Author - Jerry Paxton

Read This Before You Buy: Our Honest Elgato Facecam 4K Review

2025/09/10

Geek News, News, Reviews, Tech News, Tech Review

The Elgato Facecam 4K arrives on the scene not as a simple upgrade, but as a statement piece. It’s a webcam that plants its flag firmly in the territory of the serious content creator, promising a tantalizing combination of ultra-smooth $4 K 60$ video and, in a first for the mainstream market, native support for physical lens filters. On paper, this is a dream for streamers and YouTubers looking to elevate their production value without the complexity of a full DSLR setup. However, in practice, the Facecam 4K is a story of a brilliant, forward-thinking concept built upon a surprisingly compromised foundation. It’s a specialized tool that can achieve greatness, but only under a rigid set of conditions that will exclude many potential users.

When those conditions are met, the results are undeniably impressive. The headline feature, capturing video at a full 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, delivers on its promise of exceptionally fluid motion. The level of detail is a clear step up from standard 1080p webcams, and the high frame rate makes movement look natural and smooth. For creators who do post-production work, this high-resolution canvas offers incredible flexibility to digitally zoom, pan, and crop shots without a significant loss in quality. You can effectively create a tight 1080p close-up from a wider 4K frame, adding a layer of dynamism to your content.

Elgato Product Trailer (Note the low-light noise)

The true innovation, however, lies with the threaded 49mm lens mount. This single feature bridges the gap between webcams and more professional camera systems, allowing for a degree of hardware-based creative control that is simply unavailable elsewhere in this product category. Attaching a circular polarizer can eliminate the distracting glare from glasses or a monitor. A black mist or diffusion filter can soften the harsh digital sharpness of the sensor, creating a more flattering, cinematic look that is especially pleasing for skin tones. This is a game-changer for creators who are intentional about crafting a specific visual style. It’s a clever way to offer pro-level aesthetics without the cost of high-end optics.

This creative potential is managed through Elgato’s robust Camera Hub software, which is less of an accessory and more of a mandatory command center. It provides the granular, DSLR-style controls needed to truly dial in your image, from shutter speed and ISO to white balance and sharpness. The ability to save these settings directly to the camera’s onboard memory is a fantastic quality-of-life feature, ensuring your look remains consistent even when you switch computers.

Unfortunately, this is where the praise must be tempered with a significant dose of reality. The Facecam 4K’s performance is fundamentally hamstrung by two critical hardware choices: a slow $f /4.0$ aperture and a fixed-focus lens. The $f /4.0$ aperture simply doesn’t let in much light compared to its direct competitors. The consequence is stark and immediate: the camera performs poorly in anything but a brightly and evenly lit environment. User experiences consistently highlight that achieving a clean, noise-free image requires a substantial amount of external lighting. Without it, the camera is forced to increase its sensor sensitivity (ISO), which introduces a distracting amount of digital grain and visual noise, completely undermining the point of a 4K sensor.

Compounding this issue is the unforgiving fixed-focus system. While it eliminates the annoying “focus hunting” seen in some webcams, it locks the user into a very narrow optimal focal range of roughly one to four feet. If you lean in too close, shift back in your chair, or move outside this unforgiving sweet spot, the image quickly becomes soft and fuzzy. Many users have found the practical in-focus area to be even narrower than advertised, leading to a frustrating experience where the promise of 4K sharpness is negated by a persistently soft image. These two limitations create a cascade of problems. The slow aperture demands more light, which many users won’t have. This forces a higher ISO, creating noise. To combat the noise, you might enable the software’s noise reduction, which can further soften an image that is already at risk of being soft due to the rigid fixed focus.

Ultimately, the Elgato Facecam 4K is not a webcam for everyone; in fact, it’s not for most people. It is a niche product designed for a very specific user: a dedicated content creator who operates within a controlled studio with ample, high-quality lighting. This user must prioritize the fluidity of $4 K 60$ video and the creative possibilities of lens filters above all else. They must be willing to meticulously configure their settings in software and remain physically locked into a specific position to stay in focus. It is absolutely not for the casual user, the business professional, or anyone working in a room with imperfect or variable lighting. For those users, the camera’s limitations will lead to nothing but frustration and an image quality that falls far short of its potential. It’s a bold and innovative product, but one whose reach tragically exceeds its grasp.

Overall Score: 3 out of 5

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Captures smooth and detailed 4K video at 60 frames per second.
Innovative support for 49mm lens filters allows for unique creative control.
Powerful software provides deep manual settings.
Onboard memory saves settings directly to the device.

Cons:

Requires a very bright, well-lit environment to produce a clean image.
Fixed-focus system has a narrow range, often resulting in a soft image.
Requires manual configuration for best results.

Crusader Kings III: Coronations – Release Trailer

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

The pomp and circumstance of royal celebrations come to life in Coronations, a new event pack for Crusader Kings III. This pack, included in the Chapter IV expansion pass for the game, gives your kings and emperors the choice of proclaiming their majesty and legitimizing their rule through a new activity and related events. Coronation ceremonies offer new opportunities for earning prestige and inciting envy in Paradox Interactive’s popular grand strategy role-playing game set in a deeply researched medieval world.

