Hexploitation Film Festival

09/05/2024

There's a new film screening series starting up in Hamilton called "B-Movie Nights Hamilton," and they are debuting with a screening of the hilarious MIAMI CONNECTION at The Staircase on Thu. May 23. Want to go? We're giving away two tickets to one lucky winner. To participate, go to Instagram and follow and , and enter your details here: https://forms.gle/hoBH3CnzaEMCxXky9 Winner will be announced the morning of Sunday, May 12.

25/04/2024

We can’t really take much credit for bringing DAWN OF THE DEAD to the Playhouse in Hamilton this April except that the Playhouse was willing to hear our pitch for The Final Hex and book the film and because Leif Jonker was moving mountains to make DAWN accessible to indie theatres for the first time in many decades across North America.

You’re the man, Leif!

From his home office in south Wichita, the filmmaker organized nationwide 45th anniversary screenings of the genre-defining zombie film as a ‘public service to horror fans.’ It screens at the Orpheum Theatre in Wichita on Friday.

19/04/2024

BIG SHARK is hilarious. It reminds me of the giant animal attack films from the Asylum films we used to show back in the day like Mega Shark, Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus, and Mega Piranha -- except I'm pretty sure those were meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Tommy Wiseau (THE ROOM) is trying to be very serious, and the results are absolute cinematic lunacy. Come for DAWN OF THE DEAD, attend that post-screening safety meeting, and then stay for BIG SHARK. You won't regret it.
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4/20 plans this weekend? Why not get wacky with the Wiseau-wonder that is BIG SHARK!

The man, the myth, the legend - Tommy Wiseau has done it again, producing a truly unique film to make us think deeply about our lives.

BIG SHARK LATE NIGHT 4/20 SPECIAL!
April 20, 11:15pm at Playhouse Cinema.

18/04/2024

Here we are...we've come to the end. Friday and Saturday are the very last official HXFF presentation screenings ever, and we're closing out with an all-time classic: George A. Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978)

Playing Friday and Saturday night at Playhouse Cinema. Everyone who comes will get a chance to win a prize pack including Romero and zombie art donated by Ghoulish Gary Pullin

Rarely screened in theatres, and virtually impossible to stream, DAWN OF THE DEAD must be seen on the big screen. If you've only ever seen it on TV, you haven't experienced the full power of George Romero's immortal zombie classic.

https://playhousecinema.ca/movie/dawn-of-the-dead-45th-anniversary-hamilton

16/04/2024

We are now in the final week of our Final Hex farewell tour! These will be the very last Hexploitation Film Festival screenings of all time.

Wednesday, Apr. 17: MURDER BY PHONE at Doors (56 Hess St. S.) in collaboration with Crypt Cinema: an interactive killer phone movie and game with prizes! Admission is PWYC or with food donation. Details: https://www.hexfilmfest.com/p/hxff-presents-murder-by-phone-1982.html

Friday, April 19 & Saturday, April 20: DAWN OF THE DEAD at Playhouse Cinema. Details and tickets: https://playhousecinema.ca/movie/dawn-of-the-dead-45th-anniversary-hamilton

Sunday, April 21: Afterparty at Doors. A screening of FRIDAY THE 13th hosted by star Ari Lehman (the boy in the lake) followed by a live peformacne of Ari Lehman's band FIRST JASON (with Blood Opera Inc. and 30 immolated ; 16 returned opening). Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/first-jason-live-at-doors-taco-and-metal-bar-tickets-869646705707

Celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the ultimate zombie classic, George A. Romero’s DAWN OF THE DEAD, as it was meant to be seen – on the Big Screen!

09/04/2024

We’re entering the halfway point of THE FINAL HEX farewell tour. Our next stop is Thursday, April 11th at The Westdale for a collab screening of Top Knot Detective with our friends at The Way of the Sword film talk series.

https://www.hexfilmfest.com/p/hxff-presents-top-knot-detective-2017.html

In the late 90s, Japanese TV show ‘Ronin Suiri Tantai’ made it to Australian screens retitled as Top Knot Detective where it became a cult hit. The original Japanese series was legendary in its home country as being a cultural train-wreck, led by its insane writer/director/star, Takashi Takamoto. The rivalry between Takashi and co-star, Haruto Koike, is just the tip of this conspiratorial iceberg, leading back to Japanese conglomerate Sutaffu, and its CEO, Moritaro (coincidentally, Haruto’s father). On-screen he battles robot ninjas & p***s monsters while off-screen jealousy threatens to demolish his legacy. TOP KNOT DETECTIVE introduces us to the show's cult status while probing into the origins of its creator Takashi Takamoto, his hunger for fame, desire to be admired, and the blurry lines between truth and fiction. Through interviews with cast and crew, the mystery of Takashi Takamoto unravels, and we get an insight into the eccentric shows that cult film fans hold so dear.

