CategoryForeign
International horror: J-horror, European extremity, Latin American shocks and the films Hollywood keeps remaking.
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Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
I first saw famed Canadian auteur Guy Maddin’s debut feature Tales from the Gimli Hospital at the San Francisco International Film Festival when the film was on the festival circuit in 1988, and I was instantly captivated by its old-fashioned style, gripping visuals, and decidedly offbeat sense of humor. I have been an admirer of Maddin’s work ever since, and this new Tales from the Gimli Hospital Redux 4K version supported by Telefilm’s restoration program, with some additional material incorporated, took me back to that initial viewing experience, doing so with marvelous visual and audio clarity. It is impossible to place Tales from the Gimli Hospital Redux neatly into one or two genres, as the film incorporates several, but suffice it to say that elements of horror, thriller, dark comedy, absurdist comedy, and other genres abound. Looking for all the world like a lost black-and-white early talking film unearthed, Tales from the Gimli Hospital Redux, shot on 16mm, uses light
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviews
Somewhere in the late 1970’s, a man murders his demon possessed lady pal, and said evil force enters a necklace… he then proceeds to bury her under the floor of the house they shared. Enter Shinji: (Shinichi Fukazawa… a name you’ll be hearing a lot in this here revoltin’ review as he wrote, directed, produced, starred, and provided special effects for the picture) the now adult son of the aforementioned man (also played by Fukazawa) who travels to his pappy’s ol’ dreaded domicile along with his spritely pal Mika (Masaaki Kai), a journalist investigating haunted houses, as it fits the bill nicely for her research. Along for the ride is a stoic Medium (Asako Nosaka) who immediately senses that the preternatural pad is balls deep in EvilSpiritville and it isn’t long before he ingests the noxious necklace and becomes host to the wicked wraith that haunts the locale! This doesn’t sit well with Shinji who goes full-on Ash Williams on
Continue reading →
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNews
Beyond Fest, the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, is excited to announce its complete slate of 2022 programming comprising 63 features, including 10 world premieres, 3 US premieres, and 25 West Coast Premieres. Following a sold-out festival in 2021, Beyond Fest returns to Los Angeles for its tenth anniversary edition with 15 days of cinematic excess from September 27th-October 11th. Built in partnership with the American Cinematheque, Beyond Fest will screen at the legendary IMAX at the TCL Chinese, Hollywood Legion Theatre, Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3, and IMAX headquarters with all ticket sales going to the 501c3 non-profit film institution. With a diverse slate celebrating the most inspired and eclectic cinema from across the globe, Beyond Fest opens with two free screenings of Finn Parker’s bone-chilling SMILE, whilst closing night honors is bestowed upon the World Premiere of HALLOWEEN ENDS, the terrifying conclusion to the iconic horror franchise, from Universal Pictures, Trancas International/Miramax/Blumhouse. Additional World Premieres include
Continue reading →
DocumentariesFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesParanormalReviews
Panthera Britannia One of the most intriguing, enduring, and perhaps possible cryptozoological mysteries is the idea that alien big cats may be roaming the British countryside. Sightings and photos — naturally, the latter are often unclear or lack size perspective — are plentiful, and witnesses usually have little to profit from by reporting what they have seen. Writer/director Matt Everett’s documentary Panthera Britannia is a slick, impressively crafted look into the history of cryptid felidae, exploring sightings from the reign of King Henry VIII to the present day. The skull of the Beast of Bodmin Moor, captured by British soldiers in the 1790s and imprisoned in a jail until it died, provides physical evidence of the possibility of ABCs, and the Dangerous Wild Animal Act of the 1970s saw owners letting their exotic pets loose in the wild. Professionals ranging from animal behaviorists to genetic anthropologists to other wildlife experts are interviewed, and several different, intelligent viewpoints for and against
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesNewsThriller
Sisu I’m not big on war films and I’m rather picky about action movies, so when I tell you that Finnish war/action film Sisu provided one of the most fun times I have had watching a genre film this year, that statement should not be taken lightly. Light on dialogue but chock full of practically non-stop excitement and sporting more practical gore and make-up effects than many horror movies, Sisu is a cinematic rollercoaster ride from writer/director Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports [2010]; Big Game [2014]) that will have audiences cheering out loud. In 1944 northern Denmark’s Lapland Plains, Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) is a prospector who discovers gold, only to be confronted by a band of Nazi soldiers as he walks with his dog to turn the gold into cash. Seeing the gold as their way of escaping punishment by death when the war ends, the Nazis, led by their commander (Aksel Hennie) aim to get their hands on the
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesNewsParanormalTrailers
An investigation into a young girl’s disappearance leads to a terrifying discovery this October in The Case of Anna Mancini. Rated “TMA,” “This documentary-style foreign indie horror film tells the story of a journalist and his videographer who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a young girl. What they find will shock and terrify you!” The Case of Anna Mancini is coming to Blu-ray on October 4th, 2022 from Bayview Entertainment. You can pre-order your copy now.