Key Features of Crusader Kings III: Coronations include:

New Activity: Coronations
- Legitimize your rule through grand coronations that will impress your vassals and neighboring rulers
- Maneuver around faction members and detractors, hopefully forging a magnificent coronation from dangerous circumstances
- Bring together your vassals for a grand ceremony to celebrate your new rule of the realm
Oaths
- Take an oath after your coronation and declare an objective for your rule
- Access new decisions with unique rewards to suit every playstyle

Crusader Kings III: Coronations is available now for the suggested retail price of $4.99/£4.29/€4.99. It is also available as part of the Crusader Kings III: Chapter IV Expansion Pass.

CORSAIR Unveils COMMANDER DUO Lighting and Fan Controller

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Hardware News, News, Tech News

CORSAIR® (Nasdaq: CRSR) is proud to announce the COMMANDER DUO Lighting and Fan Controller, a hybrid device designed to simplify custom cooling and lighting control with unprecedented compatibility. This innovative multi-function fan controller offers effortless fan speed and RGB lighting control with expanded connectivity, including support for PWM ARGB fans and iCUE Link-compatible devices (when docked with a System Hub, sold separately).

The COMMANDER DUO can dock with an iCUE LINK System Hub to control both PWM ARGB and iCUE LINK devices using iCUE.

The COMMANDER DUO supports daisy-chained PWM ARGB fans and can also dock to an iCUE LINK System Hub. This allows control of both types of fans using iCUE software, simplifying fan management and solving a longstanding problem for users with both types of fans in their PCs.

Two channels are available for PWM ARGB fan control, supporting up to six industry-standard fans per channel for a total of 12, including the new CORSAIR RS-R reverse-rotor RGB fan s. Each channel can have its fan speed and RGB lighting easily synchronized and managed via iCUE software.

The COMMANDER DUO also features two iCUE LINK connections. When an iCUE LINK System Hub is plugged into one of the ports, all connected fans are managed by the System Hub, allowing full control of all connected devices through iCUE software. When docked, the controller supports up to 11 iCUE LINK devices, enabling simultaneous control of up to 12 PWM fans and 11 iCUE LINK fans. This gives you the power to manage all your PC’s cooling through iCUE.

The package includes two temperature sensors, double-sided adhesive for secure placement, connectors for System Hub docking, and a USB cable for iCUE.

COMMANDER DUO allows people who have systems with PWM ARGB fans installed to buy an iCUE LINK CPU cooler or fan kit and attach both types of fans for unified control instead of requiring two separate pieces of software. The COMMANDER DUO includes two temperature sensors that can be placed wherever you like, allowing you to monitor internal temperatures and set fan speeds accordingly. For example, one sensor could be positioned near your GPU and the other near an exhaust fan. Once you take note of temperatures in both zones, you can use iCUE software to configure your fans to intelligently adjust their speed to maintain a preferred temperature.

The COMMANDER DUO is the ultimate fan and RGB controller for PC users with mixed fan configurations. It supports PWM fans and can also work in conjunction with iCUE LINK devices, uniting two ecosystems through affordable, easy-to-install hardware that magnetically attaches to any metal surface inside a PC and includes double-sided tape for mounting to other internal materials.

Availability, Warranty and Pricing

The CORSAIR COMMANDER DUO is available immediately from the CORSAIR webstore and the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors.

The CORSAIR COMMANDER DUO is backed by a three-year warranty, alongside the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

For up-to-date pricing of the CORSAIR COMMANDER DUO, please refer to the CORSAIR website or contact your local CORSAIR sales or PR representative.

Web Pages
To learn more about the CORSAIR COMMANDER DUO Lighting and Fan Controller – ARGB and iCUE LINK Hybrid, go to: www.corsair.com/commander-duo

CORSAIR 3500X Mid-Tower Case Updated with Reverse Rotor Fans

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Hardware News, News

CORSAIR® (Nasdaq: CRSR) is excited to announce the launch of the updated version of the popular 3500X mid-tower case, now available with reverse rotor fans and a range of enhancements that make any build look even better. This refresh is available with iCUE LINK LX-R RGB fans or RS-R ARGB fans, and also now includes a GPU anti-sag bracket as well as double-shot grommets for cleaner builds.

Built to be Seen

This updated 3500X leans into the original concept of the case, with the dual tempered-glass panels offering a wraparound view of your build. There’s no column to obstruct the view, and the inclusion of three pre-installed reverse rotor fans ensures nothing gets in the way of their vibrant RGB lighting.

Staying with this clean aesthetic, the motherboard tray features double-shot grommets along the side and a spacious cable channel to help users route cables neatly. The 3500X has also been validated with the latest reverse connector motherboards, including ASUS BTF, MSI Project Zero, and Gigabyte Project Stealth, for easier builds that keep the core cables out of sight.

Looks Cool, Stays Cool

The 3500X is available with either 3x iCUE LINK LX120-R RGB fans or 3x RS120-R ARGB fans. The LX120-R version includes a pre-installed iCUE LINK System Hub, making it ideal for users building within the iCUE LINK ecosystem. This setup reduces cable clutter and streamlines connectivity, simplifying expansions and future upgrades. The RS120-R ARGB version features daisy-chain PWM and ARGB connections, supporting direct motherboard control and lighting.

