FilmFear 2020: Scream Now, Think Later at HOME

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
HOME

FilmFear 2020 at HOME Manchester, Manchester 28 October — 1 November 2020 Tickets from £5 — Book now

While you might think that things seem horrific enough at the moment, the horror genre has always provided both escapism and a lens through which to reflect upon and interrogate the social issues of the day. Whether you’re looking for distraction or catharsis, there are horror films of all shapes and sizes in this year’s edition of FilmFear — HOME and Film4’s annual celebration of all things spooky.

Starting with Wes Craven’s (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream) underseen The People Under the Stairs (Wed 28 Oct) and continuing with Philip Kaufman’s spectacular remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Thu 29 Oct), FilmFear is a weeklong chance to indulge in the macabre corners of cinema history. There’s also room to reflect, with a pay-what-you-can live-streamed discussion with experts on representations of race in the horror film (Thu 29 Oct.)

the horror genre has always provided both escapism and a lens through which to reflect upon and interrogate the social issues of the day…

This year’s edition is subtitled “Scream Now, Think Later”, a comment appropriate for Parasite director Bong Joon-ho’s aquatic creature-feature The Host (Fri 30 Oct), which combines thrills with scathing satirical content. There’s been added interest in the South Korean filmmaker since Parasite’s Oscar win earlier this year, and this earlier effort is equally worthwhile.

Similarly, Bernard Rose’s Candyman — showing Saturday 31 October in place of the delayed remake — is a tale of murder, but also reckons with Blackness in America, and the Chicago housing projects in which it is set. Showing later the same day, Karyn Kusama’s Jennifer’s Body has also undergone a reappraisal in the years since its release, with critics praising star Megan Fox, as well as its social content and feminist themes.

Jennifer’s Body
Jennifer’s Body

Also on Halloween, curators David Cox of Film4 and HOME’s Creative Director for Film and Culture, Jason Wood, have linked with the Instituto Cervantes to bring HOME a double bill from one of Spanish film and television’s most distinctive voices — Narciso Ibáñez Serrador. This rare retrospective continues with the director’s influential Who Can Kill a Child? on Sunday 1 November.

Billed as a biting satire about food fads and marketing that makes chlorinated chicken look benign, Larry Cohen’s cult film The Stuff (Sun 1 Nov) follows. Meanwhile the season concludes on Thursday 5 November with one of the breakout British genre hits of the last decade, as John Boyega battles space aliens on a South London housing estate in Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block.

FilmFear 2020 at HOME Manchester, Manchester 28 October — 1 November 2020 Tickets from £5 Book now

What's on at HOME Manchester

CinemaManchester
It’s A Wonderful Life at HOME

This ultimate feel-good, festive favourite, from Oscar-winning director Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as despairing businessmen George Bailey. HOME present their annual screenings.

from £9.15
Until
ExhibitionsManchester
A Fine Toothed Comb at HOME

Turner prize winner Lubaina Himid curates HOME’s newest exhibition ‘A Fine Toothed Comb’, an in-depth exploration of Manchester’s communities, geography, geology and architecture.

free entry

Where to go near FilmFear 2020: Scream Now, Think Later at HOME

Manchester
Restaurant
Indian Tiffin Room, Manchester

Indian Tiffin Room is a restaurant specialising in Indian street food, with branches in Cheadle and Manchester. This is the information for the Manchester venue.

The Ritz Manchester live music venue
Manchester
Music venue
The Ritz

The Ritz was originally a dance hall, built in 1928, has hosted The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and The Smiths and is still going strong as a gig venue now.

Homeground
Manchester
Event venue
Homeground

Homeground is HOME’s brand new outdoor venue, providing an open-air space for theatre, food, film, music, comedy and more.

Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Burgess Cafe Bar
at IABF

Small but perfectly-formed café – which also serves as the in-house bookstore, stocking all manner of Burgess-related works, along with recordings of his music. It’s a welcoming space, with huge glass windows making for a bright, welcoming atmosphere.

Rain Bar pub in Manchester
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Rain Bar

This huge three-floor pub, formerly a Victorian warehouse, then an umbrella factory (hence the name), has one of the city centre’s largest beer gardens. The two-tier terrace overlooks the Rochdale canal and what used to be the back of the Hacienda, providing an unusual, historic view of the city.

Manchester
Bar or Pub
The Briton’s Protection

Standing on the corner of a junction opposite The Bridgewater Hall, The Briton’s Protection is Manchester’s oldest pub. It has occupied the same spot since 1795, going under the equally patriotic name The Ancient Britain.

What's on: Festivals

Until
FestivalsManchester
Winter Island

Freight Island has transformed into Winter Island for the Christmas season, focusing on all things fun and festive.

free entry
Until
ActivitySale
Prism: Light Trail

This winter you can see a series of light installations through Sale Town Centre, designed by children and young people from the borough.

free entry
saltaire living advent calendar
Until
FestivalsSaltaire
Saltaire Living Advent Calendar

The Saltaire Living Advent Calendar has been a staple of the village since 2006, with community buildings and houses lighting up their windows with intricate illuminations.

free entry
FestivalsManchester
Lightwaves at Salford Quays

An unmissable ten days of luminary adventures. Interact with boundary-breaking new commissions, create your own digital masterpieces and take a selfie with a Dalek. Yep, really.

free entry
ChildrensCheshire
Christmas at Bolesworth

Come to Cheshire’s winter wonderland. A magical festive lights trail, Santa’s Grotto and more… This is a jam packed adventure for all the family.

from £20.00

Culture Guides

Music in Manchester and the North

Spotlighting global artists who all, in one way or another, break the mould, we preview the best gigs happening this side of Christmas and beyond.