The TCL Chinese Theatre will once again transform into the beating heart of horror this October as the 25th Annual Screamfest® Horror Film Festival returns to Los Angeles, running October 7–16, 2025.
Dubbed the “Sundance of Horror,” Screamfest is the largest and longest-running horror festival in the United States, known for introducing fans to future genre classics. Films like Paranormal Activity and Trick ‘r Treat had early debuts here, and last year’s lineup—including ICK, Cold Wallet, and In Our Blood—went on to secure distribution and cult followings. This year, the milestone 25th edition promises a new wave of terror from all corners of the globe.
A Legacy of Fear and Innovation
Founded by Rachel Belofsky, Screamfest has spent the last quarter-century championing independent voices and emerging talent within the horror space. “We’re excited to welcome horror fans back to Screamfest for fresh frights from around the world as we proudly celebrate our 25th edition,” Belofsky shared. And this year, “fresh frights” feels like an understatement — with premieres, technology-infused storytelling, and even a first look at a major horror video game.
Pinhead Returns for Hellraiser: Revival
One of this year’s biggest draws is the exclusive gameplay screening of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival — the first-ever Hellraiser video game, currently in development by Saber Interactive for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game reintroduces horror legend Doug Bradley as Pinhead for the first time in nearly 20 years, in what’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated survival horror releases in recent memory. The screening is expected to be a centerpiece event for die-hard fans, merging film, gaming, and horror lore in a single chilling experience.
2025 Lineup Highlights
The first wave of features reveals a mix of psychological horror, technology-gone-wrong, and emotionally charged storytelling — proof that Screamfest continues to evolve with the genre.
- Opening Night Film – Affection: The feature debut of Screamfest alum BT Meza follows Ellie (Jessica Rothe, Happy Death Day), who suffers from a memory-resetting condition that blurs reality, identity, and haunting glimpses of an unfamiliar life.
- ANSWR: From Stephen Kay, this AI-driven nightmare stars Moises Arias as Colton Ray, who turns to a chatbot named Cassandra (Rain Spencer) after his father’s death. What begins as comfort twists into obsession — a modern take on loneliness and dependency in the digital age.
- Big Baby: Directed by Spider One and executive produced by Cher, this surreal horror follows a writer tormented by a killer in a baby mask who may or may not exist outside his own crumbling psyche.
- Pitfall: In James Kondelik’s brutal survival thriller, Richard Harmon plays a man trapped and impaled in a spike pit deep in the woods, forced to fight for survival as his mind and body deteriorate.
- Shed: From Steven J. Mihaljevich, this tense, minimalistic film centers on a ten-year-old girl locked inside a shed, forced to confront the truth behind her family’s disappearance.
North American Premieres expand the festival’s international reach: The Dollmaker (Argentina) spins a rural mystery about a craftsman with dark secrets; The Red Mask (India) offers a queer twist on the slasher genre; Sword of Vengeance (Serbia) brings post-apocalyptic spectacle; and CognAitive (U.S.) explores the sinister side of AI consciousness.
Reviews
Joe Bandelli’s The Sequence
A solid short from Joe Bandelli, best known for his work on Hell House, who now steps confidently into the director’s chair. The Sequence delves into family trauma and the facades people maintain to conceal dysfunction, balancing emotional depth with psychological tension. The tone and pacing recall The Invitation and some of Blumhouse’s recent indie horrors, supported by strong performances and sleek, atmospheric cinematography that elevates the story’s intimate unease.
Hellraiser: Revival
Simply put, this was brutal. The first look at Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival delivered an onslaught of blood, body horror, and unnerving sexuality that felt ripped straight from Barker’s imagination. The violence is intense but purposeful, and the graphics and world-building are stunningly immersive. Even as a passive viewer, I jumped more than once. The tone evokes horror game classics like The Evil Within, Alien: Isolation, and Resident Evil, while still feeling unmistakably Hellraiser. Barker’s creative fingerprints are everywhere — dark, sensual, and meticulously grotesque.
