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Frightfest 2008 - The Best Ever
Posted on 2008.08.26 at 21:09
First thing to mention is that this was the last one at the Odeon West End as they want to replace it with a casino.
What a travesty ! So-called Labour government supporting gambling as the New Tobacco or what?
I hope they let Frighftest do a special closing down night (and perhaps we could recreate Argento's Demons ?)
I have ranked the films in ascending order of preference. If you want to see the running order and more info on these films go here.
It's actually important to see that Martyrs, one of the bleakest films over the weekend was sandwiched between two fun ones.
Most of my comments below are posted on the frightfest forum, but I have expanded on some of them.
Sorry, no cut, I am going to make you read the whole thing !
Scar 3D (DID NOT SEE - already had a migraine and as it turned out the 3D was wonky.)
Freakdog (DID NOT SEE - because last year's Shrooms was awful.)
Tokyo Gore Police (DID NOT SEE - cos it was on a bit too late and wanted to be up early the next day)
(Ratings are out of 5)
Mirrors (2)
JACK BAUER FIGHTS DEMONS (car chase included) !
JACK BAUER THREATENS NUN WITH GUN !
JACK BAUER FIGHTS HIS OWN REFLECTION (except that he doesn't)
"I should have believed you" (no you should have locked him up, since he seemed to deduce what was happening in a way that suggested he had read the script or was MAD).
On reflection (snigger) this was not as bad as I said afterwards
However the first half was badly let down by the second.
Very poor, and still my least favourite (disclaimer: I did not see Freakdog, Tokyo Gore Police or Scar 3D and suspect at least one of these was worse than Srorrim (pronounced "sorry").
The Broken (2)
The more I balance this with the similarly themed Mirrors the more this one wins.
But it has some shortcomings so I am spoiling it FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.
There's an excellent novella by China Mieville called The Tain, where our reflections break into our world much like the ones in the story.
(His story is set some time afterwards though.) So, I got a sense of the reflections having a grudge about being behind the mirror all of the time. Sadly the emphasis on the five family members gave no indication of what was going on elsewhere - a couple of random mirror-shatterings off camera. Some moody shots of London.
I liked the "twist".
Not quite a tie, I just preferred the lack of bad script and the minimal use of explanation for what was happening in the latter.
For me, our reflections getting fed up and wanting to replace us is inherently more scary than some STUPID demon who thinks one nun is better than every reflective surface in the world.
"Watch the water, it creates a reflection"
(and poke out your eyes because they create a reflection !)
The lack of exposition in Broken is also a plus. Who really wanted an explanation along the lines of "bad psychiatry is to blame" ?
Finally: badly managed flashback sequences may be bad, but not as bad as "DON'T MAKE ME THREATEN YOU" type scripts.
It wins over Mirrors by a technical knockout of better internal logic.
I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer (2)
It was okay. A bit disappointing on the cricket gags front, but the box o' nails torture and the heroes kitting out scene were fun.
As long as everyone had a good time making it and it's not pretentious.
(heheh who ever heard of an "Australian" film being pretentious ?)
Hilarious overheard comment outside the cinema about the villain - clearly modelled on Merv Hughes or perhaps Dennis Lillee - looking like Salvador Dali !
Bubba's Chili Parlor (2)
Ultra Low Budget Zombie Tribute act. Imagine Bucks Fizz with none of the originals and just David Van Day.
Some funny moments, especially when two guys with guns turn up. And a marvellous performance from the only zombie with book larnin' smarts - a 12 year old girl zombie.
(Having pondered this, these two deserve an airing at Frightfest for trying and BCP wins because of the two paramilitary guys having all the funny lines. The finale of Runs was good though.)
Fear(s) Of The Dark (2)
(Overall disappointing but a couple of excellent ones.)
Some of you comics types might be looking forward to this.
I liked this more than disliked it. But if it'd been several shorts it might have worked better.
Charles Burns' insect possession tale was great. He builds that paranoia in his stories very well, often revealing the truth to be worse than paranoia right at the end.
There's a man with dogs thing which was stylistically nice but went on to an obvious conclusion after way too long.
The japanese ghosts one was brilliant. But then they invented this sort of horror and the french are just copying them !
Beat poetry abstractions? J'ai ennui, pas de peur.
