[Fantasia ’26] What to watch at the Fantasia Film Festival

With over 120 feature films playing, it is impossible to decide what to watch at the Fantasia Film Festival. From gory horror to old school kung fun to familiar names, the thirtieth edition of Fantasia has a little bit of everything for all genre fans. It was a difficult task, but below is a list of just some of the movies that stood out.

Corpus

Taking place in 1990s New York, this sexy horror thriller transports Fantasia audiences to a different time and place. Sayo (Jeff Wahlberg, Euphoria) is a nightlife photographer and drug dealer who gets invited to an upstate party. When he arrives he is confronted by three women who draw him into their web of seduction and terror.

Her Private Hell

Nicolas Winding Refn has always had a distinct style. He returns to feature films and Fantasia with a giallo infused thriller starring Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets). A mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic city. With the mist comes a ghostly serial killer with flesh cutting diamond studded gloves. Refn has always brought a unique visual flair to his work and this looks gorgeous.

Hong Kong Godfather

Along with showcasing the latest genre offerings, Fantasia is also a place to see older gems. The Shaw Brothers released some of the most renowned films in kung fu cinema. Hong Kong Godfather may not be the first film people think of, but is one the most memorable released by the studio. The conflicting rival triads plot may be familiar, but the blood soaked ending has to be seen.

The Last Temptation of Becky

The Becky Hooper movies have been fun, action-packed, and incredibly gory. The titular star has fought Nazis and domestic terrorists. In her latest adventure, Becky now takes on a neo-Nazi intent on creating a Fourth Reich. This promises to be as gross and exciting as the previous two installments.

The Leader

Bonnie Lu Nettles and Marshal Herf Applewhite take on the names “Do” and “Ti” and amass a large group of followers. This would lead to the largest mass suicide in American history. Writer/director Michael Gallagher does more than just examine Heaven’s Gate. He tells a story of lost souls looking for a leader.

Nightborn

Motherhood is an often trod ground in horror movies. The new movie from Hanna Bergholm (Hatching) still manages to stand out, however. Two new parents have a new baby who turns out to be a literal monster. An unflinching look at parenthood that is both disgusting and funny.

Rubberhead: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson

Steve Johnson created Slimer of Ghostbusters fame, created the robotic arms for Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2, and created contact lenses that could glow and change color without digital effects. He has worked on American Werewolf in London, Fight Night, and the Abyss. It would make sense if a movie about his life and career was a nostalgia filled ride. While there is a lot of that, this is a tale about an immense talent who was his own worst enemy.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma

After We Are All Going To the World’s Fair and I Saw the TV Glow, few people thought Jane Schoenbrun’s next film would be a slasher. Unsurprisingly, there is more to the story than lots of kills and gore. Queer filmmaker Kris (Hannah Einbinder, Hacks) wants to reboot and modernize the outdated Camp Miasma horror franchise. She soon develops a psychosexual obsession with the Final Girl (Gillian Anderson) from the series.

The festival website is now live with the complete lineup of over 125 features and 200+ shorts available to be explored. Ticket pre-sales are now open.