Brett and Jason Butler | Love Horror film reviews and news

The cult of celebrity is put firmly in the firing line in Starsuckers, a darkly comic thriller from Canadian filmmaking duo Brett and Jason Butler that will receive its World Premiere at this year's Tubi FrightFest. Blending psychological tension with biting satire, the latest feature from the prolific independent directors examines the cost of chasing fame in a world where influence has become its own form of currency. The Butler Brothers will travel to London later this month to present the film in person as part of FrightFest 2026, joining audiences at the festival, which runs from 27 to 31 August at the ODEON Leicester Square and ODEON Luxe West End before continuing with a FrightFest at the Arzner screening on 5 September. Described as a razor-sharp and candy-coloured satire, Starsuckers follows an influencer power couple who invite their most devoted fans to an exclusive weekend retreat. What initially appears to be an intimate reward for loyal supporters gradually reveals a far more sinister purpose, as both couples become locked in a dangerous battle of manipulation, obsession and survival. As carefully curated online personas begin to collapse, the desire to be recognised and admired turns increasingly violent. The film stars James Alex, Manon Ens-Lapointe, Jersey Anderson and Jacob Stickles, with Steven Hobé also featuring in the cast. According to the filmmakers, the story explores celebrity culture, ambition and society's fascination with status through a genre lens that mixes psychological thrills with dark humour. FrightFest notes that the film draws inspiration from the irreverent comedy of Monty Python, the unsettling style of A Clockwork Orange and the consumerist satire found in American Psycho, creating an offbeat blend of horror, comedy and social commentary. For Brett and Jason Butler, Starsuckers represents the latest step in an increasingly impressive independent career. Working entirely outside the traditional studio system through their production company Substance Production and distribution label Tiny Cabin Pictures, the brothers have written, directed and produced ten feature films over the past decade while also producing or executive producing five more. Their catalogue spans multiple genres, including psychological thrillers, horror, documentaries, dramas and dark comedies, with previous features such as Purgatory Jack, The Last Anniversary and Unfriending helping establish their reputation for ambitious independent filmmaking. Their work has also secured distribution across platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Tubi, Hollywood Suite, Plex, Roku Channel, Revry, Fawesome and Xumo. Speaking ahead of the London premiere, the filmmakers said: "FrightFest has built an incredible reputation for championing original genre filmmaking. We're thrilled to bring Starsuckers to London and experience it with one of the world's most passionate festival audiences." Starsuckers will receive its World Premiere at Tubi FrightFest in London during the festival's 27 to 31 August 2026 programme. Further festival appearances and release plans are expected to be announced following its debut. For tickets, visit: frightfest.co.uk/

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