Schedule of the Dead…
Hysteria Fest is back for its 5th year, and we just keeps growing! The festival will run for 5 days, from JULY 8TH - JULY 12th.
2026 FULL SCHEDULE
Wednesday, July 8
Arkadin
5:00 pm
Before the Battle: A Short Film Block
Revelations, Reckonings, and Ruin
Secrets emerge, beliefs crumble, and buried fears rise to the surface in this collection of haunting tales. From isolated cabins and wilderness nightmares to cults, influencers, and restless ghosts, these films explore the uneasy moment when the truths we cling to begin to fall apart.
Sin Eater
After her grandmother passes, Minerva finds herself cleaning out the house to sell until a stranger appears on the doorstep with a friendly disposition and sinister intentions.
You Have Her Eyes
A woman's fears about having children begin to manifest as visions of her dead grandmother.
Poise
A sad and restrained man lies in his empty room, trapped in a cycle of hesitation and indecision as time, movement, and possibility seem to slip away around him.
Sins of the Father
A young girl lives in isolation with her protective father in a post-apocalyptic world. As disturbing events begin to unfold, she discovers a harrowing truth about her father and the reality of her existence.
A Wound Breeds Flowers
A devoted follower begins to unravel the truth about her beliefs and must fight her way out of darkness.
Trad
A struggling influencer reluctantly pivots to tradwife content to rescue her family's finances, only to become trapped by the increasingly disturbing demands of her viral persona.
Stay In
A recluse is forced to confront a dark secret from years past that has kept him from venturing outside after midnight.
The Bones Exist
In the unforgiving wilderness of 1850s Alta California, a dwindling group of gold prospectors encounters a feral boy who forces them to confront the horrors lurking in the woods and the sins of their past
7:00 PM
Battle Royale
Opening Night Film
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Country: Japan
Runtime: 114 min
In a dystopian future, a group of students from a Japanese high school are forced by the government to compete in a battle, killing one another until only one is left standing.
Join us for Hysteria Fest's opening night celebration and a special screening of one of the most influential and controversial films in genre cinema history.
This screening features a safe weapons giveaway, with audience members receiving toy weapons inspired by the film. By the end of the night, only one survivor will remain, taking home gift cards from Terror Tacos.
Thursday, July 9
Arkadin
5:00 PM
Looky-Loo: Part II
Midwest Premiere
Director: Jason Zink
Country: United States
Runtime: 79 min
Special Guests: Director and Writer in Attendance for Q&A
In looky-loo: Part II, the faceless killer who shocked the world with his debut returns with even grander ambitions. After his first film goes viral, the Looky-loo killer sets out to create a chillingly personal documentary starring his next victims. He stalks, films, and murders them, capturing their lives and deaths in excruciating detail. As public fascination grows and true-crime fans become disturbingly enthralled, he targets an aspiring filmmaker who may be his most compelling subject yet. But with rising notoriety comes greater risk, and completing his twisted masterpiece without being caught may be his toughest challenge.
Opening Short
Vowels
Ava needs to record a self-tape, but her speech impediment keeps getting in the way.
7:00 PM
Hag
World Premiere
Director: Jackie Kelly
Country: United States
Runtime: 100 minutes
Special Guest: Director Jackie Kelly in Attendance for Q&A
To what lengths will a woman go to delay her perceived expiration date?
Jackie Kelly's directorial debut, Hag follows the misadventures of a jaded, lonely sex worker. Upon turning thirty, she finds herself struggling to make ends meet, with her once-lusting clients trading her in for younger escorts. Her age-related panic creeps to the point of insanity as she spirals down a black hole of self-destruction.
Friday, July 10
Arkadin:
5:00 PM
We Have Such Sights to Show You: A Short Film Block
Longing, Temptation, and Dangerous Desires
From cults and kidnappers to artificial lovers and sinister strangers, the characters in these films find themselves chasing connection, meaning, validation, or escape. What begins as curiosity, desire, or hope soon leads them into far stranger and darker territory.
Merkurio
In the Basque Country, a gigolo flirting with very old women has no idea what kind of evil forces he will deal with...
The Screaming
It's the graveyard shift at the morgue and Mara prepares for what should be a quiet evening of autopsy alone in the building. Or so she thinks...