Continue reading →
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Cinedigm has snagged the rights to the French-Belgian horror film Deep Fear, from director Grégory Beghin (Losers Revolution). Deadline reports that the survival thriller will have its U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest next month and then debut on Screambox this October. “The film sees three students set out on the adventure of a lifetime as they decide to celebrate their recent graduation in Paris. Eager to do something more exciting than visiting the local tourist spots, they opt to descend into the capital city’s cryptic catacombs. Within the underground, they find the escape they’ve been searching for, unaware that they are not alone in the darkness. When they discover a bunker created during the WWII Nazi occupation, they have no way of knowing the danger that lurks within. Something, someone, is hunting them — and the group needs to get out before it’s too late.” Victor Meutelet, Sofia Lesaffre, Joseph Olivennes, and Kassim Meesters star in the film which will
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesNewsTrailers
The new Italian horror Margot, from writer-director Daniele Costi is now available on VOD from Bayview Entertainment. “If your biggest fear suddenly materialized, what would it look like? Jennifer, Riccardo, Francesca, and Luca are four brothers who meet again in their hometown after being separated for seven years. Returning to their old house will lead them to face their greatest fears.” Mario Aroldi, Veronica Boccia, and Francesca Bonfatti star. Watch the indie film now (here), from Bayview Entertainment.
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Hounded (U.K., 2022) is a stylish, highly entertaining blend of Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” and the recent horror/thriller trend of young thieves being placed into potentially fatal situations by the homeowners they planned to rob, such as Don’t Breathe. Director Tommy Boulding tackles class war, working from a razor sharp screenplay by Ray Bogdonavich and Dean Lines. Brothers Leon (Nobuse Jr) and Chaz (Malachi Pullar-Latchman), together with partners Vix (Hannah Traylen) and Bod (Ross Coles), have been robbing valuable pieces of art from homes of the rich, sticking to a code amongst themselves and taking only what an art dealer (Larry Lamb) hires them to steal. Leon wants to stop because he has amassed enough money to put Chaz through university, but the other three teammates insist they go on to help them escape their current life situations. Leon reluctantly agrees, and on their next home invasion, they are tasered and when they wake up, find themselves bound
Continue reading →
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNewsParanormal
Are you intrigued by the unbelievable, the unusual, and the unexplained? If so, the International Fortean Film Festival’s 2022 edition, set for September 2 and 3 in Gloucester, U.K., should be your destination for high-strangeness cinema. From the supernatural to cryptozoology to alien life and far beyond, the fest has selected an outstanding array of narrative and documentary features and short films. I can already attest to the hypnotic draw of writer/director Alexander Roman’s New Orleans-set occult mystery Cats of the Bayou (ASMR). Following are a few of the other highlights from the festival’s official selections that I am greatly looking forward to. For more information including the full list of official selections and ticket purchasing, visit https://www.forteanfilmfestival.com/. PANTHERA BRITTANIA: Director Matt Everett’s documentary delves into the possibility of Alien Big Cats (ABCs) as the filmmaker lets experts and eyewitnesses have their say. LADY OF THE LAKE: THE SEARCH FOR CHAMP: Champ is an aquatic cryptid said to inhabit Lake
Continue reading →
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Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
I first saw famed Canadian auteur Guy Maddin’s debut feature Tales from the Gimli Hospital at the San Francisco International Film Festival when the film was on the festival circuit in 1988, and I was instantly captivated by its old-fashioned style, gripping visuals, and decidedly offbeat sense of humor. I have been an admirer of Maddin’s work ever since, and this new Tales from the Gimli Hospital Redux 4K version supported by Telefilm’s restoration program, with some additional material incorporated, took me back to that initial viewing experience, doing so with marvelous visual and audio clarity. It is impossible to place Tales from the Gimli Hospital Redux neatly into one or two genres, as the film incorporates several, but suffice it to say that elements of horror, thriller, dark comedy, absurdist comedy, and other genres abound. Looking for all the world like a lost black-and-white early talking film unearthed, Tales from the Gimli Hospital Redux, shot on 16mm, uses light
