The woods are scary. This isn’t a concept that’s too difficult to grasp. Nature scares people. The uncontrollable elements scare people. Bears scare people. Witches scare people. All these things are in the woods and, unless I’m with at least three other people who run slower than me, I won’t be. However, if your inclination is to tell me that I’m more afraid of myself than I am the forest, not only would you be correct, you’d be the perfect audience for Lorcan Finnegan’s debut feature, Without Name.
When Eric (Alan McKenna) is contracted to survey a land known as gun ainm (literal translation being, you guessed it, “without name”), he finds himself spending more time investigating the area’s history than the land itself. Leaving behind a wife (Olga Wehrly) and teenaged son (Brandon Maher) but accompanied by his colleague and occasional mistress, Olivia (Niamh Algar), Eric becomes obsessed with the land’s previous owner, William Devoy (Brendan Conroy), who left behind a field guide to the surrounding forests, its plants, and potentially supernatural properties before succumbing to its powers, where he was found catatonic and nearly dead with no concrete explanation.
Undisturbed but morbidly curious, Eric’s grasp on reality grows thin as the mysteries surrounding Devoy’s current mental state and explorations in the forest pose more questions than they answer. Meanwhile, Eric and Olivia become close with a traveling local, Gus (James Browne), who tries to open their minds to the possibilities of nature as sentient beings that communicate with each other in a complicated ecosystem beyond human comprehension.
Bursting with an energy rarely seen outside of a debut feature, Without Name is a challenging, unnerving, and ultimately rewarding film about the relationship between man and the surroundings which he cannot control through distinctly human concepts like infrastructure and property lines. Finnegan, with cinematographer Piers McGrall, uses the camera to breathe a life into these woods that’s rarely seen in the movies. The film’s most visceral moments have a tendency to erase the barrier between viewer and screen, leaving you as disoriented as the characters you’re watching.
While we’re on the topic of character, it took watching this movie to realize how long it’s been since I’ve seen a horror movie with three-dimensional human beings to root for. I can’t emphasize enough how refreshing it was to hear people talking on-screen without desperately wanting one of them to be murdered mid-sentence. By avoiding the “creepy local” trope entirely and allowing the horror to come from within Eric and as a result of his surroundings, Finnegan is able to foster these distinct relationships amongst the characters that imbue his film with a sense of purpose with which the worst horror films don’t even bother.
However, that same energy and attention to detail that characterize the best debut features are occasionally offset by a narrative structure commonly associated with first films on the negative end of that spectrum. For all of its risks, Without Name‘s screenplay sometimes slips into more telegraphed territory, which actively works against the mystery that makes this film a lot of what it is. All the more disappointing because the film’s highs are high. It’s a confident debut that sometimes doesn’t trust itself to go the distance and shed any semblance of the reference points and visual cues that most first-time directors rely on to find an audience.
Similarly, Without Name has a tendency to bare its micro-budget teeth that no amount of editing can hide, including a third act that, while visually stunning and genuinely breathtaking to behold, utilizes overly simplistic (read: cheap) setups to get its point across, including an altercation between two nude men in a forest that’s probably a lot goofier than it was intended to be.
These are all minor gripes, though. The bottom line of Without Name is that it’s daring, it’s unnerving, it’s gorgeously shot, impeccably scored, masterfully edited, and only occasionally clunky. I predict nothing but good things for director Lorcan Finnegan and his writing partner, Garret Shanley, who are well on their way to being the next Adam Wingard/Simon Barrett one-two punch of a writer who understands the genre with a bold vision, and a director who’s able to manifest that vision into something that’s not only watchable, but potentially transcendent. In its closing shot, Finnegan confirms that he already knows the one thing most horror directors tend to avoid: killing your characters isn’t the best or only way to scare your audience, as there are many, many fates worse than death.
Grade: B+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd4K6qICqC8-
Film Review: Lorcan Finnegan’s WITHOUT NAME
The woods are scary. This isn’t a concept that’s too difficult to grasp. Nature scares people. The uncontrollable elements scare people. Bears scare people. Witches scare people. All these things are in the woods and, unless I’m with at least three other people who run slower than me, I won’t be. However, if your inclination is to tell me that I’m more afraid of myself than I am the forest, not only would you be correct, you’d be the perfect audience for Lorcan Finnegan’s debut feature, Without Name.
When Eric (Alan McKenna) is contracted to survey a land known as gun ainm (literal translation being, you guessed it, “without name”), he finds himself spending more time investigating the area’s history than the land itself. Leaving behind a wife (Olga Wehrly) and teenaged son (Brandon Maher) but accompanied by his colleague and occasional mistress, Olivia (Niamh Algar), Eric becomes obsessed with the land’s previous owner, William Devoy (Brendan Conroy), who left behind a field guide to the surrounding forests, its plants, and potentially supernatural properties before succumbing to its powers, where he was found catatonic and nearly dead with no concrete explanation.
Undisturbed but morbidly curious, Eric’s grasp on reality grows thin as the mysteries surrounding Devoy’s current mental state and explorations in the forest pose more questions than they answer. Meanwhile, Eric and Olivia become close with a traveling local, Gus (James Browne), who tries to open their minds to the possibilities of nature as sentient beings that communicate with each other in a complicated ecosystem beyond human comprehension.
Bursting with an energy rarely seen outside of a debut feature, Without Name is a challenging, unnerving, and ultimately rewarding film about the relationship between man and the surroundings which he cannot control through distinctly human concepts like infrastructure and property lines. Finnegan, with cinematographer Piers McGrall, uses the camera to breathe a life into these woods that’s rarely seen in the movies. The film’s most visceral moments have a tendency to erase the barrier between viewer and screen, leaving you as disoriented as the characters you’re watching.
While we’re on the topic of character, it took watching this movie to realize how long it’s been since I’ve seen a horror movie with three-dimensional human beings to root for. I can’t emphasize enough how refreshing it was to hear people talking on-screen without desperately wanting one of them to be murdered mid-sentence. By avoiding the “creepy local” trope entirely and allowing the horror to come from within Eric and as a result of his surroundings, Finnegan is able to foster these distinct relationships amongst the characters that imbue his film with a sense of purpose with which the worst horror films don’t even bother.