Have I missed one ?
Oh yes, a very atmospheric house in the dark one, that was good but overstayed its welcome like a man breaking into an abandoned house (apt simile).
Jack Brooks Monster Slayer (2)
(Great late night fun.)
Was determined to see this after Martyrs and it paid off.
Low maintenance, low demand FUN. with a huge Muppet for an evil demon AND Robert Englund camping up.
Evil Muppets have been fumbled by no less a "talent" than Peter Jackson, so this was a triumph ! That chap who played Jack Brooks could be the new Bruce Campbell if he plays his cards right.
From Within (3)
Well cast, plotted well and a decent stab at the theme of suicide cults / chains from a fantasy point of view. Total hokum of course, but worked well for me. As an avowed atheist I was dismayed that the christian community were all portrayed with such flaws.
That werewolf one last year seemed aimed at a similar teen TV demographic and yet this works much better.
Not sure if the hero is a gothic or an emo. Sorry.
Bad Biology (3)
(I was a fan of Basket Case and Brain Damage and so enjoyed it accordingly. But if the idea of a lady with seven clitorises makes you think it's a disgusting porn movie, think again ... ) (... there's also a guy with a two foot penis addicted to steroids. Yes the penis is addicted not the guy.)
Surprisingly not the grossest film of the weekend and whoever thought of references to John Waters is spot on the mark.
Only quibble, during the 45 minute orgasm, I thought they missed a golden opportunity to have the female lead say "I'll have what she's having".
Eden Lake (3)
I thought this was a good start to the weekend, nice to see a british film with such excellent visual and actorly qualities. But then there's an unfortunately stereotyped view of the working classes (in the Midlands!). There's a scene of the Nice Couple looking at the Horrible Families when they stop for food :roll my eyes:
As I said on the way out "Working class East Midlanders are scum ! I am never going to the Midlands again !"
(everyone gets that one right ?)
The Strangers (3)
(Pretty much a tie here, atmospherics in the Strangers wins over the Chav Hating Eden Lake.)
Powerful stuff for a Hollywood, well promoted film. A less offensive version of the "They Are Out To Get You" of Eden Lake as its perpetrators are rather random psychos (qv Funny Games). But not much good compared with other similarly themed films at FF08.
The tense moments are balanced out by predictable set up and outcome. The sound and soundtrack are ace though and check out the website.
It occurred to me (after a lovely lady in the audience raised the question of feminist characters during the Manhunt Q&A,
that Liv Tyler is completely useless and vulnerable without her man.
She should have said "yes" when her boyfriend asked her to marry him.
The Chaser (3)
Overlong a tad, but the first Korean film I have ever seen that did not have a gratuitous surreal or comedic sequence for no apparent reason (yes, Oldboy "dog" sequence I am looking at you). Although the police station argument was verging on it.
Extremely well played by the leads, the killer gloating in police custody really did the trick.
Fans of Leon will enjoy the ex-cop now-pimp hero befriending the little girl whose mum is kidnapped,
Autopsy (3)
I thought this was what low budget horror films should look like. DAYGLO and well-acted Camp.
A combination of Dr Terrible's House of the Horrible and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Funny script. Rubbish teens to get offed. A marvellous tribute to Geoffrey Combs AND Nurse Ratched. CHEW THAT SCENERY !!!
Manhunt (4)
I liked this one a lot. Norwegian twenty-somethings off to the country getting stalked by backwoods hunters (with the unfortunate deformity of looking like Chas and Dave).
Lovely to look at, and in the short space of time the four characters were established as 3 sympathetic ones and 1 idiot, and it was driven home that the attackers had no preferences other than being hunters.
If we are going to have lots of gory Deliverance fantasies (and I count the Strangers and Funny Games films in that genre) then this is the type I'd prefer.
King Of The Hill (4)
(Sadly not a live action adaptation of the cartoon)
Of the three similar themed movies (Eden Lake/King of the Hill/Manhunt) I prefered this one. They all have their merits, but the pay off
was very well delivered.
We were getting "lost in the woods fatigue" ... (Having said that, I repeate that all three of these films have their strengths)
The Dead Outside (4)
Well acted three hander. Two folks on a scottish farm hiding out from infected zombie like folks roaming the country eating folks. Third person turns up and drives a wedge through their security. Well written zombie tale, more a play than a shocker.
