The Lower East Side Film Festival Debuts New Horror Series ‘Off/Season,’ Featuring Screenings of William Castle’s ‘Strait Jacket’ and ‘It’s What’s Inside’

Harrison Richlin
·4 min read

Nothing like a little decapitation to ring in the spooky season! Expanding on one of its most beloved showcases, “Mind F*ck Night” the Lower East Side Film Festival is unveiling a new, three-day pop-up festival called “Off/Season.” The series will focus on terrifying, mind-altering, genre-defying cinema and feature a curated selection of advanced screenings, retrospectives, short films, as well as filmmaker Q&As and receptions, all held at the Alamo Drafthouse, Lower Manhattan location from October 2-4.

In honor of the film’s 60th anniversary, “Off/Season” is proud to present “Strait-Jacket” from B-Movie horror master William Castle. Featuring screen legend Joan Crawford, this “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” follow-up continued the star’s decent into hagsploitation, but has become a cult classic in its own right, with her madly swinging an axe becoming one of cinema’s most iconic images. Castle’s daughter, Terry Castle, will be in attendance for a Q&A that gives an intimate look into the film’s legacy.

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In a sarcastic statement reminiscent of her father’s wicked sense of humor, but conscious of the crazy times we live in, Terry said, “It’s important to watch ‘Strait-Jacket’ today because immigrants in Ohio are eating cats and dogs, so you might need to become an axe murderer to protect your favorite pet!”

Ahead of its Netflix streaming premiere on October 4, the Sundance and SXSW favorite “It’s What’s Inside” will be screened as part of the series and promises to leave audiences questioning reality long after the credits roll. The film is executive produced by Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo, along with his husband Raúl Domingo, who previously collaborated on the recently released prison drama “Sing Sing.” Brittany O’Grady (“The White Lotus”), James Morosini (“I Love My Dad”), Gavin Leatherwood (“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”), Nina Bloomgarden (“The Resort”), Alycia Debnam-Carey (“Fear the Walking Dead”), Reina Hardesty (“The Flash”), Devon Terrell (“Rap Sh!t”), and David Thompson (“The Boys”) star.

Also screening is a standout on the indie horror scene over the last year, Jessica Kozak’s “Wilder Than Her,” which features performances from Sunita Mani (“Glow,” “Mr. Robot”), Danny Deferrari (“Shiva Baby”), Kate Easton (“When They See Us”), and Kayla Foster (“Your Monster”). A heart-pounding, twisty journey, the film follows what happens to a group of women when their camping trip takes an unexpected turn into the terrifying.

“NYC is one of our favorite places, filled with lively film fans who like to see movies on a big screen, so we are thrilled to be included in the LESFF’s inaugural ‘Off/Season,’” Kozak wrote in a statement. “Their taste and ethos hugely resonate with us as filmmakers and we hope to bring that same vibe to audiences with this movie. ‘Wilder Than Her’ is made for a good crowd, loaded with cringey tense moments best experienced in a group. The film is a horror about the unraveling of a female friendship, something we rarely get to see, and it’s so fun to see who identifies with which character.”

“We’re so excited to announce ‘Off/Season,’ our inaugural pop-up,” said Tony Castle, festival director of LESFF and member of the Castle family. “By partnering with iconic names in film and showcasing both legendary and emerging voices, we wanted to create more opportunities for our audience to celebrate the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully twisted world of cinema outside of our annual May fest.”

The cast and crew of “Wilder Than Her” will be present for a Q&A following the screening.

Along with these offerings, “Off/Season” will also be exhibiting “Mind F*ck Shorts,” named for the night that inspired this fest and honoring the best head-spinning short films there are to offer.

Hosted in partnership with Alamo Drafthouse, NEON, Netflix, and Topo Chico, tickets for “Off/Season” are available here, free for LESFF Members and $18 for non-members. Additional screenings will be announced soon.

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