‘BIRTHRITE’ (Popcorn Frights 2024) A seriously twisted, small-town tale that terrifies.

popcorn frights 2024 logoBIRTHRITE

Birthrite

Director Ross Partridge brings a dark and nuanced story to Popcorn Frights 2024 audiences. When a pregnant woman inherits a country home, she and her girlfriend move in with happy expectations. But something from the town’s past looms over everyone.

Medical gaslighting, similar to Kindred, details authentic feelings of pregnant individuals, loss or not. But, BIRTHRITE‘s sinister underpinnings weave small-town history and their occult connections. The script from Patch Darragh and Erin Gann is seriously twisted. Reveal after reveal keeps you in a constant state of confusion and intrigue.

The cast is spectacular. Michael Chernus (Werewolves Within) and Owen Campbell (My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To)provide outstanding performances. Jennifer Lafleur gives Rosalie this eerie balance of loving care and dark self-interest. She steals every scene.

Juani Feliz plays Maya with a grounded love for Alice. She 100% holds her own in the everchanging emotional atmosphere. Alice Kremelberg gives Wren desperation and fear only a mother knows. It is an intense turn brimming with surprise after surprise.

Fall On Your Sword delivers a classic haunted house of dread style score. It reminded me of the opening theme song for the Nickelodeon show Are You Afraid of the Dark? BIRTHRITE mixes the chaos of pregnancy and delves into witchcraft with such complexity it makes your head spin. The film is so layered you cannot help but be captivated. This one will stick with you long after the screen goes black.

YEAR: 2024

COUNTRY: USA

RUNTIME: 100 min

DIRECTOR: Ross Partridge

WRITER: Patch Darragh, Erin Gann

STARRING: Alice Kremelberg, Juani Feliz, Michael Chernus, Jennifer Lafleur

 
For more Popcorn Frights reviews, click here!

‘FISHTANK’ (HollyShorts 2024) A wildly effective metaphor.

HollyShorts 2024 logoFISHTANK

Wendi Tang’s stunning new short FISHTANK follows Jules (Tiffany Chu), a Chinese American woman, who has been sober for a year, but can’t stop vomiting goldfish. Things take an unexpected turn when she suddenly meets a fish enthusiast.

fishtank

In Wendi Tang‘s HollyShorts film, FISHTANK, Jules is sober, but now, instead of vomiting from alcohol, she throws up goldfish. When she meets a new partner who seems to love the fish, her path to recovery gets slippery.

Jay Swuen‘s cinematography is elegant and immersive. Startling angles and stunning close-ups keep you both entranced and off-kilter. The soothing score from Caroline Ho lulls us as this little emotional rollercoaster twists and turns.

Tiffany Chu navigates the complexities of this role with grace. Her physical performance is award-worthy, weaving in and out of sick fits and clouded happiness.

This incredible metaphor for self-worth and addiction, gaslighting, and abusive relationships mesmerizes with its creative magical realism. FISHTANK is unlike anything I’ve seen all year. It is an unexpected reclamation of power.

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/912507205

Fishtank | Trailer from Wendi Tang on Vimeo.

  • Year:
    2024
  • Runtime:
    0:17:04
  • Language:
    English
  • Country:
    USA/China
  • Premiere:
    West Coast
  • Rating:
    G
  • Director:
    Wendi Tang
  • Screenwriter:
    Wendi Tang
  • Producer:
    Philip Yuzhong Ge
  • Cast:
    Tiffany Chu; Isaac W. Jay
  • Cinematographer:
    Jay Swuen
  • Editor:
    Yijuan “Reggie” Zhao; Christine Ho
  • Production Design:
    Cyrum A. Ramírez
  • Sound Design:
    One Thousand Birds

FISHTANK is the Tribeca Women Filmmaker’s Program Winner, the Film Pipeline Short Script Competition Winner in 2022. The film played at the deadCenter Film Festival and SXSW Sydney and will screen at the upcoming Oscar-qualifying Flicker’s Rhode Island International Film Festival and HollyShorts Film Festival.

Wendi Tang is a Los Angeles-based writer/director. She graduated from the NYU Tisch/Stern dual degree program. Wendi’s work focuses on character-driven stories that explore various corners of female narratives. Her short films have been selected by numerous Oscar-qualifying film festivals worldwide, including Flicker’s Rhode Island IFF, the Norwegian Short Film Festival, deadCenter Film Festival, Hollyshorts, and more.  She is a 2022 NYC Women’s Fund winner and a BAFTA Connect Member. She’s currently developing her first feature film.

Philip Yuzhong Ge is a Chinese producer based in LA.  A graduate of the AFI Producing program, Philip produced 30+ short films, music videos, and commercials. These works have been featured by platforms such as 88rising and Nowness China. His narrative and documentary works were selected by and won awards at multiple Oscar-qualified festivals including Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Charlotte, Shorts Shorts, and deadCenter. Philip’s most recent producing credits include Worthy (LALIFF/Netflix Inclusion Fellowship), and Gungnir (Sundance TAAF AAPI Collab). Philip is also a 2024 Film Independent Project Involve Producing Fellow and a 2022 Telluride TeamLAB fellow.

HollyShorts 20th banner

For more short film reviews, click here!