However, that same energy and attention to detail that characterize the best debut features are occasionally offset by a narrative structure commonly associated with first films on the negative end of that spectrum. For all of its risks, Without Name‘s screenplay sometimes slips into more telegraphed territory, which actively works against the mystery that makes this film a lot of what it is. All the more disappointing because the film’s highs are high. It’s a confident debut that sometimes doesn’t trust itself to go the distance and shed any semblance of the reference points and visual cues that most first-time directors rely on to find an audience.
Similarly, Without Name has a tendency to bare its micro-budget teeth that no amount of editing can hide, including a third act that, while visually stunning and genuinely breathtaking to behold, utilizes overly simplistic (read: cheap) setups to get its point across, including an altercation between two nude men in a forest that’s probably a lot goofier than it was intended to be.
These are all minor gripes, though. The bottom line of Without Name is that it’s daring, it’s unnerving, it’s gorgeously shot, impeccably scored, masterfully edited, and only occasionally clunky. I predict nothing but good things for director Lorcan Finnegan and his writing partner, Garret Shanley, who are well on their way to being the next Adam Wingard/Simon Barrett one-two punch of a writer who understands the genre with a bold vision, and a director who’s able to manifest that vision into something that’s not only watchable, but potentially transcendent. In its closing shot, Finnegan confirms that he already knows the one thing most horror directors tend to avoid: killing your characters isn’t the best or only way to scare your audience, as there are many, many fates worse than death.
Grade: B+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd4K6qICqC8
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Five Indie Horror Films, Halloween Releases You May Have Missed or Never Heard Of
[caption id="attachment_17694" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Gehenna[/caption]
At this point, it’s almost treason to not watch a horror movie on Halloween. Most people go straight for the classics, dusting off that Friday the 13th DVD while pre-gaming for that unmissable party happening later in the night. But for those us, like myself, who’d rather spend Halloween far away from the killer clowns and tedious prosthetics that take a week to wash off, here are five independent horror releases that may have flown under your radar.
1. Recovery
Release Date: October 28th
Runtime: 82 Minutes
Darrell Wheat’s debut feature (one of two he has coming this year) concerns a group of beautiful young teenagers who use the Find My iPhone app to locate their friend, whose been kidnapped by a masked psychopath outside of a Los Angeles nightclub. In a continued trend of using new technology to breathe life into old plots, Recovery‘s trailer – from its “Based on Actual Events” title card to the trailer itself, which is comprised almost entirely of corny dialogue and jump scares – confirms suspicions that viewers probably won’t be getting themselves into anything they haven’t seen before. With that said, it does look like it has the potential to be pretty fun, and friends looking to throw back a couple drinks and laugh at stupid teenagers should look no further.
Recovery will be screened in a limited engagement on October 27th before a VOD release on October 28th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wV-JP0XvUY
2. The Windmill
Release Date: October 28th
Runtime: 85 Minutes
A young Australian woman, Jennifer (Charlotte Beaumont), is running from the past, doing her best to stay incognito with a group of tourists who are scheduled to visit Holland’s most famous windmills. However, when they start getting picked off one by one, secrets come to light, pasts are revealed, and blood is shed. The trailer for this one seems to be running with a “you can never escape the past” thesis that’s always a great starting point for clever writing and gruesome kills. Whether or not the film actually follows through with either remains to be seen, but the trailer shows some promise, offering quick glimpses into what could be a bloody fun mind-boggler.
The Windmill hits VOD on October 25th, with a limited release starting October 28th. The morbidly curious can check out director Nick Jongerius’ original concept teaser here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIHpfivxayY
3. The Unspoken
Release Date: October 28th
Runtime: 90 Minutes
Creepy kids, creepy houses, unspoken secrets, murders, trauma, and violence. You’ve seen this before and you’re definitely going to see it again, but The Unspoken, director Sheldon Wilson’s latest, insists on existing anyway. The only real reason to check this one out is as a comparison piece with star Jodelle Ferland’s other notable horror performance as Patience in Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods. A more dedicated person than me might even want to make a game out of seeing all the cliches present in Wilson’s film that Goddard’s had ruthlessly mocked.
The Unspoken is currently available for rent on Amazon, and hits theaters on October 28th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgxHjZsbaeo
4. Gehenna
Release Date: October 30th
Runtime: 105 Minutes
The directorial debut of creature effects sculptor Hiroshi Katagiri seems to be a study in contrast. While watching the trailer, I couldn’t help but ask myself, “Why does this movie look so good but feel so wrong?” I got my answer as soon as I scanned Katagiri’s IMDb page. With sculpting and effects work dating back to the mid-90s, and credits on some pretty major productions (Spielberg’s War of the Worlds and del Toro’s Pacific Rim are just two of many), Katagiri is a tried and true professional. His directorial skills are still up for debate, however, and – if nothing else – Gehenna will surely have some genuinely unnerving practical effects to drool over.
Gehenna will start making the rounds at festivals on October 30th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc4Q2qbhCbY
5. Hostage to the Devil
Release Date: October 31st
Runtime: 90 Minutes
If any of you want to know what I’ll be watching on Halloween, look no further than Hostage to the Devil, a documentary about the life of Father Malachi Martin, one of the world’s most renowned exorcists. Through interviews, dramatic recreations, and archival footage, director Martin Stalker paints a thoroughly unnerving and complete portrait of a controversial man working in an even more controversial profession. Judging by the trailer, the film doesn’t seem to be imposing one truth or another, and with its gorgeously staged recreations, there are echoes of 2012’s The Imposter, which was one of my favorite documentaries of that year. Only watch this trailer if you’re prepared to cancel your Halloween plans and see the movie instead.
