“We are here to say goodbye to… Sorry, I have a blank.”

Fiona (Fiona Gordon), a Canadian librarian in a small and snowy town, is called away to Paris by her 88-year-old aunt Martha (Emmanuelle Riva), who is about to be sent off to a nursing home against her will. Fiona rushes across the Atlantic to discover her aunt is nowhere to be found. But that’s only the start of her problems, as she loses all her belongings after accidentally falling into the river Siene. Lost and alone, Fiona struggles to get by, only able to speak a little French. Her things find their way into the hands of Dom (Dominique Abel), a local homeless man who sleeps in a tent at the river’s edge. Fiona and Dom’s paths cross more than once as she searches for her aunt, who continues to do some of her own wandering to avoid being taken away. The film charms from start to finish as the trio dance their way from one misadventure to the next in Fiona’s attempts to reunite with Martha.

An afternoon of partying turns into a bloodbath for a group of teens when they decide to play a mysterious board game, the Game of Death. The high-stakes game requires them to kill two dozen people or face a truly horrific demise themselves. The clock is ticking and survival trumps loyalty as the group embarks on a violent killing spree.

When a small Mississippi town is plagued by a murderous body-hopping evil entity, their only chance of survival comes in the form of Jebediah Woodley (Dolph Lundgren), a hardened, old demon hunter who has a history with the entity. Partnering with skeptical FBI agent Evelyn Pierce (Kristina Klebe), Jebediah is determined to take it down once and for all. There’s just one catch – the entity hops from host to host by being killed; to kill it is to become it. Jebediah has a plan to contain the entity, if only he can get close enough without being killed himself. 

Michael Briskett (Steven Hubbell) is an all-around good guy. He’s a hard worker, eager to please, and full of Christmas cheer. He also doesn’t know how to stand up for himself and is a bit of a loner with no real friends or family. His Christmas party is nearly a bust when no one shows up until his beautiful co-worker Cindy (Casey O’Keefe) arrives. The pair hit it off over many rounds of eggnog and Michael soon receives his greatest holiday wish – an invitation to Cindy’s traditional family Christmas gathering. However, Cindy fails to mention her family members are cannibals and Michael is going to be the main course. Teaming up with Eddie (D.J. Hale) and Katherine (Whitney Nielsen)—two other people on the menu—Michael Briskett fights to survive the holidays before he’s literally turned to brisket.

When announced late last year that Magnet Releasing & XYZ Film were releasing a horror anthology with an all-female lineup of filmmakers, I was determined to be there opening day. Much to my good fortune, I wound up seeing it even earlier.

XX is a quartet of short films, each distinct in tone and style, celebrating all facets of horror as brought to life by some insanely talented women.

Agatha, a new short film written and directed by Timothy Vandenberg, is a tasty slice of Gothic horror served up in just under 10 minutes. An eerie atmosphere and mostly dialogue-free performance by Louise Ogle as the orphan Sophie transport viewers into this frightening snapshot of a nightmare.

Struggling musician Holly (Kika Magalhães) can’t seem to catch a break. Money troubles, a relationship on the rocks, a sister with whom she cannot connect, and a broken-down car all weigh on her. But when a life-altering obstacle comes her way, Holly is faced with tough decisions about how proceed, particularly when she most likely will have to go it alone. Her emotional trials are brought to life in the poignant and touching short film Leslie by writer/director Alejandro Montoya Marin.

Recently released from prison, Ashley Douglas (Andre Royo) is ready to restart his life. With little more than a toolbox full of his belongings–buried in his mother’s backyard–he aims to win back his ex Linda (Ashley Wilkerson), refusing to accept that she’s moved on. After a chance run-in, Ashley befriends Jeremy (George Sample III), a lonely young man who earns money through experimental medical trials and lives with his bedridden grandfather in a nursing home. Now with a partner, Ashley sets out to start a business disposing of unwanted refrigerators for $75 at a time, an enterprises that stalls immediately when Jeremy’s truck breaks down. Neither man has much going for them other than a strong sense of optimism and a desire to carve out some semblance of happiness in spite of all the obstacles thrown their way. Their lives and trials are brought to vivid and heartrending life in Hunter Gatherer, the debut feature film by Josh Locy.