NWFF 2026 - First Wave Film Announcement
NorthwestFEARFest returns to Metro Cinema this October 14–18, 2026, with five days and nights of the year's hottest genre films, retro favourites, restorations, and phenomenal shorts packages. The full lineup will be announced on September 15th, but we're excited to announce our first wave of film selections today!
Passes are on sale now, with special early-bird pricing on until September 20th (or while supplies last), so get yours today and don't miss out on a single minute of thrills.
Film still, Neil Patrick Harris and Lulu Wilson, The Last Temptation of Becky
THE LAST TEMPTATION OF BECKY
Directed by Jenn Wexler | 2026 | 89 min | USA
Starring Lulu Wilson, Kate Siegel, and Neil Patrick Harris
Now a CIA field agent, the titular Becky goes undercover in Poland to infiltrate a family running an inn at The Wolf's Lair, one of Hitler's WWII bunkers. When she learns Wilhelm Reuss (Neil Patrick Harris) plans to spark the Fourth Reich, Becky knows she's got to step up.
Lulu Wilson brings the heat once again in her iconic portrayal of the title character, Becky, and in a series that's previously stacked the villain roles (Kevin James, Sean William Scott), they've outdone themselves once again with the truly inspired casting of Neil Patrick Harris as the evil Nazi leader.
Fresh from its triumphant Fantasia Film Festival World Premiere, we're absolutely thrilled to be bringing the exhilarating third chapter of the BECKY franchise to NWFearFest 2026!
Festivals: 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival
ANCESTRAL BEASTS
Directed by Tim Riedel | 2026 | 104 min | Canada
Starring Morgan Holmstrom, Shannon Baker, Darla Contois
A Métis woman retreats to her family's rural home to rebuild her life, only to discover a lethal presence that forces her to decide between what she is willing to sacrifice and what she must protect. From Writer/Director Tim Riedel, and Edmonton-based Executive Producer Edmon Rotea, NWFEARFest is proud to present ANCESTRAL BEASTS as our 2026 closing night film!
Festivals: 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival
UNHOLY NIGHT
Directed by Michael Gabriele | 2026 | 91 min | Canada
Starring Marc Bendavid, Toni Ellwand, Shailene Garnett
A family's Christmas Eve dinner becomes a nightmare as Gino must protect his loved ones from his reanimated grandmother, who crashes the celebration with murderous intent. Celebrate Christmas in October, as NWFEARFest presents this absolute knockout of a horror comedy filled with twists, turns, big laughs, and big scares.
Festivals: 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival
GOD SKIN
Directed by Paween Purijitpanya | 2026 | 127 min | Thailand
Starring Sutthirak Subvijitra, Itkorn Pungkiatrussamee, Phantira Pipityakorn
To save his dying mother, a desperate delivery rider must survive a brutal underground arena where experimental tattoos grant extraordinary powers. With thrilling fight choreography from the team behind Ong Bak, this Street Fighter-style sci-fi action thriller has surprises around every corner. What starts as a typical martial arts/action thriller quickly takes all sorts of unexpected turns, resulting in one of the most thrilling viewing experiences of 2026.
Festivals: 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA: 40th Anniversary Screening!
Directed by John Carpenter | 1986 | 99 min | USA
Starring Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dunn
A truck driver (played by Kurt Russell, in one of the funniest performances of his career) is pulled into Chinatown conflict when a sorcerer kidnaps a friend's fiancée, forcing them into a hidden war of gangs, magic, and prophecy beneath San Francisco.
John Carpenter's exhilarating ode to martial arts action serials, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, like many of Carpenter's films, was underrated and criminally underpromoted by the studio upon its initial release. However, much like The Thing, this film not only went on to gain a whole new level of appreciation (thanks in part to the video rental era), but it has also stood the test of time as a bona fide action-comedy classic.
BEHIND THE CASTLE DOORS: The Origin of the Hilarious House of Frightenstein
Directed by Morgan Baker, Tammy Heisel | 2025 | 65 min | Canada
When the Markowitz brothers pitched their idea for a "pseudo-horror" TV show for kids, they promised a celebrity would be part of it—none other than the great Vincent Price. A contract was signed for 130 hour-long episodes, but there was one problem: Vincent didn't even know about it yet!
Join us for Saturday morning cereal and beverages, and discover the fascinating journey of how this quirky 1970's Canadian cult-classic began, as told by the original crew. After the doc, stay seated for a vintage episode of The Hilarious House of Frightenstein!
Festivals: Windsor International Film Festival, Blood in the Snow
THE PROWLER: 45th Anniversary Screening-Uncut Edition!
Directed by Joseph Zito | 1981 | 89 min | USA
Starring: Vicky Dawson, Christopher Goutman, Laurence Tierney, Farley Granger
An unknown killer, clad in World War II U.S. Army fatigues, stalks a small California town bent on reliving a 35-year-old double murder by focusing on a group of college kids holding an annual graduation dance. While not nearly as well known as such classic slashers as Friday the 13th or My Bloody Valentine, Joseph Zito's THE PROWLER is, hands down, one of the absolute best slasher movies ever made.
Suspenseful and scary as hell, with spectacular kills and groundbreaking makeup effects by Tom Savini (who turned down Friday the 13th Part II to do this film!), THE PROWLER is an absolute must-see.
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST-UNCUT: All New 4K Restoration
Directed by Ruggero Deodato | 1980 | 96 min | Italy
Starring: Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen, Luca Barbareschi
An anthropologist ventures into the Amazon rainforest on a rescue mission, where he recovers footage shot by a film crew documenting their disastrous encounters with local cannibal tribes.
Now recognized as the first true found-footage film, Ruggero Deodato's relentlessly grim, downbeat, and graphic horror classic remains one of the most controversial films ever made.
Featuring stomach-churning, ultra-realistic violence (so realistic, the filmmaker was brought up on murder charges), real animal cruelty and death, graphic scenes of torture, mutilation, assault and sexual assault, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST was and is considered groundbreaking, influential, also polarizing . . . and despite everything, a horror classic that remains unmatched in its ability to shock.
NorthwestFEARFest presents the Alberta premiere of the most notorious film ever made. This 18+ screening will be strictly enforced. Viewer discretion is more than strongly advised.