Surprise!
A working class mum discovers a terrifying secret at the surprise party from hell!
Trunk
When Alex is duct taped and thrown in the trunk of a Chevy Malibu by a sloppy daytime kidnapper, she does everything right.
One Sentence
An aged man attempts to create a sentence that defines his life.
Pickled Rabbit
A desperate woman pushes her ailing mother into a remedial cult in the hopes of hearing "I love you."
Pandora Inc.
While his wife and kids are out of town, a stressed-out illustrator risks losing everything when DAWN, an alluring A.I. creation, mysteriously arrives at his home and begins to seduce him.
De Rodillas
A married woman realizes that changing her deteriorating marital situation depends on her, and she decides to take action by making a radical change.
7:00 PM
Ugly Cry
Midwest Premiere
Director: Emily Robinson
Country: United States
Runtime: 94 min
An actor's "ugly cry" costs them their dream role, sending them spiraling down a dark, dangerous path toward perfection.
9:00 PM (Inside)
Debone
St. Louis Premiere
Director: Lee Daehan
Country: South Korea
Runtime: 122 min
After killing his abusive father to protect his mother, Gyutark serves his youth in prison. Released into a hostile world where he and his ailing mother face persecution from villagers, Gyutark flees to find work at a distant warehouse. When his mother collapses and needs expensive surgery, his meager wages aren't enough. Desperate to save the only person who ever loved him, he crosses into the criminal underworld.
9:00 PM (Outside)
Down the Long River
World Premiere
Director: Harry Kolmer
Country: United States
Runtime: 98 min
Special Guests: Director Harry Kolmer and Writer/Actor/Producer in Attendance
In the aftermath of the Civil War, a former Army surgeon, a notorious gang, and a duplicitous Pinkerton agent cross paths in a tiny river town. When revenge and a fortune in gold are at stake, the town is caught in the crossfire.
Opening Short
Little Deaths
An experimental anthology of horror comprising 15-second short films
Friday, July 10
Heavy Anchor:
5:30 PM
Heritage
Midwest Premiere
Director: Baptiste Agostini-Croce
Country: France
Runtime: 69 min
This found-footage horror film follows Marie and Daniel as they return to Corsica fifteen years after leaving to visit their elderly grandfather. Looking to capture their reunion, they pick up the family camcorder, but what they uncover is far from what they expected.
7:00 PM
Jackie Kelly / Eric Stanze Conversation
Hosted by Andy Triefenbach of Destroy the Brain
Join Hag director Jackie Kelly and producer/DP/editor Eric Stanze for a discussion about independent filmmaking, horror cinema, and the making of Hag.
8:30 PM
Live Music
Featuring
Ate Up
The Disappeared
Additional performers may be announced.
Saturday, July 11th
Arkadin:
12:00 PM
Cat Cam
St. Louis Premiere
Director: Sara Werner
Country: United States
Runtime: 95 min
Community Partner: The Cat Shelter, Missouri's Largest Cat-Only Adoption Shelter
When two cat owners decide to put up pet cameras in their new home while they're away on a trip, they soon make a terrifying discovery as to why their cat has been acting so strange.
2:00 PM
A Page of Madness
100th Anniversary Screening
Director: Teinosuke Kinugasa
Country: Japan
Runtime: 70 min
One of the most celebrated and influential works of Japanese silent cinema, presented in honor of its centennial.
Opening Shorts
The Replacement
Director: Tomoaki Niwayama
Country: Japan
Nozomi and Satoru buy an eerie painting at a private exhibition.
Vlog
Director: Tomoaki NiwayamaCountry: Japan
Tomorun, a vlogger, explores a certain ruin. This is a video recording of it.
4:00 PM
Sometimes Dead Is Better: A Short Film Block
Fate, Consequences, and Things Unearthed
Monsters, murder, doomed relationships, strange discoveries, and cosmic misfortune collide in this darkly funny collection of horror and absurdity. Whether confronting buried secrets, impossible choices, or destinies that seem already written, these characters learn that some doors are better left closed and some consequences cannot be escaped.
Undertone
A sound recordist captures strange sonic phenomena underneath their house and things escalate from there.