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviews
Somewhere in the late 1970’s, a man murders his demon possessed lady pal, and said evil force enters a necklace… he then proceeds to bury her under the floor of the house they shared. Enter Shinji: (Shinichi Fukazawa… a name you’ll be hearing a lot in this here revoltin’ review as he wrote, directed, produced, starred, and provided special effects for the picture) the now adult son of the aforementioned man (also played by Fukazawa) who travels to his pappy’s ol’ dreaded domicile along with his spritely pal Mika (Masaaki Kai), a journalist investigating haunted houses, as it fits the bill nicely for her research. Along for the ride is a stoic Medium (Asako Nosaka) who immediately senses that the preternatural pad is balls deep in EvilSpiritville and it isn’t long before he ingests the noxious necklace and becomes host to the wicked wraith that haunts the locale! This doesn’t sit well with Shinji who goes full-on Ash Williams on
Continue reading →
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNews
Beyond Fest, the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, is excited to announce its complete slate of 2022 programming comprising 63 features, including 10 world premieres, 3 US premieres, and 25 West Coast Premieres. Following a sold-out festival in 2021, Beyond Fest returns to Los Angeles for its tenth anniversary edition with 15 days of cinematic excess from September 27th-October 11th. Built in partnership with the American Cinematheque, Beyond Fest will screen at the legendary IMAX at the TCL Chinese, Hollywood Legion Theatre, Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3, and IMAX headquarters with all ticket sales going to the 501c3 non-profit film institution. With a diverse slate celebrating the most inspired and eclectic cinema from across the globe, Beyond Fest opens with two free screenings of Finn Parker’s bone-chilling SMILE, whilst closing night honors is bestowed upon the World Premiere of HALLOWEEN ENDS, the terrifying conclusion to the iconic horror franchise, from Universal Pictures, Trancas International/Miramax/Blumhouse. Additional World Premieres include
Continue reading →
DocumentariesFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesParanormalReviews
Panthera Britannia One of the most intriguing, enduring, and perhaps possible cryptozoological mysteries is the idea that alien big cats may be roaming the British countryside. Sightings and photos — naturally, the latter are often unclear or lack size perspective — are plentiful, and witnesses usually have little to profit from by reporting what they have seen. Writer/director Matt Everett’s documentary Panthera Britannia is a slick, impressively crafted look into the history of cryptid felidae, exploring sightings from the reign of King Henry VIII to the present day. The skull of the Beast of Bodmin Moor, captured by British soldiers in the 1790s and imprisoned in a jail until it died, provides physical evidence of the possibility of ABCs, and the Dangerous Wild Animal Act of the 1970s saw owners letting their exotic pets loose in the wild. Professionals ranging from animal behaviorists to genetic anthropologists to other wildlife experts are interviewed, and several different, intelligent viewpoints for and against
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesNewsThriller
Sisu I’m not big on war films and I’m rather picky about action movies, so when I tell you that Finnish war/action film Sisu provided one of the most fun times I have had watching a genre film this year, that statement should not be taken lightly. Light on dialogue but chock full of practically non-stop excitement and sporting more practical gore and make-up effects than many horror movies, Sisu is a cinematic rollercoaster ride from writer/director Jalmari Helander (Rare Exports [2010]; Big Game [2014]) that will have audiences cheering out loud. In 1944 northern Denmark’s Lapland Plains, Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) is a prospector who discovers gold, only to be confronted by a band of Nazi soldiers as he walks with his dog to turn the gold into cash. Seeing the gold as their way of escaping punishment by death when the war ends, the Nazis, led by their commander (Aksel Hennie) aim to get their hands on the
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesNewsParanormalTrailers
An investigation into a young girl’s disappearance leads to a terrifying discovery this October in The Case of Anna Mancini. Rated “TMA,” “This documentary-style foreign indie horror film tells the story of a journalist and his videographer who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a young girl. What they find will shock and terrify you!” The Case of Anna Mancini is coming to Blu-ray on October 4th, 2022 from Bayview Entertainment. You can pre-order your copy now.
