Synthesized | Love Horror film reviews and news

Murder and analogue synths make for an unlikely pairing, but that's exactly the combination at the heart of Synthesized, the latest British genre film heading to this year's Tubi FrightFest. Writer-director Chris Green's dark comedy thriller will receive its London Premiere at the festival, bringing its blend of serial killer suspense, 1980s electronic music and offbeat humour to horror audiences later this month. The film follows Martyn, played by This Is England and Eden Lake star Thomas Turgoose, an unassuming computer repairman whose greatest passions are analogue synthesisers and performing synth-pop covers in pubs where few seem interested in listening. His already fragile existence begins to unravel after a series of personal tragedies, including the collapse of his marriage to Valkyrie, played by Sacha Parkinson, pushing him towards an increasingly violent path. As Martyn's grip on reality slips, music becomes both an escape and a catalyst. While his growing obsession draws him into murderous territory, an unexpected relationship with Jasmine, portrayed by Kiran Landa, offers the possibility of redemption. Complicating matters further, Jasmine is unknowingly investigating the very crimes Martyn is desperate to keep hidden. Green, whose previous features include Strangeways Here We Come, Me, Myself and Di and The Pebble and the Boy, said the project grew from a desire to tackle unfamiliar territory while remaining rooted in his love of music. Speaking in the film's production notes, he described Synthesized as his attempt to create "a British version of the film Drive", inspired in part by YouTube synth creator Look Mum No Computer, whose work also features prominently in the finished film. Music plays a central role throughout the production. Rather than simply accompanying the action, Green explained that the soundtrack actively shaped the story's structure, with Martyn's emotional journey reflected through shifting styles of electronic music. That musical focus extends behind the scenes through collaborations with electronic pioneers Andy McCluskey of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Sam Battle, better known as Look Mum No Computer. McCluskey even created a newly reworked version of OMD's classic Enola Gay for the film's finale, featuring fresh vocals by Kim Wilde, while Battle appears on screen as himself as well as contributing original music. Alongside Turgoose, Parkinson and Landa, the cast includes Chris Coghill, Neil Bell, Hannah Traylen and Yanick Ghanty. Principal photography took place across late 2024 before post-production wrapped in early 2026, with the film produced through Green's Shout to The Top Productions alongside Paragon Pictures and Grimmfest Films. Synthesized will receive its London Premiere at Tubi FrightFest, screening on Saturday 29 August at 3.30pm and again on Sunday 30 August at 6.30pm. For tickets, visit: frightfest2026

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