).
Meanwhile, Shudder isn’t just sponsoring the opening night bash (with Castle Rat bringing heavy metal mayhem)—they’re also premiering V/H/S/HALLOWEEN, CRAZY OLD LADY, and THE CREEP TAPES Season 2, keeping your blood pressure high and your WiFi haunted.
Restorations and Rarities: For the Heads
Genre purists can feast on 4K restorations of ANGEL’S EGG, FREAKED, THE BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, BEFORE THE FALL, and the long-lost sexploitation gem DILDO HEAVEN. AGFA’s got us covered with CRUEL JAWS, EMBALMER, and a 35mm screening of Thai martial arts banger CHOCOLATE.
Events: Pure Spectacle
You want wild? Try a medieval drag show hosted by Louisianna Purchase, a 20-year Masters of Horror reunion (hello, Mick Garris, Don Coscarelli, Ernest Dickerson), and Doug Benson’s Movie Interruption. Top it off with a secret location for closing night and Fantastic Feud & Debates for the old-school heads.
HMU’s Can’t-Miss Picks:
WHISTLE – Hardy + Edgerton = teen curse perfection.
DOLLY – Slasher. Film grain. New French Extremity vibes.
BULK – Ben Wheatley returns with a lo-fi genre head trip.
MEAT KILLS – Vegan horror on a pig farm. You already know.
FUCK MY SON! – Yes, that’s the title. X-rated Johnny Ryan chaos.
LUNATIC: THE LUNA VACHON STORY – The doc we didn’t know we needed.
Final Thoughts
Twenty years in, Fantastic Fest hasn’t mellowed—it’s gone absolutely feral. Whether you’re here for the high-brow restorations, low-budget Burnt Ends bangers, or the studio tentpoles with buckets of blood, this year’s fest has something for every kind of degenerate cinephile.
Stay tuned to @HMUNCUT and @TravisNyquill on socials for coverage, interviews, and more from Austin. And remember…
Keep the lights on.
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