PREVIEW: 1978 (2026 Film) - Directed by Luciano Onetti and Nicolás Onetti

Black Mandala Films presents the horror feature 1978, directed by Luciano Onetti and Nicolás Onetti, the filmmakers behind ABRAKADABRA and WHAT THE WATERS LEFT BEHIND. The film combines political terror with occult horror and takes place during one of the darkest periods in Argentine history.

The film had its world premiere at the Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival, an event widely regarded as the world’s most important festival dedicated to fantasy and horror cinema. From its first screening the film drew attention for its uncompromising tone and its shocking narrative turns.

After its festival debut, 1978 went on to receive theatrical releases across several international territories. The film later became one of the most watched genre titles on HBO Latin America, confirming its strong appeal with both horror fans and mainstream audiences.

The story is set during the 1978 World Cup final between Argentina and Holland, at the height of the country’s military dictatorship. A group of torturers violently storm a house and abduct several young people, taking them to a clandestine detention centre.

What begins as a brutal and inhumane interrogation soon turns into something far worse. The captors have made a fatal mistake. The victims are not who they appear to be and are part of a sinister cult guided by an unknown supernatural force.

As reality begins to fracture and the violence escalates, the detention centre becomes a living nightmare where the torturers find themselves becoming the tortured.

With raw performances, a suffocating atmosphere, and a fearless combination of historical horror and the occult, 1978 presents a disturbing experience.

1978 is now available across major digital streaming platforms in North America, and is also available on DVD and Blu ray, bringing one of Latin America’s most talked about modern horror films to audiences looking for intense and unforgettable genre cinema.

Apple TV - https://apple.co/4sg5cjU

FrightFest 2025: A Five-Day Horror Spectacle Unleashes Its Full Line-Up

 

By Jon Donnis

FrightFest is back and bigger than ever. From 21 to 25 August, the UK’s premier horror and fantasy film festival returns to the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square, spilling over into two screens at the ODEON Luxe West End. With sixty-nine features from fourteen countries across four continents, this year’s event promises a wild, bloody ride through the strange and spectacular.

The festival kicks off with the UK premiere of The Home, a chilling thriller from The Purge creator James DeMonaco. Comedian Pete Davidson stars as Max, a rebellious young man sentenced to community service in a quiet retirement home that quickly proves to be anything but. FrightFest closes with Influencers, the follow-up to Shudder’s social-media shocker. Directed by Kurtis David Harder, it’s a twisted, unsettling take on digital fame and the dangers that lurk behind the perfect filter.

THE HOME

FrightFest regulars return in force. Erik Bloomquist unveils his latest cult nightmare Self-Help, while Simon Rumley brings Crushed, his most emotionally raw work to date. The Adams family are back with Mother of Flies, a spiritual follow-up to Hellbender. Joe Begos returns with Jimmy and Stiggs, a gore-soaked joyride packed with added footage from Eli Roth. Neil Marshall also reappears, hosting a special 4K restoration screening of his 2005 classic The Descent, with cast members in attendance.

Main screen highlights include the long-awaited reboot of The Toxic Avenger, the UK premiere of A Serbian Documentary, and genre-benders like The Rows, Bone Lake and What She Doesn’t Know, co-written by the daughter of horror legend William Castle. Also screening are British entries like Odyssey and Cognitive, and inventive indies such as Flush, Marshmallow, Night of Violence and Redux Redux, a reality-hopping horror from the McManus Brothers.

The Discovery Screen slate is as unpredictable and bold as ever. The 'First Blood' strand features world premieres from up-and-coming UK talent, including He Kills At Night, Healing Andy and The Haunting at Jack the Ripper’s House. US entries bring everything from killer clowns in Super Happy Fun Clown to rural terror in The Confession, while Canadian and Australasian films deliver werewolves, body horror, and a uniquely twisted musical journey.

Notable entries include Bambi: The Reckoning, a gory reinterpretation of the classic tale, and Blockhead, the debut narrative feature from Matt Harlock. The documentary section is packed too, with deep dives into genre icons like Graham Humphreys and Andy Milligan, and Sane Inside Insanity, a detailed look at the enduring cult of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

THE TOXIC AVENGER

International animation also makes a strong showing with the UK premiere of Latvian film Dog of God, which explores historic werewolf trials with fever-dream energy, and Gill from South Korea, continuing the powerful visual storytelling of director Jae-huun Ahn.

As co-director Alan Jones puts it, “FrightFest in its 26th year remains the UK’s Number One destination for genre fans.” With a huge range of world premieres, cult favourites, experimental visions and nostalgic callbacks, this year’s festival celebrates the strange, the stylish and the genuinely scary.

Full short film line-ups and guest appearances are still to come. But one thing is already clear. If you love horror in all its forms, there’s nowhere else to be this August.

BORDERLINE