Whichever fan option is selected, there’s ample headroom to scale airflow, with mounting points for up to 10x 120mm fans and support for multiple radiators up to 360mm on the side or roof. It shows that systems can look great and still deliver excellent cooling.

Builder-Friendly Features

The spacious interior accommodates large graphics cards up to 410mm (16.1″) long, with a pre-installed GPU anti-sag bracket to keep your graphics card securely in place and reduce strain on the PCIe slot. Tool-free front and side panels make accessing components easy.

The modern front panel I/O keeps essential connections within reach, including USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and a combination audio jack. The case is available in black or white to suit your setup.

Availability and Pricing

CORSAIR 3500X cases are available immediately from the CORSAIR webstore and the CORSAIR worldwide network of authorized retailers and distributors.

CORSAIR 3500X cases are backed by a two-year warranty, alongside the CORSAIR worldwide customer service and technical support network.

For up-to-date pricing of CORSAIR 3500X cases please refer to the CORSAIR website or contact your local CORSAIR sales or PR representative.

Web Pages
To learn more about CORSAIR 3500X cases, please visit: corsair.com/3500x

Play Acclaim Showcase to Take Place Tomorrow

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News

Tomorrow, Acclaim is back. Not as a reboot, but a rebirth for the iconic publisher that dominated players’ living rooms for more than two decades.

Acclaim’s first “Play Acclaim” showcase will take place on the official Acclaim YouTube channel on September 10th at 2:30PM ET/11:30AM PT.

A teaser trailer is at: Watch The #PlayAcclaim Transmission Received: A New Era Is Coming Teaser Here

The teaser offers a glimpse of Acclaim’s upcoming lineup of titles while celebrating the brand’s unforgettable legacy. Blink and you might miss it. Hidden in the static, behind the glow of CRT screens, are the titles that will lay the foundation for this exciting new chapter for Acclaim.

This isn’t nostalgia for its own sake. It’s something else: a kind of retrofuturenostalgia, paying homage to and embracing the brand’s unmistakable DNA and history while charting a bold new course into the future.

“We’re here to keep the fire going,” said Alex Josef, CEO of Acclaim. “We’re carrying that same spark forward, the kind that made Acclaim stand out in the first place, but we’re shaping it into something new, something alive, something built for today. We’re here to get the party started as masters of new independent games, and we hope everyone joins us to experience the bold, innovative spirit of Acclaim’s next chapter.”

Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain Unveil Fun Fall Daytime Events

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

Enjoy all the fall fun this year with daytime family friendly activities at both Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain. At Knott’s Spooky Farm families can have a ghoulish time as the park transforms with themed décor and wicked fun around every corner, daytime Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 25 through Oct. 31, plus Columbus Day (Oct. 13). Capture the spirit of Bavaria during Magic Mountain’s Oktoberfest with authentic German food, beverages and live entertainment, taking place Fridays through Sundays, Sept. 26 through Nov. 2. New at Magic Mountain this year is Tricks and Treats, a family-friendly daytime Halloween event full of mischievous tricks and tasty treats happening Fridays through Sundays, Sept. 26 through Nov. 2

Knott’s Spooky Farm

At Knott’s Spooky Farm, guests can experience a range of Halloween-themed activities, including trick-or-treating, a lineup of original shows, costume contests and pumpkin decorating. Kids can participate in a memorable trick-or-treating experience in the spooky streets of Ghost Town where they will show off their festive Halloween costumes as they collect their tasty treats. Guests can also visit the livery stable to get close and personal with spiders, bugs and more at the Creepy Critters Corral in Calico.

In Calico Park, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and their friends will host a slew of spook-tivities including games, music, storytelling and more. The Bob Baker Marionette Theatre Show returns with a spooky puppet show that will have little ones and adults entertained at Birdcage Theatre.

At Calico Mine Stage don’t miss Snoopy’s Spooktacular Costume Party where ghouls of all ages are encouraged to strut their stuff and show off their Halloween costumes. Also, at the Calico Mine Stage, Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies are back for a high-energy country music concert and comedy for all to enjoy!

Knott’s Spooky Farm is included with regular park admission.

Tricks and Treats

Have a howling good time at Magic Mountain with Tricks and Treats, an all-new, family-friendly daytime Halloween event full of mischievous tricks, tasty treats and bewitching entertainment. This kid-friendly celebration takes place before the sun sets and the scares set up — it’s all fun, no fear during the daytime at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Little ghouls can visit Bugs Bunny World to walk around the Trick-or-Treat Trail where they can grab the most sought-after goods of the season— candy! In this area guests can also meet and greet with their favorite Looney Tunes characters all dressed up to celebrate the season along with them.

At Whistlestop Park, guests can meet the park’s own original character Willoughby the Bat, making a special visit for this spooky season.

Tricks and Treats at Magic Mountain is included with regular park admission.

Oktoberfest

Inspired by more than 200 years of history, Oktoberfest at Magic Mountain is a one-of-a-kind festival experience where guests can chase the rush of roller coasters while appreciating the richness of a Bavarian brew during the same trip. It’s a winning combination reminiscent of Munich! Próst!

