Joseph reviews the taut thriller “See for Me” and the horror comedy “Sweetie, You Won’t Believe It,” both part of Lund International Fantastic Film Festival.
Archive for ‘Festivals’
Joseph’s Review: It Hatched (Austin Film Festival)
★★★★ out of ★★★★★
This Icelandic horror comedy is guaranteed to be one of the most off-the wall films you’ll see this year. I found it an absolute blast!
Joseph’s Review: Cram (Austin Film Festival)
★★★★ out of ★★★★★
You think you had it rough in college? Chances are that you never had an experience like the one the protagonist in Cram has. Talk about a hell of a night in the library!
The Scariest Things Podcast Episode CXXXII: A Summer Festival Recap
For the second year in a row, our favorite film festivals were presented to us in a streaming format (though some festivals had theatrical releases). This has allowed the Scariest Things to watch lots of horror from the comfort of our own homes, with some (mostly) pretty awesome content. We recap the best and the worst of the Summer Festivals from 2021.
Joseph’s A Night of Horror Reviews: “Struwwellerror” and “The Unlit”
Joseph reviews two features from Australia’s A Night of Horror International Film Festival: German horror satire “Struwwelerror” and Australian folk horror “The Unlit” (AKA “Witches of Blackwood”).
Joseph’s Brooklyn Horror Film Festival Reviews: After Blue and Ego
Joseph reviews two Brooklyn Horror Film Festival features: French science fiction fantasy/weirdo western mashup “After Blue” and Spanish doppelganger thriller “Ego.”
Eric’s Review: Cosmic Dawn (2021) – Nightstream
★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★
UFO abductees and true believers gather together in a secretive communal cult, hoping to reconnect with their alien encounter. Cosmic Dawn is more about the cult and its actions than the actual alien encounters, and threads enough menace and strangeness to keep you conflicted about whether
Mike’s Review: Boarding House (Nightstream Festival, 1982)
★ out of ★★★★★
or
★★★★★ out of ★★★★★
A five star film that’s also simultaneously a one star film? A film that occupies an incredibly rare space. It’s loved. It’s hated. It’s revered. It’s reviled. A film that’s poorly shot, conceived, and acted, but its legendarily awful veneer gives way to a blood soaked interior that’s impossible not to LOVE.
Eric’s Review: Black Goat Episode 1 – The 6000 Steps (2021) (HPLFF)
★★★★ out of ★★★★★
Destroy all Media has once again teamed up with The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, and are in the process of developing a television series, Black Goat, for which they debuted the pilot at the H.P Lovecraft Film Festival. The Pilot episode drips with cultish dread and portends apocalyptic omens. The cosmic horror universe is ripe for development, and it will be fascinating to see who picks up the series.
Joseph’s Fantastic Fest Reviews: Zalava and The Timekeepers of Eternity
Joseph reviews two excellent films from Fantastic Fest: Iranian supernatural chiller “Zalava” and the artistic “paper film” remix of Stephen King’s “The Langoliers” enitiled “The Timekeepers of Eternity.”
Eric’s Review: The Whisperer in Darkness (2011) (H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival)
★★★★ out of ★★★★★
It is wholly appropriate that The Whisperer in the Darkness is an adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story. As in Love + Craft. It is a lovingly and well-crafted period piece creation of Cosmic horror. Not only does the film take the look of the era when the story was written, but it also captures the film noir aesthetic in glorious shadowy black and white. If you like Cthulhu and cold walks in the rain, this is a movie for you!
The Scariest Things Podcast Extra: An Interview with Tim Shechmeister, Director of “Hello?” : The Best Horror Shorts of the Portland Horror Film Festival
The Scariest Things loves its short horror films, and we had the privilege to talk with director Tim Shechmeister who gave us our favorite horror short from the extensive roster of great shorts that played at the Portland Horror Film Festival. Check out an exclusive release of Hello? right here in this post!
Joseph’s Arrow Video FrightFest 2021 Reviews: Post Mortem; As in Heaven, So on Earth; and Nocturna: Side A — The Great Old Man’s Night
Joseph reviews three films from Arrow Video FrightFest: “Post Mortem,” “As in Heaven, So on Earth,” and “Nocturna: Side A – The Great Old Man’s Night.”
Joseph’s Fantastic Fest Reviews: The Execution and Homebound
Joseph reviews two excellent films from Fantastic Fest: The Russian serial killer feature “The Execution” and U.K. horror mystery “Homebound.”
