Monster Fest 2019

Overview

Australia's touring celebration of genre cinema, Monster Fest loves all things weird and wonderful on the big screen. From outback-set horror flicks to eye-popping remakes to strange Lovecraftian tales, this festival fills its program with horror, sci-fi, and anything else that's dark and twisted — and likely destined for a cult following.

Starting in Melbourne back in 2011 and still unleashing its biggest lineup in the city, this excuse to spend plenty of time in a darkened room has quite the 2019 program, too. From opening night's 3 From Hell, aka Rob Zombie's latest ultra-gory crime effort, to closing night's Ready or Not and its story of a wedding night turned bloody, you'd best prepare for plenty offbeat treats.

Other standouts include Rabid, which sees the Soska sisters fashion their own version of David Cronenberg's classic; Color Out of Space, complete with Nicholas Cage going crazy; and a restoration of 2000 Australian slasher flick Cut, which stars Kylie Minogue.

A word of warning: if you like your movies happy and chirpy, this isn't your kind of festival. If you're eager for the exact opposite, Monster Fest takes over Cinema Nova from Thursday, October 10 to Friday, October 18.