Guests can savor the flavors of German cuisine with a mouthwatering menu featuring Oktoberfest favorites such as bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, and for those with a sweet tooth, Franzbrötchen, a flaky cinnamon roll. Only at Oktoberfest, guests can pair tasty, traditional German food with drinks, thrills, and music for a celebration that they will never forget. The spirit of Oktoberfest comes alive with authentic live performances and toe-tapping festive tunes at The Pub. Families and friends can compete in Bavarian-style games throughout the festival area, adding to the fun.

Oktoberfest at Magic Mountain is included with park admission.

Most Valuable Pass

The Knott’s Berry Farm Gold Pass and Six Flags Magic Mountain Gold Pass gives guests season-long access to Knott’s Spooky Farm, Tricks and Treats, Oktoberfest and all other Six Flags parks. It includes additional benefits including in-park discounts on food and merchandise, and exclusive bring-a-friend-for-free ticket offers.

Buy now and visit 40+ Six Flags Parks now through the end of 2026. Some restrictions apply – please visit park websites for specific details. For hours, more information or to purchase a 2026 Gold or Prestige Pass, visit knotts.com or sixflags.com/magicmountain.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II – Legacy of the Forge Out Now

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Warhorse Studios and Deep Silver today released Kingdom Come: Deliverance II’s next story expansion, Legacy of the Forge, where Henry journeys toward becoming a master of Kuttenberg’s blacksmith guild. Additionally, available today is the 1.4 patch update with quality-of-life improvements, an updated photo mode, and an adaptive HUD free for all Kingdom Come: Deliverance II owners.

Watch the Legacy of the Forge launch trailer:

In Legacy of the Forge, Henry becomes a member of Kuttenberg’s blacksmith guild, which grants him the right to take over a legendary but long-abandoned forge, the same workshop where his adoptive father, Martin, once trained as an apprentice. Inside, Henry uncovers a forgotten dream Martin and his companions had once aspired to: repair the city’s astronomical clock. But before this task could be completed, the group fell apart, and the forge was left to ruin. Now it falls to Henry to continue the legacy, rebuild the forge, earn prestige, and reunite Martin’s old colleagues, each a master craftsman whose skills and stories are vital to completing the clock. Players can expect around 15 hours of new story content, packed with conspiracies, camaraderie, and unexpected twists.

The forge is the heart of this expansion. A fan-requested feature, it allows players to create a true home in Kuttenberg. Customize the exterior, your private quarters, and the yard with over 100 million design combinations. Furniture and upgrades can grant buffs and gameplay benefits, such as special beds that allow Henry to learn skills faster and overall skill improvements, turning your workshop into both a safe haven and a hub of activity.

Legacy of the Forge is available today for $13.99 USD. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gold Edition or Expansion Pass owners will automatically receive the new content. Unlock the full experience with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gold Edition, which includes the base game, Gallant Huntsman’s Kit, and Expansion Pass (containing access to all three paid story DLCs and Shields of Season passing pack). Visit https://kingdomcomerpg.com/ for more details.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite Out Now

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, published by astragon Entertainment and developed by weltenbauer., is now available on PC, PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Launch Trailer gets players ready for thrilling missions.

Ignite your passion.

In Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, players take on the role of a firefighter in an unprecedented way and face a variety of missions – including challenging scenarios such as trapped civilians, electrical fires, flammable liquids, grease fires, backdrafts, flashovers, and explosions.

All missions can be played either in the intuitive and cooperative multiplayer mode for up to 4 players or in the single-player mode, where NPC team members support and can be commanded. Thanks to crossplay, players can collaborate across all supported platforms, while the integrated voice chat enables seamless communication and precise task coordination.

Be the Hero Oakridge City Needs.

The fire station in the fictional city of Oakridge City serves as the central hub from which missions are launched. To combat various types of fires, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite featuresauthentic equipment from HAIX®, Fire-Dex, and STIHL, as well as officially licensed fire trucks from Rosenbauer America.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite is now available for PC, PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Firefighting Simulator: Ignite – Year 1 Edition can be purchased for PC, PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Edition includes the base game, Fire Station Companion Pack and the Year 1 Season Pass.

For a full overview of available offers and game editions, please visit the official website.

The Outlast Trials – Deep Burn Limited-Time Event Gameplay Trailer

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox Series X News

Pyromaniacs, rejoice: Season 4.1 of The Outlast Trials, Deep Burn, is ready to ignite! What better way to prepare for a world in flames than the Deep Burn Variator: a hellish trial filled with fiery hazards like fire mines, flame throwers, and an increased presence of the Pitcher: Murkoff’s resident and unhinged pyromaniac. But fear not, as the devoted staff of the facility have conveniently left water cans scattered throughout the Trial, to keep Reagents from getting too overheated.

Along with the fiery new hazards introduced in Season 4.1, two new MK-Challenges will soon be available to all Reagents, each offering their own unique form of civic engagement. In Traffick the Product, players invade the territory of sinister mafioso Franco in order to flood his streets with a new experimental opioid devised by Murkoff, creating lifelong customers and stimulating the local economy. Meanwhile, Disrupt the Neighborhood aims to break down the barriers that divide us—literally—to encourage intrusion from outsiders. After all, without any fences, we’re all free to be each other’s neighbor.