Continue reading →
ForeignMoviesNewsScreamboxStreaming TVTrailers
Cinedigm has snagged the rights to the French-Belgian horror film Deep Fear, from director Grégory Beghin (Losers Revolution). Deadline reports that the survival thriller will have its U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest next month and then debut on Screambox this October. “The film sees three students set out on the adventure of a lifetime as they decide to celebrate their recent graduation in Paris. Eager to do something more exciting than visiting the local tourist spots, they opt to descend into the capital city’s cryptic catacombs. Within the underground, they find the escape they’ve been searching for, unaware that they are not alone in the darkness. When they discover a bunker created during the WWII Nazi occupation, they have no way of knowing the danger that lurks within. Something, someone, is hunting them — and the group needs to get out before it’s too late.” Victor Meutelet, Sofia Lesaffre, Joseph Olivennes, and Kassim Meesters star in the film which will
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesNewsTrailers
The new Italian horror Margot, from writer-director Daniele Costi is now available on VOD from Bayview Entertainment. “If your biggest fear suddenly materialized, what would it look like? Jennifer, Riccardo, Francesca, and Luca are four brothers who meet again in their hometown after being separated for seven years. Returning to their old house will lead them to face their greatest fears.” Mario Aroldi, Veronica Boccia, and Francesca Bonfatti star. Watch the indie film now (here), from Bayview Entertainment.
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Hounded (U.K., 2022) is a stylish, highly entertaining blend of Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game” and the recent horror/thriller trend of young thieves being placed into potentially fatal situations by the homeowners they planned to rob, such as Don’t Breathe. Director Tommy Boulding tackles class war, working from a razor sharp screenplay by Ray Bogdonavich and Dean Lines. Brothers Leon (Nobuse Jr) and Chaz (Malachi Pullar-Latchman), together with partners Vix (Hannah Traylen) and Bod (Ross Coles), have been robbing valuable pieces of art from homes of the rich, sticking to a code amongst themselves and taking only what an art dealer (Larry Lamb) hires them to steal. Leon wants to stop because he has amassed enough money to put Chaz through university, but the other three teammates insist they go on to help them escape their current life situations. Leon reluctantly agrees, and on their next home invasion, they are tasered and when they wake up, find themselves bound
Continue reading →
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNewsParanormal
Are you intrigued by the unbelievable, the unusual, and the unexplained? If so, the International Fortean Film Festival’s 2022 edition, set for September 2 and 3 in Gloucester, U.K., should be your destination for high-strangeness cinema. From the supernatural to cryptozoology to alien life and far beyond, the fest has selected an outstanding array of narrative and documentary features and short films. I can already attest to the hypnotic draw of writer/director Alexander Roman’s New Orleans-set occult mystery Cats of the Bayou (ASMR). Following are a few of the other highlights from the festival’s official selections that I am greatly looking forward to. For more information including the full list of official selections and ticket purchasing, visit https://www.forteanfilmfestival.com/. PANTHERA BRITTANIA: Director Matt Everett’s documentary delves into the possibility of Alien Big Cats (ABCs) as the filmmaker lets experts and eyewitnesses have their say. LADY OF THE LAKE: THE SEARCH FOR CHAMP: Champ is an aquatic cryptid said to inhabit Lake
Continue reading →