‘THE THAW’ (HollyShorts 2024) A stunning horror folklore begging for a feature

HollyShorts 2024 logo

THE THAW

TheThaw_Still_.01_02_58_03.Still053

Filmmakers Sarah Wisner and Sean Temple‘s striking horror folktale has been killing it on the festival circuit, and rightly so. THE THAW tells the story of a family running low on food for the winter months, tasking their daughter to prepare a sleeping tea that would put them into a deep hibernation state. It does not go well.

Amanda Bowman‘s sound mixing plays a vital role in the film’s creeping intensity. Demi Waldron‘s black and white cinematography is a breathtaking choice combined with Abby Swindler‘s string-heavy score.

TheThaw_Still_.01_10_02_22.Still158I’m not just saying all these nice things because the film happens to feature two of my favorite genre people (and internet friends), Emily Bennett and Toby Poser. Wisner and Temple earn each moment.

Jeffrey Grover is Timothy. His aggressive masculinity is utterly terrifying. His physical performance is shocking. Toby is an opinionated but protective mother. Her gentle vocal tone as Alma is spot on. The matriarch of the Adams Family, her presence is notable to genre junkies.

TheThaw_Still_.01_06_37_17.Still102Emily plays Ruth with a fearful innocence and tenacity. Bennett has that inarguable “it” factor in transforming for each new role. From The King Of Knives to Alone With You, her talent should make her a household name.

A gorgeously detailed production design ties it all together. Would I watch an expanded version of this universe? Absolutely. THE THAW is a real treat for Popcorn Frights 2024 and beyond.

THE THAW – Teaser from Sean Temple on Vimeo.

  • Director: Sarah Wisner and Sean Temple
  • Screenwriter: Sarah Wisner and Sean Temple
  • Producer: Darren Bailey, Nathan Sellers, Sarah Wisner, Sean Temple
  • Cast: Emily Bennett, Jeffrey Grover, Toby Poser
  • Cinematographer: Demi Waldron
  • Editor: Sean Temple
  • Production Design: Deidra Catero
  • Sound Design: Sean Temple and Eli Cohn
HollyShorts 20th bannerFor more short film reviews, click here!

‘THE NIGHT IS YOUNG’ (Popcorn Frights 2024) Love bites, but only if you’re lucky in Patrick Rea’s newest film.

popcorn frights 2024 logoTHE NIGHT IS YOUNG

TheNightIsYoung
Director Patrick Rea’s THE NIGHT IS YOUNG comes to Popcorn Frights 2024. Jumping on the content creator subgenre, or perhaps a page out of the REC playbook, this vampire romance uses all the best tropes for a breezy homegrown horror. 

Jake Jackson wears all the hats as cinematographer, special effects makeup artist, and Nora’s brother Jake. We only see him briefly at the end of the film because he’s but a voice behind the lens for the entirety of the film. He’s fantastic. 

Rea co-writes with star Sarah McGuire. I could have watched her dating shenanigans for another hour. McGuire gives Nora a relatable vibe, owning each moment with ease. Her chemistry with Valerie Bates (Emelia) feels incredibly natural. I’m excited to see what she does next.

Utilizing security footage and Jake’s real-time video maintains a sense of urgency during the countdown to sunrise. The reveal is unsurprising, but the why is much more fun for vampire canon nerds like me. THE NIGHT IS YOUNG is the definition of indie filmmaking. Taking a look at the credits, everyone had multiple roles. It’s a perfect runtime for the story. There is a solid set-up for a franchise, so color me intrigued.

DATE: Saturday, August 10
TIME: Video On Demand
VENUE: Digital Screening Room

YEAR: 2024

COUNTRY: USA

RUNTIME: 76 min

DIRECTOR: Patrick Rea

WRITER: Sarah McGuire, Patrick Rea

STARRING: Valeri Bates, Sarah McGuire, Jake Jackson

For more Popcorn Frights reviews, click here!
 

 

‘BOOGER’ (Popcorn Frights 2024) Body horror meets grief in Mary Dauterman’s festival favorite

popcorn frights 2024 logoBOOGER

BoogerIn filmmaker Mary Dauterman‘s Popcorn Frights film, BOOGER, Anna spirals following the sudden death of her roommate. Holding tight to Izzy’s phone and their adopted stray cat. When Booger bites her and escapes out the window, Anna’s grief journey is derailed by unusual symptoms from her injury.

Heather Matarazzo‘s initial appearance is one of the best scenes in the film. When she calls Anna 9/11, it’s one of the funniest moments. It’s shockingly hysterical and not offensive, speaking as someone in the city that day.

Videos saved on Izzy’s phone heighten our emotional investment in Anna’s loss. Even as a deceased character, Sofia Dobrushin is equally present as any other actor. Endlessly charming, you want her to be your best friend and deeply understand Anna’s loss. 

Grace Glowicki gives Anna a relatability, especially for anyone who has lost someone close. Her transformation throughout the film is fantastic. It is half self-destructive and the other half monstrous mutation. Glowicki is deliciously unhinged and inarguably perfect. 

It is easy to see why BOOGER has been killing it on the festival circuit. FX are spectacular. The subtle but gag-worthy progression is noteworthy. Speaking of gagging, if your reflex is at all weak, you may not make it to the end. I ingest A LOT of horror, and I almost lost it. BOOGER is a one-of-a-kind body horror comedy.  This unique examination of grief is like nothing else you’ll see this year.