Brian Won't Wear Condoms
An alternative contraceptive procedure tests the relationship between a wellness influencer and her skeptical best friend.
Bananahead
After her mother's disappearance, Andi Sanger hopes to land the lead role in the adaptation of her mother's bestselling novel Bananahead. But after discovering the haunting legacy within the walls of her familial home, her own aspirations threaten to tear her apart.
In the Palm of Her Hand
Three girls travel to a remote cabin for a weekend getaway, only to accidentally awaken the monster buried out back.
I Beg Your Pardon
A man commits a terrible crime and the consequences are not what you'd expect.
Not a Hero by Accident
The fatal collision with a meter maid puts a truck driver in the hands of the local community to decide his fate.
The Candle
Have your cake... and it eats you.
Glory Hole
Borja finds a glory hole in a nightclub bathroom. He hesitates, but ultimately decides to try it. After a while, Borja realizes he can't get his penis out of the hole. At this point, Borja will have to face his destiny in the most unusual place, a destiny that seems already written.
DRAINOMANIA
Unaware that her relationship is at a crossroads, lovable daydreamer Katie fails to complete a simple task at her girlfriend's request: to clean the bathroom. As a result, Katie finds herself swirling into a fever dream that could tear her apart, or maybe bind them together forever. Love's crazy y'all.
6:00 PM
Hollow Lake
Missouri Premiere
Director: Troy Escamilla
Country: United States
Runtime: 99 min
Special Guest: Director Troy Escamilla in Attendance
A relaxing weekend at their remote lake house appears to be the perfect remedy for stressed newlyweds Max and Baker. When Baker suggests that they use the getaway to finally pursue an illicit encounter he's been pressuring, Max reluctantly agrees, hoping it will add a much needed spark to their relationship. What results is an unimaginable blood-soaked nightmare and will require unthinkable measures if they want to survive.
Opening Short
Halfway to Halloween
In a quiet Metro Detroit neighborhood, two teens get ready for a Halfway to Halloween costume party—unaware that a sinister presence is lurking about, waiting to strike.
Heavy Anchor:
8:00 PM
Awards Ceremony & Happy Hour
Arkadin Backlot
Join filmmakers, festival guests, and fellow horror fans for an evening celebration on the Arkadin backlot before our late-night screenings.
Meet the filmmakers, connect with fellow genre lovers, and celebrate the festival as we present this year's Hysteria Fest awards.
Guests are encouraged to participate in our Japanese Horror Costume Contest, with winners receiving gift cards to Wasabi Sushi Bar and a complete set of the original Ring trilogy novels by legendary Japanese horror author Koji Suzuki.
Whether you're heading to the 9:15 PM outdoor screening of Ringu, the World Premiere of Reaper Road inside Arkadin, or the 9:00 PM horror drag show at Heavy Anchor, stop by, grab a drink, and spend the evening with fellow horror fans.
Free Event • Open to Festival Guests and Horror Lovers
9:15 PM (Outside)
Ringu
Director: Hideo Nakata
Country: Japan
Runtime: 96 min
The landmark Japanese horror classic that helped redefine modern horror cinema.
Join us before the screening for a special Ringu-themed photo opportunity and see if you can survive an encounter with Sadako before the film begins.9:15 PM (Outside)
9:15 PM (Inside)
Reaper Road
Advanced Screening
Director: Mando Franco
Country: United States
Runtime: 86 min
Special Guest: Director Mando Franco in Attendance
Two friends on their way home from a concert wind up on a never-ending road that traps them in a hellish dimension.
Opening Short
Pointe of Obsession
The performing arts industry is a mental war zone for queer and female performers vying for glory. In Pointe of Obsession, a deranged dancer kidnaps her ex-girlfriend to teach her a lesson...
5:15 PM
AM/FM
World Premiere
Director: Connor McBride
Country: United States
Runtime: 61 min
A recluse virtual DJ and his obsessive listener are pulled together by an eerie radio signal—both yearning for a connection they can't describe.
