Dundead horror film festival announces the line-up for its twelfth instalment including a selection of premieres, anniversary screenings and a celebration of slasher films.
Dundead, Dundee’s dedicated horror film festival, returns to Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) for its twelfth edition with a bone-chilling line-up of Scottish premieres, previews, short films, and a look back at the slasher subgenre. Taking place from Thursday 16th May 2024 to Sunday 19th May 2024, the festival offers a long weekend full of thrills for horror fans.
This year’s programme celebrates the history of slasher films with a retrospective strand that brings together vintage favourites with lesser-known gems. Looking back to the 1960s and 70s, the programme includes special anniversary screenings of stylish Italian slasher Blood and Black Lace from horror master Mario Bava and a 4K restoration of Tobe Hooper’s iconic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, both considered important early touchstones of the slasher genre.
Heading through the golden age of slashers and the saturation of the 80s and early 90s, festivalgoers can enjoy a double bill of 1982’s The Slumber Party Massacre and 1987’s Slumber Massacre II, both examples of self-referential slasher films written and directed by women. Then there’s 1992’s Candyman from Bernard Rose, which brought urban legends and social commentary to the mix. The slasher revival of the late 90s and 00s is represented by one of the greats: Wes Craven’s Scream, which screens in glorious 35mm, and the trashy should-be-cult-classic Skinned Deep, which is screening for the first time in a UK cinema as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
There are plenty of brand-new scares to be had too. While the opening film remains under wraps for now, the rest of the weekend brings the Scottish premieres of Red Rooms, a stylish and thrilling look at the dark web; Booger, a mix of New York indie vibes and Cronenbergian body-horror; She is Conann, a queer, feminist glitterpunk subversion of the Conan the Barbarian character; Falling Stars, an ambitious, intriguing and unsettling American chiller, and Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, a witty and charming spin on the vampire myth.
Short film is being celebrated too, with a selection of the new features being accompanied by specially programmed shorts.
The weekend begins with the Dundead Film Quiz on Thursday 16th May 2024, where fans can put their horror film knowledge to the test for the chance to win prizes, and the festival atmosphere continues with a DJ in Jute Café Bar after the Saturday night screening of Scream. Visitors can leave the festival sporting some brand-new Dundead merch, with t-shirts and limited edition prints available featuring a design by Abertay University student Liam Doyle.
Festival programmer Michael Coull said: ” I’m really excited for Dundead 2024 – we have such a great programme lined up for horror fans. This year all our vintage films are arranged around the theme of ‘slashers’. While this subgenre of horror has faced robust discourse over the years, our programme really shows the depth and breadth of what the slasher can be. Inspired by the 50th anniversary of Tobe Hooper’s 1974 masterpiece The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, our slasher round-up will features screenings of 1996’s Scream, as well as the under-sung gem that is Gabe Bartalos’ Skinned Deep, which will be screening in a UK cinema for the very first time in honour of its 20th anniversary. From gothic ghostliness and social commentary in 1992’s Candyman, to riotous feminist self-parody in our The Slumber Party Massacre Double Bill, to one of the founding texts of the genre (and of the Italian giallo genre), 1964’s Blood and Black Lace, this programme has a slasher for every mood (and every decade, from the 1960s to the 2000s).”
“Our programme also includes premieres and previews of some of the boldest new films in the horror/cult world. Strangely, and through no pre-determined plan, three of the six new films we have are (predominantly) in the French language, two of which are making their way to our screens from Montréal: Ariane Louis-Seize’s irresistible vampire dramedy Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person and Pascal Plante’s chilling festival favourite Red Rooms. Rounding out the French language contingent is the stunning She Is Conann. From America, we have the strange and engrossing Falling Stars and Mary Dauterman’s incredible body-horror indie comedy Booger. And then there’s our opening film, which we’re keeping a mystery for now but can’t wait to share more about soon – we do enjoy building up the tension! We also have three incredible short films screening alongside the features this year.
As always, I can’t wait to welcome our Dundead audience to the cinema for a weekend full of horror treats.”
Tickets go on sale on Friday 5th April 2024 at 10:00. Horror fans can enjoy the whole terrifying weekend with a Full Pass for £102. This includes a ticket to all 12 films, plus a t-shirt and special edition print. For those who want to pace themselves, a Half Pass will also be available for £54 which also includes a Dundead t-shirt. Both passes will be available to buy in person, by phone via DCA Box Office (01382 432 444) and online, with individual tickets also bookable online from Friday 5th April 2024. DCA Members and 18-25 Members get priority booking and special pass prices from Wed 3 April at 10:00. Visit www.dca.org.uk to find out more.
Dundead 2024 Festival Listings
Thu 16 May
Dundead Film Quiz 18:00
Dundead Opening Film 20:00
Skinned Deep (20th Anniversary) 22:00
Fri 17 May
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal
Person (Scottish Premiere) + short film 18:00
The Slumber Party Massacre Double Bill 20:30
Sat 18 May
Candyman 12:45
Falling Stars (Scottish Premiere) 15:00
She is Conann (Scottish Premiere) 17:30
Scream (35mm) 20:00
Sun 19 May
Blood and Black Lace (60th Anniversary) 13:00
Booger (Scottish Premiere) + short film 15:00
Red Rooms (Scottish Premiere) + short film 18:00
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
(50th Anniversary 4K Restoration) 20:45
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