Reagents participating in this latest update can spend their hard-earned event tokens on cosmetics from the Deep Burn Catalog, exclusive to this limited-time event. Be sure to use the tokens while you can—once the event concludes, all unspent tokens will be lost.

And for those with an interest in delving ever deeper into the lore of the world of Outlast, Evidence Documents are now organized by thematics, easing entry into the twisted mind of the Murkoff Corporation. Season 4.1 of The Outlast Trials also brings a multitude of enhancements, fixes, and QoL improvements, including a rebalancing of Prime Assets Otto & Arora Kess, as well as a smoother difficulty curve for Escalation Therapy from levels 1 to 20.

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) Unveils Full 2025 Program

2025/09/09

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News

The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) announces today the full program for its 2025 incarnation, running 10 days this year in celebration of their 10-year anniversary. The festival will run from October 16-25 with all screenings held at Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg. Audiences are in for a jaw-dropping lineup of films and events, including a special screening of Ernest Dickerson’s cult classic TALES FROM THE CRYPT PRESENTS: DEMON KNIGHT with the Leviathan Award Ceremony, honoring his film career.

The Opening Night film is Tina Romero’s award-winning, Brooklyn-set horror-comedy QUEENS OF THE DEAD. The 2025 festival boasts the world premieres of Adam MacDonald’s zombie feature THIS IS NOT A TEST and Connor Marsden’s bloodsoaked thriller VIOLENCE. The Festival will also feature the North American Premiere of Johanna Moder’s paranoid motherhood horror film MOTHER’S BABY. Other highlights include Avalon Fast’s mesmerizing sophomore feature CAMP as the festival’s Centerpiece Film.

2025 Poster: Art by Jaxon Northon

This year’s Closing Night feature is the ultra violent and fast-paced KARMADONNA from director Aleksandar Radivojevic. Additional highlights include horror/sci-fi icon Bryan Fuller’s weird and whimsical new feature DUST BUNNY; Kenichi Ugana’s strange and disturbing new feature INCOMPLETE CHAIRS; a screening of the first three episodes from season two of THE CREEP TAPES; alumni Alice Maio Mackay’s latest feature THE SERPENT’S SKIN; Robbie Banfitch’s latest found footage feature TINSMAN ROAD; and Julie Pacino’s fever dream I LIVE HERE NOW.

The festival’s signature sidebar programs return, starting with FEAR IN FOCUS: BLACK HORROR, which includes the North American premiere of James Ross’s PARASOMNIA, as well as retro screenings of DEF BY TEMPTATION and BUGGED! There will also be a sidebar for ZOMBIES!, which includes the 1974 blaxploitation film SUGAR HILL screening on 35mm, a 4K restoration of BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR in honor of its 35th anniversary, and the theatrical premiere of the uncut version of Tom Savini’s remake of the George A. Romero classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Animated horror gets a spotlight with DRAWING ON FEAR, featuring a trio of heavy-hitters: the 1973 Japanese masterpiece BELLADONNA OF SADNESS; the 1981 cult classic anthology film HEAVY METAL; and the remarkable Czechoslovakian stop-motion dark fantasy THE PIED PIPER. The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies will also return with a pair of special lectures: “Excessive Life: The Uncanny Vitality of the Zombie” from David Bering-Porter, an Assistant Professor at The New School, and “On Becoming a Horrifying Woman: Psychedelic Horror, Women’s Empowerment, and BELLADONNA OF SADNESS” from That Very Witch: Fear, Feminism and the American Witch Film author Payton McCarty-Simas.

Festival badges are on sale now here and a limited amount of individual tickets go on sale this Friday at 12PM EST. Full program info is detailed below:

QUEENS OF THE DEAD

OPENING NIGHT FILM

USA | 2025 | 106 Min. | Dir. Tina Romero

A group of drag queens and party goers must fight for their lives when the zombie apocalypse interrupts their warehouse party in Brooklyn.

CAMP

CENTERPIECE FILM

East Coast Premiere

Presented by Macabre Daily

Canada | 2025 | 111 Min. | Dir. Avalon Fast

After suffering a traumatic event, a girl goes to work as a counselor at a Christian summer camp hoping to find healing and becomes close with a welcoming coven of witches.

KARMADONNA

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

U.S. Premiere

Serbia | 2025 | 116 Min. | Dir. Aleksandar Radivojevic

An omnipotent deity, claiming to be the original creator, calls a pregnant woman on her cell phone and commands her to go on a killing spree or he’ll kill her unborn child.

TALES FROM THE CRYPT PRESENTS: DEMON KNIGHT

LEVIATHAN AWARD

Presented by Arrow Video

USA | 1995 | 92 Min. | Dir. Ernest Dickerson

A ragtag group of misfits must resort to any means necessary to survive the night inside a boarding house when a slick-talking demon and his minions pay them a visit in this raucous cult classic, celebrating its 30th anniversary. This special screening will include a Leviathan Award presentation for and Q&A with director Ernest Dickerson.

1000 WOMEN IN HORROR

North American Premiere

USA | 2025 | 96 Min. | Dir. Donna Davies

Dating back to horror’s earliest days, the genre has thrived on and been exemplified by the work of countless women, a fact driven home in entertaining fashion by this lively and comprehensive documentary based on award-winning critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas’s book of the same name.