This is a hugely entertaining look at a completely neglected talent who deserves to find an audience around the world. It’s also “complete and total BS!” (Fantastic Fest)

08/04/2024

08/04/2024

06/04/2024

There are only TWO (2) tickets left for HERE FOR BLOOD (Hamilton Premiere!) / The Final Hex: Hexploitation Farewell Tour

This is our last screening ever at The Staircase

Who is going to get them?!?!

https://www.hexfilmfest.com/p/hxff-presents-here-for-blood-hamilton.html

05/04/2024

THE HEXPLOITATION FILM FESTIVAL has announced “THE FINAL HEX: HEXPLOITATION FAREWELL TOUR”. The longest-running film screening series in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, devoted exclusively to horror, exploitation, and cult genre films, is partnering with five venues for a month-long series of events and screenings including the 45th North American Anniversary screening of the cult classic DAWN OF THE DEAD. Full schedule of events: https://ow.ly/GTTa50R9hX5

03/04/2024

Our FINAL HEX farewell tour starts tonight! Our first event is B-Movie Bingo at Farside (288 James St N, Hamilton) where we'll be showing MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (1987). Three lucky winners will leave with prize packs including custom vegan treats from The Hearty Hooligan and horror art merch by Ghoulish Gary Pullin. Entry and game are free, but seating is limited so get there for 8:30pm to register. One bingo card per player. No one will be admitted to the game after 9:00pm!

28/03/2024

The Final Hex, our farewell tour, starts next week with B-movie Bingo at Farside Hamilton and HERE FOR BLOOD (Hamilton Premiere!) / The Final Hex: Hexploitation Farewell Tour at The Staircase. Get all the dates, deets, and tickets at http://www.hexfilmfest.com/p/event-schedule-tickets.html

23/03/2024

JUST ANNOUNCED!

The Final Hex: Hexploitation Farewell Tour officially ends Sunday, April 21 at Doors Pub with a night of horror rock and metal from FIRST JASON and Hamilton guests Blood Opera Inc. & 30 immolated ; 16 returned. A screening of the original F13 film and drinking game with comedy commentary by the original first Jason ARI LEHMAN will be followed by a night of horror rock. If this doesn’t melt your face then you weren’t there!

15/03/2024

The full April 2024 schedule of films and events in our Farewell Tour is now live and tickets are for sale. After 15 years, we are retiring Hexploitation (formerly Fright Night / Fright Night Theatre). The Final Hex is a distillation of what we do best: curating entertaining B-Movie oddities, showcasing bold new independent horror and genre films from local filmmakers, hosting interactive prize giveaways, and bringing bona fide horror classics to the big screen. From buzzworthty new indie horror like HERE FOR BLOOD to cult masterpieces like DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978), our farewell tour is packed with thrills, chills, and kills

THE FINAL HEX: Hexploitation Film Festival Farewell Tour Dates and Details in Hamilton, Ontario including HERE FOR BLOOD and DAWN OF THE DEAD

13/03/2024

Tomorrow we will officially announce all five venues in Hamilton, all five films, and all the final dates that will make up THE FINAL HEX Hexploitation Farewell Tour. These are our final shows ever and we’re going out with a bang!

12/03/2024

Hamilton! You will get your chance April 19 & April 20 at Playhouse Cinema. We are presenting these with our friends at The Playhouse as the very last stops on our The Final Hex: Hexploitation Farewell Tour. These will be the very last Hexploitation screenings ever. Don’t miss this rare chance.

George A. Romero's horror classic Dawn of the Dead is coming back to theaters nationwide, and you can grab your tickets here.

06/03/2024

Our next announcement on our THE FINAL HEX Farewell tour is Top Knot Detective, co-presented with The Way of the Sword film talk series at The Westdale. Screening April 11 and guest-hosted by HXFF director Aaron Allen.

In the late 90s, Japanese TV show ‘Ronin Suiri Tantai’ made it to Australian screens retitled as “Top Knot Detective” where it became a cult hit. The original Japanese series was legendary in its home country as being a cultural train-wreck, led by its insane writer/director/star, Takashi Takamoto. The rivalry between Takashi and co-star, Haruto Koike, is just the tip of this conspiratorial iceberg, leading back to Japanese conglomerate Sutaffu, and its CEO, Moritaro (coincidentally, Haruto’s father). On-screen he battles robot ninjas & p*nis monsters while off-screen jealousy threatens to demolish his legacy. TOP KNOT DETECTIVE is a love letter to lost media and cult TV and film oddities.

Hexploitation Film Festival presents TOP KNOT DETECTIVE @ The Way of the Sword. The Westdale Theatre. April 11, 2024

28/02/2024

Your very last chance to see a Hexploitation Film Festival presentation will be April 19 & 20, 2024 at Playhouse Cinema in Hamilton, ON when we co-present DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) on the big screen. Rarely presented in theatres, DAWN OF THE DEAD is currently celebrating its 45th North American Anniversary. We are teaming up with our friends at The Playhouse to pull out all the stops for this limited two-night engagement. Tickets are available at https://playhousecinema.ca

More The Last Hex: Farewell Tour event news to come!

