A surge of body horror from Australia and Oceania is set to take over the Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival.

It’s rare for two buzzworthy films from the region to emerge at once. In “Saccharine”, directed by Natalie Erika James, a medical student is haunted by a hungry spirit after taking an experimental weight-loss drug made with human ashes. The film has been described as “grotesquely detailed body horror fit for the Ozempic era” and explores women’s struggles with body image, shame, and societal pressure.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's directors-duo Thunderlips tackle similar themes in their horror-comedy “Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant ”. The semi-autobiographical story follows an awkward girl who becomes pregnant by a boy with an alien anatomy, blending absurd humor with reflections on pregnancy and women’s experiences in healthcare.

Both films premiered at Sundance, where they were among the standout titles in the Midnight program, and will screen in the region for the first time.

The Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival takes place April 30 – May 2, with tickets and discounted passes already on sale.

The full program will be announced by HÕFF on April 8.

See more about the opening ceremony and opening film here.

Buy a HÕFF pass here.

Apply for HÕFF accreditation here.

Photo: Is it an allergy or pregnancy? Neither mother Cynthia (Yvette Parsons, left) nor the doctor are sure about Mary (Hannah Lynch). Still from “Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant .”