CategoryForeign
International horror: J-horror, European extremity, Latin American shocks and the films Hollywood keeps remaking.
902 stories
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsThrillerTrailers
Red Rooms (Les chambres rouges; Canada, 2023) Pascal Plante’s French-language Canadian chiller Red Rooms deftly combines character study, psychological thriller, and courtroom drama. The film follows the obsession of two women with a serial killer suspect on trial for the gruesome murders of three teenage girls, which were broadcast for pay on the titular dark web outlet. Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy in a riveting performance) is a fashion model who sits in on the trial of accused murderer Ludovic Chevalier (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos) at the Superior Court of Quebec. Sitting near her is Clementine (Laurie Babin), a young woman also obsessed with Chevalier, believing that he is innocent and being framed. The pair are accused of being groupies by the mother of a victim. Kelly-Anne is aloof and quiet, and she lets the talkative out-of-towner Clementine stay with her in her high-rise apartment. Kelly-Anne is also something of an expert on the internet, making large sums of money playing online poker and
Continue reading →
ForeignMoviesReviews
Russia, 1966: a lady, who has been fatally wounded, drives pell-mell onto a farmers property where she up and croaks… but the jeep she hauled ass in contains two other, very much alive, passengers… twin infants… Before you can say “What the fuck?” we flash forward 40 years and California-based film producer Marie Jones (Anastasia Hille, The Awakening) travels to Russia to seek answers about her true family after growing up with adoptive parents. Of course Marie is one of those twins mentioned up yonder, and soon she schleps her way to her ancestral home; a secluded, severely dilapidated, haunted-looking as all fuck, arcane abode which is home to a soggy, ghost version of Marie that appears from time to time. After some horror biz, our heroine discovers her long-lost brother Nicolai (Karel Roden, Hellboy, Orphan) has also made the scene, and together they begin to piece together the mystery of their past while dealing with the ghost versions of
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviews
Professor Alan Whitmore (Roland Wybenga) is sent to Budapest by the cadre of totally not up to no-good folks that funded the top secret Intextus project (which involves the interconnection of all religions or some such jazz), to check on a colleague who has not turned in his data on time. Said colleague appears to have gone completely insane, but it doesn’t matter much as he’s soon found hanging by his neck by spider webs… which turns a fact hunting trip into a murder investigation… a fucking real hum-dinger of one in fact… The longer Whitmore stays in town, the more sinister things become with dire warnings being delivered left and right, near constant mood setting thunderstorms… oh yeah, and the continuing murders… that’s some truly sinister shit. But all of that pales in comparison with the downright preternatural insanity that awaits as our hero continues the amateur sleuth biz! Will Whitmore solve the murderous, monstrous mystery, or will he
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesNewsTrailers
Cinephobia Releasing is bringing chills with the release of The Coffee Table, a haunting horror film by director Caye Casas, who set out to make a brutal film audiences won’t soon forget. A Simple Purchase, Unforeseen Terror The film follows a struggling couple, Jesus and Maria, who have recently become parents. Hoping for a fresh start and needing some furniture, they decide to buy a new coffee table – a seemingly ordinary piece. The purchase soon takes a nightmarish turn. Critical Acclaim and Festival Recognition Critics have described The Coffee Table as “not for the weak” and an “unforgettable film.” It has garnered acclaim on the festival circuit, winning “Best Film” in the “Rebels with a Cause” section at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and screened at prestigious festivals like Fantastic Fest, Fantaspoa, and Grimmfest. Real Terror Without Monsters Director Casas promises a unique brand of horror: “We wanted to make a film that explores terror without relying on
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Following is a roundup of seven of the short films that screened at San Francisco’s Unnamed Footage Festival 2024, shot mostly in found footage or verité styles. Homebody Home surveillance cameras provide the footage for writer/director Andrew J. Paulsen’s Homebody, in which Hannah (McKenzie Jo Frazer) lives in fear of a hooded man who stands outside her house. The proceedings are a bit predictable, but the execution of the plot is well done. Extreme Gravity (Extrema gravedad) Writer/director Lorenzo Ayuso’s darkly comic Spanish short Extreme Gravity focuses on a suicidal man whose recording of his farewell video is interrupted by a naked stranger who appears on his windowsill. Irreverent humor is the order of the day with this one, with Álvaro Márquez giving a fine performance as the suicidal individual and David Blanka providing fine voice acting support. Kelly Brazilian short Kelly finds a man (writer/director Luiz Lapin) building a new plastic-bag–headed companion. This short shocker is a true creepfest,