Very atmospheric and some clever dynamics between the three of them.
Would have made an excellent hour long thriller back in the days of Saturday night chills.
(These three straightforward character pieces.)
Trailer Park of Terror (4)
Great fun.
I have read those 13 comics (and have friends who worked on some who will be reading this and should have come to the Premiere !)
but that did not prepare me for such a romp. It's a tale of retribution, deals with the devil (country singer Trace Adkins pissing burning urine) and trailer trash. There's a rockabilly greek chorus and a vampy blonde to rival Elvira.
The usual suspects (goth self harmer, druggie girl, troubled homosexual, slut and jock) on their way to Christian Boot Camp. They get offed by demons like those in 13 Ghosts but with a sense of humour involved in their creation.
With some of the musical references, Rob Zombie comments are obvious but I think Steven Goldman avoided the stylistic self-indulgence and brought The Rock (the musical cultural thing not that wrestler). Hope the "franchise" continues with such aplomb.
Time Crimes (4)
I love the time travel stories.
Since a school prize-giving I have had a collection of tales by Harry Harrison and there's the excellent Alan Moore Time Twisters.
And this simple film works that twisted logic of a man meeting himself so very well. Thanks to a couple of clever moments of misdirection the story is compelling and even though you can see where the end is heading you really can't tell how it will get there. The two main characters do really well at engaging the viewer in what could have been science-heavy plot. (Spanish language film, by the way.)
Mum & Dad (4)
(Certainly a Frightfest classic but not quite in the top category as a story)
Great cast, some truly sick and nasty moments, I will not repeat here, but fans of Preacher might guess what happens to someone's liver.
and another nod for the working class menace that stalks our society like a rampaging beast of fear.
But this time done with wit and style. Loners are kidnapped from Heathrow airport by a cross between Fred and Rose West and Jim and Barbara Royle. "Nil by Mouth if Gary Oldman's parents had been a bit strange."
Dance Of The Dead (4)
(Best of the splatterfest romps.)
YAY Teen Prom Horror !
(I have never been an american teen but I've watched one on TV)
Very good young cast, AND the coach vaguely reminded me of last year's Henry Rollins appearance in the superb Wrong Turn 2
Rock and Roll beats the zombies with the most excellent AOR cover of Pat Benatar's "Shadows of The Night" being replaced by punk moshing and kicking zombies off stage. One of the best zombie graveyard fights since "I Kick Arse for The Lord" by the way.
And a couple of teen zombies "getting romantic" and chewing off each other's face like in that old turn of phrase but REALLY.
http://www.myspace.com/danceofthedeadmov
Roll on the sequel (s) !
Midnight Meat Train (4)
It's ages since I last read the story, but I was glad that the ending reflected that even if some of the changes in story damaged the tension.
It had an unengaging lead and I did not really get the idea that he might be paranoid which the story needed. However when his building obsession moved on to stalking Vinnie Jones it seemed better.
If you'd told me that Vinnie Jones would make it out of the bottom ten performances of the festival, let alone get in my top ten ...
The final revelation seemed to fit the inspiration, ie Lovecraftian madness versus cosmic plot only revealed at the end.
If US distributors have killed this film while Strangers gets all the hype, splatter must be out of fashion again.
Oh nearly forgot TED RAIMI'S EYEBALL COMING ATCHA !
Martyrs (4)
Altered States for the tortureporn generation.
I prefer this to Hostel because its raison d'etre (as they say in Belgium) was metaphysical rather than anti-establishment.
But then I prefer Severance to Hostel.
An interesting premise of abuse & torture revenge mutates into philosophical hypothesis. And loses something in the process. A decent concept though and a good genre film, but not one I would recommend to anyone. (Oh okay then I will. I feel compelled to suggest that Del should check it out.) I won't go in to the hypothesis here so ask me when you've seen it,
One thing that a friend commented, the drawn out sustained torture scenes actually desensitize you to violence through boredom.)
Death Race (4)
Cars, prisoners, explosions, simple, effective, some choice moments in the script (Tyreese Gibson's co-drivers :-D)
as much a sequel to the original as a remake if you close your eyes a bit. Nice performances all round.
(All of these last three did what I expected them to, but better.)
