Dead Northern Horror Festival Unveils Record Line-Up in Haunted York

The Dead Northern Horror Film Festival returns to York this September with its largest programme to date, showcasing premieres, cult favourites and live events in the historic City Screen Picturehouse from 26 to 28 September 2025.

This year’s event highlights three world and UK feature premieres, alongside screenings of several established horror titles. The world premiere of A Mother’s Recall leads Saturday’s line-up, telling the story of an adopted boy who begins to suspect that his new family is under siege from a supernatural presence. That same evening, audiences will also see The Beast of Riverside Hollow, a locally made production which comes with a filmmaker Q&A. Saturday additionally features the UK premiere of Home Education, a tense chamber piece examining isolation and paranoia within a family setting, alongside a 40th anniversary screening of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge.

Friday opens with the UK premiere of Sun, directed by Dominic Lahiff, in which a haunted dancer roams New York City in search of his missing wife, a journey steeped in possession and intergenerational trauma. A mystery “Dracula feature” also takes place on the first night, complementing a live talk on the city’s connections to Bram Stoker’s infamous Count. Later, the festival presents Hellhouse LLC: Lineage, the latest entry in the found-footage series, marking its UK premiere.

Sunday balances horror classics with new discoveries. Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead and Evil Dead II bookend the day, while Nightfall – A Paranormal Investigation makes its UK premiere, following a group’s descent into spectral encounters. Audiences will also see Tabula Rasa, another UK premiere that explores fragmented identity through supernatural suspense, and the British horror-thriller He Kills at Night, fresh from its FrightFest world premiere, screening here with a filmmaker Q&A.

Another key element of the weekend is the Independent Horror Society’s Dead Talks, a live discussion series exploring horror history and culture. Friday’s session examines Dracula’s connection to York, while Sunday’s follow-up focuses on underrated horror sequels, bringing in special guests for debate and reflection.

Across the three days, the festival supplements its features with short film showcases, music videos, guest talks and the returning marketplace. The programme reflects Dead Northern’s growing profile in the genre calendar while continuing its focus on independent and northern-based productions.

For more information on the event, and to pre-book your tickets, visit: deadnorthern.co.uk/dead-northern-2025-horror-film-festival