ABIGAIL BEFORE BEATRICE

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2025 | 110 Min. | Dir. Cassie Keet

A former cult member’s world is turned upside down when she receives word that her one-time leader has been released from prison.

AFFECTION

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2025 | 85 Min. | Dir. BT Meza

Continuously struck with violent seizures that erase her recently created memories, Ellie (Jessica Rothe, Happy Death Day) repeatedly wakes to a life she doesn’t recognize and must fight through an amnesiac nightmare to discover the terrible truth of her affliction.

ANYTHING THAT MOVES (35mm)

New York Premiere

USA | 2025 | 80 Min. | Dir. Alex Phillips

A sex worker with a heart of gold finds himself drawn into a murder investigation when he finds out a serial killer is targeting his clients.

BELLADONNA OF SADNESS

Japan | 1973 | 86 Min. | Dir. Eiichi Yamamoto

A true animation masterwork, this Japanese cult classic uses gorgeous watercolor-style animation to tell the brutal story of a young woman who consults the Devil to get back at the evil overlord who sexually assaulted her.

BLOOD SHINE

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2025 | 90 Min. | Dir. Emily Bennett, Justin Brooks

A filmmaker’s life is turned upside down when a chance encounter puts him at the center of a violent religious ritual.

BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2025 | 112 Min. | Dir. David Kittredge

A sequel to The Exorcist, a.k.a. the most successful horror movie ever released upon its 1973 release… What could go wrong? As this hilarious and insightful documentary details, damn near everything for director John Boorman’s infamous 1977 disaster Exorcist II: The Heretic.

BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR (4K Restoration)

USA | 1990 | 96 Min. | Dir. Brian Yuzna

Eight months after the “Miskatonic Massacre,” Dr. Herbert West and his right-hand man Dr. Dan Cain continue their morbid experiments playing god by frankensteining new life from severed body parts and must contend with a pesky lieutenant following their every move.

BUFFET INFINITY

U.S. Premiere

Canada | 2025 | 93 Min. | Dir. Simon Glassman

Experience a cosmic descent into chaos through a compilation of commercials from competing local businesses.

BUGGED!

USA | 1996 | 82 Min. | Dir. Ronald K. Armstrong

A bumbling duo of exterminators accidentally make a cricket infestation worse when their pesticide is unknowingly switched out for an experimental radioactive chemical that mutates the bugs instead.

THE CREEP TAPES, SEASON 2 (First Three Episodes)

USA | 2025 | 67 Min. | Dir. Patrick Brice

Our favorite murderous filmmaker Peachfuzz is back with the first three episodes of the highly anticipated The Creep Tapes Season 2.

CRUSHED

East Coast Premiere

United Kingdom | 2025 | 101 Min. | Dir. Simon Rumley

When his daughter is kidnapped, an otherwise peace-loving pastor is forced to contend with the seediest parts of Thailand’s underbelly, from pedophilia to animal snuff films, testing his faith along the way.

DEAD LOVER

New York Premiere

Canada | 2025 | 82 Min. | Dir. Grace Glowicki

Unable to attract men due to the stench left by her working conditions, a gravedigger finally finds the one guy who finds her aroma intoxicating, but when tragedy strikes, she becomes a reanimator—with wonderfully bonkers results.

DEF BY TEMPTATION

USA | 1990 | 87 Min. | Dir. James Bond III

A minister in training comes to the big apple and has his faith tested when he becomes the target of a succubus preying on the men of New York.

DON’T LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE

East Coast Premiere

Mexico | 2025 | 97 Min. | Dir. Emilio Portes

Left alone at their new home by their mother one night, two young brothers pass the time by playing games and fighting as siblings do. But an unseen supernatural force begins manipulating their surroundings, amplifying their sibling rivalry and putting the children in mortal danger.

DUST BUNNY

New York City Premiere

USA | 2025 | 106 Min. | Dir. Bryan Fuller

A precocious young girl enlists the help of her next door neighbor to kill the monster under her bed who took her parents.

EVERY HEAVY THING

New York Premiere

USA | 2025 | 88 Min. | Dir. Mickey Reece

After witnessing a murder, an introverted office worker finds himself wrapped up in a dangerous conspiracy involving missing women, a tech-savvy serial killer, and a colorful array of eccentric characters in indie stalwart Mickey Reece’s dark-as-night comedy.

HAXAN (with live score)

Sweden | 1922 | 105 Min. | Dir. Benjamin Christensen

The stunning silent film classic chronicling the European witch trials comes to you with a live score from The Flushing Remonstrance.

HEAVY METAL (4K Restoration)

Canada | 1981 | 90 Min. | Dir. Gerald Potterton

Replicating the experience of reading an issue of the revered magazine, this anthology-style film tells the tale of an evil green orb that infects the lives of all who dare to cross its path.

THE HOLY BOY

EAST COAST Premiere

Italy, Slovenia | 2025 | 117 Min. | Dir. Paolo Strippoli

A teacher relocates to a small Italian village and quickly discovers that the community has a very strange and potentially dangerous relationship with a teenage boy whom they believe is an angel sent down from Heaven.