Let The Right One In (5)
(Beautiful adaptation and a great film to watch - even with a stuffed cat scene worthy of Reanimator that just knocks it off the top.)
This was beautiful in so many ways and the extra delight of the author's perspective on the story and the film were worth the proportionate cost of this film and the three I did not see (It's translated into english by the way and the film was a very stripped down version so read the book before or after.)
One of my favourite films ever is "My Life as a Dog" and this deserves the title "My Life as a Vampire".
Also from the Q&A God bless america for their alternate titles.
They wanted to change the book to "Let Her In" which the author said showed they had not read the book (soft spoiler implied in that statement - sorry, it's not a big deal though. Forget I mentioned it. Oh wait a minute ... WHITEOUT) Then they wanted to call it "Let Me In"
As I mentioned to people mostly too young to know what I was referring to, only in america can it be deemed suitable to rename a book from a Morrissey song to an Osmonds song.
The Disappeared (5)
(If ever a Frightfest film deserved a BAFTA this is it. Cracking stuff !)
Excellent atmospherics (I went to that estate to take some photo references for friends last year, it's the quintessential London council tragedy). Classy performances from the lead and his dad.
Remeniscent of Dead Man's Shoes and The Vanishing.
Unlike Martyrs the switch from social commentary did not damage the end. I think the film'd have been even stronger if the supernatural bits were left out though. And a refreshing use of real people as something more than menacing caricatures ... was that the previously threatening gang leader that helped Matt up when he escaped from the tunnel ? See the difference between this and Eden Lake ?
This one ought to be at the time LONDON film festival. If not write and complain.
This has been the best Frightfest we've attended. No real dogs of movies to me.
During the weekend they also showed trailers or sneak previews of:
Dead Set (Charlie Brooker, zombies V Big Brother, appearing on E4 in October)
Grace (pregnant woman loses child but carries to term ... with gruesome consequences)
Lesbian Vampire Killers (them two blokes from Gavin & Stacey. Bet you cannot guess what it is about.)
Mutant Chronicles (this looked rather great, may be this year's Nightwatch/Daywatch)
and among the short films: THE AMAZING TROUSERS (go directly to YouTube and look it up.)
What a travesty ! So-called Labour government supporting gambling as the New Tobacco or what?
I hope they let Frighftest do a special closing down night (and perhaps we could recreate Argento's Demons ?)
I have ranked the films in ascending order of preference. If you want to see the running order and more info on these films go here.
It's actually important to see that Martyrs, one of the bleakest films over the weekend was sandwiched between two fun ones.
Most of my comments below are posted on the frightfest forum, but I have expanded on some of them.
Sorry, no cut, I am going to make you read the whole thing !
Scar 3D (DID NOT SEE - already had a migraine and as it turned out the 3D was wonky.)
Freakdog (DID NOT SEE - because last year's Shrooms was awful.)
Tokyo Gore Police (DID NOT SEE - cos it was on a bit too late and wanted to be up early the next day)
(Ratings are out of 5)
Mirrors (2)
JACK BAUER FIGHTS DEMONS (car chase included) !
JACK BAUER THREATENS NUN WITH GUN !
JACK BAUER FIGHTS HIS OWN REFLECTION (except that he doesn't)
"I should have believed you" (no you should have locked him up, since he seemed to deduce what was happening in a way that suggested he had read the script or was MAD).
On reflection (snigger) this was not as bad as I said afterwards
However the first half was badly let down by the second.
Very poor, and still my least favourite (disclaimer: I did not see Freakdog, Tokyo Gore Police or Scar 3D and suspect at least one of these was worse than Srorrim (pronounced "sorry").
The Broken (2)
The more I balance this with the similarly themed Mirrors the more this one wins.
But it has some shortcomings so I am spoiling it FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.
There's an excellent novella by China Mieville called The Tain, where our reflections break into our world much like the ones in the story.
(His story is set some time afterwards though.) So, I got a sense of the reflections having a grudge about being behind the mirror all of the time. Sadly the emphasis on the five family members gave no indication of what was going on elsewhere - a couple of random mirror-shatterings off camera. Some moody shots of London.
I liked the "twist".
Not quite a tie, I just preferred the lack of bad script and the minimal use of explanation for what was happening in the latter.
