Horror fans will flock to West Perth this weekend as The Backlot Theatre gears to host the Perth Horror Film Festival.
From August 14 to 17, both locally and internationally made horror films will be screened at the 50 seat theatre, celebrating the horror film genre and the talent of independent film makers.
The festival will include more than just horror, with sci-fi and true crime films also being screened, along with artwork displays by local artists.
“It’s about giving people a go,” said Festival Director Vanessa Gudgeon.
“Sometimes we will screen a film that may not be seen anywhere else and that’s not a bad thing,” she said.
The event has also gained traction outside of Perth, with the world premiere of Bunny, by Sydney Director James Branson.
The movie follows a young woman trying to survive a climate-collapsed Australia, full of threats from fire, famine – and notorious killers.
@perthhorrorfilmfest Check out the teaser for BUNNY (Australia) – directed by James Branson screening during Perth Horror Film Festival 2025: BUNNY (Feature Film) + WA & NZ-Made Shorts SOLD OUT! at The Backlot Perth #bunny #jamesbranson #perthhorrorfilmfestival2025 #PerthHorrorFilmFestival #thebacklotperth ? original sound – perth_horror_film_festival
The festival began as a social group during the COVID-19 Pandemic known as the Perth Horror Fans, but as popularity grew, and through the involvement of local theatre The Backlot, the festival began, and is now running for the third time.
Known onstage as Soxy the Salacious Spectre, Ms Gudgeon hosts the festival, introducing the films and sharing information to allow the audience to critically think about the films.
After taking over the group as head of the Perth Horror Fans, Ms Gudgeon has led the group to its current rise in popularity.
“We’ve just made it this wonderful social sort of place for anyone who’s into horror, sci-fi and an niche genres,” she said.
“It’s a wonderful community… It’s a great place to make friends… [and] just getting [local films] out there and it’s a lot of fun.”
Local talent on the big screen
There is also a competition element to the festival, with a judging panel voting on the best films, along with an audience voted award. An initial 200 films were submitted for the festival, with around 50 being selected for screening at the festival.
Filmmaker and Edith Cowan University Alumni Jacob Kemp’s film was chosen for the shortlist to be screened at the festival.
Mr Kemp’s film Eat the Meat centres around a Drag Queen who is terrorised by protesters wielding weaponised food.
“It’s kind of a take on… a sort of real witch hunt and media scares in the [United] States and over here,” he said.
“[It’s about] the trans and queer fear and outrage which is still quite prevalent in the headlines.”
Mr Kemp also reflected on the importance of the horror genre to the filmmaking, and broader communities.
“Horror is one of those safety blanket kind of genres that I think throughout history has always been attractive to outsiders and creatives.
“It’s also a genre that’s been used as an allegory for quite some time […] it speaks so many links to so many different things, but in a fun digestible way.”
Mr Kemp’s filmmaking journey began at high school, making short films and music films, before obtaining an advanced diploma and then a degree through the WA Screen and Media Academy at Edith Cowan University.
With tickets still available, the festival is open for all new and old horror fans to enjoy a good scare, appreciate the talent of Perth’s filmmakers and the films and get the opportunity to see films from countries all around the world.
