5 Horror Gems I Saw at GrimmFest 2025: by Sandra Ubege

Check out the dark heart of independent genre cinema with this firsthand account of GrimmFest 2025 from Sandra Ubege. Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Film recently celebrated its 17th year, and I was there to experience the chilling excitement firsthand. This GrimmFest review goes beyond the screen, capturing not only the best horror films of the day, from the vampire-hunting thriller Landlord to the visceral rage of Frankie Maniac Woman.

In an era where horror is more vibrant than ever, GrimmFest stands out as a beacon for refreshing narratives and bold voices. It’s a place where the community of fans and creators collide, exploring profound themes from predatory housing practices to the trauma of image obsession. Join us as Sandra recaps the films that define the modern horror landscape and shares why one day at GrimmFest is what the genre should feel like all year round.

5 Horror Gems I Saw at GrimmFest 2025: by Sandra Ubege

A review of my day of horror and thoughts from the casts and crews of the day’s films.

Earlier this month marked the 17th annual edition of GrimmFest, Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Film, a showcase of stellar genre films. Last week also marked my first time attending the festival. I had booked to see I See The Demon, Tribe, Missing Parts, and Frankie Maniac Woman. After much conversation with visitors and volunteers at the festival, I decided to include Landlord in my schedule. 

These films are the best of what Grimmfest has to offer and why the festival is beloved by audiences and filmmakers alike: the conventions and conversations that people love within horror are reborn in refreshing, bold narratives. One day at Grimmfest is what horror should look like all year around. 

I See the Demon (dir. Jacob Lees Johnson) 

Screenplay: Jacob Lees Johnson, Martha Duzett, Davey Morrison

Cast: Alexis Zollicoffer, Noah Kershisnik and Mac Steele Foster

Rating: ★★★⯪

Review: Not all surprises are welcome as Lucy (Zollicoffer) discovers at her birthday party. As the night reigns on, the revelation of more secrets threaten to turn the best night of her life into an endless nightmare.The film also does an amazing job of having the audience share in Lucy’s loss of sanity and this is highlighted through the film’s sci-fi elements; the only present surprise for the audience. I See the Demon is a biting narrative of how we use the suburban everyday to ground -and blind us- to the more destructive nature of humanity, to our greatest danger. 

Landlord (dir. Remington Smith)

Screenplay: Remington Smith

Cast: Adama Abramson, Cohen Cooper, William McKinney

Rating: ★★★★

Review: A Black female bounty hunter moves into a rundown apartment and has her mission derailed when she has no choice but to protect a young boy from his white vampire landlord. The film offers a succinct commentary on the predatory housing practices that still affect African Americans today. Landlord is packed with action and thrill but displays a great deal of tenderness with the strength of community found within the Black community, in spite of all the attempts by their oppressors to destroy all foundations. It reminds us that there is always hope. 

Missing Parts (dir. Tamás Rolfesz)

Screenplay: Tamás Rolfesz

Crew: József Fülöp, Judit Czakó, Zsombor Kódiás, Barnabás Tóth

Rating: ★★★⯪

Review: A great appetiser before Tribe. I was a little weary at the beginning of this film as I feared that it would feature the demonisation of Aztec religion that is unfortunately a convention of Western horror. I was proven wrong as this stunningly animated film shows a great appreciation for Aztec culture. Missing Parts is in Navajo, one of the most widely spoken Native American languages. Missing Parts prioritises the culture and the people of its story first. In its brief runtime, the film poses profound questions about religion and the supposed nobility of sacrifice.

The Tribe (dir. Dan Asma)

Screenplay: Dan Asma

Cast: Justina Biosah, Tyona Bowman, Keaton Asma, Nicole Jones

Rating:★★★★

Review: Through Zoom calls, Tribe really elevates the found footage sub-genre. A retired university lecturer’s new found interest in videography guides him on a journey to learn the truth behind his friend’s life and death. Charlie’s academic career was my favourite element of the narrative. He works together with various fellow academics in both the arts and the sciences to piece together the mystery that threatens to swallow Charlie whole. Even through the mostly remote connections, Tribe displays the power of community and the dangers that can occur when those who seek that power do so with malevolent intentions. 

From the filmmaker(s): “I love that community of people who are interested to see what’s out there. Interest and knowledge and wanting to know what is out there is always fun. It’s something you can do with your friends and your family and get really into it.” Justina Biosah

“The idea of the Silurian Theory that the characters talk about, that’s a real theory: this idea that a community, even a vibrant and evolved community, in however many million years, we’ll have no record of it. It’s gone and that to me is really terrifying. We need to be very conscious of the community we have now and what we can do to be able to protect it and give it longevity. Everything will be dust and that’s a really scary idea.” Dan Asma

Frankie Maniac Woman (dir. Pierre Tsigaridis)

Screenplay: Dina Silva, Pierre Tsigaridis)

Cast: Dina Silva

Rating:★★★★⯪

Review: What a glorious way to end the festival! Frankie Maniac Woman serves as a canvas for the different strokes of pain that the protagonist faces: childhood trauma, fatphobia and rejection from the music industry. All this pain bleeds the same bright, glorious red onto the screen. I cannot help to compare Frankie Maniac Woman to The Substance (2024). But while The Substance’s protagonist’s violence is internal, Frances (Silva)’s violence is external. It makes for a glorious picture. Among all the blood and gore, there is succinct, sharp commentary about LA’s toxic image obsession. Frankie Maniac Woman is beautiful on the outside and on the inside.

From the filmmaker(s): “Especially being Mexican, you’re supposed to be really good looking young and once you get married, you can let that girdle go. And then you can just chow down. ‘You already got the dude, you’re set.’ So if you’re not like that, the family really does push you to be this good looking model. It’s just this weird thing of balancing because there are a lot of Latinos who are thick. If you can’t comprehend that with humour, which I do, it can really take a toll on you. With Frankie it channels through something really horrible.” Dina Silva 

Horror Features on Ginger Nuts of Horror

If you’re a fan of spine-chilling tales and hair-raising suspense, then you won’t want to miss the horror features page on The Ginger Nuts of Horror Review Website. This is the ultimate destination for horror enthusiasts seeking in-depth analysis, thrilling reviews, and exclusive interviews with some of the best minds in the genre. From independent films to mainstream blockbusters, the site covers a broad spectrum of horror media, ensuring that you’re always in the loop about the latest and greatest.

The passionate team behind The Ginger Nuts of Horror delivers thoughtful critiques and recommendations that delve into the nuances of storytelling, character development, and atmospheric tension. Whether you’re looking for hidden gems to stream on a dark and stormy night or want to explore the work of up-and-coming horror filmmakers, this page is packed with content that will ignite your imagination and keep you on the edge of your seat.

So grab your favourite horror-themed snacks, settle into a cosy spot, and immerse yourself in the chilling world of horror literature and film. Head over to The Ginger Nuts of Horror and embark on a journey through the eerie and the extraordinary. It’s an adventure you won’t soon forget!