If you’re a fan of obscure movie monsters — and if you’re reading this, you probably are — then you probably rank Belial from the 1982 horror film Basket Case as one of the most out-there monsters ever put to screen. The disgusting looking and murderous separated conjoined twin who lived in a wicker basket was enough of a cult favorite villain to spawn two sequels to Basket Case, but it’s been decades since we’ve heard from Belial. Until now, that is.
The nasty little fella is about to make his return to the screen in the new five-minute short film Belial’s Dream, which is set to premiere at the Celluloid Screams festival. The stop-motion film was made by animator Robert Morgan, and we have to say, his rendition of Belial is even creepier looking than Frank Henenlotter’s original. You can catch a brief cameo of the writhing creature in the Celluloid Screams festival trailer below (he pops up around the 1:43 mark).
The three-day festival combines both new and classic horror films, which is why the new Belial’s Dream short is screening prior to a 40th anniversary showing of the newly-restored 1977 Italian masterpiece Suspiria. The festival, which takes place in Sheffield, England from October 20-22, will also feature other classics like Hellraiser alongside new movies, including the UK premiere of Creep 2.
Belial’s Dream is billed as a continuation of the Basket Case saga in which Belial has “a rather unsavory dream.” That seems like a very English way of saying this short is going to be pretty gnarly. The film premieres on Saturday, October 21, and you can purchase tickets here.