DATE: Saturday, August 10
TIME: Video On Demand
VENUE: Digital Screening Room

YEAR: 2023

COUNTRY: USA

RUNTIME: 78 min

DIRECTOR: Mary Dauterman

WRITER: Mary Dauterman

STARRING: Grace Glowicki, Garrick Bernard, Heather Matarazzo

For more Popcorn Frights coverage, click here!

‘DEVOTEE’ (HollyShorts 2024) A bold cult classic *wink, wink

HollyShorts 2024 logoDEVOTEE


2024 Hollyshorts Film Festival

August 8 – 18, 2024

TCL Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Devotee poster

Logline

While up late one night, a precocious boy uncovers his mother’s dark devotion.


Devotee - Grant FeelyIt’s always a bold choice to bring harm to a child. It is even more audacious to have a child witness something eternally scarring. Filmmaker Richard J. Bosner does both in just over six minutes. HollyShorts 2024 film DEVOTEE takes fear back in time when the threat of cults was all the rage. Not the watered-down wackiness of politics, but honest-to-good, off-the-rails, die-for-your-cause cult.

The production design is perfect. It is a mix of leftover 80s staple furniture and an early 90s PC, the only reason we can place the film in a specific era. The score is eerie and ominous.

While Ben Bladon and Mackenzie Firgens (Give Me An A) do a fantastic job of putting the viewer on edge, Grant Feely owns every second of screen time. Feely is a star, delivering pure terror and the end of innocence. All I can say is I hope this is the opening of a feature-length version of DEVOTEE because I need the rest of Ray’s story ASAP.


Devotee - Mackenzie Firgens
About the Director

Richard J Bosner (Producer/ Director) is best known for producing the true story Fruitvale Station starring Octavia Spencer and Michael B. Jordan which received the Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize in the Dramatic category and the Sundance Audience Award, U.S. Dramatic, presented by Acura along with 44 nominations/wins during the 2013 Awards Season.



Bosner has also produced numerous breakout films such as Other People starring Molly Shannon, Black Bear starring Aubrey Plaza, Axelle Carolyn’s horror feature The Manor with Blumhouse TV/Amazon Studios, and Netflix’s Take the 10 starring Josh Peck and Tony Revolori.



In 2019, Bosner was honored as one of the years LATINX Trail-Blazing producers for his substantial contribution to diverse and inclusive filmmaking. He is currently in post-production on Michael Tyburski’s feature Turn Me On starring Nick Robinson and Bel Powley.


Run Time: 7 minutes

Language: English

Country: United States

Writer and Director: Richard J. Bosner

Cast: Grant Feely, MacKenzie Firgens, Ben Bladon

Editor: Robert Schafer (Megalopolis)

Sound: Tom Myers (Skywalker Sound)

For more Short Film coverage, click here!

‘STRANGE DARLING’ (Popcorn Frights 2024) Cat-and-mouse murder mayhem, the thriller you’ll never see coming

popcorn frights 2024 logoSTRANGE DARLING 

strange darling final poster

Kyle Gallner, undisputed Scream King (and my secret music boyfriend), stars alongside Willa Fitzgerald in JT Mollner‘s bonkers thriller STRANGE DARLING. Popcorn Frights 2024 audiences finally witness the unbelievable story of a famed serial killer. Told through six chapters, although nonlinear, this shocking film is here is f*ck you up. 

Opening with a Texas Chainsaw-inspired crawl, the audience is thrust into violent chaos, beginning with Chapter 3. The relentless pursuit and full-blown disturbing, but hold on a gosh darn minute. Christopher Robin Bell’s editing keeps us in a state of agitated panic. I know that device drives some people crazy. Here, it heightens every aspect of their dynamic. It all feels so personal that you need to comprehend the depravity. 

Augmented color choices in STRANGE DARLING give the film a devilish and addicting quality. The score is grating and decidedly ominous- A genuine compliment. The lighting is simply delicious. The soundtrack is fire, as the kids say. 

Gallner is a genius. This unhinged performance feels dangerous. Even more so than his role in The Passengers. Willa Fitzgerald delivers an award-worthy turn. She is fierce as hell and totally deranged. It is nothing short of a wow. 

Fitzgerald and Gallner’s chemistry is sick. There is an undeniable electricity between them, and it’s like watching a a sexy car crash happen in real time. The plot is spectacularly unpredictable. Don’t bother guessing from moment to moment, even though Mollner’s script hypes you up to do so. The sheer number of “Oh Shit” moments! Slow clap, sir.

If you want to talk about boundary-pushing movies, STRANGE DARLING is up there with the best. There is an eccentricity that lands somewhere between A Wounded Fawn and Megalomaniac. Yeah, I know that’s a broad spectrum. This twisted erotic fantasy bends until it breaks. It stokes a conversation about kink and consent, power and obsession, and, believe it or not, gender bias. The final shot is genre heaven. Few films are perfect. STRANGE DARLING is perfect.

YEAR: 2023

COUNTRY: USA

RUNTIME: 96 min

DIRECTOR: JT Mollner

WRITER: JT Mollner

STARRING: Willa Fitzgerald, Kyle Gallner, Barbara Hershey, Giovanni Ribisi

 

 

For more Popcorn Frights coverage, click here!

‘SHOUTING AT THE SEA’ (HollyShorts 2024) A lovely and raw revelation.

