In Dead Mail, a postal investigator’s routine case spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse when he uncovers a musician’s desperate plea for help, revealing a twisted tale of obsession, manipulation, and creative imprisonment.
LUCID short film review explores artistic authenticity versus academic conformity. When art student Mia’s visceral installations face constant rejection, her bloody aesthetic evolves into something dangerously honest. This 16-minute psychological horror examines who decides what constitutes legitimate art, building anticipation for the feature film premiering at Fantasia 2025.
Mother of Movies covers Fantasia 2025 remotely with 9 essential film picks. Top 5 must-sees include Eddington, Pakzad’s directorial debut Find Your Friends exploring gender dynamics, cult mentality thriller New Group with Shimizu producing, 90s grunge-aesthetic Lucid, and obsession drama Lurker. Plus 4 buzzing titles: long-awaited Tamala 2030 sequel, banned Kazakh Scary Tales, Mickey Reece’s Every Heavy Thing, and Cattet & Forzani’s Reflection in a Dead Diamond.
Julia Max’s “The Surrender” (2025) starring Colby Minifie and Kate Burton delivers psychological horror that examines toxic family relationships through the lens of supernatural resurrection. When patriarch Robert dies, his widow Barbara and daughter Megan perform a brutal ritual to bring him back, only to discover some monsters are better left dead. This Shudder exclusive combines beautiful cinematography with devastating emotional truth about cycles of abuse and the mythology we create around toxic love. A must-watch for fans of elevated horror that prioritizes psychological terror over cheap scares.
All Fun and Games (2023) review: Natalia Dyer and Asa Butterfield star in this Salem-set horror where childhood games become supernatural death traps. A cursed knife turns family fun into nightmare fuel in this competently crafted but predictable possession thriller
Fantasia Fest 2025 first wave creates major buzz with standout films: Kurtis David Harder’s Influencers sequel starring Cassandra Naud, Hwang Wook’s psychological thriller The Woman, the live action Ya Boy Kongmin! manga adaptation, and Oscar nominee Hubert Davis’s post apocalyptic eco horror debut The Well