Hostage to the Devil‘s release schedule has been a little bit wonky, with releases in the UK/Ireland but no confirmed dates for the US. From what I gathered, an October 31st US release seems likely, but it might be time to break out that Hola Unblocker for those of us who are too impatient.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i17wAIXbgs0
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Five Documentaries You Might Want to See This Weekend
[caption id="attachment_17784" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Oasis: Supersonic[/caption]
Halloween might not be your thing. That’s cool. Razor-laden apples. Knife-wielding clowns. Butterfingers. There’s a lot to be scared of out there, and if Hostage to the Devil doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, here are five new documentaries that might offer some respite from the spookiest week of the year.
1. Oasis: Supersonic
If you could find it in your heart to forgive Oasis for birthing a generation of cheesy white dudes who play “Wonderwall” on their acoustic guitar at every party, this documentary – comprised of previously unreleased archival footage and interviews with the Gallagher Bros themselves – might end up being pretty enjoyable. Two decades later, Oasis represents an idea of what the music industry was at the peak of their fame. Even if you can’t stand their music (I can’t claim to be one of those people as I’m listening to “Champagne Supernova” while writing this list), there’s something to be said for how quickly Oasis was on course to define a generation, and this film aims to understand the cultural landscape that allowed such a rapid ascent to superstardom.
Unfortunately, Oasis: Supersonic will only be featured in theaters for one night on October 26th, but a VOD release is sure to follow pretty soon after.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wZJqUrJyDs
2. Gimme Danger
And while the millennials go see Oasis: Supersonic, their parents can go see Gimme Danger, the second of the weekend’s two music documentaries. Directed by Jim Jarmusch, this ode to The Stooges and its endlessly fascinating frontman, Iggy Pop, is clearly a labor of love from its director, who featured “Down on the Street” in his 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes.
Gimme Danger opens in New York on October 28th and expands nationwide on November 4th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fgiW_S2Hgk
3. Before the Flood
In addition to being one of the most successful and handsome actors in the history of mankind, Leonardo DiCaprio is also an environmentalist – as if he couldn’t get any dreamier! Featuring conversations with Barack Obama, Elon Musk, and Pope Francis, DiCaprio’s quest for environmental awareness culminates in a speech to the UN. It’s kind of like The Revenant with less knife-fighting.
Before the Flood opened in theaters on October 21st and will have an October 30th, worldwide premiere on National Geographic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UGsRcxaSAI
4. By Sidney Lumet
Some people argue that a director’s last handful of films is often his or her worst. The evidence in favor of that theory is actually pretty damning. We’ve all borne witness to Woody Allen’s heartbreaking decline in recent years. John Cassavetes’ last, Big Trouble, was also his worst. The list goes on and on. However, looking back at the films of Sidney Lumet – which include 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Network, Dog Day Afternoon, and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead – what you have is a director who let himself change with the world around him, try new things, succeed, fail, and then try again. Even his lesser work (read: much of the late 80s through the 90s) is constructed with the care of someone who really loves what he does. By Sidney Lumet, a never-before-seen 2008 interview, in which the director takes viewers through his expansive career of over 50 years, hits theaters for the first time this week.
By Sidney Lumet hits theaters on October 28th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnS1NrKRri8
5. Finding Babel
In 1940, a Russian-Ukrainian writer named Isaac Babel was executed. 75 years later, his grandson set out to learn more about grandpa Babel’s life, the world he lived in, and the circumstances that led to his execution. Featuring Liev Schreiber as the voice of Isaac Babel – as well as animated sequences set to stories of the writer’s life – Finding Babel aims to resurrect one of the great Russian novelists of the 20th century, whose life and legacy were cut short by a totalitarian government that did what it could to silence its people, its artists, and its creators.
Finding Babel hits NY/LA theaters on October 28th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VQ-UZi-lU
Honorable Mentions:
- Portrait of a Garden: In a historical vegetable garden on a Dutch estate, the 85 year-old pruning master and the gardener tend to the espaliers. As they prune, the men chat about food, the weather, the world and they share their knowledge of horticulture. Fifteen years they have spent working on the pear arbour. Will it finally close over this year? (Source)
- A Billion Lives: A true story of the vaping revolution and tragic corruption leading to a billion deaths around the world. (Source) [side note: this looks incredibly stupid and I can’t wait to watch it.]
- You’ve Been Trumped, Too: A timely film exploring the confrontation between a feisty 92-year-old Scottish widow and her family and a billionaire trying to become the most powerful man in the world. (Source)
- An Eye for an Eye: A true story of hate, revenge, understanding, remorse and redemption as lived by Mark Stroman on the Texas Death Row. (Source)
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Don McHoull Creatively Uses GIFs to Preserve the Silent Era
The discovery and preservation of silent films, especially those that are considered “lost” or destroyed, is a lifelong pursuit for some of the world’s most dedicated movie buffs. Like all historical and anthropological studies, the foundations of film help us understand where we’ve been, and where we’re going. Don McHoull, creator of SilentMovieGIFs, is putting his own twist on this idea, using silent films as the foundation for a series of some pretty wonderful images while utilizing one of the newest imaging technologies to hit the internet. I had a chance to ask Don a couple of questions about his GIFs, including his Halloween-themed images that showcase some of Old Hollywood’s most beloved characters.
http://i.imgur.com/qg2bmRs.gifv
Josef: The most obvious question here is, what inspired you to create these GIFs in the first place? It’s such an odd juxtaposition between classic film and a very modern form of imaging, but one that works extremely well.
Don: I was a fan of silent film, and GIFs just seemed like a natural medium for taking some of the amazing visual ideas in silent movies and sharing them. I’d seen some silent movie GIFs that were really well received on places like Reddit, even though some of them were clearly made from poor quality source material. I had Photoshop and some Chaplin and Keaton Blu-rays, and I figured I’d try to make some cleaner looking GIFs. I think a lot of people have the idea that the image quality of silent films wasn’t that great, but with movies that have been well-preserved and carefully restored the picture quality can actually be really good.
http://i.imgur.com/TKhfDW0.gifv
J: Do you attribute any significance to that juxtaposition? In other words, was it a conscious decision to pair the oldest form of cinema available with the newest form of imaging?