For me, our reflections getting fed up and wanting to replace us is inherently more scary than some STUPID demon who thinks one nun is better than every reflective surface in the world.
"Watch the water, it creates a reflection"
(and poke out your eyes because they create a reflection !)
The lack of exposition in Broken is also a plus. Who really wanted an explanation along the lines of "bad psychiatry is to blame" ?
Finally: badly managed flashback sequences may be bad, but not as bad as "DON'T MAKE ME THREATEN YOU" type scripts.
It wins over Mirrors by a technical knockout of better internal logic.
I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer (2)
It was okay. A bit disappointing on the cricket gags front, but the box o' nails torture and the heroes kitting out scene were fun.
As long as everyone had a good time making it and it's not pretentious.
(heheh who ever heard of an "Australian" film being pretentious ?)
Hilarious overheard comment outside the cinema about the villain - clearly modelled on Merv Hughes or perhaps Dennis Lillee - looking like Salvador Dali !
Bubba's Chili Parlor (2)
Ultra Low Budget Zombie Tribute act. Imagine Bucks Fizz with none of the originals and just David Van Day.
Some funny moments, especially when two guys with guns turn up. And a marvellous performance from the only zombie with book larnin' smarts - a 12 year old girl zombie.
(Having pondered this, these two deserve an airing at Frightfest for trying and BCP wins because of the two paramilitary guys having all the funny lines. The finale of Runs was good though.)
Fear(s) Of The Dark (2)
(Overall disappointing but a couple of excellent ones.)
Some of you comics types might be looking forward to this.
I liked this more than disliked it. But if it'd been several shorts it might have worked better.
Charles Burns' insect possession tale was great. He builds that paranoia in his stories very well, often revealing the truth to be worse than paranoia right at the end.
There's a man with dogs thing which was stylistically nice but went on to an obvious conclusion after way too long.
The japanese ghosts one was brilliant. But then they invented this sort of horror and the french are just copying them !
Beat poetry abstractions? J'ai ennui, pas de peur.
Have I missed one ?
Oh yes, a very atmospheric house in the dark one, that was good but overstayed its welcome like a man breaking into an abandoned house (apt simile).
Jack Brooks Monster Slayer (2)
(Great late night fun.)
Was determined to see this after Martyrs and it paid off.
Low maintenance, low demand FUN. with a huge Muppet for an evil demon AND Robert Englund camping up.
Evil Muppets have been fumbled by no less a "talent" than Peter Jackson, so this was a triumph ! That chap who played Jack Brooks could be the new Bruce Campbell if he plays his cards right.
From Within (3)
Well cast, plotted well and a decent stab at the theme of suicide cults / chains from a fantasy point of view. Total hokum of course, but worked well for me. As an avowed atheist I was dismayed that the christian community were all portrayed with such flaws.
That werewolf one last year seemed aimed at a similar teen TV demographic and yet this works much better.
Not sure if the hero is a gothic or an emo. Sorry.
Bad Biology (3)
(I was a fan of Basket Case and Brain Damage and so enjoyed it accordingly. But if the idea of a lady with seven clitorises makes you think it's a disgusting porn movie, think again ... ) (... there's also a guy with a two foot penis addicted to steroids. Yes the penis is addicted not the guy.)
Surprisingly not the grossest film of the weekend and whoever thought of references to John Waters is spot on the mark.
Only quibble, during the 45 minute orgasm, I thought they missed a golden opportunity to have the female lead say "I'll have what she's having".
Eden Lake (3)
I thought this was a good start to the weekend, nice to see a british film with such excellent visual and actorly qualities. But then there's an unfortunately stereotyped view of the working classes (in the Midlands!). There's a scene of the Nice Couple looking at the Horrible Families when they stop for food :roll my eyes:
As I said on the way out "Working class East Midlanders are scum ! I am never going to the Midlands again !"
(everyone gets that one right ?)
The Strangers (3)
(Pretty much a tie here, atmospherics in the Strangers wins over the Chav Hating Eden Lake.)
Powerful stuff for a Hollywood, well promoted film. A less offensive version of the "They Are Out To Get You" of Eden Lake as its perpetrators are rather random psychos (qv Funny Games). But not much good compared with other similarly themed films at FF08.