HollyShorts 2024 logoSHOUTING AT THE SEA

Two friends reconnect in the seaside town where they grew up. They confront the past, share who they’ve become and conclude the conversation that tore them apart. The ever-present sea narrates a tale of memory, belonging and vulnerability.

shouting at the sea

In director Benjamin Verrall‘s short film, SHOUTING AT THE SEA, old friends meet up and reminisce.

The ever-changing light in SHOUTING AT THE SEA is delicious, and DP Tom Hooker uses every bit of it. The dialogue is funny and raw, becoming more honest as the moments tick by. Joe and Katherine exchange untold childhood trauma, philosophical ideas, and unspoken confessions.

Daisy Haggard voices the sea, offering a poetic narrative of our protagonists’ innermost wishes. It is a dreamy addition to Richie Johnsen‘s wistful score.

Harry Michell gives Joe a down-to-earth quality. He’s an every man existing in a quietly mundane existence. Michell’s gentleness is refreshing. Maddie Rice is Katherine. She is so watchable, possessing a quality similar to Olivia Colman. Rice has a tangible likeability. Michell and Rice share undeniably organic chemistry. It’s a bit mesmerizing.

SHOUTING AT THE SEA reminds us how revitalizing and healing face-to-face interaction can be – no phones, just human connection. It’s a beautiful short, more moving than most features. What a lovely addition to HollyShorts 2024.

SHOUTING AT THE SEA – SHORT FILM – TOFFEE HAMMER – OFFICIAL TRAILER from Toffee Hammer on Vimeo.

Benjamin Verrall’s SHOUTING AT THE SEA takes the audience on a journey of emotions as two friends rekindle their friendship in the town they grew up in. This incredible short film is set to premiere at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival. SHOUTING AT THE SEA stars Harry Michell (Hijack, Life After Life) and Maddie Rice (Fleabag, The Other One), the sea is voiced by Daisy Haggard (Breeders, Boat Story).

Director and co/writer Benjamin Verrall has always been drawn to the power and mystery of the sea – a theme that resonates in SHOUTING AT THE SEA. Since graduating from film school, Benjamin has carved out a successful career in the media industry. His journey led him to establish Toffee Hammer, a creative agency and production company that has gained recognition for its innovative storytelling and collaborative ethos.

Co-writer/producer Kate Auster has over 10 years of experience and a diverse portfolio. Her design background brings a unique blend of artistic insight and technical expertise to film production.

Co-writer/producer Ruth Marshall excels in commissioned digital content for learning communication and narrative filmmaking.

Co-writer/producer Amelia Rowcroft has previously worked as a sculptor on films including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Hugo, Atonement, and Batman Begins. Her recent work includes HollyShorts selected SHOUTING AT THE SEA.

The incredibly cinematic cinematography was carefully created by Tom Hooker.

HollyShorts 20th banner

For more short film reviews, click here!

‘THE DOG’ (HollyShorts 2024) Danielle Baynes’ powerful short pierces your heart.

HollyShorts 2024 logoTHE DOG

the Dog poster

In filmmaker Danielle Baynes‘ short, THE DOG, a particularly trying shift at a small 24-hour veterinary clinic takes a turn as a struggling veterinarian has increasingly dark thoughts. 

Sam Hayward‘s sound mixing is a triumph. The repeating audio of a wolf’s growl raises the hairs on your arms. If you have sensory issues, and even if you don’t, THE DOG will make you cringe. The music from One Above is beautiful. 

The Dog stillKate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy) is outstanding as a woman on the brink. Her physical performance is seeped in anguish. Walsh is such a pro in tackling characters in the emotional trenches. 13 Reasons Why introduced her to a younger, perhaps even broader audience than Grey’s, and she continues to select roles that showcase her dazzling abilities. 

THE DOG is a stunning metaphor for depression and suicidal ideation. HollyShorts 2024 audiences are privileged to witness this slice of cinematic magic.

  • Year:
    2024
  • Runtime:
    0:12:00
  • Language:
    English
  • Country:
    Australia
  • Premiere:
    West Coast
  • Rating:
    M
  • Director:
    Danielle Baynes
  • Screenwriter:
    Danielle Baynes
  • Producer:
    Danielle Baynes, Lottie Aspinall, Morgan Hind
  • Cast:
    Kate Walsh, Justin Amankwah, Jeremy Waters, Emalia, Hunter Sabe
  • Cinematographer:
    Stefan Duscio
  • Editor:
    Shannon Michaelas
  • Production Design:
    Ella Deane
  • Sound Design:
    Sam Hayward
HollyShorts 20th bannerFor more short film reviews, click here!

‘THE MISSING (Fantasia 2024) Beautiful digital rotoscope animation unfolds a genre-defying film.

Fantasia 2024 logoTHE MISSING

The Missing poster

Eric has a well-paying job as an animator, a crush on a co-worker, and harbors a secret. Filmmaker director Carl Joseph Papa brings Fantasia 2024 audiences his third feature-length animated film, THE MISSING. Hindering Eric’s new romance are the memories triggered after discovering his estranged uncle dead. Can Eric finally find his voice? 

The_Missing_02The longer Eric waits to tell his loved ones, the stranger his life gets. An alien threatens to take him back to outer space. He is losing time, and his body parts are falling off. This aspect is particularly upsetting because he is literally missing his mouth. This creative metaphor becomes the backbone of THE MISSING. 

