PREVIEW: Itch! (2026 Film) - Starring Bari Kang

Preview by Jon Donnis

Bari Kang steps into the horror spotlight with Itch!, a tense and unsettling debut that has already stirred attention following its UK premiere at Grimmfest. Set for a digital release on 20 April 2026 through Seven Tales, the film arrives with a strong sense of purpose and a premise that feels uncomfortably close to the bone.

Kang wears several hats here, writing, directing, producing, and taking on the central role of Jay. It is a bold move, but one that gives the film a clear, personal edge. Jay is not a typical horror lead. He is a widower, weighed down by grief, trying to hold himself together as the world around him begins to unravel. That emotional grounding becomes the backbone of the story, giving the chaos that follows something human to cling to.

The outbreak at the centre of Itch! is as brutal as it is immediate. A fast spreading infection known as The Itch drives its victims into violent, self destructive states, turning everyday people into unpredictable threats. Against this backdrop, Jay and his daughter, played by Kang's real life daughter Olivia Kang, search for safety in a city that is quickly losing any sense of order.

Their refuge comes in the form of a convenience store, a setting that feels ordinary at first glance but soon reveals itself to be anything but safe. What begins as shelter becomes something far more claustrophobic. The danger is not just outside. It seeps into the room, carried by fear, suspicion, and the fragile instincts of survival.

As tensions rise within the group trapped inside, the film leans into the psychological strain of confinement. Trust becomes a luxury no one can afford. Every glance, every decision carries weight. The infection is relentless, but the real question is how far people will go when pushed to the edge. It is here that Itch! finds its sharpest edge, exploring the uneasy space between protecting others and preserving oneself.

The relationship between Jay and his daughter adds a layer of emotional urgency that cuts through the horror. Their bond is tested at every turn, shaped by loss, fear, and the desperate need to endure. The film does not shy away from the cost of survival, building towards a climax that promises to leave a lasting impression.

With a cast that includes Patrick Michael Valley, Ximena Uribe, Mia Ventura Lucas, and Douglas Stirling, Itch! positions itself as more than just another outbreak thriller. It aims to unsettle not only through its premise, but through the choices its characters are forced to make.

Arriving in the UK on 20 April and the US a day later, Itch! looks set to deliver a bleak, gripping experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

REVIEW: Primate (2026 Film) - Starring Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Troy Kotsur

Review by Jon Donnis

Primate wastes no time setting its stall out. Director Johannes Roberts opens with a blunt, nasty prologue in rural Hawaii, where a veterinarian meets a gruesome end at the hands of a pet chimpanzee. It is an immediate statement of intent and a reminder that this film is not interested in subtlety. From that moment on, the film locks into survival mode and rarely lets up.

The story rewinds 36 hours to introduce Lucy, returning home after years away, alongside a group of friends whose relationships are already fraying at the edges. The location does a lot of heavy lifting. Lucy's family home, carved into a cliff face with an exposed infinity pool, is both striking and inherently threatening. Roberts understands the power of space, and the house quickly becomes a trap rather than a sanctuary.

At the centre of it all is Ben the chimpanzee, a family pet raised with unusual care and intelligence. Through soundboard software developed by Lucy's late mother, Ben is able to communicate in short phrases, which gives him an unsettling presence even before things turn violent. Once rabies enters the picture, the film leans hard into feral horror. Ben becomes unpredictable, cruel, and frighteningly physical. The performance work and effects make him the undeniable star of the film. Every appearance crackles with tension, and his slasher-like method of picking off the group one by one is executed with savage enthusiasm.

Roberts and co-writer Ernest Riera keep the storytelling brutally simple. There is very little interest in expanding the mythology or pausing for emotional depth. Instead, the focus is on pressure, movement, and escalation. The extended pool sequence is a standout, using Ben's fear of water to create a cruel standoff that feels both inventive and claustrophobic. The kills are gnarly, efficient, and unapologetically mean spirited, firmly placing Primate in B-movie territory with a decent budget behind it.

The cast largely exists to be hunted, but they serve their purpose well enough. Johnny Sequoyah gives Lucy enough grounding to keep the film from becoming completely hollow, while Troy Kotsur brings a welcome seriousness as Adam, the deaf father whose delayed realisation of the danger adds another layer of tension. The film's final moments, particularly the chilling use of Ben's soundboard, land with a nasty little sting rather than emotional closure.

That said, Primate is built almost entirely from familiar horror beats. Every cliché is here, from the isolated location to the doomed side characters making questionable decisions. The film knows this and does not try to disguise it. If you are looking for originality or depth, you will not find much. The narrative is sparse, sometimes barely holding together, and the film relies heavily on momentum to stop you from questioning it.

Fortunately, the short runtime works in its favour. At under 90 minutes, Primate moves too quickly to outstay its welcome. It is uncomplicated, visceral, and designed to be consumed in one breathless sitting. The lack of story becomes part of the appeal rather than a flaw, provided expectations are kept in check.

Primate is a blood curdling, efficient slice of natural horror that knows exactly what it is. It is all horror, very little story, and just enough invention to keep things entertaining. For fans in need of a fast, nasty fix, it more than does the job.

I score Primate a generous 7.5 out of 10.

Out Now - https://apple.co/4pyarJY 

PREVIEW: The Boatyard (2025 Film) Starring Mike Ferguson and Susan Lanier

Preview by Jon Donnis

The Boatyard drops anchor this July on UK digital, bringing with it a savage new horror from director Dale Stelley. Mike Ferguson (The Amityville Rising) and genre veteran Susan Lanier (The Hills Have Eyes) star as a pair of cannibalistic killers in a film that doesn't hold back on the gore. Released by Reel 2 Reel Films, this twisted survival story is designed to unsettle, shock and provoke.

It begins with five college students enjoying a wild day out at sea. But their fun cuts short when their boat suddenly breaks down, leaving them stranded in open water. A mysterious man appears offering help, and they follow him back to a nearby boatyard, hopeful for a quick fix. What they don't realise is they've just stepped into a nightmare. Their rescuer isn't there to save them. He's lured them into a trap.

As the sun goes down, the group find themselves hunted and tortured by a pack of deranged murderers. Each kill is more gruesome than the last, as the captors use their victims for sport, pleasure and food. The boatyard becomes a claustrophobic killing ground, and escape seems less likely by the minute.

With its focus on sadism and shock, The Boatyard leans into the nastier corners of the slasher genre. There's no subtlety here, just full-throttle horror delivered with grim precision. Viewers who can stomach it will find a film that doesn't pull its punches. But if you're squeamish, this may be one ocean trip best avoided.

The Boatyard is available on UK digital from 22 September.