Killer clowns are rampaging across the nation and one determined doctor is set on finding the truth. Can she save her family and the world from true evil, and a fate worse than death, in a hair-raising new horror
Get ready for one hell of a fright night as the cult of clown descends this spooky season in Helloween.
The year is 2016. The ‘killer clown’ craze is in full swing, the streets are in chaos and the media is fuelling the fire with fearmongering headlines. Inside a high security psychiatric hospital, embattled psychiatrist Dr Ellen Marks, played by Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott, is facing a very real threat. One of her patients is the notorious child serial killer Carl Cane, portrayed by Ronan Summers.
Then he escapes, and he does it in shockingly brutal fashion. Now the doctor is in a race against time to save her daughters from the killer’s maniacal revenge. As bloody carnage rages outside, she is forced into a fight for survival, facing something that may not even be of this world.
Prepare for clownmaggedon this Helloween, as one evil entity is intent on tearing society apart.
We caught up with the awesome Kirsten McKensie, a former Customs Officer who is now a full time writer.
1. When did you first become interested in horror?
When I’d first started working, I was ‘conned’ into signing up for a book ordering scheme, where you either could choose the book you received every month, or they would just send you one. Most of the time, I forgot to choose, and that’s how I ended up with a healthy collection of Dean Koontz hardbacks! And that was the beginning. From there it was a very small step into Stephen King, and that was it, I was hooked.
2. Did you always enjoy writing?
Yes absolutely, but I didn’t do anything about it until it was a slow winter’s day in the family antique shop I was working in, and I announced to my brother that I was going to write a novel. He said to me, ‘You never finish anything,’ so as a starter, I was out to prove him wrong. And then I got a publishing contract. The rest is history!
3. Do you have a favorite vampire character?
I’m not ashamed to admit that I love, and will always love, Edward Cullin. Yes, he of the sparkling skin. Twilight remains a guilty pleasure, and I adore both the books and the films. As a more grown up choice, I can’t look past Matthew Clairmont in Deborah Harkness’s ‘A Discovery of Witches’. He is the perfect vampire.
4. Is there another genre that you are interested in?
Time travel. Stephen King’s ‘11.22.63’ and Ben Elton’s ‘Time and Time Again’ and Connie Willis’ ‘The Doomsday Book’ are the three best time traveling historical mystery books out there.
5. Are there topics in horror that you will not write about?
Child abuse. Or child sexual assault. That should never be used for entertainment purposes.
6. Do you have other favorite monsters besides vampires?
I am quite partial to a good zombie. Ghosts or sea creatures or demons or witches don’t interest me as much as vampires and zombies!
7. If vampires were real-what would be the best way to defend yourself against them?
I think the post accessible way of defending yourself against vampires is a stash of garlic of course. I mean, holy water isn’t readily available in the house, and nor are silver bullets. I suppose I could repurpose some of my bamboo garden stakes, but I’m just not that handy! So garlic cloves it is.
8. Why do you think horror books and movies remain so popular?
Because people like to know that their lives are better than what they could be if vampires were real. Or if the woods really were haunted. It’s a relief to know that while your life might feel a bit shite, it could be much worse!
9. Why do you think that people are obsessed with being scared?
Because you can scream without judgement, and then you get to curl up in your bed and know that you’re safe.
10. Who inspires you?
Stephen King for sure. The way he creates such well rounded characters. And then George R R Martin for his descriptions of his characters.
11. What are some of your favorite horror books?
Most recently, it would have to be ‘The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires’ by Grady Hendrix. Absolutely loved it. And again, ‘My Best Friend’s Exorcism’, also by Hendrix. The scaries book I’ve ever read is Stephen King’s ‘The Shining’. I had to put it down several times and walk away, or I might have had a heart attack. Closer to home I loved ‘The Opposite of Life’ by Narelle Harris, which I hear is being made into a TV series, which is incredibly exciting. And ‘Despatches’ by Lee Murray.
12. What are some of your favorite horror movies?
‘Scream’ (the original one), and ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ (the original one). And a couple of homegrown ones - ‘The Frighteners’, directed by Peter Jackson. And I want to add in a television series from my childhood - ‘Under The Mountain’, written by Maurice Gee. Earlier this year I read the book, to see if the scares still stack up. They do. Even as an adult, the hairs on my arm lifted and I became just as terrified of the Wilberforces as I was as a child.
13. What are your current projects?
Currently I am working on my 2nd time travel book in collaboration with US author Shawn Inmon (who writes the Middle Falls time travel series). But I always like to intersperse my time travel books with a horror, so I have a small town America story bubbling away too.
14. Please in your own words write a paragraph about yourself & your work.
I used to fight international crime as a Customs Officer in both England and New Zealand. Then, I was held up at gunpoint whilst working in my family antique store. Now I live a very safe life behind my antique desk writing full time. I alternate between writing time travel trilogies and polishing my next horror. Any spare time is spent organising author events and appearing on literary panels at various festivals around the world.
