The famous Mayhem Film Festival took over Broadway Cinema last week. Here's what we thought to this year's eclectic horror event...
After a skeleton festival in 2020, Mayhem returned to Nottingham with a gory vengeance in this year. Co-Director of the festival, Steven Sheil, described the latest iteration of the cult horror event as more “fleshy” than last year, showcasing everything from making-of documentaries to nerve-shredding thrillers with a good dose of blood splattered across its schedule for good measure.
The opening night well encapsulated the variety on offer at Mayhem, with Alien: On Stage followed by The Deep House. Alien: On Stage offered a touching behind-the-scenes look at a stage production of Ridley Scott’s classic from Wimborne, Dorset all the way to the West End – driven entirely by a community. While The Deep House is a jarring and kinetic exercise in claustrophobia, set almost entirely underwater that is beautiful and distressing in equal measure.
Friday kept the variety up, blending the surrealism of The Show with a high concept South Korean thriller in Midnight, while also going back into the vault of horror cinema with the 1949 classic The Queen of Spades. The Show was a personal highlight, delving deep into the warped mind of the iconic Alan Moore with a part-detective, part-absurdist film set in sleepy Northampton that had me both howling with laughter and feeling wholly uncomfortable.
It wasn’t until the Sunday, however, that Mayhem truly came alive, boasting a line-up of masterful movies designed to curdle your blood. Get The Hell Out from Taiwan blended politics and zombies for a 95-minute movie that will have you thinking next time you turn on PMQs. This was followed later in the day by the European premiere of The Night Shift – the latest horror flick from an ever-resurgent Korean cinema movement - an anthology tale by director Ba-Reun Jo that racked up the tension and blood pressure of Broadway Cinema as it wove its way through stories of a haunted apartment complex.
This year’s Mayhem Film Festival was a true return to form after the challenges of last year’s ‘skeleton’ festival
Hellbender and Lamb were the true triumphs of Mayhem though, blowing myself and the audience away and closing with rapturous applause. The former is the latest film from the Adams Family (not that one), telling a poignant tale of witchcraft in the isolated woods, anchored by a breakout performance from Zelda Adams who brings a haunting blend of innocence and power. Without any hyperbole, Hellbender is one of the strongest horror movies I’ve seen in years. Find it. See it
Lamb provided an altogether different experience – a unique horror experience. The latest film from the prestigious A24 studio, Lamb is a slow burn delight full of oddity and achingly gorgeous vistas that takes you on a wholly unexpected journey. Led by Noomi Rapace in her best performance for years, Lamb is a simple tale of loss and its impact on the family construct, told through the lens of A24 quirkiness. It’s bold and beautiful, capped off with a harrowing ending to reward you for your patience.
This year’s Mayhem Film Festival was a true return to form after the challenges of last year’s ‘skeleton’ festival, outdoing itself daily. Gore and blood were in abundance, but the same goes for mirth and warmth as a community reunited for a shared experience.
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