Director Lukas Feigelfeld's jaw-dropping feature debut HAGAZUSSA: A HEATHEN'S CURSE is an unlikely surprise; a gorgeously photographed, mostly silent grad school project that has quietly managed to make the rounds acrosss the world's genre film fest circuit, with screenings at Fantastic Fest (Best Picture, "Next Wave" Feature), Sitges, London's BFI, at the Ithaca Fantastic Film Fest, Brooklyn Horror Film Fest, and Mexico's Morbido Film Fest. For anyone left hungering in the wake 2016's breakout slow burn fable THE WITCH, HAGAZUSSA will satisfy more than a few cravings with its darkly atmospheric, insidiously hallucinatory tale of an isolated young Alpine woman struggling to preserve her sanity while exploring the fine line between ancient magic, faith and madness at a time when pagan beliefs in witches and nature spirits spread fear and terror in the minds of the rural mountain population. Also: Goats.

"While its abstract, dreamlike tone will clearly make it a niche item, this classy art house chiller should appeal to more discerning genre fans and cult movie buffs generally... The eerie score, by Greek avant-rock trio MMD, is a crucial part of the overall package with its low moans, ominous drones and whispered incantations. A spooky, stylish, spellbinding debut." (Hollywood Reporter)

"Visually stunning and narratively assured, it presents its horror as the slowest of burns, its ambiguous, stark presentation of the supernatural eventually giving way to tangible, colorful revulsion." (Birth.Movies.Death.)

"This is a sensual, slow-burning tragedy filled with ominous awe." (Sight & Sound)

"It's a hard watch, but for those who seek out films that hurt, you won't be disappointed." (Screen Anarchy)

Screens with Rio Grind Film Festival 2017
Official Short Film Selection
Studded Nightmare (Jean-Claude LeBlanc, Canada)
The Scarecrow (Leah Pollack, USA)

Friday, November 17
Doors 6:00 pm | Movie 6:30 pm *Please arrive on time!

Advance tickets $12 | $14 at the door

*This film screens as part of the Rio Theatre’s Rio Grind Film Festival. Sorry, Groupons and regular Rio Theatre movie passes not accepted for this event. Both Rio Grind Film Festival Day Passes and Rio Grind Film Festival Passes available at www.riotheatretickets.ca
**Must be 19+ w/ID for entry and bar service.

HAGAZUSSA: A HEATHEN'S CURSE (Lukas Feigelfeld, 2017 / 102 mins / German with English subtitles) In the 15th century, a young goatherd living alone in a mountain hut feels a dark presence in the woods.