Nightstream 2021 Best Movies You Need To See

Nightstream virtual film festival is back for 2021 in the USA. This collection of the best genre films around unites itself with other festivals, the likes of Boston Underground, Brooklyn Horror, North Bend, and Overlook. The fest will run from October 7th to 13th. Everything monetary the second edition festival will make will be shared with the National Alliance To End Homelessness and climate change advocacy group the Sunrise Movement.

Guests for the 2021 collaboration include David Lowery (GREEN KNIGHT), and Akela Cooper, (MALIGNANT, directed by James Wan) will be there talking about the body horror movie. Also along for some conversation is Greg Nicotero (Creepshow showrunner) ready to talk about the show’s latest season on Shudder.

A panel event will capture Shudder’s new HORROR NOIRE anthology. Writers Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, invite back drag superstar Peaches Christ. This will be to celebrate the iconic Chucky franchise so of course, the TV show’s creator Don Mancini will be there to speak as well. Other events that were a hit in 2020 like The Future of Film Is Female and the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies will be on the menu to select from should that appeal.

How Many Titles at Nightstream 2021?

2021’s Nightstream will house 31 feature films and 4 short film blocks presented by Gunpowder & Sky’s horror brand, ALTER so you definitely can’t miss those.

For more information, visit https://nightstream.org/ for what’s available, how much tickets cost, and which events can be accessed worldwide. Access to film screenings will be geo-locked to the U.S. Tickets will go on sale from October 1st at 12 PM EST / 11 AM CT /  9 AM PST.

With that out of the way, here are some films to look out for if you’re not attending, and for those that are, a few of the best-sounding films from the lineup.

ALL MY FRIENDS HATE ME

Sounding like a reunion gone awry, this horror-comedy film comes from director Andrew Gaynord. Pete’s friends all turn on him one by one at his own birthday party. This movie written by Tom Palmer and Tom Stourton has been well received at other festival screenings and the general consensus wants to make you feel awkward and uncomfortable as it follows its path to an epic finish.

HELLBENDER

The newest horror film from the family of filmmakers unleashes a coming-of-age story that follows Izzy. Toby Poser, Zelda Adams, and John Adams are back and HELLBENDER was a film Mother of Movies saw at Fantasia earlier in the year. Izzy and her mom live in a secluded area in the mountains and, have their very own two-piece rock band. But there is something off about Izzy. The sophomore feature film will release on streaming on Shudder but is well worth a look if you can’t wait that long.

KING CAR

This is a whacky adventure from director Renata Pinheiro about a boy who can speak to cars. Less like Nightrider and more like what would happen if Nicolas Cage summoned an ability like that, King Car is unique. This was another film I saw in 2021’s Fantasia, it’s a sci-fi and you must not miss it.

WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR

There is a lot of hype surrounding this title and so far I’ve been unable to screen it due to my location outside of where its release is. From Utopia Distribution, there is an online role-playing game, a teen and from there she begins to change. A drama and horror movie by Jane Schoenbrun.

BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES

A Japanese title by Junta Yamaguchi and written by Makoto Ueda is a comedy science fiction film. When a random stranger says to me in a virtual hang-out bar “You have to see this” I think I must. The storyline talks about a guy named Kato who owns a cafe and discovers his TV is only showing things from the future. This is one I am personally on the lookout for. Thanks, random stranger.

STANLEYVILLE

I am a massive fan of Julien Richings ever since I saw him in Anything For Jackson. Here he stars in Stanleyville alongside Susanne Wuest, Cara Ricketts, Christian Serritiello, George Tchortov, Adam Brown, and Mihály Szabados. Directed by Maxwell McCabe-Lokos spews forth “funny yet dangerous weirdness” and that’s something we all need more of. A woman enters a competition to win a car. Of course, this is no ordinary competition, and the challenges she faces get more uncomfortable as the film travels along.

These Sound Good Too

• And don’t forget to check out the master of visual effects, Phil Tippet, and his hectic animation MAD GOD.
• NAME ABOVE TITLE by Carlos Conceição has a serial killer who becomes a social media star.
• COSMIC DAWN had me at psychological thrillers, aliens, and UFO cults.