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsSci-Fi
The Becomers (2024) Writer/director Zach Clark’s science-fiction comedy The Becomers is one of the more unique offerings in the subgenre of alien-body-snatchers cinema. It follows the travails of two genderless extraterrestrial lovers who have left their home planet for hopefully better lives on Earth. They must inhabit human bodies, with plenty of reasons to change them, as they try to grasp the language, mannerisms, and mindsets of Americans. The film touches on a variety of current social issues in the post-pandemic United States while avoiding becoming overly didactic, and the cast members — led by Molly Plunk, Mike Lopez, and Keith Kelly — give earnest performances that give the proceedings a grounded yet humorous feel. Bonus points from me for the fact that the film is narrated by Russell Mael, vocalist for one of my all-time favorite rock bands, Sparks. Omen (Augure; Belgium/The Democratic Republic of Congo/Netherlands/Germany/France/South Africa, 2023) Omen deals in magical realism and African mysticism, with horror-adjacent elements
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesNewsTrailers
Brace yourselves, horror fans! The unsettling Irish horror film Gateway is set to premiere on Shudder this April, bringing a dose of dread to viewers in the US, Canada, Ireland, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. A Gateway to Terror Written and directed by Niall Owens, Gateway unfolds within the seemingly innocuous setting of an abandoned house. A group of desperate criminals seeking refuge stumble upon this ordinary-looking dwelling, unaware of the horrors that lurk within. The official synopsis hints at a chilling discovery that turns the tables on these unwelcome guests. Have they found a safe haven, or has the house itself become a malevolent entity with its own sinister plans? A Glimpse into the Unknown The recently released trailer for Gateway offers a glimpse into the film’s unsettling atmosphere. Eerie shadows dance across dusty walls, whispers seem to emanate from unseen corners, and a sense of paranoia steadily builds. As the trailer progresses, the desperation of the characters becomes
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesSci-Fi
Thomasina (Thom) and Martha (Mars) Hanbury (played by Emma Appleton and Stefanie Martini respectively) are brilliant adult orphans who live in rural isolation in a grande ol’ manse… a location where Thom has come up with a real humdinger of an invention by the name of Lola; a television that can receive signals from any date in the future the device is set to. Also a horse seemingly lives in their home… which normally would be odd enough, but alas one trumps the other… Anyway, the year being 1941, and the setting England the girls get up the gumption to begin delivering messages warning of Nazi attacks before they happen, saving countless lives. Their success leads to the attention of the British Military, thanks to the prying eyes of Lt. Sebastian Holloway of the Royal Corps of Signals (Rory Fleck Byrne) who soon allies with the sisters to literally change the course of World War II. As you can imagine,
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant; Canada, 2023) What an absolute blast Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is! Director Ariane Louis-Seize’s French language coming-of-age vampire dramedy is a true charmer. Sasha (Sara Montpetit) is a reluctant teen vampire who suffers from adverse reactions when she witnesses humans being physically harmed. Her family members do their best to wean her off of blood bags and start her biting people. Matters become even more complicated when she meets bullied teen Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard) at an anonymous meeting for depressed and suicidal individuals. Paul is looking for a meaningful way to end his life, and sees that in Sasha’s becoming a true, people-biting vampire. Louis-Seize, who cowrote the screenplay with Christine Doyon, has crafted a touching, whimsical feature that examines the potential humanity in an undead being, gently and thoughtfully focusing on two characters trying to find their way in this world — and in Paul’s case,
Continue reading →
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNewsShort FilmsThriller
Horror buffs and genre-film fans of all stripes: The Calgary Underground Film Festival has just released its lineup for its 2024 edition! There’s fright fare galore, from slashers (In a Violent Place; The Last Video Store) to monster movies (Kryptic; Infested) to supernatural chillers (Oddity; The Vourdalak), and beyond. Following is the official press announcement. The Calgary Underground Film Festival has announced the full lineup of films playing the 21st Festival, from April 18-28, 2024 at Globe Cinema. On-scale with the expanded programming of last year’s 20th Anniversary Festival, the largest in the organization’s history, CUFF 2024 will show 41 feature films, 37 shorts, and host 8 special events over 11 days. From horror and sci-fi to indie comedies and music docs, the festival showcases diverse programming of films that defy convention. CUFF is Western Canada’s largest genre film festival, internationally recognized as a top horror film festival on the circuit, and one of the most anticipated events for local
Continue reading →
