Film festivals can be brutally competitive, as we’ll learn in Fatal Fest, a new horror series from writer Hannah Rose May and artist Andrea Scalmazzi, coming from IDW’s horror imprint, IDW Dark.
The series follows six emerging horror filmmakers invited to compete at Fatal Fest, a mysterious festival run by reclusive horror maestro Frank Finch and his production empire, Fatal Films. The catch: to create true fear, contestants must experience it and be willing to kill for it.
“I’ve wanted to tell this story for years. It lives at the intersection of everything I love: horror, Hollywood and our cultural obsession with IP,” said May. “I’ve been dying to explore what happens when obsession collides with violent ambition and with Fatal Fest we get to dial that all the way up to the most terrifying degree. This is my third original series with IDW and I’m so grateful for their continued trust and for letting me run wild with my most twisted story yet.”
May previously created The Exorcism at 1600 Penn for IDW Dark, which is being adapted for film by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, and its sequel, The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace.
“Every now and then, a pitch lands on your desk that reminds you why you love comics in the first place. Fatal Fest was one of those projects for us,” said editor Heather Antos. “It’s bold, bloody, incredibly clever and completely unapologetic in its vision. From the first page, we knew readers were in for something unforgettable. Hannah and Andrea have created a world that feels equal parts Hollywood Horror satire, psychological thriller, and pure nightmare fuel. This is the kind of series readers discover in issue #1 and never stop talking about.”
Further details on Fatal Fest, including an on-sale date, will be announced at a later date.