Fantastic Fest 2026 Final Dispatch and Film Reviews

Fantastic Fest 2026 Final Dispatch: Four Films Reviewed

The Fantastic Fest 2026 final dispatch, published by RogerEbert.com, reviews four genre films screened at the event (September 2026): "Pathetic Fallacy," a surreal horror film by Adam Egypt Mortimer; "Upiro," a Spanish vampire thriller directed by Oscar Martin; "Kick On," an Australian thriller directed by Nick Kozakis; and "What Happened to Doris?", a ghost story directed by Nick Simon. The dispatch separates the standout works from the misfire, identifying which films are worth seeking out upon international release. The article was written by a RogerEbert.com critic attending the festival.

The source material is a festival dispatch covering films shown at Fantastic Fest 2026, an annual genre film festival. Three of the four films reviewed received positive assessments from the critic, while one, "What Happened to Doris?", was described as unsuccessful and poorly executed.

Key Facts

The following table summarizes the factual anchors of the four films as reported in the source material. The source does not provide running times, production budgets, or distribution details for any of the films; those figures are unknown for the purposes of this article.

How Does "Pathetic Fallacy" Redefine Surreal Horror?

"Pathetic Fallacy" is a surreal horror film directed by Adam Egypt Mortimer that unfolds on dream logic, inspired by the visions of Nicolas Roeg, David Lynch, and Nicolas Winding Refn, set to new music by Johnny Jewel and starring Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi). The film departs from practical narrative sense, prioritizing emotional resonance over linear explanation, much like "Lost Highway" or "Twin Peaks: The Return." The source states that the film "defies explainer culture, unfolding like a nightmare one has while in the throes of unfathomable grief."

The film opens with a meet-cute between Asher (Cudi) and Iris (Jessica Rothe, appearing in her third Fantastic Fest film that year). The tragedy occurs within the first ten minutes: Iris dies in Asher's arms, a scene held by Mortimer for approximately two full minutes as her breathing shallows. Asher then travels to Mount Samdi, a location existing between reality and fantasy, where he encounters monsters, including a serial killer played by Travis Fimmel, and talking animals, including a spider voiced by Natasha Lyonne.

Editor Vera Drew ("The People's Joker") described Asher's quest as resembling a Disney character's journey, "except for the axe murders and nudity, of course." The film is described by the critic as "so brazenly original that its missteps are easily forgiven," though it may prove "too weird for many."

The film is structured to challenge viewers to meet the director's vision halfway, refusing to hold the audience's hand in a manner similar to David Lynch's work.

How Does "Upiro" Approach Vampire Mythology?

"Upiro" is a Spanish vampire thriller directed by Oscar Martin and written by Elena Munoz, based on an actual case recognized by the Catholic Church as vampirism, set in a Spanish monastery in 1775. The film uses this historical foundation to examine gender roles in religion and the Age of Enlightenment, cleverly playing with sexuality within the vampire myth—a myth the source notes has historically been used to "explain" female desire.

Pauline Brisy stars as Ana, a novitice whose arrival at an isolated monastery seems to unearth something from the clay. Martin films attack scenes in close-ups of nuns' faces, a sucking sound from off camera as they convey "something between pleasure and pain." The critic reads these scenes as playing with the idea of a supernatural creature that leads to sexual awakening as much as immortal life. Father Rubis (Diego Anido), a Franciscan priest, arrives to investigate the blood disease affecting the young women, and Ana takes an interest in him.

The production benefits from top-notch production design and cinematography by Alberto Morago. The critic notes that while "Upiro" sometimes feels longer than it should, its unexpected final act includes "one terrifying reveal that stands among the best in the vampire genre in years."

At Fantastic Fest 2026, "Upiro" was cited as one of the most-buzzed under-the-radar films despite the presence of larger premieres such as "Primetime" and "Victorian Psycho."

How Does "Kick On" Deliver Genre Thrills?

