Welcome to the modern workplace! In Grind, we are presented with four interwoven stories set in a dystopian present. We get a glimpse into the intense pressure to perform within a multi-level marketing company, the endless and repetitive routine of a food delivery driver, the digital horrors faced by a content moderator at work, and, not least, what happens when the employees at a coffee shop decide to unionize.

Grind is a dark comedy that, just a few years ago, might have been considered a dystopian vision, but which, in today’s United States, will likely seem like only a slight exaggeration to many. The film explores what it means to be a worker in a world defined by economic inequality and ruled by endlessly greedy oligarchs, wonderfully personified by Rob Huebel and Barbara Crampton.

TG

Brothers Rob and James are on their way to their father’s funeral, accompanied by their respective partners. They stop at a rural roadside diner run by a family that probably doesn’t have the most extensive family tree. After a very uncomfortable meal, they continue on their way, only to end up in a car accident that quickly turns into a full-blown nightmare.

Boxcutter isa nasty, mean-spirited film, in many ways the bastard child of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the French extreme cinema movement. After a slow build-up, the film explodes in its second act, delivering discomfort of the highest order. The filmmakers have extensive experience with practical special effects, which is evident in the film’s brutal and highly effective shock effects.

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When two tourists and their canal boat guide are found brutally murdered, detective Tara Lee is assigned to the case. Following another killing, retired detective Eric Visser is brought back in, as there are fears that someone is recreating one of his old cases.

Director Maas still has a flair for bloodshed and a confident directorial style. Amsterdamned II picks up the thread of one of the Netherlands’ truly great cult films, hovering on the line between sequel and reboot. This is a nostalgic slasher with a generous dose of light-hearted humor.

KK

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Toilet horror has become a staple of Ramaskrik, and this year’s rowdy contribution comes from Brazil. Malu runs an event agency in São Paulo and is tasked with organizing a gender reveal party for a major influencer. But while the pregnancy comes with its own surprises, guests and residents of the apartment building alike fall victim to ravenous forces lurking in the toilets.

With exquisite direction and practical effects, we’re served generous helpings of filthy, disgusting madness. It’s bloody, hilarious, and, above all, political. Bon appétit!

KK

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Best friends Ligia and Mayte dream of the ultimate quinceañera, hoping it will finally make them popular at school. But then Ligia becomes pregnant, and the creature growing inside her is not only a threat to herself, but to everyone around her.

This coming-of-age body horror is packed with just as much playful charm as it is blood and gore. The film explores anxieties surrounding sexuality, adulthood, peer pressure, and the fear of what an unpredictable future might bring. One of the film’s strengths lies in the performances of Greta Martí and Macarena Oz, who bring an authentic, raw energy to their roles.

If you enjoyed Ginger Snaps (2000) or Eighth Grade (2018), Fifteen is one to catch!

TS