In Dead Lover, Grace Glowicki crafts a macabre yet tender reimagining of Frankenstein, where a gravedigger’s grief leads to madcap resurrection experiments. Shot on 16mm within minimalist black-box sets, the film blends horror, comedy, and romance, echoing influences from German Expressionism to Monty Python. Glowicki’s performance, alongside co-writer Ben Petrie, navigates themes of love, loss, and transformation with raw emotion and absurdist humor. Accentuated by U.S. Girls’ synth-heavy score, this lo-fi gem is a testament to DIY filmmaking and the transformative power of love.
– Abby Spira
Presented as part of Spotlight Canada 2025, supported by The High Commission of Canada and The Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation.
Screens with Death’s Peak
David digs up his dead brother to race
down Death’s Peak on their red wagon.
World Premiere. Director: Willy Fair. Animation Short. Cast: Simon Pavelich. United Kingdom. 2025. 9min. Unclassified: 15+. CW: Death and dying, suicide.