Slasher Bastard is the seventh of this year’s 8 Films to Die For

Last Updated on July 22, 2021

After Dark Films is bringing the 8 Films to Die For brand back this October, and this year's lineup is nearly complete. The seventh film of the eight has been announced to be the 1980s slasher throwback BASTARD.

Directed by Patrick Robert Young and Powell Robinson from a screenplay by Young, BASTARD stars Tonya Kay, Rebekah Kennedy, Burt Culver, Ellis Greer, Dan Creed, and Will Tranfo.

The official synopsis:

Five strangers – newlywed serial killers, a suicidal cop, and two runaways – become suspect and victim when a masked murderer makes its presence known in an isolated mountain town.

The directors had this to say about their film:

"Bastard is a labor of horror love crafted on a budget of blood, sweat, and visceral synth score.  Shot under the influence of Tom Savini and Jamie Lee Curtis' lungs, Bastard hearkens back to a time when people couldn't complain about the state of horror.  Our approach was not to spoof or make fun of these old slashers, but rather embrace the mindset of how these films were made, and make our story with the same technique and passion. We wanted to give our fellow horror lovers the 80's cult flick they never got to see in theaters – the one that inspires them to go out and make their own.  Because that's what films like Halloween, My Bloody Valentine, and Zombi have done for us."

Sounds good to me, and I really like that this batch of films includes so many slashers, as BASTARD is joined in that category by LUMBERJACK MAN, SUSPENSION, and perhaps MURDER IN THE DARK. The past 8 Films to Die For have mostly been misses for me, but add to these four a killer bear movie (UNNATURAL), some zombies (RE-KILL), and a bit of possession (THE WICKED WITHIN) and I'm feeling very optimistic about the horrorfest this time around.

The 8 Films to Die For are set to play in theatres on October 16th.