D: The GIF is a popular medium that’s strictly visual, so it just seems like a perfect fit for silent movies. My preferred way to watch a silent film would be a in theatre, ideally with live music, but GIFs can take a gag or another visual from a silent movie and make it really easy to share online. I’ve had quite a few GIFs now that have racked up over a million views, and a lot of other ones in the hundreds of thousands. Ideally, someone might see, for example, a few Buster Keaton GIFs, and be interested enough to actually seek out and watch some of his movies, but even if they just watch some GIFs, a least they would have some appreciation for Keaton’s work.
I hope that the GIF can be a sort of gateway drug for silent films, similar to how TV introduced people to silent films. I made a Charley Chase GIF last week for his birthday that’s up to 238,000 views, even though Chase doesn’t really have anything like the name recognition of Chaplin or Keaton (most people seem to be much more familiar with the adult film star of the same name.) I thought it was pretty cool that 92 years later there was still a good sized audience of people who could appreciate the brilliance of Chase’s (and his brother’s) performance.
http://i.imgur.com/qMVWgU8.gifv
J: A recent album you posted, one that features GIFs from classic silent horror films, really emphasizes the care and precision that went into the prosthetic and costume design of the era. Do you think recent horror films have lost that attention to detail, and have you noticed any contemporary films that are clearly inspired by the designs of the silent era?
D: The Babadook had a real kind of Expressionist vibe to it. And it seems like most modern depictions of vampires owe a lot to Nosferatu. Obviously makeup and special effects have made huge leaps over the last 90 or so years, and it would be fascinating to see what someone like Lon Chaney or Jack Pierce could do with the stuff that’s out there today.
http://i.imgur.com/n6uSO1A.gifv
J: What’s your process for selecting which shots and films you end up turning into GIFs, and can you give us a sneak peek as to what your followers might expect from you in the coming weeks?
After I watch a movie, I like to go through it and pick out scenes that I think could work well as GIFs. I try to cover a wide range of silent films, from different time periods and genres, but my mainstay will probably always be Keaton/Chaplin/Lloyd GIFs.
For the rest of October, I’ll be focusing on the horror genre. I’m interested in the connections between different eras. Today I was looking connections between Nosferatu and Dracula, but there’s also a lot of links you could draw between movies like Frankenstein and King Kong and the silent era. Tonight I’m watching Haxan, so there should be some GIFs from that.
After October, maybe I’ll focus on a different genre, like science fiction, or the invention of the gangster movie. I’ve also been working my way back through Chaplin’s short films, and I’ve noticed that his later feature films return to a lot of ideas and visuals from his early work, I think that would be an interesting thing to explore.
These GIFs and many more can be seen on Reddit (/r/silentmoviegifs) or on his Twitter page (@SilentMovieGIFs)
http://i.imgur.com/Tj8dhsE.gifv
http://i.imgur.com/sU4aRaj.gifv
http://i.imgur.com/sroL9XO.gifv
http://i.imgur.com/qilDHlE.gifv
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2016 Fantastic Arcade Titles Lineup on 2nd Wave of Programming for Fantastic Fest
The 2016 Fantastic Arcade announced the complete list of titles for its annual free showcase of independent games, now in its seventh year, and held in conjunction with Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest, the world’s largest genre film festival. Confirmed guest speakers in attendance include artist/animator, Downwell creator Ojiro Fumoto, and Proteus and Forest of Sleep co-creator Ed Key.
The 2016 Fantastic Arcade Showcase selection:
Armagad (Nathalie Lawhead)
Get to know 2016 Spotlight Developer Nathalie Lawhead through Armagad, her ever-mutating suite of minigames. “It’s what the Internet does to people.”
Burrito Galaxy 65 (SwackSoft softWorks workShop)
The “Cool-talking, Neat Moving, Slap Everything” main-event that was only hinted at with 2014’s Burrito Galaxy 64. This is a fully-polished, playful first-person explorer filled with delicious *swack*.
Cryptark (Alientrap)
Cryptark is a 2D sci-fi roguelike shooter where you take on the role of a heavily-armed privateer seeking to earn government contracts by boarding deadly alien space-hulks.
Daily Motions (Jenny Jiao Hsia)
Daily Motions is a collection of lightning-fast games about morning mundanities-turned-slapstick. From Jenny Jiao Hsia, the artist behind last year’s Fantastic Arcade selection Beglitched.
DUSKERS (Misfit’s Attic)
Pilot drones into derelict spaceships to find the means to survive and piece together how the universe became a giant graveyard.
Emerald (Denis Novojilov)
Somewhere between a game world and a music-creation tool, Emerald stands on the vanguard of a new wave of interactive art.
Far from Noise (George Bachelor)
From the creator of Hot Date, Far from Noise is a conversation… on the edge of a cliff.
Into (Animal Phase)
From the creator of Alone in the Woods, Into is a short surreal journey through yourself.
Islands (Carl Burton)
A surreal trip through the mundane by artist and animator Carl Burton. Reveal the hidden ecosystems of ten unusual islands. Unlock an atmospheric experience while exploring strange yet familiar scenes.
Little Bug (Bela Messex)
Little Bug is a story about a little girl lost in a surreal world between life and death. Play as both the girl and her powerful firefly at the same time, harnessing their telekinetic connection to fly and break through obstacles.
Mu Cartographer (Titouan Millet)
A contemplative game experience that combines colorful sandbox toy and experimental treasure hunt. Manipulate abstract tools to modify the topography and colors of an alien landscape.
The Norwood Suite (Greg Heffernan)
You arrive at the old Norwood Hotel, hoping to drop off a demo to the DJ playing in the hotel basement. Soon you find yourself thrust in the middle of a curious, memorable night of adventure, intrigue, and the surreal.
OASES (Armel Gibson, Dziff, Calum Bowen)
A final, psychedelic prop-plane ride for a long-lost hero.