Digital Rotoscope adult animation often has a heavy feel. In the last 20 years, films like A Scanner Darkly (which blew my mind in 2006), The Spine of Night, and The Peasants give audiences a similar vibe. It is undoubtedly a cinematic wonder, drawing your eye to places you might not otherwise look had filmmakers shot on digital or even traditional film. There is a beauty that harkens back somewhere between Henri Matisse and Disney. 

The_Missing_04I wasn’t aware that I grew up on Rotoscope films before doing a quick Google search. Some of my most beloved childhood films fall into the genre- The Lord of the Rings (1978), The Secret of NIMH (1982), and Anastasia (1997). First introduced in 1918, I had no idea the process was so old. THE MISSING stylistically mirrors The Spine of the Night rather than Alice In Wonderland. 2D animation illustrates Eric’s childhood memories in a stunning visual contrast that serves a dual purpose. The choice to childishly scribble over Uncle’s face speaks volumes. It is a visually captivating film. 

Carlo Aquino is esquisite as Eric. The vulnerability that flows from Aquino without dialogue is astonishing. What a star. Backed up by the extraordinary duo of Dolly De Leon and Gio Gahol, THE MISSING is a uniquely crafted metaphor for unresolved trauma. It’s a poignant exploration of abuse, grief, and healing, and a creative catharsis.

Remaining Screenings of THE MISSING:

Sun August 04, 2024
5:15 PM
 

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Annecy International Animation Festival 2024
Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2024
Osaka Asian Film Festival 2024
Queer East Festival 2024

HONORS

Best Supporting Actress for Dolly de Leon – Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival 2023

Philippines’ submission to the 96th Academy Awards

Best Film – Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2023

NETPAC Award – Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2023

For all things Fantasia 2024, click here!

‘BANGS’ (Fantasia 2024 short) Sinfully relatable.

Fantasia 2024 logoBANGS

Bangs-PosterMontreal-based comedy duo Emelia Hellman and Nancy Webb (Hellgirl Productions) bring their paranoia-fueled short Bangs to Fantasia Festival’s Fantastiques week-ends du cinéma québécois this summer for the film’s Canadian premiere.

Bangs Still 3

On the eve of hosting a dinner party for her 30th birthday, a woman cuts her hair. When her friends don’t notice, it drives her mad. Nancy Webb‘s Fantasia 2024 short film BANGS has unexpected fringe benefits. Pun, very much intended.

With each passing hour that her guests don’t mention the bangs, our protagonist becomes tenser and more enraged. The audience is in on the joke, making us increasingly nervous. But the film does not go the way you might expect.

BANGS 2

The handheld camera work gives the audience an immersive feel. Partly fly on the wall, but mostly, chaotically a member of the friend group. Lead Emelia Hellman, who co-writes the script with Webb, is excellent. She perfectly captures the need for approval and the rush of dopamine a compliment can supply.

BANGS is smirk-inducing and cringey in the best way. It’s an entirely relatable set-up. It is a commentary on narcissism and perceived identity, with a bit of magic realism thrown in for good measure.

DIRECTOR

Nancy Webb

PRODUCER

Emelia Hellman

WRITER

Emelia Hellman, Nancy Webb

CAST

Travis Cannon, Nicky Fournier, Emelia Hellman, Kelly Kay Hurcomb, Andi E McQueen, James Watts

For all things Fantasia 2024, click here!

‘DETAINED’ (2024) Abbie Cornish stars in a satisfying thriller.

kinogo quiver logoDETAINED

DETAINED poster

SYNOPSIS

In the dead of night, Rebecca (Cornish) wakes in a decrepit precinct, accused of a hit-and-run. But a deadly scuffle reveals a sinister plot. With nowhere to turn, she must uncover the truth before it consumes her. But Rebecca harbors secrets darker than they know.

Abbie Cornish in a scene from DETAINED - Photo Courtesy - Quiver Distribution

The long con is on in this creative bait-and-switch thriller. Filmmaker Felipe Mucci, alongside co-writer Jeremy Palmer, lures us into a mystery that cleverly unravels.

DETAINED boasts a solid ensemble cast. Breeda Wool elevated each film she’s in, and this is no exception. Her effortless vulnerability captivates. Justin H. Min‘s performance is also a standout. I loved him in Shortcomings and The Umbrella Academy. The role of Isaac is yet another display of his talents.

Laz Alonso in a scene from DETAINED - Photo Courtesy - Quiver DistributionLaz Alonzo does a fine job as the hypermasculine group leader, doing his best to keep up with Cornish. Speaking of, Abbie Cornish owns this role. It’s a tour de force. From the moment we see her, it’s already over.

(L-R) Abbie Cornish and Breeda Wool in a scene from DETAINED - Photo Courtesy - Quiver DistributionMucci and Palmer give Cornish the time to work her magic. We know her gears are turning throughout. Watching the dominoes fall is delightful. While I worked out a key plot point relatively early- I watch hundreds of films each year, it never lessened the elaborate twists. I still wondered precisely how we’d get from point A to B. Audiences get a lot to chew on in just over ninety minutes. DETAINED is devilishly satisfying.

VIEW THE TRAILER HERE

Quiver Distribution’s upcoming psychological thriller DETAINED starring Abbie Cornish, Laz Alonso, Moon Bloodgood, John Patrick Amedori, Justin H. Min, and Breeda Wool will open in select theaters and be available on VOD this Friday, August 2nd.