HXFF and Playhouse Cinema Hamilton present George Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD: April 19 and April 20, 2024

25/02/2024

After 15 years of thrills, chills, and kills, The Hexploitation Film Festival (HXFF) is coming to an end…but not without one last scream. THE FINAL HEX Farwell Tour will bring the HXFF’s unique program of monsters, maniacs, and murder to a series of venues throughout Hamilton all culminating in not-to-be-missed screenings in April 2024. Participating venues and events to be announced soon!

24/02/2024

What will be the fate of the Hexploitation Film Festival? Big announcement tomorrow.

19/10/2023

One of our favourite filmmakers Greg Lamberson (Slime City, Killer Rack, Guns of Eden) has an AMAZING new film festival in Buffalo, NY that is now open for submissions. AMAZING FANTASY FEST (Sep 13 - 19, 2024) will showcase the best new independent Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Action, Animation, and Experimental films. While HXFF is on hiatus, two members of the HXFF will be joining AFF as film programmers: HXFF director Aaron Allen and HXFF programmer/Dread Media podcaster and author Desmond Reddick. Earlybird deadline is Dec 31. Submit your shorts, features, and unproduced screenplays to AFF at https://filmfreeway.com/AmazingFantasyFest

11/10/2023

Thursday, October 12 at The Westdale, HXFF director Aaron Allen is joining Ryan Ferguson to co-host a screening of Nobuhiko Obayashi’s experimental comedy-horror-fantasy film HOUSE (1977). Kick off the Halloween season by experiencing this incredible and singular Japanese cult classic. https://www.thewestdale.ca/event/house

16/08/2023

Friday, August 18 / 8pm at the : GAMERA 3 (1999). The film talk series brings its Kaiju Summer program to an epic conclusion with one of the greatest Kaiju films ever produced. As Gyaos monsters begin to attack Japan again, a young girl – whose parents died during a previous monster conflict – discovers a new creature called Iris. After merging with the girl, the trauma-powered Iris seeks revenge on Gamera, who seems to be losing his patience with humankind. Has Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe, added human kind to his hit list? Written by Kazunori Itô (Ghost in the Shell). Written/Directed by Shusuke Kaneko (Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: All Monsters Attack). Special effects directed by Shinji Higuchi (Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman). Presented in Japanese with English subtitles. Hosted by &

02/08/2023

GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS (1999) / Aug.18 / 8pm . ’s Kaiju Summer film talk series wraps up with a screening of one of the greatest giant monster movies ever made. As Gyaos monsters begin to attack Japan again, a young girl – whose parents died during a previous monster conflict – discovers a new creature called Iris. After merging with the girl, the trauma-powered Iris seeks revenge on Gamera, who seems to be losing his patience with humankind. Do-hosted by . Preorder your screen printed Kaiju Summer posters from

13/07/2023

WRATH OF DAIMAJIN (大魔神逆襲) screens July 21, 2023 at The Westdale Theatre as part of the Kaiju Summer film talk series. Released in 1966, WRATH OF DAIMAJIN is set in feudal Japan and follows four young boys who strike out into the winter snow to rescue their fathers who have been imprisoned by an evil lord. They must cross a perilous, forbidden mountain ruled by a powerful mountain demon god (the Daimajin) who is embodied by a giant stone statue and its hawk avatar. Featuring adventure, gorgeous hand-crafted sets, and amazing special effects, the DAIMAJIN series is a Kaiju and tokusatsu series often overlooked in the West. WRATH OF DAIMAJIN never screened in North American cinemas upon its release and didn’t reach Western markets in an official, translated format until 2002. See it on the big screen at the Westdale followed by a film talk moderated by Way of the Sword’s Ryan Ferguson & Hexploitation Film Festival’s Aaron Allen.

01/06/2023

KING GHIDORAH challenges the world in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968): TOMORROW! June 02 / 9pm presented by and HXFF. Species: Space Dragon / Height: 100 metres / Wingspan: 150 metres / Weight: 30 ,000 metric tonnes/ Alias: Monster Zero / First Appeaeance: GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964). One of 11 different kaiju bursting from the big screen in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS!

31/05/2023

GODZILLA attacks New York in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968): June 02 / 9pm presented by and HXFF. Species: Prehistoric irradiated reptile / Height: 50 metres / Length: 105 metres / Weight: 120,000 metric tonnes/ First Appeaeance: GODZILLA (1954). One of 11 different kaiju bursting from the big screen in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS!

31/05/2023

RODAN massacres Moscow in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968): June 02 / 9pm presented by and HXFF. Species: Giant irradiated Pteranodon / Height: 50 metres / Wingspan: 120 metres / Weight: 15,000 metric tonnes/ First Appeaeance: RODAN (1956). One of 11 different kaiju bursting from the big screen in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS!

30/05/2023

MANDA obliterates London in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968): June 02 / 9pm presented by and HXFF.

Species: Sea Dragon
Length: 150 metres
Weight: 30,000 metric tonnes
Girth: 10 metres
First Appearance: ATRAGON (1963).

One of 11 different kaiju bursting from the big screen in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS!