The Overlook Film Festival has revealed its highly anticipated first wave lineup for 2025, set to showcase a diverse selection of 47 films from 10 countries. Running from April 3-6 at the Prytania Theatre in New Orleans, this year’s festival promises to thrill horror enthusiasts with both new releases and retrospective screenings.
Among the standout selections is Christopher Landon’s much-anticipated horror film Drop, which will open the festival on April 3. Fans of psychological horror can look forward to the U.S. premiere of Landon’s latest project, while other notable films include David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds, a grief-centered thriller, Babak Anvari’s Hallow Road starring Rosamund Pike, and R.T. Thorne’s 40 Acres, featuring Danielle Deadwyler.
Landon Zakheim, co-founder and executive director of the Overlook Film Festival, expressed excitement about the event’s return. “No matter how many years this festival runs, every time we get to re-open the gates of our spectral summer camp feels like a miracle,” Zakheim said in a statement. “For all wayward souls and monster kids who gravitate to the macabre, we have something to satisfy your ghoulish cravings, thanks to the brilliance of our artists, the passion of our tireless team, our incredible partners, and this beautiful haunted city.”
The festival’s first wave also includes a special focus on horror history. Among the highlights are a 30th anniversary screening of Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight, a 4K restoration of Re-Animator, and a centennial screening of the 1925 classic The Phantom of the Opera. Additionally, the inaugural guest curator, Flying Lotus, will present a curated retro film section, including David Lynch’s Lost Highway, Neil Marshall’s The Descent, and Robert Zemeckis’ Death Becomes Her. Lotus will also host a special screening of his latest film, Ash, starring Aaron Paul and Eiza González.
This year’s festival will feature several live events and special presentations, including a talkback with author Joe Hill, known for works like Horns and The Fireman, the world premiere of the immersive Spooky Tales with Cowboy Dale, and the U.S. premiere of the psychedelic thriller The Manikins: A Work in Progress.
The festival lineup was selected by the Overlook Film Festival’s programming team, including co-founders Zakheim and Michael Lerman, programming manager Daniel Crooke, short film programmer Katie Rife, and festival director Sheryl Santacruz. With its wide array of films and special events, the Overlook Film Festival is set to be a must-attend event for fans of horror and cinematic innovation.
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