Oik OS Book I (David Kanaga, E.Wolff)
From cult-hit Proteus co-creator David Kanaga, Oik OS Book I is the very first (we’re fairly certain) interactive dog-opera.
PIKUNIKU (Arnaud DE BOCK/REMIE FORCADELL)
Rebuild a community by helping the Worry People confront their fears in this absurd puzzle-exploration game that takes place in a strange, playful environment.
Sacramento (Delphine Fourneau)
Sacramento is a game about capturing fleeting memories before they fade. Drift aimlessly across time and space, and enjoy the quiet while it lasts, as life will soon resume its course.
Soft Body (Zeke Virant)
Soft Body is a meditative action game where you control two beautiful, gooey snakes at the same time, painting the world with their bodies.
Star Surveyor (Slimefriend)
Star Surveyor is a charming platforming exploration game about discovering a foreign planet and quietly observing its alien flora and fauna.
Thoth (Jeppe Carlsen)
Thoth is a challenging twin-stick shooter with minimalistic, colorful graphics combined with intense, paranoia-inducing audio that makes for an exciting mix of art and arcade.
West of Loathing (Asymmetric)
From the creators of classic net sensation Kingdom of Loathing, West of Loathing is a single-player adventure RPG set in the Wild West.
As in previous years, Fantastic Arcade will be home to some of the most exciting and unconventional live tournaments of any games festival. This year, the festival will be bringing the following tournament games to you, simultaneously broadcast on the Venus Patrol Twitch channel:
Downwell, with creator Ojiro “Moppin” Fumoto in attendance,
ARENA GODS, returning by popular demand,
NESpectre, head-to-head glitch wars on NES hardware with full audience participation via mobile phone,
Multibowl, Bennett Foddy and Alec Thomson’s new classic-game multi-mixer, with its featured tournament culminating in a final showdown at this year’s Starcade closing event, and
A secret premiere tournament that may very well go down in Fantastic Arcade history.
Every day of Fantastic Arcade will be filled with panels led by the creators of this year’s selected games as well as special guests, with confirmed appearances by Everything’s David OReilly, Forest of Sleep and Proteus’s Ed Key, Downwell’s Ojiro Fumoto, Hollow Ponds- featuring members of the team behind Fantastic Arcade 2013 favorite Hohokum and many more.
Fantastic Arcade will also be presenting some of the most exciting VR experiences in development.
Come celebrate the opening day of Fantastic Arcade with live DJ sets and games, including an exclusive peek into Kokoromi’s PlayStation VR game Superhypercube at Empire Control Room, September 26th, 9pm-1am.
On September 29th in the Highball, check out PlayStation VR titles set to premiere in October as well as a selection of cutting-edge titles for multple VR Platforms curated by Juegos Rancheros and the Austin VR Meetup group.
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Fantastic Fest to Close with COLOSSAL Starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis
[caption id="attachment_16738" align="alignnone" width="1000"]
COLOSSAL, starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis[/caption]
Closing out Alamo Drafthouse’s Fantastic Fest festival is the triumphant return of Fantastic Fest’s Karaoke King Nacho Vigalondo with his kaiju monster mash-up COLOSSAL, starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis.
In more final wave of film programming announcements, Fantastic Fest welcomes fellow festival alumni and Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA for his first ever live re-score. Eighteen months in the making, RZA: LIVE FROM THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN is a mammoth live re-scoring of the Shaw Brothers classic. Featuring over 40+ tracks culled from RZA’s monumental catalog, instrumentals, beats, samples and vocals amplify Lau Kar-leung’s narrative and Gordon Liu’s iconic performance.
“I am thrilled to be welcoming so many first-time directors to our weird festival family this year,” said Fantastic Fest founder Tim League. “But as counterpoint, I am equally excited to be closing it down with veterans Nacho and RZA. In 2016, we’re going out with an epic bang.”
Fantastic Fest embraces its more physical side with a series of violent smashers that are guaranteed to leave heads spinning and jaws rattled. All 6’ 5” of our favorite chemical engineer will be in attendance as Dolph Lundgren promises to pummel Austin and demons alike with DON’T KILL IT. Paul Schrader will be making a very special appearance in the second half of the festival to share and discuss his wild exploration of the criminal underground, DOG EAT DOG. Indonesia is gloriously represented with HEADSHOT, the latest from the Mo Brothers and THE RAID / THE RAID 2’s Iko Uwais in what is guaranteed to be the most violent film of the year, and Hong Kong comes correct with the legendary Sammo Hung choreographing the action in Benny Chan’s wuxia western, CALL OF HEROES.
“There was so much that we loved this year, it’s wonderful to finally be able to share the full slate. We watched over 800 films and getting it down to 80 proved nearly impossible,” said Fantastic Fest Head of Programming, Evrim Ersoy, “But we’re here and we can’t wait to see people watch these brilliant delights with shock and awe in equal measure.”
TV takes center stage with two of the season’s most hotly anticipated shows gracing the big screen. The man, the myth, The Bruce Campbell will be in attendance battling the Necronomicon once more and bringing new episodes of ASH VS EVIL DEAD with him. Campbell will also be sitting with critic/film historian Leonard Maltin for an exclusive dialog spanning his entire career. HBO joins the Fantastic Fest fray with an exclusive screening of the first episode of its highly anticipated new drama series, WESTWORLD. Inspired by Michael Crichton’s ‘73 sci fi classic, this supremely contemporary rendering is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. WESTWORLD will be accompanied by a complimentary, classic western meal for all guests courtesy of HBO. Artfully prepared by the Alamo Drafthouse culinary team, the meal will draw its influence and ingredients from the frontier era and its expansive environment.