Directed by FELIPE MUCCI

Written by JEREMY PALMER and FELIPE MUCCI

Produced by RYAN SCARINGE

Executive Producers MONICA SUFAR, ABBIE CORNISH, and LAZ ALONSO

For more Thriller coverage, click here!

‘CUCKOO’ (Fantasia 2024) Forget eloquence and let’s call it what it is. Tilman Singer’s latest is a mindfuck.

Fantasia 2024 logoCUCKOO



cuckoo_poster_engAbandonment and unresolved trauma collide with a monster movie and mad scientist in Tilman Singer‘s (LUZ) latest film, CUCKOO. Fantasia 2024 audiences, you are not ready for the authentic dread and mind-blowing chaos coming for you.

Gretchen is shipped off to live on a mountain resort in the Alps with her estranged father, his new wife, and her nonverbal stepsister. Something is very wrong as the guests lose their faculties at the stalking presence of a mysterious woman in white.

Singer never hides the fact that some characters know more than Gretchen. CUCKOO has a subtle Rosemary’s Baby vibe. The mystery rolls out slowly. Each new scene is more eerie than the last. We never know who to trust.

Repetition of selective moments featuring augmented audio places the viewer in an off-kilter state of mind. Sound is vital to CUCKOO’s narrative, assisted by a perfect soundtrack and score.
Cuckoo_01

Singer has Gretchen utterly trapped, held captive emotionally, physically, and metaphorically. Subconsciously, the audience is already visually groomed by the location. The resort lies in the valley surrounded by The Alps. The special FX makeup team earns every bit of kudos for their work, particularly as Gretchen’s injuries increase throughout the film.

Dan Stevens‘ character has an eccentricity that immediately makes you uneasy. Singer creates a man so unusual that the audience questions the motive of every sentence until halfway through the film. Stevens is a chameleon. This role is another wild notch on his resume.

Hunter Schafer is magnificent. She captures teen angst, naive fearlessness, and everything in between. This performance is a home run. Schafer solidifies herself as an undeniable star.

Boasting a finale that has to be one of the most epically shocking WTFs of all time, Singer has given genre audiences something entirely unpredictable, twisty, and unhinged—hell yes, and holy shit.

Fantasia 2024 posterFor all things Fantasia 2024, click here!

‘BERTA’ (Fantasia 2024) Female rage is the best kind

Fantasia 2024 logoBERTA

Berta poster

The story of a woman called Berta who seeks understanding from a man that hurt her in the past. Despite her methods might be seen as unorthodox, she’ll make her point.

Berta still 2Nerea Barros captivates as the titular character. She walks a perfect line between anxiety and persistence. Barros becomes a feminist icon we so desperately need.

Think Hard Candy meets Promising Young Woman. BERTA nails the subgenre. The practical FX team delivers sleight-of-hand twice.

Filmmaker Lucía Former Segarra‘s writing is so slick. She comes full circle in her shorts trilogy, specifically calling out the names of her previous films in the dialogue. BERTA is the ultimate form of therapy for all of us with unresolved trauma. It is a delicious treat for our revenge fantasies.

For previous years’ BORN OF WOMAN coverage click here and here!

Find all other Fantasia 2024 coverage right here 🙂

‘DOCTOR JEKYLL’ (2024) Eddie Izzard continues to be iconic


DOCTOR JEKYLL

STARRING EDDIE IZZARD

Doctor Jekyll poster
An adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson novella, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, director Joe Stephenson takes us inside the gothic horror genre through the performance of the incomparable Eddie Izzard.

In DOCTOR JEKYLL, a young man recently released from prison, needing employment to see his daughter, finds himself the carer for a famous pharmaceutical giant forced into seclusion due to scandal. There is something amiss with the doctor, and Rob is merely a chess piece.

doctor Jekyll 2The script plays like one carefully curated test after another, skillfully crafted to test Rob’s and our moral compass. screenwriter Dan Kelly-MulhernIt has Nina lull Rob into a sense of safety and care, playing on his desperation and redemption arc. The double-entendre dialogue is delicious.

Scott Chambers captivates with an anxious, naive, childlike quality reminiscent of Barry Keoghan in Saltburn. He compels you to watch. His chemistry with Izzard is electric.

doctor Jekyll Scott chambersEddie Izzard owns the titular role of Nina Jekyll. Delivering two fully fleshed-out personalities, one can only imagine the personal stake in Izzard’s performance. She is utterly mesmerizing, devouring Kelly-MulhernIt’s versions of Nina and Rachel. It is one hell of a turn.

Birgit Dierken‘s cinematography features sweeping crane shots and beautiful framing, utilizing brilliant natural and fire light. The score mirrors the story in style. Devilishly sinister and other times lovely, the duality is perfect.

Doctor-Jekyll_Still_4DOCTOR JEKYLL is endlessly intriguing, playing on the raw emotions and hitting every horror note, with precision. The finale is visually spectacular. DOCTOR JEKYLL is a prime example of keen manipulation.

