Electrophilia (Los Impactados)
Argentinian feature Electrophilia touches on body horror and eroticism involving electricity but never goes full-on with these themes, instead feeling more like a character study of its protagonist, veterinarian Amanda (Mariana Di Girólamo). The young woman is struck by lightning and after she recovers from a six-week coma, she begins to feel changes that have happened to her mind and now-scarred body. She falls in with a group of lightning-strike survivors under the care of Juan (Germán Palacios), a doctor who uses unorthodox methods to treat those under his care, and begins an affair with him. Amanda develops sexual kinks related to electrical charges and shocks, worrying her significant other Jano (Guillermo Pfening). Director Lucía Puenzo, who cowrote the screenplay with Lorean Ventimigila, leaves viewers hanging with plot points that seem to have no resolution, such as Jano secretly going into Juan’s office and finding the doctor’s file on Amanda but then that scene not being addressed after that. On the plus side, Cinematographer Nicolás Puenzo turns in fine work, and the film boasts some gruesome practical effects and makeup work, with the lightning strikes on people also being highly impressive. Overall, Electrophilia is an interesting work that seems as if it should have been more disquieting than it is.
Astro Nots
Australian science-fiction–comedy short film Astro Nots brings a smart slice of cinematic mirth to Fantasia. Cowriters Aaron Glenane and Adam Dunn star as, respectively, Astronaut Adams and Astronaut Collins, who are minutes away from blasting off for a mission to Mars that could save mankind. The only problems, one of the duo has faked his way through training and admits this to the other man, potentially jeopardizing the mission and everything that it means to the world. I’ll leave the plot at that, as a good comedy deserves no spoilers. Director Andrew Seaton does fine work at the helm, and Glenane and Dunn show expert comic timing and facial expressions. Director of Photography Matthew Samperi captures the deadly serious yet absolutely hilarious predicaments wonderfully. Astro Nots is a terrific stand-alone short, but here’s hoping to see more of the misadventures of Adams and Collins in feature-length or series form in the near future.
Electrophilia and Astro Nots screen as part of Fantasia 2024, which runs July 18–August 4 in Montreal. For more information, visit https://fantasiafestival.com/en/.