The tense moments are balanced out by predictable set up and outcome. The sound and soundtrack are ace though and check out the website.
It occurred to me (after a lovely lady in the audience raised the question of feminist characters during the Manhunt Q&A,
that Liv Tyler is completely useless and vulnerable without her man.
She should have said "yes" when her boyfriend asked her to marry him.
The Chaser (3)
Overlong a tad, but the first Korean film I have ever seen that did not have a gratuitous surreal or comedic sequence for no apparent reason (yes, Oldboy "dog" sequence I am looking at you). Although the police station argument was verging on it.
Extremely well played by the leads, the killer gloating in police custody really did the trick.
Fans of Leon will enjoy the ex-cop now-pimp hero befriending the little girl whose mum is kidnapped,
Autopsy (3)
I thought this was what low budget horror films should look like. DAYGLO and well-acted Camp.
A combination of Dr Terrible's House of the Horrible and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Funny script. Rubbish teens to get offed. A marvellous tribute to Geoffrey Combs AND Nurse Ratched. CHEW THAT SCENERY !!!
Manhunt (4)
I liked this one a lot. Norwegian twenty-somethings off to the country getting stalked by backwoods hunters (with the unfortunate deformity of looking like Chas and Dave).
Lovely to look at, and in the short space of time the four characters were established as 3 sympathetic ones and 1 idiot, and it was driven home that the attackers had no preferences other than being hunters.
If we are going to have lots of gory Deliverance fantasies (and I count the Strangers and Funny Games films in that genre) then this is the type I'd prefer.
King Of The Hill (4)
(Sadly not a live action adaptation of the cartoon)
Of the three similar themed movies (Eden Lake/King of the Hill/Manhunt) I prefered this one. They all have their merits, but the pay off
| (spoilers here): |
| When they turned out to be kids playing a real world computer game complete with perspective camera shots and older boy's realisation of the consequences |
We were getting "lost in the woods fatigue" ... (Having said that, I repeate that all three of these films have their strengths)
The Dead Outside (4)
Well acted three hander. Two folks on a scottish farm hiding out from infected zombie like folks roaming the country eating folks. Third person turns up and drives a wedge through their security. Well written zombie tale, more a play than a shocker.
Very atmospheric and some clever dynamics between the three of them.
Would have made an excellent hour long thriller back in the days of Saturday night chills.
(These three straightforward character pieces.)
Trailer Park of Terror (4)
Great fun.
I have read those 13 comics (and have friends who worked on some who will be reading this and should have come to the Premiere !)
but that did not prepare me for such a romp. It's a tale of retribution, deals with the devil (country singer Trace Adkins pissing burning urine) and trailer trash. There's a rockabilly greek chorus and a vampy blonde to rival Elvira.
The usual suspects (goth self harmer, druggie girl, troubled homosexual, slut and jock) on their way to Christian Boot Camp. They get offed by demons like those in 13 Ghosts but with a sense of humour involved in their creation.
With some of the musical references, Rob Zombie comments are obvious but I think Steven Goldman avoided the stylistic self-indulgence and brought The Rock (the musical cultural thing not that wrestler). Hope the "franchise" continues with such aplomb.
Time Crimes (4)
I love the time travel stories.
Since a school prize-giving I have had a collection of tales by Harry Harrison and there's the excellent Alan Moore Time Twisters.
And this simple film works that twisted logic of a man meeting himself so very well. Thanks to a couple of clever moments of misdirection the story is compelling and even though you can see where the end is heading you really can't tell how it will get there. The two main characters do really well at engaging the viewer in what could have been science-heavy plot. (Spanish language film, by the way.)
Mum & Dad (4)
(Certainly a Frightfest classic but not quite in the top category as a story)
Great cast, some truly sick and nasty moments, I will not repeat here, but fans of Preacher might guess what happens to someone's liver.
and another nod for the working class menace that stalks our society like a rampaging beast of fear.
But this time done with wit and style. Loners are kidnapped from Heathrow airport by a cross between Fred and Rose West and Jim and Barbara Royle. "Nil by Mouth if Gary Oldman's parents had been a bit strange."
Dance Of The Dead (4)
(Best of the splatterfest romps.)
YAY Teen Prom Horror !
