Cinepocalypse 2019: Preview

Returning for a third year, Cinepocalypse reclaims the title as one of the best and most important genre festivals in the country. Founded in 2017, the festival will once again take place at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theater. Spanning a week, Cinepocalypse 2019 features an array of World, North American, and Midwest premieres of the most anticipated genre films of the year, including a few anniversary screenings of some cinematic classics. Tickets are still on sale here. Also, here’s what we’re looking forward to:

Annabelle Comes Home

The most “mainstream” horror playing at Cinepocalypse: Annabelle Comes Home stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson. The film also features The Nun and It writer Gary Dauberman’s directorial debut. A special presentation, Annabelle Comes Home, a major get for the festival, will no doubt make you afraid of dolls lurking in the dark again.

The Lodge

I personally viewed The Lodge at this year’s Sundance, and can say that of the festival’s midnight showings, this succeeded the most. Set in a snowed-in cabin, paranoia strikes as the young wife of a past widower must watch her husband’s two children. The film, psychological in nature, draws out like a blade. Riley Keough delivers an incredible performance in an absolutely disturbing film. You’ll want to see this taste of Sundance.

The Mute

The Polish horror The Mute arrives to Cinepocalypse for a North American premiere. Combining paganism, religiosity, and Knight lore, the atmospheric film directed by Bartosz Konopka pours spirituality, body, and soul into a crucible of faith.

Total Recall

Director Paul Verhoeven, for a time, was the undisputed Sci-Fi champ. He made Super Troopers and Robocop, and recently arose to prominence again with the Isabelle Huppert vehicle Elle. However, his best work might be the red-planet set Total Recall: starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, and Michael Ironside. Screening in 70mm with Ironside in attendance for a post-film Q&A, the film continues Cinepocalypse’s tradition of bringing incredible prints of classic films to the historic Music Box.

Verotika

Cinepocalypse serves as the epicenter of Verotika‘s World Premiere . The directorial debut of Misfits and Danzig founder, Glenn Danzig, Verotika plays opening night. The film’s plot, kept under wraps, originates from Danzig’s love of the occult and comics. Considering The Domestics opened last year’s festival, genre enthusiasts should trust recent history.

Other properties coming to Cinepocalypse include a special appearance by Gwar and classic screenings of Airheads with a Q&A with director Michael Lehmann (closing night), Flatliners, and Hot Dog… The Movie.