Western meals aren’t the only munchies inspiring programming as three of the festival’s most high profile gross-outs are first timers. Morgan Spurlock marks his Fantastic Fest debut with his uber-disgusting dissection of the most loathsome rodent in his doc RATS. Spurlock will be in attendance to talk about the vicious vermin and their endless conquest to take over the world. Another stomach-churning debut is Puke and Explode, a gala event of competitive eating dedicated to both gastro excess and grotesque edibles as contestants devour the most mortifying morsels imaginable. And in the grand tradition of festival favorite 100 BEST KILLS, Fantastic Fest vets Zack Carlson and Laird Jimenez deliver 100 BEST KILLS: 100 WORST BIRTHS, a dazzling array of the most nauseating, disturbing, inhuman and downright vomitous births in cinematic history. From sci-fi cesareans to martial arts miscarriages to horror hysterectomies, they will permanently sterilize viewers with 80 minutes of no-holes-barred babyrage.
Mondo will be driving movie fans crazy with a creative cornucopia of limited-edition collectibles at Fantastic Fest for the first time. The roll call of film tie-ins include super-exclusives for RZA: LIVE FROM THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN, and product signing sessions with Don Coscarelli and the cast of PHANTASM: REMASTERED and André Øvredal with THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE.
During Fantastic Fest, Mondo is also hosting Italian composer extraordinaire Fabio Frizzi as he performs THE BEYOND: COMPOSER’S CUT, his all-new live re-score of Lucio Fulci’s shocker in a supremely gothic church with jaw-dropping acoustics.
The full lineup of newly announced film titles for Fantastic Fest 2016.
A MONSTER CALLS
United States, 2016
Texas Premiere, 108 min
Director – J. A. Bayona
Twelve year old Conor, dealing with his mother’s illness, unexpectedly summons a most unlikely ally – a 40-foot-high Monster.
AGE OF SHADOWS
South Korea, 2016
US Premiere, 140 min
Director – KIM Jee-woon
Korea, during the Japanese occupation. Police Chief Lee Jung-Chool is hunting members of the resistance under strict orders from the Japanese overlords. However, a chance encounter with Jung Chae-San will have him questioning his loyalties…
ANOTHER WOLFCOP
Canada, 2016
World Premiere, 82 min
Director – Lowell Dean
Alcoholic werewolf cop Lou Garou springs into action when an eccentric businessman with evil intentions seduces Woodhaven’s residents with a new brewery and hockey team in this outrageous horror-comedy sequel.
ASH VS EVIL DEAD
United States, 2016
Special Screening, 60 min
Director – Rick Jacobson, episode 1
Director – Tony Tilse, episode 2
“Ash vs Evil Dead,” a 10-episode half-hour series, is the long-awaited follow-up to the classic horror film The Evil Dead.
ASURA
US Premiere, 136 min
South Korea, 2016
Director – Sung-soo KIM
Corrupt police detective Han protects Mayor Park’s interests while he saves up to pay for his wife’s terminal cancer treatment. When intimidation of a witness goes wrong, they’re all thrown into a violent storm.
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THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE[/caption]
THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE
United Kingdom, 2016
U.S. Premiere, 99 min
Director – André Øvredal
When a mysterious body turns up at a crime scene, the local sheriff turns to the coroner and his son to find the cause of death.
BAD BLACK
Uganda, 2016
World Premiere, 65 min
Director – Nabwana IGG
A mild-mannered doctor is trained in the art of ass-kicking commando vengeance by a no-nonsense ghetto kid named Wesley Snipes (!). This is only one of the many delirious action-packed stories that converge in this exuberant DIY extravaganza from the home of “da best of da best movies”: WAKALIWOOD, UGANDA!!!
BOYKA:UNDISPUTED
United States, 2016
World Premiere, 90 min
Director – Todor Chapkanov
Escaped from prison and longing for a legitimate life, Yuri Boyka must choose between a shot at the glory he has trained for and the demands of his conscience after tragedy strikes in the ring.
BUGS
Denmark, 2016
Regional Premiere, 74 min
Director – Andreas Johnsen
Two researchers search the globe for the best flavors the insect world has to offer in an attempt to make this inevitable future food source more palatable to wimpy Westerners.
CALL OF HEROES
Hong Kong, 2016
North American Premiere, 120 min
Director – Benny Chan
During China’s Warlord era, in the village of Pucheng, a sheriff and his ragtag band of men must make sure the cruel general Cal’s son Shaolin faces justice in this brilliant blend of wuxia and westerns!
CHINYUKI
Japan, 2016
North American Premiere, 100 min
Director – Yudai Yamaguchi
Yudai Yamaguchi’s Chinyuki is one of those rare films where its own subtitle tells you everything you need to know about the movie: A journey to the West with farts.
COLOSSAL
Canada, 2016
US Premiere, 110 min
Director – Nacho Vigalondo
Fantastic Fest favorite Nacho Vigalondo (TIMECRIMES) wrings an extraordinarily potent allegory for personal responsibility and emotional toxicity in this witty and absorbing drama about an alcoholic (Anne Hathaway) who discovers an improbable connection between herself and a giant monster ravaging South Korea.
DON’T KILL IT
United States, 2016
North American Premiere , 93 min
Director – Mike Mendez
An ancient demon is unleashed in a Mississippi town and the only people who can stop it are FBI agent Evelyn Pierce and grizzled, cynical demon hunter Jebediah Woodley.
FASHIONISTA
United States, 2016
World Premiere, 108 min
Director – Simon Rumley
April and Eric own a clothing store together and are happily in love. April will have to rely on her fashion obsession for survival when everything unexpectedly crumbles after Eric makes a single destructive mistake.
HEADSHOT
Indonesia, 2016
US Premiere, 117 min
Director – Kimo Stamboel, Timo Tjahjanto
The bone-crunching, soul-crushing, face-breaking story of an amnesiac young man named Ishmael, the doctor named Rika who cares for him and the bad men who all need to die in a maelstrom of sweet violence.
HENTAI KAMEN 2: The Abnormal Crisis
Japan, 2016
Texas Premiere, 118 min
Director – Yuichi Fukuda
At the request of his girlfriend Aiko, Kyosuke Shikijo agrees to retire Hentai Kamen. But when a new threat starts stealing panties, who will the people of Tokyo call on?
