Actors Jimmi Simpson and Kyra Gardner have been discussing their new Gen Z slasher Slay ahead of its screening at FrightFest, the London genre festival that each year showcases new horror from around the world.
The film follows seventeen-year-old Chloe Cruz, played by Zoey Luna, who appears to have everything a teenager could want: a large social media following, a devoted boyfriend and a carefully curated circle of friends.
That polished image begins to crack when one of her friends is murdered, setting off a chain of suspicion and fear that tests every relationship in her life.
“Horror has always been a mirror for whatever frightens young people most, and right now that is often the screen in their hand.”
Speaking about the project, the pair described a story that uses the familiar rules of the slasher genre to explore the pressures of growing up online, where reputations can be built and destroyed within hours.
Slasher films have long reflected the anxieties of the generation watching them, and Slay is the latest in a wave of titles placing smartphones, livestreams and group chats at the centre of the action.
Festival programmers have increasingly championed such films, which often find an enthusiastic audience among younger viewers who recognise the digital worlds depicted on screen.
The cast also discussed the challenge of balancing genuine scares with moments of dark humour, a mix that has become something of a hallmark of modern teen horror.
FrightFest has built a loyal following over more than two decades, offering premieres, previews and panel discussions to fans across several days each summer.
Slay is expected to reach wider audiences following its festival run, although full details of its distribution plans have yet to be confirmed.
