In The Loop Magazine BEYOND FEST, THE BIGGEST GENRE FESTIVAL IN THE U.S., ANNOUNCES ITS INAUGURAL CHICAGO PROGRAM OF GLOBAL GENRE-BUSTING CINEMA

BEYOND FEST, THE BIGGEST GENRE FESTIVAL IN THE U.S., ANNOUNCES ITS INAUGURAL CHICAGO PROGRAM OF GLOBAL GENRE-BUSTING CINEMA

Mar 05, 2026 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

Beyond Fest, the biggest genre festival in the U.S., and Chicago’s world-renowned Music Box Theatre have combined forces to create Beyond Chicago: four days of all-killer-no-filler cinematic chaos and carnage. From April 2–5, Beyond Chicago will explode 30 features across the Music Box Theatre’s historic screens from every corner of the globe. Presented by MUBI, this inaugural program further drives Beyond Fest’s commitment to the theatrical experience and its perennial championing of outsider visions, cult icons, and bold, new cinema voices.

Opening and Closing Night honors are bestowed upon two of contemporary cinema’s boldest voices: Opening Night brings Curry Barker’s instant shock horror classic OBSESSION, whilst Closing Night honors are bestowed upon Daniel Goldhaber with the World Premiere of his audacious reinvention of the seminal Video Nasty shock doc, FACES OF DEATH, on stomach-churning 35mm.

Two of Beyond Fest’s favorite alumni make their welcome in-person returns with a ferocious pair of double-trouble-fists-of-fury. The great Bob Odenkirk joins us for the Centerpiece Screening of Ben Wheatley’s latest blast of action fire frenzy, NORMAL, on glorious 35mm. Complementing NORMAL, Odenkirk will also host his thematically-inspired pick, Joseph Sargent’s THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE, also on 35mm. Rap legend RZA brings his slick and soulful slice of contemporary exploitation, ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE, to the big screen. In addition, the human wuxia-encyclopedia will present a very special 35mm screening of the Shaw Brothers classic, THE KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM.

The very best of contemporary genre filmmaking is on display courtesy of a bevy of frights and delights that include fresh from its SXSW debut, Jorma Taccone brings his blisteringly violent and brilliantly funny, OVER YOUR DEAD BODY, Mark Jenkin’s magnificently haunting tale of time and terror, ROSE OF NEVADA, starring George MacKay and Callum Turner and in what is a guaranteed lights-out, barn burner of a screening, Stunt icon Kenji Tanigaki brings his instantly infamous epic-fight-fest, THE FURIOUS to Chicago.

High-profile repertory screenings include the much-anticipated World Premiere of the 4K Restoration of SPEED RACER courtesy of Warner Bros., with director Lilly Wachowski in attendance. Other eye-popping, must-see restorations include Terror Vision/Culture Shock’s meticulous rejuvenation of the batshit insane, SMALL KILL, the rare and incredible SHEILA AND THE BRAINSTEM in 4K from Severin Films, Factory25’s glorious remaster of the batshit brilliant BLOOD BROTHERS from Mike Diana and a special late-night screening of FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN in eye-popping 3D in honour of the much-missed Udo Kier.

Following her legendary appearance at Beyond Fest last year, cinema icon and superhero Meiko Kaji, makes her triumphant return to the U.S. for her first-ever Chicago appearance to discuss her incredible four-decade career. Kaji will attend three incredibly rare and magically special screenings of FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: JAILHOUSE 41 on 35mm, LADY SNOWBLOOD 2K Restoration, and the brand new 2K Restoration of WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE-CAT GAMBLER.

Two documentaries take pride of place as director Tom Stern brings his deliriously wild BUTTHOLE SURFERS: THE HOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUTT, and is joined by noise rock legends Gibby Haynes and Paul Leary. The fevered filmmaking process of master director John Boorman is brilliantly explored in the ultimate double feature comprised of BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL and a very special screening of the rarely seen EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC.

Surrounding these big theater screenings is a jaw-dropping 15-feature program of global, genre cinema and cult discoveries that are all FREE courtesy of our lead presenting sponsor MUBI. Crossing borders, defying convention, and exploding sensibilities, this special selection includes the MidWest Premiere of Sidharta Tata’s blistering action assault, IKATAN DARAH, produced by Iko Uwais, the World Premiere of Gene Gallerano and William Pisciotta’s brilliant American creature feature, THE YETI, Algeria’s brilliantly bone-chilling horror, ROQIA from director Yanis Koussim, SXSW’s mind melding sci-fi shocker, IMPOSTERS from director Caleb Phillips, Ben Wheatley’s unhinged lo-fi sci-fi epic BULK, and Jessica Vogt’s heartbreaking independent sci-fi PHASE, Grégory Morin’s riotous midnighter FLUSH, Avalon Fast’s thrilling coming-of-age witchcraft story CAMP, the sumptuous and enthralling 16mm nightmare CRUEL HANDS from director Al Kalyk, as well as two dedicated short blocks highlighting the best of home-grown talent as well as international newcomers.

From April 2 to April 5, the Music Box Theatre becomes a home for cinema that is fearless, transgressive, excessive, confrontational, and most importantly, best experienced together. Beyond Chicago is coming to eat you.

