by Jenika McCrayer, Staff Writer

Brooklyn Horror is on a mission to provide “nightmare fuel” and push boundaries on what is considered horror. Their ninth annual festival offers an ambitious slate of films from around the world, spotlighting first-time filmmakers and filmmakers from marginalized communities. Below are a trio of flicks I managed to catch that are worth adding to your watchlist.

Sayara
Written and Directed by Can Evrenol
Runtime 1 hour and 38 minutes
Premiered October 18

Sayara is an intense and profoundly satisfying revenge film that doesn’t waste a single minute of its 98-minute runtime. The titular character Sayara (Duygu Kocabiyik) works as a janitor in an Istanbul gym as her older sister Yonca (Özgül Kosar) carries on an illicit affair with the gym’s owner, Baris (Emre Kizilirmak). Sayara is timid compared to her maneater sister Yonca, and she promised their late father never to use the martial arts training he taught her. 

Baris is afraid Yonca will go public with their affair and, in an act of cowardice, has her brutally murdered by his friends and her death covered up by his powerful father, a senator. Sayara then decides to break her vow to avenge Yonca’s death, and the result is pure, unadulterated carnage. Sayara is a revenge film like none other and a definite crowd-pleaser. Sayara is a fierce warrior, and gorehounds will be satisfied by the brutal kills and devastating amount of blood. Anyone who has ever fantasized about blood-soaked revenge will be satiated. Kocabiyik is easy to root for as the intense and righteously vengeful Sayara, and it’s fun to watch her enemies underestimate her at their own peril. Sayara is, without a doubt, my favorite film shown at Brooklyn Horror thus far and should not be missed. 

Animale
Directed by Emma Benestan
Written by Emma Benestan and Julie Debiton
Runtime 1 hour and 38 minutes
Premiered on the East Coast October 19 

Animale tells the story of Nejma (Oulaya Amamra), a young female rancher in Camargue, France, who dreams of becoming a bullfighter. She works on a ranch that trains bulls for the town’s annual bull competition, which is threatened after a wild bull murders a few young men. 

Benestan’s sophomore film is a clever character study of a young woman on a surreal journey to self-actualization disguised as an animal transformation horror. Oulaya Amamra gives a powerful performance as Nejma, expertly balancing Nejma’s sweet reverence for the bulls and the tough attitude she projects as she tries to hold her own in a male-dominated space. Animale’s poignant feminist themes are evident as we watch Nejma's struggle with sexism on all sides. She is never truly treated as an equal by her fellow male ranch hands and is patronized by the ranch owner. Nejma is also judged harshly by her mother, who is primarily concerned about how the violent sport will impact Nejma’s ability to produce children. The cinematography and direction set up a beautiful and moody thriller. I wish the film had leaned more into the animal transformation and body horror aspects, but they are still effectively frightening. 

Who’s Watching
Written and Directed by Tim Kasher
Runtime 1 hour and 26 minutes
Premiered on the East Coast October 19 

Who’s Watching is a wild ride that feels like three movies in one. The film begins as a documentary of sorts, made by Caleb (Zachary Ray Sherman), a loser filming his “courtship” of his obviously disinterested co-worker Krista (Grace Gillam). As Caleb’s obsession with Krista grows, his “courting” becomes increasingly unsettling. He goes so far as to stalk her outside of work and break into her house to hide cameras and fondle her belongings.

When Caleb isn’t stalking Krista, he is a bassist in a metal band. The band hires film student Tawnia (Olivia Luccardi) to edit their music video, and she is immediately suspicious of Caleb. Tawnia tries in vain to explain to Caleb how his actions may be seen as threatening and violent to the women in his life. Predictably, his behavior escalates, and without spoiling anything, it’s a thrill to witness Caleb try to get out of the hole he dug for himself. 

Who’s Watching is written and directed by Cursive and The Good Life’s frontman Tim Kasher. Kasher also composed the film's fantastic score, and I hate how much I love Caleb’s band’s single. Zachary Ray Sherman perfectly embodies the self-appointed “nice guy” who can’t read the room we’ve all encountered. Grace Gillam and Olivia Luccardi are both able to bring depth to their female characters despite being shown from Caleb’s point of view most of the time. The two women constantly remind the audience that they are complex humans who exist outside of Caleb’s perverse objectification. Who’s Watching is funny, uncomfortable, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You won’t be able to guess how it all plays out. Ladies: show this film to the “nice” men in your life as a warning. 

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival runs until October 24, and tickets may be purchased here.