The seventh annual Brooklyn Horror Film Festival (BHFF) took place from October 13-20 and celebrated its most robust film selection to date. Both domestic and international films were available, and several films debuted at the festival to the delight of eager horror fans wanting to know what themes and issues are explored.
I had women and LGBTQ issues at the forefront of my mind going into the film festival. I am not one to turn to horror for escape; I look to horror to distill topical issues and take a pulse on the current zeitgeist. I enjoy when horror leans into its transgressive nature to discuss issues that polite society would rather keep buried—like abortion, sexual violence, and bigotry. This year, the downfall of Roe v. Wade, the conservative pushback against the Me Too movement, and the inundation of anti-LGBTQ state laws have provided ample fodder for the genre.
The abortion anthology Give Me an A was also a crowd favorite and won the film festival’s Gold Audience Award. The film provided sharp commentary on post-Roe and much-needed levity during a tumultuous time in the fight for bodily autonomy.
The wildly popular LGBTQ selection also made for an enjoyable experience. The LGBTQ shorts handled queer issues with care and explored themes such as drug use, eating disorders, complicated relationships, and family dynamics. I was also deeply impressed with how director Carter Smith balanced the tenderness of queer love with brutality in Swallowed.
BHFF’s “Fear In Focus: French Extremity” theme also told me that I am not alone in the kind of horror that draws my attention. I was able to catch the Closing Night Film Irréversible, considered a classic among genre fans due to its unique storytelling in reverse chronological order. The 20th Anniversary “Straight Cut” edition shown at BHFF tells the rape-revenge epic in its proper chronological order, which is no less devasting than the original. This truly unforgettable film concluded the festival with a triumphant flourish.
I attended several post-screening Q&A sessions with filmmakers who spoke more about why they chose horror to tell these stories. Chaperone writer and director Sam Max spoke about what horror means to queer audiences and having freedom within the genre to subvert expectations of LGBTQ people as “the monster.” Give Me an A executive producer Natasha Halevi told us how the project easily brought together so many female filmmakers in an industry that only allows for a handful to succeed at one time. The Give Me an A Q&A session also had Kate Smith, Senior Director of News for Planned Parenthood, speak on the panel. Smith praised the films for accurately portraying abortion stories and gave the audience advice for talking about this urgent issue with others.
My biggest regret is that I could not make it to every movie, but I thoroughly enjoyed every film I was able to see. I had a great time connecting with filmmakers and genre fans, and needless to say, I’m already looking forward to the eighth annual Brooklyn Horror Film Festival!