HONEY BUNCH

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2025 | 112 Min. | Dir. Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Dusty Mancinelli

In hopes of recovering her memory and saving her marriage after a horrific accident, Diana enters a mysterious experimental treatment plan but exceedingly delirious visions lead her to wonder, what the hell is really going on here?

I LIVE HERE NOW

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2025 | 90 Min. | Dir. Julie Pacino

A woman finds herself trapped in a hotel and the longer she spends there the more her traumatic past comes back to haunt her.

INCOMPLETE CHAIRS

New York Premiere

Japan | 2025 | 85 Min. | Dir. Kenichi Ugana

A motivated and bloodthirsty man has the singular goal of designing the perfect chair.

INFLUENCERS

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2025 | 119 Min. | Dir. Kurtis David Harder

Now living in Southern France with newfound love, CW tries to leave her dark tendencies behind but old habits die hard when a spoiled IG content creator and a familiar face from her past threaten to destroy her best laid plans.

IT NEEDS EYES

New York Premiere

USA | 2025 | 102 Min. | Dir. Zack Ogle, Aaron Pagniano

A troubled girl sent off to live with her aunt, finds solace in increasingly disturbing internet videos that lead her down a dark and increasingly dangerous path.

LUCID

U.S. Premiere

Canada | 2025 | 110 Min. | Dir. Ramsey Fendall, Deanna Milligan

Frustrated with being unable to create, an art student turns to a candy-like drug to get the creative juices flowing, only to instead unlock traumatic memories and a plethora of nightmarish hallucinations.

MOTHER OF FLIES

East Coast Premiere

USA | 2025 | 92 Min. | Dir. John Adams, Toby Poser, Zelda Adams

Indie horror luminaries the Adams Family take their DIY filmmaking to new heights with this intimate and unnerving look at a father and his sick daughter crossing paths with a witch who promises healing but delivers something unexpectedly sinister.

MOTHER’S BABY

North American Premiere

Austria, Switzerland, Germany | 2025 | 107 Min. | Dir. Johanna Moder

Desperate to have a child, a woman and her husband sign up for an experimental new fertility program that proves successful but also sends their lives into a tailspin of paranoia and paternal nightmares.

NESTING

East Coast Premiere

Canada | 2025 | 102 Min. | Dir. Chloé Cinq-Mars

Plagued by terrifying visions, a new mother battles insomnia and her deteriorating mental health, all of which puts both she and her baby in danger.

NEW GROUP

East Coast Premiere

Japan | 2025 | 82 Min. | Dir. Yuta Shimotsu

The formation of a human pyramid in a high school soccer field portents a deadly city-wide hive mind—groups of people wielding murderous gymnastics formations to swallow up anyone who rebels against the whole.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (Newly Restored Uncut Version)

USA | 1990 | 88 Min. | Dir. Tom Savini

One of horror’s best remakes, Tom Savini’s smart and brutal re-imagining of George A. Romero’s seminal zombie classic is back in 4K-restored glory and presented in a Savini-approved uncut version for its 35th anniversary.

THE PIED PIPER

Czechoslovakia, West Germany, Czech Republic | 1986 | 53 Min. | Dir. Jiří Barta

An infestation of thieving rats throws a gothic village’s capitalist existence into disarray until the arrival of a mysterious stranger offers them a miraculous solution…if they’re willing to accept the cost.

THE PIED PIPER will screen with the following short films: The Gnawer of Rocks, dir. Louise Flaherty (Canada); Prey, dir. Pax Nelson (USA)

OCCUPY CANNES!

U.S. Premiere

USA | 2025 | 89 Min. | Dir. Lily-Hayes Kaufman

Surrounded by costly studio billboards at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, Troma’s signature attention stealing street-level marketing tactics are now being met with constant opposition by police leaving this found family wondering if their days of championing independent film are over.

PARASOMNIA

North American Premiere

USA | 2025 | 85 Min. | Dir. James Ross

When her best friend suddenly goes missing, Riley fears the demon from her night terrors may have followed her into the real world.

THE SERPENT’S SKIN

Australia | 2025 | 82 Min. | Dir. Alice Maio Mackay

Drawn to each other through mysterious visions and shared telekinetic abilities, Anna and Gen’s blossoming romance is threatened by hellfire when a demon emerges from a cursed tattoo.

SUGAR HILL (35mm)

USA | 1974 | 91 Min. | Dir. Paul Maslansky

Both an underrated Blaxploitation gem and a slept-on zombie film, this slick and sleazy ’70s cult favorite finds the wife of a murdered nightclub owner employing a horde of voodoo-reincarnated ghouls to get her revenge.

THIS IS NOT A TEST

World Premiere

Canada | 2025 | 102 Min. | Dir. Adam MacDonald

Caught within the chaos of a zombie outbreak, suicidal teen Sloane and a small group of her classmates escape their suddenly apocalyptic hometown streets and barricade themselves in their high school.

TINSMAN ROAD

New York Premiere

USA | 2025 | 120 Min. | Dir. Robbie Banfitch

A young man returns to his hometown to solve the mystery behind his sister’s disappearance.

