By MICHAEL GINGOLD
The major genre festival is extending its reach to the Windy City.
The people behind Beyond Fest have announced that they have teamed with Chicago’s Music Box Theatre to present Beyond Chicago, a showcase for horror, action and related cinema running Thursday-Sunday, April 2-5. Presented by MUBI and sponsored by Dark Sky Films, the program contains 30 features from around the world, a number of them with special guests and 15 being shown for free. The full lineup:
Screen 1
BUTTHOLE SURFERS: THE HOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUTT
Midwest Premiere
Director: Tom J. Stern
Country: United States
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: Tom J. Stern, Paul Leary, Gibby Haynes
OBSESSION
Midwest Premiere
Director: Curry Barker
Country: United States
Runtime: 108 minutes
Distributor: Focus Features
Year: 2025
ROSE OF NEVADA
Midwest Premiere
Director: Mark Jenkin
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 114 minutes
Distributor: 1-2 Special
Year: 2025
THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE
Special Screening—35mm
Director: Joseph Sargent
Country: United States
Runtime: 104 minutes
Distributor: Park Circus
Year: 1974
Guest: Bob Odenkirk
NORMAL
Midwest Premiere—35mm Screening
Director: Ben Wheatley
Country: United States/Canada
Runtime: 90 minutes
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Year: 2025
Guest: Bob Odenkirk
SPEED RACER
World Premiere—4K Restoration
Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Country: United States
Runtime: 135 minutes
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Year: 2008
Guest: Lilly Wachowski
THE KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
Special Screening—35mm Print
Director: Chang Cheh
Country: Hong Kong
Runtime: 86 minutes
Distributor: Celestial Pictures
Year: 1979
Guest: RZA
LADY SNOWBLOOD
Special Screening—2K Restoration
Director: Toshiya Fujita
Country: Japan
Runtime: 97 minutes
Distributor: Janus Films
Year: 1973
Guest: Meiko Kaji
FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: JAILHOUSE 41
Special Screening—35mm Print
Director: Shun’ya Itô
Country: Japan
Runtime: 87 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 1972
Guest: Meiko Kaji
THE FURIOUS
Midwest Premiere
Director: Kenji Tanigaki
Country: Hong Kong/China
Runtime: 113 minutes
Distributor: Lionsgate
Year: 2025
ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE
Midwest Premiere
Director: RZA
Country: United States
Runtime: 112 minutes
Distributor: Variance Films
Year: 2025
Guest: RZA
FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN
Special Screening—3D Presentation
Director: Paul Morrissey
Country: Italy/France/United States
Runtime: 95 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 1973
BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL
Midwest Premiere
Director: David Kittredge
Country: United States
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2025
Guest: David Kittredge
EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC
Special Screening—35mm Print
Director: John Boorman
Country: United States
Runtime: 117 minutes
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Year: 1977
OVER YOUR DEAD BODY
Midwest Premiere
Director: Jorma Taccone
Country: United States
Runtime: 105 mins
Distributor: Independent Film Company
Year: 2026
Guest: Jorma Taccone
FACES OF DEATH
World Premiere—35mm Print
Director: Daniel Goldhaber
Country: United States
Runtime: 98 minutes
Distributors: Independent Film Company & Shudder
Year: 2026
Guests: Daniel Goldhaber, Isa Mazzei
Screen 2
CAMP
Midwest Premiere
Director: Avalon Fast
Country: Canada
Runtime:111 minutes
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
SILVER BUTTERFLY 2: SHE-CAT GAMBLER
World Premiere—2K Restoration
Director: Seijun Suzuki
Country: Japan
Runtime: 88 minutes
Distributor: Kadokawa
Year: 1972
Guest: Meiko Kaji
THE YETI
World Premiere
Directors: William Pisciotta, Gene Gallerano
Country: United States
Runtime: 93 minutes
Distributor: Well Go USA
Year: 2026
FLUSH
Midwest Premiere
Director: Grégory Morin
Country: France
Runtime: 70 minutes
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Year: 2025
BLOOD BROTHERS (& OTHER DELIGHTS)
World Premiere—Remaster
Director: Mike Diana
Country: USA
Runtime: 83 minutes
Distributor: Factory 25
Year: 1987-1990
PHASE
Midwest Premiere
Director: Jessica Vogt
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 80 minutes
Distributor: TBA
Year: 2025
BULK
Midwest Premiere
Director: Ben Wheatley
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2025
IMPOSTERS
Midwest Premiere
Director: Caleb Phillips
Country: United States
Runtime: 102 minutes
Distributor: TBA
Year: 2026
Guest: Caleb Phillips
SMALL KILL
World Premiere—4K Restoration
Directors: Gary Burghoff, Rob Fresco
Country: United States
Runtime: 86 minutes
Distributor: Terror Vision/Culture Shock
Year: 1992
Guest: Brad Henderson
SHEILA AND THE BRAINSTEM
World Premiere—4K Restoration
Directors: Matt McDowell, Russell Bates
Country: USA
Runtime: 79 minutes
Distributor: Severin Films
Year: 1989
ROQIA
Midwest Premiere
Director: Yanis Koussim
Country: Algeria
Runtime: 94 minutes
Distributor: Watermelon Pictures
Year: 2025
IKATAN DARAH (BLOOD BOND)
Midwest Premiere
Director: Sidharta Tata
Country: Indonesia
Runtime: 110 minutes
Distributor: TBA
Year: 2024
CRUEL HANDS
Midwest Premiere
Director: Al Kalyk
Country: Australia
Runtime: 76 minutes
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Tickets go on sale to members tomorrow, March 5 and the general public Thursday, March 6; free tickets for Screen 2 showings will be available to Music Box members on Wednesday, April 1 and the general public Thursday, April 2. For the schedule and more information, visit beyondfest.com and musicboxtheatre.com.