THE INVISIBLE GUEST
Spain, 2017
US Premiere, 106 min
Director – Oriol Paulo
A wealthy businessman wakes up in a locked hotel room with the body of his dead lover next to him in Orio Paulo’ latest.
THE LURE
Poland, 2015
Texas Premiere, 93 min
Director – Agnieszka Smocynska
Two young mermaids get caught up in the world of a Warsaw nightclub as they navigate human life and love in this Polish musical.
[caption id="attachment_16739" align="alignnone" width="1000"]
MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA[/caption]
MY ENTIRE HIGH SCHOOL SINKING INTO THE SEA
United States, 2016
U.S. Premiere, 74 min
Director – Dash Shaw
Jason Schwartzman voices a young, hopeful writer who jumps into action during a disaster in this dazzling and hilarious animated adventure from famed graphic novelist Dash Shaw.
RATS
United States, 2016
Austin Premiere, 84 min
Director – Morgan Spurlock
Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary shows us the world of the rat, from the garbage of NYC to the dining plates of Vietnam to a Karni Mata Temple of worship in India.
RE: BORN
Japan, 2016
North American Premiere, 115 min
Director – Yûji Shimomura
Tak Sakaguchi is a seemingly untouchable super soldier who must return to the life he left behind when a former colleague threatens his fragile world.
RZA: LIVE FROM THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN
Hong Kong, 1978
Special Screening, 115 min
Director – Chia-Liang Liu
What happens when one of the most influential hip hop artists descends on one of the most influential martial arts movies? There’s only one way to find out.
SCIENCE FICTION VOLUME ONE : THE OSIRIS CHILD
Australia, 2017
World Premiere, 95 min
Director – Shane Abbess
A far-future military contractor – and moderately shitty father – must race to save his daughter when his employer’s negligence puts her in the path of a rampaging alien race.
THE TRUTH BENEATH
South Korea, 2016
International Premiere, 108 min
Director – LEE Kyoung-mi
When a politician’s teenage daughter goes missing, a desperate mother takes it upon herself to uncover the truth in this startling Korean thriller.
WESTWORLD
United States, 2016
Special Screening, 60 min
Director – Jonathan Nolan
A dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.
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Short Film: How To Say I Love You
Casually say “I love you” to an adolescent without inducing a panic attack. No manual exists to equip teens for that first experience, but of course this is the era of Google and so I looked to the internet for guidance.
Then I found the British short film ‘How To Say I Love You.’
When I first watched this short film as a teenage girl, filled with angst and unidentified urges, I praised the romance. Now, seeing it as a woman, I recognize the faults of its idealism and its undertone of misogyny (as the man invades the woman’s privacy and personal space). Outraged by his advances, I was gearing up to punch younger me in the face for loving such garbage, however, I continued watching and saw the woman scope through his vulnerabilities in return. It’s a matter of context that keeps this short film from the deep end of cliche. Yes, it is a cliche as well as a fresh example of how to express one’s love.
This exchange between strangers values the simplicity of love. Those who know the song “More Than Words”, by Extreme, might be ahead of this analysis and ready to fully appreciate this piece of art. (I highly encourage that you listen to that song in case you are unfamiliar with it.) Without the title of this piece directing us, though the innocence of their interaction is beautiful, the message would be incomplete. Absent of title, this film may read as a “boy meets girl” love story, pretty basic. Neither of the characters ever say the words, but through observation there is love in his attentiveness, in her willingness, and especially in their weighted silence. We are gifted with a glimpse of what could occur when people are open to each other.
Kudos to this title for saving the day and the creators of this piece for giving us love without words. Love is possible even among strangers, once one is willing to come out of themselves and into the word. Take a look for yourself
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7Et8aO-n8
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Sean Ellis’ World War II drama, ANTHROPOID Sets US Release Date
[caption id="attachment_14085" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
Anthropoid[/caption]
Sean Ellis’ World War II drama, ANTHROPOID, will be released in the US via Bleecker Street on Friday, August 12, 2016, after its World Premiere as opening night film of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
The film is based on the extraordinary true story of “Operation Anthropoid,” the code name for the Czech operatives’ mission to assassinate SS officer Reinhard Heydrich.
Heydrich, the main architect behind the Final Solution, was the Reich’s third in command behind Hitler and Himmler and the leader of Nazi forces in Czechoslovakia. The film follows two soldiers from the Czech army-in-exile, Josef Gabčík (Cillian Murphy) and Jan Kubiš (Jamie Dornan), who are parachuted into their occupied homeland in December 1941. With limited intelligence and little equipment in a city under lock down, they must find a way to assassinate Heydrich, an operation that would change the face of Europe forever.
Directed by Sean Ellis (Metro Manila, Cashback) from a screenplay by Ellis and Anthony Frewin, the film also stars Charlotte Le Bon, Ana Geislerová, Harry Lloyd, Bill Milner and Toby Jones. Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon and Sean Ellis produced.
Andrew Karpen, CEO of Bleecker Street commented, “Sean Ellis’ film drops you right into the center of resistance in WWII and takes viewers on an emotional ride all the way through its heart-stopping finale. We’re proud to partner with Mickey and Pete on this film which we feel will resonate with adult audiences this summer.”
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Watch TRAILER for THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING Starring Selena Gomez
[caption id="attachment_11531" align="aligncenter" width="1500"]
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CARING[/caption]
The trailer has been released for the new Netflix original film, The Fundamentals of Caring which will premiere exclusively on the service on Friday, June 24, 2016.
Based on the novel by Jonathan Evison and written, directed and produced by Rob Burnett,The Fundamentals of Caring stars Paul Rudd, Craig Roberts, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Ehle, Megan Ferguson and Frederick Weller.
