Beyond Fest is ascending in Chicago this weekend at the Music Box Theater. The Fandads will cover as much as we can. Here’s a little information about Beyond Fest, followed by what we plan on seeing. 

Beyond Fest, the biggest genre festival in the U.S., and Chicago’s world-renowned Music Box Theatre have combined forces to create Beyond Chicago: four days of all-killer-no-filler cinematic chaos and carnage. From April 2–5, Beyond Chicago will explode 30 features across the Music Box Theatre’s historic screens from every corner of the globe. Presented by MUBI, this inaugural program further drives Beyond Fest’s commitment to the theatrical experience and its perennial championing of outsider visions, cult icons, and bold, new cinema voices.

Opening and Closing Night honors are bestowed upon two of contemporary cinema’s boldest voices: Opening Night brings Curry Barker’s instant shock horror classic OBSESSION, whilst Closing Night honors are bestowed upon Daniel Goldhaber with the World Premiere of his audacious reinvention of the seminal Video Nasty shock doc, FACES OF DEATH, on stomach-churning 35mm.

Here is a list of some of the movies we are excited for. Click on the title to purchase tickets to the screening.

Normal– Featuring a post-film Q&A with Actor Bob Odenkirk and Writer Derek Kolstad

For Sheriff Ulysses (Odenkirk), his provisional posting to the quaint Midwestern American town of Normal was meant to be a welcome respite from both his marital woes and recent moral injuries in the line of duty. But when a botched bank robbery interrupts the municipality’s tranquil pace, a dark secret is inadvertently exposed, and Ulysses soon discovers that the town is anything but its namesake.

Obsession

After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

When an oil tycoon and a famous adventurer vanish into the harsh winter of remote northern Alaska, a hand-picked rescue team endeavors to bring them home. What they don’t know is that they are trespassing on The Yeti’s territory, and the elements are the least of their worries. A blood-spattered survival horror featuring a towering beast and gruesome practical effects, The Yeti hearkens back to a time when monster movies were king.

The Yeti – Featuring a post-film Q&A with Co-Directors Will Pisciotta and Gene Gallerano, Producer Johnathan Brownlee, Director of Photography Joel Froome, and Actors Christina Bennett Lind and Elizabeth Cappuccino

Speed Racer 4K Restoration – Featuring a pre-screening Q&A with Writer/Director Lilly Wachowski moderated by Aja Essex

Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret – some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits.

The Furious

When his daughter Rainy is abducted, humble tradesman Wang Wei is thrust into a deadly underworld of corruption and violence. His only ally is Navin, a relentless journalist haunted by his own past. Together, they fight their way through an international criminal network in a desperate bid to save Rainy and uncover the truth.

RZA’s One Spoon of Chocolate – Featuring a post-film Q&A with Writer/Director RZA

RZA’S ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE follows Unique (Shameik Moore, “Dope” and voice of Miles Morales in the Spider-Verse films), a veteran and ex-convict seeking a fresh start in a small town. After an altercation with a gang of locals, he starts to suspect they may have something to do with the disappearance of young men in the area – including his cousin. 

As he digs for the truth, he finds himself the target of not only the gang, but the local sheriff’s office, whose involvement in the disappearances may be even more sinister. Instead of waiting for his turn to be picked off, Unique and those closest to him (Paris Jackson, RJ Cyler) decide to fight back in this sharply satirical and stylish action thriller from the visionary leader of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Over Your Dead Body – Featuring a post-film Q&A with Director Jorma Taccone

A dysfunctional couple head to a remote cabin to supposedly reconnect, but each has secret plans to kill the other.

Faces of Death – Featuring a post-film Q&A with Director/Co-Writer Daniel Goldhaber and Co-Writer Isa Mazzei

A moderator on an internet video-sharing platform stumbles across a potential snuff film ring hidden in the depths of the site’s content. Are these gruesome videos merely a morbid work of shock-value fiction, or something all too horribly real?