Joseph’s Reviews: SLASH Film Festival Horror Shorts: “The Inheritance,” “Lucid,” and “The Last Queen on Earth”
Along with the terrific feature-film lineup from Vienna’s SLASH Film Festival, plenty of short-form fright fare is on tap, too. Here are capsule reviews of just a few of the short films on offer.
Genre-Movie Mecca FilmQuest Reveals 2021 In-Person Lineup
Provo, Utah’s FilmQuest film festival has announced its lineup of cinematic genre-film gems — including 14 feature films and dozens of short films from around the globe — for its 2021 in-person lineup. The fest takes place from October 29–November 6.
North Carolina’s Wreak Havoc Horror Film Festival Brings on the Frights
North Carolina’s Wreak Havoc horror Film Festival presents award-winning independent horror features and shorts from around the world on October 1 and 2, 2021.
Joseph’s Sinister Six Picks from Fantastic Fest — Plus Two Bonus Restored Titles!
Among the Fantastic Fest films I have had a sneak peek at or can’t wait to watch are these half-dozen features, plus a bonus pair of newly restored rereleases.
Beyond Fest Returns Indoors with Fear-Fare Premieres and Restored Classics Galore
Los Angeles’ Beyond Fest returns to indoor cinemas this year with a mouth-watering lineup of horror, science fiction, and genre-film fare. From September 29th–October 11th, the festival features cutting edge fear fare including world and west coast premieres, 4K restorations of beloved classics, and much more.
The Scariest Things Podcast Extra: The Greatest Movie Monster of All Time Bracket Fight!
A little extra treat for our Podcast Listeners. We had a live run through of one of our favorite activities: A Bracket Fight! A live audience of about 150 got to hoot and holler for their favorite monsters and selecting a creature feature champion. There were some great upsets and definite fan favorites. Who won? You’ll have to listen in to find out.
Joseph’s Arrow Video FrightFest 2021 Reviews: The Parker Sessions, Killer Concept, and Mystery Spot
Joseph reviews three films from London’s Arrow Video FrightFest: psychochiller “The Parker Sessions,” comedy “Killer Concept,” and the enigmatic “Mystery Spot.”
The Scariest Things LIVE at Rose City ComicCon: The Greatest Movie Monster of All-Time Tournament!
Attention Northwest fans of the Scariest Things! Come to Rose City Comicon, the biggest convergence of genre fans in the Portland Area, and help us pick the Greatest Movie Monster of All Time! Saturday, September 11 at 5:00 at the Oregon Convention Center in Room E145 and E146. Be there, and get ready to select a movie monster bracket champion. There can be only one!
Joseph’s Japan Cuts Review: Wonderful Paradise
★★★★ out of ★★★★★
If you are looking for something outrageously different, you need look no further than this mind-boggling slice of surreal Japanese comedy.
Eric’s Review: Blood Conscious (Popcorn Frights 2021)
★★ out of ★★★★★
Blood Conscious is a movie whose ambitions exceed the execution of the film. This cabin-in-the-woods thriller treads familiar territory and sets up some recognizable trope concepts but never really pays them off.
Joseph’s Review: On the 3rd Day (Fantasia 2021)
★★★★ out of ★★★★★
Macabre, mysterious, imaginative, and a delight to watch unfold, this Argentinian chiller is must-see viewing for fans of horror cinema.
Joseph’s Review: Night at the Eagle Inn (Popcorn Frights)
★★★ out of ★★★★★
This frenetic independent chiller is a fun entry in the hotel-horror subgenre.
Joseph’s Review: Hellbender (Fantasia 2021)
★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★
A true family effort, Hellbender sees a mother and daughter at odds when the youngster discovers a secret that her mother kept from her and the power that it involves.
Eric’s Review: Val (2021 Popcorn Frights)
★★★★1/2 out of ★★★★★
Come for the promise of a devilishly sexy good time. Stay for some fantastic character arcs and hugely expressive acting performances. Val, which had its world premiere at Popcorn Frights is colorful, saucy, and snappy, with an undercurrent of something dark and ominous just underneath the surface.
Joseph’s Review: The House at the End of the Forest (2021 Popcorn Frights)
★★1/2 out of ★★★★★
Swedish puzzler The House at the End of the Forest serves up more head scratching than it does hand wringing.
Liz’s Review: It Came From Below (Popcorn Frights 2021)
★★ out of ★★★★★
Lace up your hiking boots and grab your headlamp for a journey underground in It Came From Below.