The film follows the story of Ben, a retired writer who becomes a caregiver after suffering a personal tragedy. After 6 weeks of training, Ben meets his first client, Trevor, a foul-mouthed 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor take an impromptu road trip to all the places Trevor has become obsessed with while watching the local news, including their holy grail: the World’s Deepest Pit. Along the way, they pick up a smart-mouthed runaway and a mother-to-be who help test the pair’s survival skills outside of their calculated existence as they come to understand the importance of hope and true friendship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSXn-lIs4Y0
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Watch TRAILER for Todd Solondz’s Hilarious WEINER-DOG Starring Danny DeVito
[caption id="attachment_14136" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
WEINER-DOG[/caption]
IFC Films has released the official trailer for Wiener-Dog, directed by Todd Solondz, about a dog and her life as she passes from owner to owner. The film opens in theaters on June 24.
Wiener-Dog, starring an all-star cast that includes Greta Gerwig, Julie Delpy, Danny DeVito, Ellen Burstyn, and Zosia Mamet, premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.
Wiener-Dog tells several stories featuring people who find their life inspired or changed by one particular dachshund, who seems to be spreading a certain kind of comfort and joy. Man’s best friend starts out teaching a young boy some contorted life lessons before being taken in by a compassionate vet tech named Dawn Wiener. Dawn reunites with someone from her past and sets off on a road trip picking up some depressed mariachis along the way. Wiener-Dog then encounters a floundering film professor, as well as an embittered elderly woman and her needy granddaughter—all longing for something more.
Twenty years ago, Todd Solondz took the Sundance Film Festival by storm when Welcome to the Dollhouse won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1996 Festival. Since then he has gone on to establish himself as one of the most uncompromising voices working in film. Wiener-Dog is vintage Solondz, brimming with brilliantly caustic and truthful observations about the human condition. He has a unique ability to find humor in the darkest of subject matter, allowing an empathetic light to shine on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C7OewoxnKI
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Watch TRAILER for Basketball Doc MANCHILD: THE SCHEA COTTON STORY
[caption id="attachment_14133" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story[/caption]
Check out the trailer for the documentary film Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story, about a Los Angeles basketball legend by the name of Schea Cotton, described as “the Lebron before Lebron”.
Manchild will World Premiere at the upcoming 2016 LA Film Festival.
In Manchild, directed by Eric “Ptah” Herbert, Baron Davis, Tyson Chandler, Elton Brand, Paul Pierce, Randy Moss and others share their tales about Cotton.
Schea Cotton is the subject of one of the biggest mysteries in basketball’s history. Described as “the Lebron before Lebron,” Inglewood-native Cotton dominated the likes of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and was one of the most highly touted high school athletes of a pre-social media era. Yet he never made it to the NBA. What happened?
NBA players, journalists, coaches and Cotton’s family recount with an almost pained nostalgia Cotton’s unmatched prowess as a player and the out-of-bounds emotions behind his story. First-time director Eric “Ptah” Herbert delivers a cautionary tale about the harsh reality of unfulfilled expectations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S05f_MF2Dx0
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COMING SOON: Saban Films to Release Zack Whedon’s COME AND FIND ME
[caption id="attachment_14130" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Aaron Paul[/caption]
Saban Films has acquired writer/director Zack Whedon’s (“Halt and Catch Fire,” “Southland”) feature debut COME AND FIND ME, for release in the US.
Come and Find Me, stars multiple Emmy™ Award Winner Aaron Paul (“Breaking Bad,” Eye in the Sky, Need for Speed) and Annabelle Wallis (Annabelle, X-Men: First Class). The Whedon penned script appeared on the 2012 Black List.
The thriller follows David (Paul) who must track down the whereabouts of his mysterious girlfriend (Wallis), after he realizes she’s not who she was pretending to be.
“It’s surprising that this is Zack’s first feature,” said Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley. “His filmmaking pulls together all the elements of a great thriller – intriguing characters, clever dialogue, and expert pacing. It makes sense that the script attracted such A-list talent. We love this film and know audiences will too.”
Automatik’s Brian Kavanaugh-Jones (Midnight Special), Motion Picture Capital’s Leon Clarance (Sense8) and Oddfellows Entertainment’s Chris Ferguson (Afflicted) produced Come and Find Me. Laure Vaysse and Jo Monk executive produced.
Zack Whedon is a producer on AMC’s “Halt and Catch Fire.” He has worked on “Southland” and “Rubicon” and also co-created Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog with brothers Joss and Jed.
Out of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Saban Films recently acquired North American distribution rights to Walter Hill’s Tomboy, A Revenger’s Tale starring Michelle Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia, and Caitlin Gerard; Colm McCarthy’s The Girl with All the Gifts starring Gemma Arterton, Paddy Considine, Glenn Close, and Sennia Nanua; and John Michael McDonagh’s War on Everyone starring Michael Peña, Alexander Skarsgård, Theo James, and Tessa Thompson.
Additional upcoming titles in the Saban Films slate include: Rob Zombie’s 31, starring Sheri Moon Zombie, Golden Globe® Nominee Malcolm McDowell, Jeff Daniel Phillips and Meg Foster; Renny Harlin’s action comedy Skiptrace, starring Jackie Chan and Johnny Knoxville; sci-fi horror film Cell starring Golden Globe® nominee John Cusack, Academy Award® nominee Samuel L. Jackson and Isabelle Fuhrman; and I Am Wrath with John Travolta.
Since the company’s launch in 2014, Saban Films has released The Homesman, starring Academy Award® winners Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank, which world premiered in Cannes; Tracers starring Taylor Lautner; Philip Martin’s The Forger starring John Travolta; American Heist starring Hayden Christensen, Academy Award® Winner Adrien Brody, Jordana Brewster, Tory Kittles and Aliaune “Akon” Thiam; Some Kind of Beautiful starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba; Man Up starring Simon Pegg and Lake Bell; MI-5 starring Kit Harington, Jennifer Ehle and Tuppence Middleton; Alex and Benjamin Brewer’s The Trust starring Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood; and Tom Tykwer’s A Hologram for the King starring two-time Academy Award® winner Tom Hanks, which World Premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival with Saban partnering with Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions on the theatrical release.