(I have never been an american teen but I've watched one on TV)
Very good young cast, AND the coach vaguely reminded me of last year's Henry Rollins appearance in the superb Wrong Turn 2
Rock and Roll beats the zombies with the most excellent AOR cover of Pat Benatar's "Shadows of The Night" being replaced by punk moshing and kicking zombies off stage. One of the best zombie graveyard fights since "I Kick Arse for The Lord" by the way.
And a couple of teen zombies "getting romantic" and chewing off each other's face like in that old turn of phrase but REALLY.
http://www.myspace.com/danceofthedeadmov
Roll on the sequel (s) !
Midnight Meat Train (4)
It's ages since I last read the story, but I was glad that the ending reflected that even if some of the changes in story damaged the tension.
It had an unengaging lead and I did not really get the idea that he might be paranoid which the story needed. However when his building obsession moved on to stalking Vinnie Jones it seemed better.
If you'd told me that Vinnie Jones would make it out of the bottom ten performances of the festival, let alone get in my top ten ...
The final revelation seemed to fit the inspiration, ie Lovecraftian madness versus cosmic plot only revealed at the end.
If US distributors have killed this film while Strangers gets all the hype, splatter must be out of fashion again.
Oh nearly forgot TED RAIMI'S EYEBALL COMING ATCHA !
Martyrs (4)
Altered States for the tortureporn generation.
I prefer this to Hostel because its raison d'etre (as they say in Belgium) was metaphysical rather than anti-establishment.
But then I prefer Severance to Hostel.
An interesting premise of abuse & torture revenge mutates into philosophical hypothesis. And loses something in the process. A decent concept though and a good genre film, but not one I would recommend to anyone. (Oh okay then I will. I feel compelled to suggest that Del should check it out.) I won't go in to the hypothesis here so ask me when you've seen it,
One thing that a friend commented, the drawn out sustained torture scenes actually desensitize you to violence through boredom.)
Death Race (4)
Cars, prisoners, explosions, simple, effective, some choice moments in the script (Tyreese Gibson's co-drivers :-D)
as much a sequel to the original as a remake if you close your eyes a bit. Nice performances all round.
(All of these last three did what I expected them to, but better.)
Let The Right One In (5)
(Beautiful adaptation and a great film to watch - even with a stuffed cat scene worthy of Reanimator that just knocks it off the top.)
This was beautiful in so many ways and the extra delight of the author's perspective on the story and the film were worth the proportionate cost of this film and the three I did not see
(It's translated into english by the way and the film was a very stripped down version so read the book before or after.)One of my favourite films ever is "My Life as a Dog" and this deserves the title "My Life as a Vampire".
Also from the Q&A God bless america for their alternate titles.
They wanted to change the book to "Let Her In" which the author said showed they had not read the book (soft spoiler implied in that statement - sorry, it's not a big deal though. Forget I mentioned it. Oh wait a minute ... WHITEOUT) Then they wanted to call it "Let Me In"
As I mentioned to people mostly too young to know what I was referring to, only in america can it be deemed suitable to rename a book from a Morrissey song to an Osmonds song.
The Disappeared (5)
(If ever a Frightfest film deserved a BAFTA this is it. Cracking stuff !)
Excellent atmospherics (I went to that estate to take some photo references for friends last year, it's the quintessential London council tragedy). Classy performances from the lead and his dad.
Remeniscent of Dead Man's Shoes and The Vanishing.
Unlike Martyrs the switch from social commentary did not damage the end. I think the film'd have been even stronger if the supernatural bits were left out though. And a refreshing use of real people as something more than menacing caricatures ... was that the previously threatening gang leader that helped Matt up when he escaped from the tunnel ? See the difference between this and Eden Lake ?
This one ought to be at the time LONDON film festival. If not write and complain.
This has been the best Frightfest we've attended. No real dogs of movies to me.
During the weekend they also showed trailers or sneak previews of:
Dead Set (Charlie Brooker, zombies V Big Brother, appearing on E4 in October)
Grace (pregnant woman loses child but carries to term ... with gruesome consequences)
Lesbian Vampire Killers (them two blokes from Gavin & Stacey. Bet you cannot guess what it is about.)
Mutant Chronicles (this looked rather great, may be this year's Nightwatch/Daywatch)
and among the short films: THE AMAZING TROUSERS (go directly to YouTube and look it up.)