eVil Sublet (U.S., 2023)
Like most things in life, if rent sounds too good to be true, there must be some sort of problem. In writer/director/cinematographer/editor/producer Allan Piper’s horror comedy eVil Sublet — eVil referring to New York City’s East Village — couple Alex (Jennifer Leigh Houston, Piper’s wife and also a producer on the film) and Ben (Charley Tucker) find that out first-hand when they rent a fully-furnished apartment for incredibly low rent that turns out to be not only haunted, but the site of multiple past murders. The film aims more for satire and silliness than scares, though plenty of creepiness is certainly on hand. eVil Sublet sends up the housing crisis, pharmaceutical companies, political and sexual politics, and more as Alex and Ben try to cope with their spooky situation with the help of a large cast of supporting characters, including Sally Struthers as a woman living in a storage facility, Stephen Mosher and Pat Dwyer as a gay couple who investigate the paranormal, and Leanne Borghesi as Alex’s ex-wife, to name but a few. A valentine to New York City and a celebration of living your best life — even when evil spirits try to interfere with that — eVil Sublet is a feel-good horror comedy bubbling with indie spirit.
eVil Sublet receives a digital release on all platforms on October 1, 2024.
Bakemono (Japan, 2023)
Writer/director/cinematographer/editor/producer Doug Roos goes for the gonzo and achieves it with Bakemono, a Japanese horror outing that blends surrealism with savagery, and a creature feature with the occult. It takes a while to get your footing with this one, as violent scenes from the same apartment involving a revolving door of different renters alternate with close-ups of graphic gruesomeness and shots of a decidedly eerie monster. The film boasts a sizable cast of characters, none of whom viewers should get too attached to, as the body count is high with this one. The practical effects work is the real star here, with gore galore on full, frequent display. Bakemono became an endurance test of stabbings, slicings, and body parts separated from their owners one way or another, along with a rape scene, all of which I felt became overkill after a while, with the practical effects overshadowing the plot. Gorehounds and viewers who gravitate toward excessive mayhem will want to seek this one out, though.
Evil Sublet and Bakemono screen as part of Another Hole in the Head Film Festival, which takes place December 1–25, 2023, in person in San Francisco and On Demand on Eventive and live on Zoom for those who cannot attend the live screenings. For more information, visit https://www.ahith.com/.
