Tag: Pre-Screened

The Squirrel (2026) | Fantastic Fest 2026 | REVIEW

Pasi (Miro Lopperi) admiring the titular creature in Markus Lehmusruusu’s THE SQUIRREL. Image provided by Fantastic Fest. Courtesy of Cinematic Red PR.
Pasi (Miro Lopperi) admiring the titular creature in Markus Lehmusruusu’s THE SQUIRREL. Image provided by Fantastic Fest. Courtesy of Cinematic Red PR.

Directed by Markus Lehmusruusu – Screenplay by Markus Lehmusruusu.

Hot on the heels of this month’s announcement that it is Finland’s official submission for the Best International Feature category at the upcoming Academy Awards, Markus Lehmusruusu’s The Squirrel just had its international premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. The feature – an international co-production between Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden – had its world premiere in Finland earlier this year, and it marks the second feature film from Lehmusruusu. It is also relatively unique as it is a Finnish science-fiction film. I had the chance to see the film, and I can say that I think it works quite well despite some pacing issues.

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No Rest for the Wicked (2026) | Fantastic Fest 2026 | REVIEW

Pilou Asbæk biting Egor Venned’s chest in Kasper Kalle’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED. Image provided by Fantastic Fest. Courtesy of SF Studios / Obscured Pictures.
Pilou Asbæk biting Egor Venned’s chest in Kasper Kalle’s NO REST FOR THE WICKED. Image provided by Fantastic Fest. Courtesy of SF Studios / Obscured Pictures.

Directed by Kasper Kalle – Screenplay by Rasmus Birch.

Following its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival earlier this year, at which it won two awards for directing and acting, Kasper Kalle’s No Rest for the Wicked just had its US premiere at this year’s Fantastic Fest. It is a remarkable horror-romance film that I found to be deeply moving and often outright stunning. 

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A Prayer for the Dying (2026) | Fantastic Fest 2026 | REVIEW

John C. Reilly and Johnny Flynn in Dara Van Dusen’s A PRAYER FOR THE DYING. Image provided by Fantastic Fest. Courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

Directed by Dara Van Dusen – Screenplay by Dara Van Dusen.

Following its world premiere at this year’s Berlinale, the western-adjacent drama, A Prayer for the Dying, from debut feature filmmaker Dara Van Dusen, just had its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest 2026. As part of my remote coverage of the latter festival, I got the opportunity to watch this ambitious debut. Dusen’s Western-adjacent debut, which is being prepared for a post-festival US theatrical release on October 9th, contains fascinating surreal imagery, pitch-black dark character predicaments, and a challenging role for its competent leading man. Although it has some blemishes, I thought it was mostly quite effective.

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