"Kick On" is an Australian thriller directed by Nick Kozakis that follows four young people trapped in the lair of a Russian mobster after they attempt to "kick on" to another party following a bar fight. The film made a double dip from TIFF's Midnight Madness program to Fantastic Fest 2026, appealing to both programming teams. The premise is described by the critic as "wonderfully simple" and comparable to the plot of "Green Room," bathed in intense, bloody make-up work.

The four attractive Australians are led by Eden (Markella Kavenagh), who makes the final "dumb decision" to steal cash from the obviously unhinged Ray (Nikolas Nikolaeff), a Russian mobster and insecure son of a famous crime lord. The ensuing chaos results in the group being "beaten, attacked, and held prisoner for around 90 minutes." The critic notes the film knows "almost nothing about anyone but Eden, who has a dying sister for whom she needs the cash," but renders the style impressively.

Kozakis's film is "far bloodier" than Saulnier's "Green Room," playing "almost like an 'Evil Dead' movie in its bodily harm." The critic concedes the film is "imperfect but also never boring," concluding it works "as well at midnight in Toronto as it does in Texas."

The film's design and populated lair are heavily credited for its effectiveness, as the space is essentially the entire setting of the film.

Why Does "What Happened to Doris?" Fail as a Haunting Film?

"What Happened to Doris?" is a supernatural film directed by Nick Simon that retells the reportedly true haunting of Doris Bither, the case that inspired "The Entity" over four decades ago, but fails to deliver effective scares or character depth. The critic describes the film as feeling "like little more than a 'Conjuring' rip-off" that strands lead actress Heather Graham with direction that cannot achieve a genuine character.

Graham plays Bither, a single mother in Culver City who reported to experts at UCLA that she was aggressively haunted by a poltergeist, claiming she had been sexually assaulted by one and had bruises to prove it. A team of investigators arrives, including characters played by Marcus Coloma, Morgan Peter Brown, and Mimi Rogers, who the critic says is "wasted in a part that's basically just there to explain what might happening to Doris." The critic is blunt in assessment: "nothing in 'What Happened to Doris?' feels like anything but actors on a set." The film lacks veracity and personality, giving its scares and characters no impact.

The source's critical verdict is that "It may be a famous case, but it's not a successful film," and the critic concludes that reading the Wikipedia page about the actual haunting is "actually scarier."

According to the source, the film's key failure is insufficient attention to detail, resulting in a lack of texture that the haunting and character work needed to be impactful.

Who Is This For?

This dispatch is intended for genre film enthusiasts, festival programmers, and industry professionals who follow Fantastic Fest 2026 and are deciding which under-the-radar films to track for international release. It serves viewers who appreciate surreal, unconventional horror (favoring "Pathetic Fallacy"), audiences interested in historical vampire mythology with feminist readings (favoring "Upiro"), and fans of tense, bloody thrillers (favoring "Kick On"). The source explicitly states that three of the four films "are worth a look when they get international release." The article also benefits readers researching the Doris Bither case and its cinematic adaptations, as it covers both the film and the underlying true story.

Common Questions

Which films from the Fantastic Fest 2026 final dispatch are recommended?

Three of the four films are recommended: "Pathetic Fallacy," "Upiro," and "Kick On." "What Happened to Doris?" is explicitly not recommended, with the critic stating it is not a successful film and lacks the texture needed for impactful scares.

Is "What Happened to Doris?" based on a true story?

Yes. The film retells the story of Doris Bither, a single mother in Culver City who reported haunting and sexual assault by a poltergeist to experts at UCLA. This reportedly true case inspired the 1982 film "The Entity" over four decades ago.

What is the setting of "Upiro"?

Upiro is set in an isolated monastery in Spain in the year 1775. The film follows a novitiate named Ana whose arrival seems to unearth a supernatural presence from the clay of the building, leading to bloodsucking attacks under the cover of night.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on the source material published on RogerEbert.com, titled "Fantastic Fest 2026 Final Dispatch and Film Reviews," available at the given source URL. No additional external sources were consulted. All facts, names, quotes, and assessments are drawn directly from the original publication and faithfully rewritten. No currency conversion or unit translation was required. The original source article was authored by a RogerEbert.com critic and reflects that author's opinions and reporting. This article was last updated on September 26, 2026.