MY 7 MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS AT MONSTER FEST 2026

The second wave of Monster Fest 2026 is underway!

Beginning at 2–10 October at Cinema Nova in Melbourne – followed by showings Oct 30-Nov 1 in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth - this year’s program blends new horror, science fiction and cult titles with Australian premieres and genre classics.

Here are my seven picks from this line-up of films playing at Monster Fest 2026!

 

THE ONLY ONE

Image Credit © Deep Water Films

The 2026 Monster Fest opening night film, The Only One stars Mel Jarnson as Zoe, a struggling actress who returns to her hometown from Los Angeles for a friend’s wedding, where waiting is a collection of exes who are still infatuated with her. When a masked stranger begins systematically killing her former lovers, Zoe must find out who is responsible before she becomes the next victim.

The directorial debut from producer Michael Schwarz (Beast), The Only One is a smalltown Aussie slasher starring an up-and-coming talent in Street Fighter star Jarnson that brings another multiple meaning to the words ‘body count.’

BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL

Image Credit © Yellow Veil Pictures

A fascinating and engrossing exploration into the madness and methods behind the making of the notorious sequel Exorcist II: Legion and how director John Boorman  risked career and health to bring his unique vision to life, Boorman and the Devil also reminds how even the worst films of the 1970s were made with energy and passion.

Directed by David Kitteredge, Boorman and the Devil features interviews with Linda Blair, the late Louise Fletcher, and (of course) Boorman himself who is an engaging and contemplative figure who still stands by his work on Exorcist II and the impact it had on his personal and professional life.

GODMOTHER

Image Credit © Cinethesia Factory

The supernatural thriller Godmother stars Paige Evans and Cameron Cuffe as Theo and Colby (respectively) a couple whose planned romantic weekend in New Mexico is gate crashed by Theo's troublesome sister Katie (Riley Dandy). When the trio arrive at their secluded desert rental, they are greeted by nearby retirees (Dee Wallace and Bruce Davidson) whose neighbourly generosity turns sinister when they become obsessed with Theo.

The directorial debut of John Vernon, Godmother is a sinister and stylish slice of satanic horror that turns a weekend away into a twisted tale of sun, sex and something deeply unholy. 

DRAG

Image Credit © Briarcliff Entertainment

A crime thriller of darkly comedic proportions, Drag stars Lizzy Caplan and Lucy DeVito as bungling burglars who botch their break-in of a rural upstate New York house when one of them throws out their back while on the top floor. Things get worse when they discover why this house is so isolated.

Directed and written by Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitzer (their feature directorial debut), Drag proves to be a tense, twist-filled thriller that also stars the lovable John Stamos in a spectacularly against-type role. Drag is also a family affair with Lucy DeVito producing alongside her brother John and their father Danny through their Jersey Films 2nd Avenue shingle.

THE GLORIOUS DEAD

Image Credit © Yellow Veil Productions

The latest film from the fabulously prolific Adams Family, The Glorious Dead tells the story of a smalltown infested by flesh like mounds that bring about the return of the dead and a militia of armed conspiracy theorists who take on the town sheriff and her deputy as their world goes to hell.

Funny, freaky and surprisingly heartfelt, The Glorious Dead takes the Adams family’s uniquely handmade brand of horror and blows it up to apocalyptic proportions. 

FULL MOON RISING: THE CHARLES BAND STORY

Image Credit © Caprisar Productions

An exploration into the life and career of the man who entertained a generation of video-store obsessives with B-movie genre gems such as Puppetmaster, Subspecies, Castle Freak and many more, Full Moon Rising: The Charles Band Story delivers as an entertaining and depth-filled documentary worthy of Charles Band's legacy.

Directed by the ever capable Sarah Appleton (The Found Footage Phenom), Full Moon Rising: The Charles Band Story presents the stories behind the cult-films as told by Band himself and those who worked on his projects.

THE FINAL CONFLICT: OMEN III

Image Credit © 20th Century Fox

One of several genre classics screening at the 2026 Monster Fest, The Final Conflict: Omen III marks the thrilling conclusion to the Omen trilogy, with the late, great Sam Neil starring as an adult Damien Thorn who uses his status and wealth to search for the newborn Christ child who threatens to stop his ascent to power.

Directed by Graham Baker (Alien Nation) and featuring an excellent score by Jerry Goldsmith (who won an Oscar for his iconic work on the first Omen), The Final Conflict: Omen III is a grandiose final entry in the beloved original run of Omen films in which the ultimate battle between good and evil is portrayed with grandiose, strange energy.

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