Music Video Competition
Kentwood & Meitz: Paranoid
Raining Satellites – Killers Get Lonely
Musicvideo Generation Gap – Party in My Body
C-Fix Nix Neis (Nothing New)
Kat MacKenzie – Wallflower
Demons and Saviors
7:00 PM
Destroy the Brain Live Podcast
Since 2007, Destroy the Brain has been one of St. Louis' longest-running voices in horror culture, covering horror films, cult cinema, genre events, and independent filmmaking through its website, podcast, and live events.
For this special live recording at Hysteria Fest, the Destroy the Brain crew will explore the rich history of Japanese horror cinema, from its early silent-era roots to the international phenomenon that reshaped modern horror filmmaking. Join the discussion as they examine the films, filmmakers, and cultural influences that helped make Japan one of the most important countries in horror history
9:00 PM
Drag Me to STL: Vengeful Spirits Edition
Inspired by the chilling folklore and bloodcurdling beauty of Japanese horror storytelling, this fiendish spectacle pays tribute to the terrifying art that has kept audiences screaming for generations.
Hosted by the wickedly enchanting Melancholy Ghost, Vengeful Spirits Edition features performances by Widows Pique, Bender, Silas Silence, Vincent Vandal, and many more of the region's favorite drag and burlesque creatures of the night.
The event will also raise funds for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and Operation Food Search through raffles and special fundraising activities.
Support local performers, local businesses, and local causes while enjoying one hell of a good time.
Sunday, July 12th
Arkadin:
1:00 PM
Variations on Violence
Missouri Premiere
Director: Zachary Nichols
Country: United States
Runtime: 71 min
Consumed by the distant violence he witnesses daily, a military drone pilot drifts toward self-destruction, leaving his sister to face the intimate cost of war fought far away.
Drawn from the experiences of real U.S. military drone pilots living with PTSD, Variations on Violence visualizes trauma's inescapable spread.
Opening Shorts
Wild Goose Chase
When his absent father dies, a young man uncovers a legacy he was never meant to inherit.
#080B30
Leonardo, a shy and curious child, is getting ready for bed when he begins to sense the presence of an entity after his father removes some old boxes from the top of his wardrobe. Leonardo waits for his mother to come and read him the bedtime story as she does every evening, but this time no one comes.
3:00 PM
We All Go a Little Mad Sometimes: A Short Film Block
Strange Minds and Stranger Tales
Grief, obsession, paranoia, and buried fears take center stage in this collection of unsettling stories. From spirits and creatures in the dark to mysterious disappearances, deadly encounters, and minds pushed to their limits, these films explore the fragile line between the ordinary and the inexplicable.
Red Tiles
A girl's constant state of inertia is interrupted when her nose bleeds.
Lupus
In the middle of the night, a boy is startled by the sound of breaking glass and the presence of a creature in his home. With a lamp in hand, he ventures into the hallway to discover what lurks in the darkness.
Requiem
Adrián, a grieving young man, disappears after encountering a spirit in his own home. Isabel, his mother, must bring him back before it's too late.
Sitter Wanted
Jodie responds to a flyer for a sitting job, only to discover the listing was not for a babysitter and there are no children in the home.
Foreign Bodies
A simple itch descends into an outbreak with many legs. Certain things will always find their way to the surface.
Never My Love
A married couple attempt to recapture the love they once had before life got in the way.
Cow
Sam and Kyle embark on their dream climbing adventure through the American Southwest. One night they are attacked by a mysterious killer wearing a cow skull mask and must fight to survive.
Simon Says So
An aspiring ventriloquist begins to crack under the pressure of his first performance.
5:00 PM
Hag
World Premiere Weekend
Director: Jackie Kelly
Country: United States
Runtime: 100 minutes
Special Guest: Director Jackie Kelly in Attendance for Q&A
To what lengths will a woman go to delay her perceived expiration date?
Jackie Kelly's directorial debut, Hag follows the misadventures of a jaded, lonely sex worker. Upon turning thirty, she finds herself struggling to make ends meet, with her once-lusting clients trading her in for younger escorts. Her age-related panic creeps to the point of insanity as she spirals down a black hole of self-destruction.
7:00 PM
Audition
Closing Night Film
Director: Takashi Miike
Country: Japan
Runtime: 115 min
A widower has his film producer friend organize a fake audition as a means of helping him find a new girlfriend, but the woman he selects is not who she appears to be.