MUSIC BOX THEATRE

Screen 1

BUTTHOLE SURFERS: THE HOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUTT
MidWest Premiere
Director: Tom J. Stern
Country: United States
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: Tom J. Stern, Paul Leary, Gibby Haynes

OBSESSION
MidWest Premiere
Director: Curry Barker
Country: United States
Runtime: 108 minutes
Distributor: Focus Features
Year: 2025
Guests: N/A

ROSE OF NEVADA
MidWest Premiere
Director: Mark Jenkin
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 114 minutes
Distributor: 1-2 Special
Year: 2025

THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE
Special Screening – 35mm
Director: Joseph Sargent
Country: United States
Runtime: 104 minutes
Distributor: Park Circus
Year: 1974
Guests: Bob Odenkirk

NORMAL
MidWest Premiere – 35mm Screening
Director: Ben Wheatley
Country: United States / Canada
Runtime: 90 minutes
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Year: 2025
Guests: Bob Odenkirk

SPEED RACER
World Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Country: United States
Runtime: 135 minutes
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Year: 2008
Guests: Lilly Wachowski

THE KID WITH THE GOLDEN ARM
Special Screening – 35mm Print
Director: Chang Cheh
Country: Hong Kong
Runtime: 86 minutes
Distributor: Celestial Pictures
Year: 1979
Guests: RZA

LADY SNOWBLOOD
Special Screening – 2K Restoration
Director: Toshiya Fujita
Country: Japan
Runtime: 97 minutes
Distributor: Janus Films
Year: 1973
Guests: Meiko Kaji

FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: JAILHOUSE 41
Special Screening – 35mm Print
Director: Shun’ya Itô
Country: Japan
Runtime: 87 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 1972
Guests: Meiko Kaji

THE FURIOUS
MidWest Premiere
Director: Kenji Tanigaki
Country: Hong Kong, China
Runtime: 113 minutes
Distributor: Lionsgate
Year: 2025

ONE SPOON OF CHOCOLATE
MidWest Premiere
Director: RZA
Country: United States
Runtime: 112 minutes
Distributor: Variance Films
Year: 2025
Guests: RZA

FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN
Special Screening – 3D Presentation
Director: Paul Morrissey
Country: Italy / France / United States
Runtime: 95 minutes
Distributor: AGFA
Year: 1973

BOORMAN AND THE DEVIL
MidWest Premiere
Director: David Kittredge
Country: United States
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2025
Guests: David Kittredge

EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC
Special Screening – 35mm Print
Director: John Boorman
Country: United States
Runtime: 117 minutes
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Year: 1977
Guests: N/A

OVER YOUR DEAD BODY
MidWest Premiere
Director: Jorma Taccone
Country: United States
Runtime: 105 mins
Distributor: Independent Film Company
Year: 2026
Guests: Jorma Taccone

FACES OF DEATH
World Premiere – 35mm Print
Director: Daniel Goldhaber
Country: United States
Runtime: 98 minutes
Distributor: Independent Film Company & Shudder
Year: 2026
Guests: Daniel Goldhaber, Isa Mazzei

Screen 2

CAMP
MidWest Premiere
Director: Avalon Fast
Country: Canada
Runtime:111 minutes
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Guests: N/A

WANDERING GINZA BUTTERFLY 2: SHE-CAT GAMBLER
World Premiere – 2K Restoration
Director: Seijun Suzuki
Country: Japan
Runtime: 88 minutes
Distributor: Kadokawa
Year: 1972
Guests: Meiko Kaji

THE YETI
World Premiere
Director: William Pisciotta, Gene Gallerano
Country: United States
Runtime: 93 minutes
Distributor: Well Go USA
Year: 2026
Guests: N/A

FLUSH
MidWest Premiere
Director: Grégory Morin
Country: France
Runtime: 70 minutes
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Year: 2025

BLOOD BROTHERS + other delights
World Premiere – Remaster
Director: Mike Diana
Country: USA
Runtime: 83 min
Distributor: Factory 25
Year: 1987 – 1990

PHASE
MidWest Premiere
Director: Jessica Vogt
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 80 minutes
Distributor: TBA
Year: 2025
Guests: N/A

BULK
MidWest Premiere
Director: Ben Wheatley
Country: United Kingdom
Runtime: 95 minutes
Year: 2025

IMPOSTERS
MidWest Premiere
Director: Caleb Phillips
Country: United States
Runtime: 102 mins
Distributor: TBA
Year: 2026
Guests: Caleb Phillips

SMALL KILL
World Premiere of 4K Restoration
Director: Gary Burghoff, Rob Fresco
Country: United States
Runtime: 86 minutes
Distributor: Terror Vision / Culture Shock
Year: 1992
Guests: Brad Henderson

SHEILA AND THE BRAINSTEM
World Premiere – 4K Restoration
Director: Matt McDowell, Russell Bates
Country: USA
Runtime: 79 minutes
Distributor: Severin Films
Year: 1989
Guests: N/A

ROQIA
MidWest Premiere
Director: Yanis Koussim
Country: Algeria
Runtime: 94 minutes
Distributor: Watermelon Pictures
Year: 2025
Guests: N/A

IKATAN DARAH (BLOOD BOND)
MidWest Premiere
Director: Sidharta Tata
Country: Indonesia
Runtime: 110 minutes
Distributor: TBA
Year: 2024
Guests: N/A

CRUEL HANDS
MidWest Premiere
Director: Al Kalyk
Country: Australia
Runtime: 76 minutes
Distributor: Dark Sky Films
Guests: N/A

SHORTS PROGRAM

Tickets are on sale to members on March 5th and general public on March 6th.
Free tickets for Screen 2 will be available to Music Box members on Wednesday 1st April and general public on Thursday 2nd April.

Beyond Fest is presented by MUBI and sponsored by Chicago-area distributor Dark Sky Films.

Beyond Fest

Beyond Fest is the highest-attended genre film festival in the U.S. and exists to serve filmmakers and film fans. Its favorite film is JAWS.

Music Box

Music Box Theatre was built at the dawn of sound cinema, and its favorite film is 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (in 70mm).