OPENING IN THEATERS AND VOD AUGUST 2ND

Hammer Films invites you to screen DOCTOR JEKYLL, a new adaptation of the classic tale from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella starring Eddie Izzard. Directed by Joe Stephenson (MIDAS MAN), DOCTOR JEKYLL is a slow-burn gothic horror that delves into themes of duality, concocting a surprising mix of dark humor and flashes of camp within a twisted fairytale. The film also stars Scott Chambers, Simon Callow, Lindsay Duncan, Jonathan Hyde, Morgan Watkins and Robyn Cara. DOCTOR JEKYLL will open in theaters and on demand beginning August 2, 2024.

Doctor Jekyll Eddie IzzardDIRECTOR Joe Stephenson 

WRITERS Dan Kelly-Mulhern, Robert Louis Stevenson 

CAST Eddie Izzard, Scott Chambers, Lindsay Duncan, Simon Callow, Jonathan Hyde, Morgan Watkins, Robyn Cara, Isabella Inchbald, Tony Jayawardena 

GENRE Gothic Horror, Drama, Mystery   

RUN TIME 90 mins 

 

Instagram: @hammer_films 

Facebook: @hammerfilms

X (formerly known as Twitter): @hammerfilms

TikTok: @hammerfilms_ 

Hashtags: #HammerFilms #DoctorJekyll

For more horror film reviews, click here!

‘DIRTY BAD WRONG’ (Fantasia 2024 short) Erica Orofino’s short finds a mother between a promise and a boundary.

Fantasia 2024 logo

DIRTY BAD WRONG

Dirty Bad Wrong PosterDesperate to keep her promise to host the best superhero party for her 6-year-old, young mother Sid, a sex worker, takes extreme measures and books a last-minute client with a dark fetish. Dirty Bad Wrong is a drama/body horror that explores the darkest sides of capitalism, and just how far we’ll go for the ones we love.

STILL1 - Dirty, Bad, Wrong - Image by SAMANTHA FALCOSTILL1 - Dirty, Bad, Wrong - Image by SAMANTHA FALCOLife changes when you become a mother. It is impossible to describe to someone who has never protected another human with every ounce of their soul. In Erica Orofino‘s Fantasia 2024 short film DIRTY BAD WRONG, audiences are plunged into the world of a mother who would do anything for her child. 

Dirty Bad Wrong 3 - Photo by Samantha Falco50Jack Greig has a presence that is hard to teach. He gives Jesse a palpable innocence and curiosity. Michaela Kurimsky plays Sid with earnest desperation and unconditional love for her son. The chemistry between her and Grieg is enchanting. Kurimsky is nothing short of captivating in fourteen minutes. I would watch her in anything.

Outside of the authentic choices for survival, the horror aspect is subtle in the most powerful way. The messaging behind the images screams off the screen. The necessary evils one will endure for a loved one knows no bounds. DIRTY BAD WRONG begs for a feature. There is enough meat on the bone, no unintended, for delicious worldbuilding. 

Dirty Bad Wrong stars Michaela Kurimsky (Alouette, Firecrackers, The Boathouse), Jack Greig (Dark Side of the Ring), and Cody Thompson (The Shape of Water, May the Best Wedding Win, Mrs. America) and is produced by Fonna Seidu (virgins!, Fresh Meat, Being Black in Toronto). It was shot in Toronto, Canada.

Fantasia 2024 posterFor all things Fantasia 2024, click here!

‘THE TENANTS’ (Fantasia 2024) Simultaneously stunningly and sobering look at societal truths

Fantasia 2024 logo

THE TENANTS

The_Tenants_POSTERA commentary on environmental and economic realities, Eunkyoung Yoon‘s Fantasia 2024 feature THE TENANTS hypnotizes with Kafkaesque absurdity in stunning black and white.

Shin-Dong lives an isolated life in the highly polluted near future Seoul. He grinds at a soulless desk job, generally miserable. When threatened with eviction, his only friend suggests taking on Tenants to prevent losing his apartment. This temporary solution quickly dissolves into the strange as Shin-Dong races toward a promotion on the elusive Sphere 2, an idyllic land of clean air and prosperity.

The_Tenants_01THE TENANTS cleverness is through the roof, no pun intended. The fact that Shin-Dong’s landlord is a child makes all the sense in the world to anyone who has stepped into the rental arena in a major city. The near future visual indications, like projected video calls and digital advertising, are seamlessly integrated.

The_Tenants_03Kim Dae-gun is quietly magnetic as Shin-Dong. Perfectly playing off the enormous physical aura of fellow cast member Heo Dong-won. The audience feels sufficiently sad for him. Shin-Dong’s evolution is mesmerizing, causing viewers to question their morality meter and sanity. THE TENANTS says the quiet parts out loud and is a creative forced look in the mirror.

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Singapore International Film Festival 2023
Hong Kong international Film Festival 2024
Fantaspoa 2024

HONORS

Best Director, Asian Feature Film – Singapore International Film Festival 2023

FIPRESCI Prize – Singapore International Film Festival 2023

Remaining Screenings of THE TENANTS:

Sun August 04, 2024
7:15 PM
Fantasia 2024 posterFor all things Fantasia 2024, click here!