TOUCH ME

New York Premiere

USA | 2025 | 100 Min. | Dir. Addison Heimann

Two best friends become hooked on the drug-like touch of a seductive alien who could be hiding sinister motivations.

VIOLENCE

World Premiere

Canada | 2025 | 84 Min. | Dir. Connor Marsden

In an alternate, punk-minded 1980s world, unlikely hero Henry Violence has no choice but to fight his way through a volatile drug war.

SHORT FILMS

NIGHTMARE FUEL

Sleepless nights are unavoidable after witnessing the terror on display in this collection of scary shorts, featuring chilling visions of the afterlife, stop-motion animation and a sexual experiment gone awry.

Nails, dir. William Lott (USA); Don’t Be Afraid, dir. Mats Udd (Sweden); He, dir. Hira Vin (Canada); The Littles, dir. Andrew Duplessie (USA); The Girl in the Street, dir. Chris Paicely, Miles August (USA); Do No Harm, dir. Eron Sheean (Netherlands); Eonian, dir. Michael Machin (USA)

HEAD TRIP

Brooklyn Horror’s signature celebration of genre-bending filmmaking is back with a fresh dose of short-form innovation, including coming-of-age trauma, a harrowing depiction of witchcraft accusations and the worst game night imaginable.

Overgrown, dir. Nathan Ginter (USA); Far from the Plains, dir. Luigi Sibona (UK); Barlebas, dir. Malu Janssen (Belgium, Netherlands); Would You Rather, dir. Sophie O’Donovan (Ireland); Metal, dir. Samuel McIntosh (USA); Belloe, dir. Jayden Rathsam Hua (Australia)

SLAYED: LGBTQ Horror Shorts

Presented by Horror Press

Brooklyn Horror once again pays tribute to some of the very best that queer horror has to offer this year, including a butcher looking to make a predator prey, a one night stand with a snake woman and some hot and sweaty boys fighting to be the top dog.

Long Pork, dir. Iris Dukatt (USA); Are You Fucking Kidding Me?!, dir. Zen Pace (USA); She Devil, dir. Allie Perison (USA); Last Call, dir. Winnie Cheung (USA); Tal 탈, dir.Charlie Gillette (USA); Consume, dir. Aliyah Knight (Australia); Blood Boys, dir Jordan Hahn (USA); The Dysphoria, dir. Kylie Aoibheann (Australia)

LAUGH NOW DIE LATER

We come to Brooklyn Horror to laugh, to cry, to scare. Somehow, laughing to death feels good in a place like this.

Steak Dinner, dir. Nathan Ginter (USA); Skeeter; dir. Chris Mcinroy (USA), Spanked by a Ghost, dir. Katelyn Douglass (USA); Channelvue, dir. Brandon Tauszik (USA); Sewing Machine, dir. Tyler William Hagen (USA); Five Star, dir. Kai Hamada Hasson (USA); One of Those, dir. Cosmo Salovaara (USA); Open Wide, dir. Sam Fox (USA); Blair’s Craft Projects, dir. Jack Warren (USA); Nervous Ellie, dir. David Yorke (UK); Whole, dir. Jessica Barr, Kiah Stern (USA); Whitch, dir. Hoku Uchiyama (USA)

DEATH GRIP

Prepare to dig your heels in and steel your nerves for this collection of four extended length shorts sure to grab your attention and your throat.

Alice & The Little Green Men, dir. Anthony Columbus (USA); Neu Mirrors, dir. Keishi Kondo (Japan); Jeff, dir. Julia Hebner (USA); The King in Yellow, dir. Sam Shapson (USA)

RE-ANIMATORS: REIMAGINATED TALES FROM BHFF ALUMNI

Four Brooklyn Horror feature film veterans return to the festival with excellent new short films, each rooted in classic literary inspirations; more specifically, a trio of classic fairy tales remixed and a chilling Algernon Blackwood adaptation.

The Sleeping Beauty, dir. Mattie Do (USA, Thailand, Laos); Jaques the Giant Slayer, dir. Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead (USA); Cinderella, dir. Adam Egypt Mortimer (USA); The Occupant of the Room, dir. Kier-La Janisse (Canada)

HOME INVASION #1

NYC is home to some of the best genre filmmaking on the planet and it’s Brooklyn Horror’s proud honor to showcase this cold hard fact every year with our locals-only Home Invasion program.

The Binding, dir. Ryan Kennedy; Y.M.G., dir. Alexandra Warrick; Brian Won’t Wear Condoms, dir. Genna Edwards; The Man & the Scarecrow, dir. Justin Knoepfel; Some Dark Matter, dir. Molly Fisher; You Have Her Eyes, dir. Jordan Sommerlad, Cory Stonebrook; Rebrand, dir. Edoardo Ranaboldo

HOME INVASION #2

Way too much talent in these streets to fit in one block–here’s a second dose of homegrown genre madness.

Cub, dir. Sofia Rubin; Kandie, dir. Jasmine Osean Thomas; Daddy is a Hunter, dir. Marcus Fahey; Breadwinner, dir. Camila Grimaldi; Elsewhere: A Place for Girls Like You and Me, dir. Emma Claire Crockett; Striya, dir. Paige Campbell; The Traveler, dir. Matthew Scheffler