‘The Driftless’ Brings Iowa Folklore Horror to Manchester’s Grimmfest

Manchester’s Grimmfest will host the world premiere of Tim Connery’s anthology feature The Driftless when the festival opens its 17th edition on 9 October. Running until 12 October at the Odeon Great Northern, Grimmfest 2025 will present 21 films across four days, with Connery’s new work joining a line-up that includes Past Life, Syphon and Lily’s Ritual.

Connery’s film is rooted in the folklore of his native Iowa. At its centre is an antique dealer whose store serves as a gateway to unsettling tales tied to the myths and landscapes of the Driftless Region, a portion of the Midwest untouched by Ice Age glaciers. Across four segments, The Driftless introduces stories of cults along the Mississippi River, cursed liquor, time-altering artefacts and vengeance from beyond the grave.

Festival programmers have compared the film to the portmanteau horrors of Amicus Productions, but noted that Connery’s approach diverges from the expected path of gruesome morality plays. Instead, they describe the work as atmospheric and lyrical, with an emphasis on character and setting.

Connery has shot all three of his features in eastern Iowa, following Black Web (2012) and Death to Metal (2019). Locations for The Driftless include Finley’s Landing, Family Beer & Liquor, Hotel Julien and Epworth. Speaking ahead of the premiere, he highlighted the personal significance of bringing Midwestern folklore to an international festival stage.

The film stars Ira Amyx (Stranger Things), Torrey Hanson (Candyman 2021) and Justin Marxen (Haunt), supported by Bassam Abdelfattah, Ben Bergthold, Truus DeLima, Mickey Dolan, Daniel Gilchrist, Bailey Hellwig, Lenore Howard and a wider cast of regional performers. Kristian Day served as line producer.

For Connery, The Driftless marks a continuation of his interest in locally rooted horror, while also positioning him on a larger platform. Grimmfest, now firmly established as one of the UK’s leading genre showcases, has developed a reputation for presenting international premieres alongside emerging talent. Its endorsement provides The Driftless with a significant introduction to European audiences.

Grimmfest 2025 runs from 9 to 12 October at the Odeon Great Northern, Manchester.

For more information and tickets, visit: grimmfest.com/