‘ESCAPE ATTEMPT’ (Fantasia 2024 short) Chilling and visually stunning

Fantasia 2024 logoESCAPE ATTEMPT

Escape Attempt – Film - Aggressive - aggressive.tv

A desperate man tries to make his way to an uninhabited planet with the help of a young and idealistic couple. In their Fantasia 2024 short ESCAPE ATTEMPT, directors Daniel Shapiro and Alex Topaller take audiences on a journey across time, space, and humanity. Based on a novella of the same name by the Strugatsky Brothers, this dazzling twenty-nine minutes of storytelling hits harder than you might expect. Performances are outstanding across the board. Without spoiling the impact of this explosive narrative, I can easily say that it is a visually exciting and thoroughly engaging dive into the metaphor for the cyclical nature of history—the cliche warning about what happens when we don’t learn from our past. I highly recommend seeking out this short. I imagine it is only the beginning for Shapiro and Topaller.

Daniel Shapiro and Alex Topaller, founders of the Aggressive design studio, deliver the US/Polish co-production ESCAPE ATTEMPT based on the Strugatsky Brothers’s novella of the same name. 

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia 2023

FilmQuest 2023

Landshut Short Film Festival 2024

Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival 2024

HONORS

Grand Prize – FilmQuest 2023

Best Sci-Fi Short – FilmQuest 2023

Navigator Award for Best Sci-Fi Film – Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival 2024

DIRECTOR

Daniel Shapiro, Alex Topaller

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Jacek Kulczycki, Daniel Shapiro, Alex Topaller

PRODUCER

Lukasz Tomasz Koltunowicz

WRITER

Christina Lazaridi, Daniel Shapiro, Alex Topaller

CAST

Anna Burnett, Andrzej Chyra, Ieuan Coombs, Piotr Witkowski

CINEMATOGRAPHER

Pils Kajetan

 
Fantasia 2024 posterFor all things Fantasia 2024, click here!

‘MIDNIGHT TAXI’ (2024) A well-crafted thriller

MIDNIGHT TAXI

Midnight Taxi poster


In Midnight Taxi, night shift cab driver Eddie Carter goes down the homespun detective rabbit hole when he discovers a murdered sex worker on his route home. Because he suffers from sleepwalking, Eddie is afraid he might know more than he immediately recalls. Enlisting the help of an investigative journalist, his journey through the dark streets of London drives him to the brink of madness.

Midnight Taxi 1Ladi Emeruwa is a star. He exudes effortless charm, diving headfirst into Eddie’s unresolved trauma and the ensuing panic attacks. Emeruwa’s ability to grab the audience is a filmmaker’s dream. He has that ” It” factor in spades. 

Midnight Taxi 3The score is proper neo-noir, but the volume is often distracting. Filmmakers Bertie Speirs and Samantha Speirs deliver a well-crafted thriller. Eddie has dreams with flashes of memories or fantasies. We aren’t exactly sure. His lost time ups the ante. They skillfully tease a mysterious backstory so the audience constantly questions Eddie’s possible culpability. MIDNIGHT TAXI takes you along for a complex psychological ride.

Midnight Taxi 2

Trailer:

AVAILABLE ON VOD + DIGITAL

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Written and Directed by: Bertie Speirs and Samantha Speirs

Starring: Ladi Emeruwa, Charlotte Price, and Eddie Eyre

Genre: Mystery, Drama

RT: 97 min | Not Yet Rated

Language: English | U.S.

For more mystery film coverage, click here!

‘HELL IS A TEENAGE GIRL’ (Fantasia 2024) Flipping the script on the Final Girl trope.

Fantasia 2024 logo

HELL IS A TEENAGE GIRL

Hell Is A Teenage Girl poster

Every Halloween, the small town of Springboro is terrorized by its resident SLASHER – a masked serial killer who targets sinful teenagers that break ‘The Rules of Horror’ – don’t drink, don’t do drugs, and don’t have sex! At the center of it all is Parker Campbell, the Slasher’s estranged biological daughter. In an attempt to clear her name and make things right with the town, Parker sets out on a life-or-death mission in hopes of ending his reign of terror once and for all…

Hell Is a Teenage Girl (2024

Skylar Radzion plays Parker, the daughter of a small-town slasher. Tortured by her peers most of her life, she enlists her best friend and an obsessive lunkhead to break all the rules and unleash the ultimate form of revenge. Filmmaker Stephen Sawchuk delivers the goods to Fantasia 2024 audiences with his short film HELL IS A TEENAGE GIRL.
Radzion, Faly Mevamanana, and Kevin Osea nail their roles. The updated colonial set that serves as Parker’s home is perfect, and well-thought-out costumes complete the vision. The film is a solid treatment for a feature I’d be delighted to dive into. Sawchuk gives us enough meat on the bone for expansion, past and future.

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Mammoth Film Festival 2024

WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival 2024

Luxembourg International Indie Film Festival 2024

Cannes Indie International Film Festival 2024

HONORS

Gold Remi Award – WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival 2024

Best Horror Film – Cannes Indie International Film Festival 2024

Best Director – Cannes Indie International Film Festival 2024

Best Actress – Luxembourg Indie International Film Fest 2024

DIRECTOR

Stephen Sawchuk

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Elysia Rotaru, Stephen Sawchuk

PRODUCER

Jenni Baynham, Barbara Gregusova

WRITER

Stephen Sawchuk

CAST

Mar Andersons, Zenia Marshall, Faly Mevamanana, Jill Morrison, Kevin Osea, Skylar Radzion

SOCIAL MEDIA: @hellisateenagegirl (Instagram) #HellIsATeenageGirl

Fantasia 2024 posterFor all things Fantasia 2024, click here!

HELL IS A TEENAGE GIRL