Second Sight Films is back with its latest horror classic to get the Limited Edition treatment, The Innkeepers. The critically acclaimed, award-winning early work from horror auteur Ti West, one of the most prominent horror filmmakers of his generation, gets a major makeover in a newly restored 4K version, approved by the director himself, this Summer.
And to celebrate we have a copy on standard Blu-ray to give away!
Synopsis:
Two employees at a rundown inn are desperate to prove the building is haunted before it gets closed down. Unfortunately for them, they may just get what they wished for.
Described by View London as ‘unmissable and one of the best films of the year - 5 stars’ and ‘an old-fashioned ghost story, made the more piquant by Paxton’s sympathetic, funny, vulnerable lead performance’ by Screen Daily, The Innkeepers Limited Dual Edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray arrives 25 August 2025, alongside Standard versions.
The Limited Edition Box Set is presented in a stunning rigid slipcase with new artwork by Nick Charge with a fascinating 120-page book with new essays. All versions come complete with a slew of special features including brand new interviews with the director, cast, cinematographer and much more.
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.
1. When did you first become interested in horror?
At a very young age for sure. I remember seeing all the Universal monster movies, JAWS, The Exorcist, The Omen, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark and a myriad of other classic horror staples that intrigued and inspired me.
2. Did you always enjoy going to see movies?
Always. Going to the movies was the highest level of escapism in those days.
3. Do you prefer making feature-length films or shorts?
I enjoy making anything in film.video. Micro-shorts, shorts, features, episodic pieces. They all have their place.
4. Tell us about Theatre of Terror.
Theatre of Terror LLC is a production company I founded in 2012. It was the result of years and years of making home video movies with my childhood friends. The name was originally a play on the old television show Masterpiece Theater. The first time we used the name was while performing our own version of that show where we reviewed faux horror movies.
5. Are there topics you would not put into a movie?
Not necessarily. I believe that when you explore any subject matter, it should be pertinent to achieving the goals you set for your story. Whether you want to shock the audience, make them cry, get them excited, or make them laugh. As long as it works within the story and is a necessary element of that story to engage the audience, I’m all for it. With that said, there is a level of taste that defines what I watch and what I make.
6. Do you have any advice for up and coming filmmakers?
I could offer plenty of advice but to keep it simple I would say, start filming today. The rest you can learn tomorrow.
7. Do you believe the audience need to be hooked from the first scene in?
A great opening will certainly give you a better chance at retaining your audience for your entire film. In this day and age of instant gratification from 10 second videos and waning attention spans, we are working harder than ever to get people to sit still through a full length movie.
8. Why do you think horror books and movies remain so popular?
We live in a very scary world. Life is scary. None of us want to be in a truly horrific situation like experiencing homelessness, facing starvation, having a life-threatening disease, being a victim of violence, or suffering a traumatic loss. We avoid those things at all costs yet there is something deep down inside of all of us that is stimulated by the adrenaline rush of being in fear. Horror movies and books are a safe way for us to explore those feelings without real life repercussions. No one likes falling from an extreme height, but damn do people love roller coasters.
9. Why do you think that people are obsessed with being scared?
See my previous answer.
10. Who inspires you?
Anyone who sets their mine to doing something difficult and accomplishes it. Athletes, artists, doctors, engineers, you name it. People are capable of doing extraordinary things and when they demonstrate that, I’m inspired.
Now if you mean someone in the film realm, there are too many to list, but Spielberg has always been one of my main inspirations.
11. What are some of your favorite horror books?
Brian Lumley’s monster/spy series Necroscope. It would make for an amazing television show.
12. What are some of your favorite horror movies?
I’ll give you three very different films. The Thing, High Tension, and The Tourist Trap.
13. What are your current projects?
I’m currently developing a new film that is near and dear to my heart and genre fans everywhere. Unfortunately I cannot reveal those details just yet. I will be announcing more in the coming weeks exclusively to our website subscribers.
14. Please in your own words write a paragraph about yourself & your work.
As an artist I have dreamed of creating stories, music and visuals since my early childhood. From drawing comic books, to filming VHS movies, to performing in rock bands, the world of entertainment and fiction has always been my reality.
I have worn every hat on my productions and continue to wear many. My desire is to share my wildest ideas, my most passionate dreams, and my terrifying nightmares with audiences to entertain them and bring them some of the magic that shaped my imagination. Films are supposed to make us feel something. In making them, I open my heart, mind and emotions to the world.
For more about Tom and Theatre of Terrors check out the links below.
