Abertoir
The International Horror Festival of Wales

A Pandemonium of Poe

LIVE THEATRE

Be chilled by an evening's eerie entertainment, with this original theatrical anthology of a selection of Poe's finest feats of fear-filled fiction! Be guided by the sinister Dr Trevellyan as he leads you into the deepest recesses of the human psyche. Along the way you will encounter such stark terror as may shatter the senses! But will you emerge from the shadows alive...? Classic tales from Gothic horror’s most famous author. Presented as a two-man show, the audience is invited to a symposium on obsession. A claustrophobic atmosphere prevails in a production which features a delightful ‘twist in the tale’!…

All The Colours of the Giallo

A PRESENTATION BY DR RUSS HUNTER

Dr Russ Hunter will be leading us on a journey through the phenomenon of the giallo for this very special presentation on this year’s festival theme. Russ will be tracing its journey from early beginnings as Italian pulp crime fiction novels through to its life as a film genre in its own right. With the iconic black gloved killer, stylish killings, kinky sex and an impossible-to-guess murder mystery, the giallo has most certainly earned its place as a respected sub-genre of Italian cinema, and made for a slew of wildly entertaining movies at the same time!

Ceredigion Museum Double-Bill

OFFSITE SCREENING

Join us as we brave the elements for an off-site screening…safely within the sturdy walls of Aberystwyth’s incredible Ceredigion Museum! Kicking things off at the museum will be Dario Argento’s 1987 classic Terror at the Opera, making the most of the museum’s original auditorium. Following Terror at the Opera, we showcase one of the best Italian horror films, the wonderful Demons, directed by our guest of honour Lamberto Bava. Expect an Abertoir twist on proceedings, but keep your fingers crossed we don’t face any calamities… Full details regarding transport to the site etc. will be provided during the festival.

Dark Corner VR Experiences

Welcome to the darkest part of virtual reality...Dark Corner is a creative content studio producing some of the most provocative and immersive VR experiences in the world. In order to experience any of the films below, you will need to book a slot during the festival itself at the reception desk. THE PEELER (Harrison Norris, 2017, 6 mins)Strapped to a gurney in a murderous psychopath’s warehouse, your only hope of survival lies in the hands of another escaped captive. NIGHT NIGHT (Guy Shelmerdine, 2017, 7mins)It’s time to drift off to dreamland…but first your mom is going to read you a…

Lamberto Bava in conversation

with Stephen Thrower

Central to the formation and continuation of the cinematic giallo, Mario Bava is one of Italian cinema’s true greats. Lamberto Bava, his son and filmmaker in his own right joins us to discuss not only his own career but his massive contribution to the giallo, as assistant director and writer, and in particular his work on his father’s films, culminating with the truly striking Shock. Critic and author Stephen Thrower will lead what’s certain to be a riveting and entertaining conversation with a vital horror filmmaker.

Nicko and Joe's Bad Film Club

Once again, comedians Nicko and Joe return to Abertoir to share their utter disrespect for other people’s films, fighting the good fight when other people’s films show their utter disrespect for the poor people watching them! With their laser pointer of doom, and their heroic efforts to try and find any logic or sense whatsoever in the secret film about to screen, Nicko and Joe will do their best to try and make watching it bearable. Pointing out every continuity error, misplaced sound boom, wardrobe malfunction or fashion malfunction, this live commentary will do nothing to improve the film whatsoever,…

Peter Lorre: Master of Menace

A PRESENTATION BY DR SARAH THOMAS

‘Master of Menace’ and caricatured hundreds of time, legendary actor Peter Lorre was synonymous with horror since his debut as a serial killer in M (1931). With his eccentric manner, distinctive appearance and voice, Hollywood cast him in creepy supporting roles in classics like The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca and Tales of Terror. But there was more to him than this: muse to Bertolt Brecht, politically-conscious director, the first screen James Bond villain, and comic foil to Vincent Price, Bogart and more. Sarah Thomas takes us on a journey through Lorre’s varied and ground-breaking career; from stage to screen to radio,…

Sergio Martino in conversation

with Phillip Escott

Join us as we celebrate the career of one of Italian genre cinema’s most renowned directors, Sergio Martino, who joins us in conversation with High Rising Productions’ Phillip Escott. Martino’s career encompasses the giallo, the Western, the sex comedy, the cannibal film, sci-fi and much more. Spanning six decades, Martino’s career has seen him direct over 60 films and TV series, and he’s responsible for some of the most beloved cult films of the 1970s. Whether going by his real name or any number of pseudonyms, we salute this legendary filmmaker.

Spaghetti and Splatter

A PRESENTATION BY GAVIN BADDELEY

What is it about Italy that makes it the home of not just the giallo genre, but also the mecca for chic gore of every description, from cannibal gut-munchers to zombie flesh-eaters. Plundering a diverse range of ingredients, from history and culture, to religion and diet, our irreverent horror scholar Gavin Baddeley investigates the recipe which makes the Italians the undisputed maestros of the messy end of the horror genre.

The Giallo Lounge

WITH SOUNDS BY DJ DELLAMORTE

Enjoy a chance to relive the garish glories of the giallo and sip on a J&B cocktail or two as we transform the bar into The Giallo Lounge. A rare chance to relax and chat, The Giallo Lounge is the perfect opportunity to unwind and chat all things horror. Recline on some disgusting animal-print throws, be hypnotised by lava lamps and enjoy the sounds of the giallo and beyond, as DJ Dellamorte spins tunes from Ennio Morricone, Bruno Nicolai, Piero Umiliani, Nora Orlandi, Goblin, Fabio Frizzi and more!

The Pub Quiz

No points for guessing the theme for some of the rounds in this year’s pub quiz! Join us for a chance to share your knowledge of all things horror with our famous, fiendishly nightmarish questions, or just drink up our themed cocktails and watch it all descend into chaos as usual!