Fantasia International Film Festival 2017 Reviews: ‘Dead Shack’ and ‘Bitch’

DEAD SHACK

While staying at a run-down cabin in the woods during the weekend, three children must save their parents from the neighbor who intends to feed them to her un-dead family.

Dead Shack is a gore filled, one-liner extravaganza. Starting off with a bang and never letting up, this film is an ode to nosey teens everywhere who have had to fend for themselves by growing a pair/ perhaps being a tad too brazen. You’ll laugh, you’ll squirm, you’ll be really impressed by the performances. With some stunningly sweeping cinematography and cool 80’s electronic score, Dead Shack should not be missed. Good thing for the masses, it’s being released later this year! If you’re not at Fantasia 2017 for this afternoon’s screening, for now, you can check out the trailer below.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

SCREENING TIMES

CREDITS

  • Directed by: Peter Ricq
  • Written by: Philippe Ivanusic, Davila LeBlanc, Peter Ricq
  • Cast: Lizzie Boys, Lauren Holly, Gabriel LaBelle, Matthew Nelson-Mahood, Donavon Stinson
  • Company: Raven Banner Entertainment Inc.

BITCH

The provocative tale of a woman (Marianna Palka) who snaps under crushing life pressures and assumes the psyche of a vicious dog. Her philandering, absentee husband (Jason Ritter) is forced to become reacquainted with his four children and sister-in-law (Jaime King) as they attempt to keep the family together during this bizarre crisis.

Bitch thrusts you into the mind of a stay-at-home Mom’s breaking point. Creative editing and brilliant storytelling allow the audience to enter into Mom’s psyche and understand why the story happens in the first place. Ritter‘s loathsome performance (a complete compliment) is an awesome foil to Palka‘s brave portrayal of the film’s titular role. Virtual high fives to our leading lady for writing and directing this spectacular movie, as well. This film has way more heart than one might think. It speaks to connection and who is truly the alpha in the household. As with Dead Shack, if you missed Bitch‘s screening at the fest, you’re in luck. The film is getting a wide release later this year!

CANADIAN PREMIERE
  • USA
  • 2017
  • 96 mins
  • English

SCREENING TIMES

CREDITS

  • Directed by: Marianna Palka
  • Written by: Marianna Palka
  • Cast: Jason Ritter, Jaime King, Marianna Palka
  • Company: MPI Media

OFFICIAL SELECTION: SUNDANCE 2017, BAMCINEMAFEST 2017, CHICAGO CRITICS FILM FESTIVAL 2017

Review: ‘The Blackcoat’s Daughter’ is wicked twisted and completely unsettling.

 The Blackcoat’s Daughter

SYNOPSIS

A deeply atmospheric and terrifying new horror film, The Blackcoat’s Daughter centers on Kat (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton), two girls who are left alone at their prep school Bramford over winter break when their parents mysteriously fail to pick them up. While the girls experience increasingly strange and creepy occurrences at the isolated school, we cross cut to another story—that of Joan (Emma Roberts), a troubled young woman on the road, who, for unknown reasons, is determined to get to Bramford as fast as she can. As Joan gets closer to the school, Kat becomes plagued by progressively intense and horrifying visions, with Rose doing her best to help her new friend as she slips further and further into the grasp of an unseen evil force. The movie suspensfully builds to the moment when the two stories will finally intersect, setting the stage for a shocking and unforgettable climax.

Emma Roberts plays a mysterious young woman who is clearly troubled. It’s an unglamorous role but suits her well. She is, as ever, riveting on screen. Having watched Kiernan Shipka literally grow up on Mad Men, we find her in a role that’s totally unexpected and truly scary. The progression of her character is unhinged. Fun fact: Shipka has a hauntingly gorgeous singing voice. The script’s dynamic is engrossing and the concept of two stories colliding keep you consistently alert. The uncomfortable moments and there are many, will keep you on the edge of your seat long enough to get to the weird (in a good way) ending.  The location screams typical New England boarding school. The winter weather adding to the gloom and darkness of the impending doom. The Blackcoat’s Daughter will stick with you in a disturbing way long after the credit roll. In Select Theaters and On Demand March 31st, 2017

Opening in NYC (Village East, Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers), LA (Sunset 5 West Hollywood) and additional cities…

Directed By:                         Osgood Perkins

Written By:                           Osgood Perkins

Produced By:                       Rob Paris, Adrienne Biddle, Bryan Bertino, Robert Menzies, Alphonse Ghossein

Starring:                                Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton, Lauren Holly, James Remar

Release Date:                       Exclusively on DirecTV—February 16, 2017 / In Theaters and On Demand—March 31, 2017

Running Time:                     95 minutes

Rating:                                 R for brutal bloody violence and brief strong language

A24 brings to you a new clip from ‘The Blackcoat’s Daughter’ starring Emma Roberts

A24 has released a new clip from the upcoming film THE BLACKCOAT’S DAUGHTER and we have it for you below!

Written and directed by Osgood “Oz” Perkins (I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House), the film stars Emma Roberts (Fox’s “Scream Queens,” FX’s “American Horror Story”), Kiernan Shipka (AMC’s “Mad Men,” Lifetime’s “Flowers in the Attic”), Lucy Boynton (Sing Street, Don’t Knock Twice), Lauren Holly (ABC’s “Motive,” Dumb & Dumber), and James Remar (Showtime’s “Dexter,” Tales from the Darkside: The MovieThe Warriors).
A deeply atmospheric and terrifying new horror film, The Blackcoat’s Daughter centers on Kat (Kiernan Shipka) and Rose (Lucy Boynton), two girls who are left alone at their prep school Bramford over winter break when their parents mysteriously fail to pick them up. While the girls experience increasingly strange and creepy occurrences at the isolated school, we cross cut to another story—that of Joan (Emma Roberts), a troubled young woman on the road, who, for unknown reasons, is determined to get to Bramford as fast as she can. As Joan gets closer to the school, Kat becomes plagued by progressively intense and horrifying visions, with Rose doing her best to help her new friend as she slips further and further into the grasp of an unseen evil force. The movie suspensefully builds to the moment when the two stories will finally intersect, setting the stage for a shocking and unforgettable climax.
The film premieres in theaters March 31, 2017 and is now available exclusively on DirectTV.