The Death of Snow White takes the fairytale most people grew up with and shoves it headfirst into a pit of blood, occult rituals and feverish invention. Director Jason Brooks wastes no time tearing apart the clean, polished version and replacing it with something far darker. The opening alone sets the stage, with Chelsea Edmundson’s Queen slicing her own palm in the middle of a spell. From that moment, you know exactly what you have signed up for. It is dramatic, unashamedly violent, and makes no attempt to hide what it wants to be.
The forest setting is more than just a backdrop. It feels alive, a twisted labyrinth filled with shadows and strange predators. When Snow White, played with unexpected grit by Sanae Loutsis, finds herself in its depths, the whole energy of the film shifts. The dwarves here are not harmless miners or comic foils. They are cold blooded killers, each with such exaggerated traits that they almost tip into parody, yet somehow the tone makes it work. Watching Snow White slowly adjust to their brutal world is oddly rewarding. Brooks clearly wanted her journey from hunted girl to fierce avenger to feel real, and it does.
Chelsea Edmundson’s performance as the Queen is the beating heart of the film. This is not the usual vain and spiteful monarch. She is something much more dangerous, a woman who has already burned through every limit and is now exploring what lies beyond. The production design of her castle is both grim and captivating, and the magic rituals have a physicality that makes them memorable. The limited budget shows when the computer effects appear, but rather than detract from the experience, it fits the rough edged B movie personality of the piece.
The final act pulls no punches. The apple is not a delicate weapon of deception here, it is the trigger for a violent curse. What follows is a relentless battle where no one is safe, and characters you have grown to like are cut down without warning. The practical gore effects manage to be both stomach churning and inventive. Snow White’s ultimate fight with the Queen is raw and savage, ending with a moment involving Tiny’s axe that delivers the sort of bloody satisfaction fans of this style of horror will appreciate.
It is not perfect. The middle section loses momentum for a short stretch, and a few smaller roles are not as strong as the leads. Yet as a twisted, unrestrained reworking of the Snow White story, it is a triumph of gleeful excess. It may not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy their fairytales soaked in blood and chaos, this is one of the most entertaining takes in a long while. I left the film grinning, which is probably not the most comforting thing to admit.
FrightFest’s short film programming has always been one of the festival’s sharpest claws, and for 2025, it’s going for the jugular. With a record-breaking number of entries, this year’s edition brings together four showcases brimming with bite, tension, satire and, frankly, a whole lot of blood.
Across four days, thirty-six films from nine countries will screen at the Odeon LUXE West End, including twenty-nine world premieres. Each showcase offers a different shade of horror, from bleak comedy and psychological torment to supernatural dread and creature carnage. As ever, there’s a strong showing from UK talent, alongside bold new work from the US, Australia, Europe, and beyond.
Friday kicks off the bloodbath with Showcase 1, where bad days spiral into existential nightmares and tech seduction threatens family life. There’s the French gem Dead Tooth, where a simple dentist appointment unravels into chaos, and the unnervingly cute-but-not Obey!, about a dead influencer dog that won’t stay silent. You’ve also got Tapestry, where grief turns occult, and Pandora, Inc., where loneliness opens the door to A.I. manipulation. It all builds to a crescendo of dread with the Nordic folktale VÓ“sen, and a standout performance in Murderbird, a relationship drama that takes a turn into the feathered abyss.
Saturday’s Showcase 2 keeps things grounded in dread, with almost the entire lineup hailing from the UK. Highlights include Needleteeth, set on an Irish farm with a slow-burning menace, and No One Is Coming to Rescue You, where polite family introductions mask something far darker. You’ll also meet Gilda, who’s trying to entertain kids but ends up summoning the occult, and Inebriated, which injects some twisted emotion into possession tropes. The programme ends on a gorgeously uncomfortable note with You Look So Beautiful, a hazy romance that might be more cursed than cute.
Showcase 3 on Sunday leans into surrealism and sharp genre jolts, from the Mumbai-set Leopard (Waagh), where urban sprawl and natural instinct clash, to the freakishly fun Pimple, which might be the goriest puberty metaphor yet. In DIY, a simple attempt to hang a picture spirals into horror far beyond the hardware store, while Cruz (The Kook Cook) wins points for being one of the most bizarre (and darkly funny) entries, think desert-dwelling surfer with hipster-hunting tendencies. And if you're in the mood for romantic horror, It Loves Me So and Praying Mantis offer very different takes on love gone very, very wrong.
FrightFest continues to be a reliable launchpad for fresh horror voices, and this year’s shorts underline the importance of letting weird, personal, and darkly funny visions through. There’s folklore. There’s body horror. There’s AI. There are birds with issues. It’s the kind of programme that doesn’t just scare, it surprises, amuses, provokes. Sometimes all in the same scene.
FrightFest 2025 runs from 21–25 August at Odeon LUXE Leicester Square and Odeon LUXE West End. The short film showcases screen across the 22nd to the 25th. Bring popcorn. Maybe don’t look directly at the screen.
For full programme details & tickets: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/