More from Foreign
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsThrillerTrailers
Red Rooms (Les chambres rouges; Canada, 2023) Pascal Plante’s French-language Canadian chiller Red Rooms deftly combines character study, psychological thriller, and courtroom drama. The film follows the obsession of two women with a serial killer suspect on trial for the gruesome murders of three teenage girls, which were broadcast for pay on the titular dark web outlet. Kelly-Anne (Juliette Gariépy in a riveting performance) is a fashion model who sits in on the trial of accused murderer Ludovic Chevalier (Maxwell McCabe-Lokos) at the Superior Court of Quebec. Sitting near her is Clementine (Laurie Babin), a young woman also obsessed with Chevalier, believing that he is innocent and being framed. The pair are accused of being groupies by the mother of a victim. Kelly-Anne is aloof and quiet, and she lets the talkative out-of-towner Clementine stay with her in her high-rise apartment. Kelly-Anne is also something of an expert on the internet, making large sums of money playing online poker and
Continue reading →
ForeignMoviesReviews
Russia, 1966: a lady, who has been fatally wounded, drives pell-mell onto a farmers property where she up and croaks… but the jeep she hauled ass in contains two other, very much alive, passengers… twin infants… Before you can say “What the fuck?” we flash forward 40 years and California-based film producer Marie Jones (Anastasia Hille, The Awakening) travels to Russia to seek answers about her true family after growing up with adoptive parents. Of course Marie is one of those twins mentioned up yonder, and soon she schleps her way to her ancestral home; a secluded, severely dilapidated, haunted-looking as all fuck, arcane abode which is home to a soggy, ghost version of Marie that appears from time to time. After some horror biz, our heroine discovers her long-lost brother Nicolai (Karel Roden, Hellboy, Orphan) has also made the scene, and together they begin to piece together the mystery of their past while dealing with the ghost versions of
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesReviews
Professor Alan Whitmore (Roland Wybenga) is sent to Budapest by the cadre of totally not up to no-good folks that funded the top secret Intextus project (which involves the interconnection of all religions or some such jazz), to check on a colleague who has not turned in his data on time. Said colleague appears to have gone completely insane, but it doesn’t matter much as he’s soon found hanging by his neck by spider webs… which turns a fact hunting trip into a murder investigation… a fucking real hum-dinger of one in fact… The longer Whitmore stays in town, the more sinister things become with dire warnings being delivered left and right, near constant mood setting thunderstorms… oh yeah, and the continuing murders… that’s some truly sinister shit. But all of that pales in comparison with the downright preternatural insanity that awaits as our hero continues the amateur sleuth biz! Will Whitmore solve the murderous, monstrous mystery, or will he
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesNewsTrailers
Cinephobia Releasing is bringing chills with the release of The Coffee Table, a haunting horror film by director Caye Casas, who set out to make a brutal film audiences won’t soon forget. A Simple Purchase, Unforeseen Terror The film follows a struggling couple, Jesus and Maria, who have recently become parents. Hoping for a fresh start and needing some furniture, they decide to buy a new coffee table – a seemingly ordinary piece. The purchase soon takes a nightmarish turn. Critical Acclaim and Festival Recognition Critics have described The Coffee Table as “not for the weak” and an “unforgettable film.” It has garnered acclaim on the festival circuit, winning “Best Film” in the “Rebels with a Cause” section at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and screened at prestigious festivals like Fantastic Fest, Fantaspoa, and Grimmfest. Real Terror Without Monsters Director Casas promises a unique brand of horror: “We wanted to make a film that explores terror without relying on
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Following is a roundup of seven of the short films that screened at San Francisco’s Unnamed Footage Festival 2024, shot mostly in found footage or verité styles. Homebody Home surveillance cameras provide the footage for writer/director Andrew J. Paulsen’s Homebody, in which Hannah (McKenzie Jo Frazer) lives in fear of a hooded man who stands outside her house. The proceedings are a bit predictable, but the execution of the plot is well done. Extreme Gravity (Extrema gravedad) Writer/director Lorenzo Ayuso’s darkly comic Spanish short Extreme Gravity focuses on a suicidal man whose recording of his farewell video is interrupted by a naked stranger who appears on his windowsill. Irreverent humor is the order of the day with this one, with Álvaro Márquez giving a fine performance as the suicidal individual and David Blanka providing fine voice acting support. Kelly Brazilian short Kelly finds a man (writer/director Luiz Lapin) building a new plastic-bag–headed companion. This short shocker is a true creepfest,
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviewsSci-Fi
The Becomers (2024) Writer/director Zach Clark’s science-fiction comedy The Becomers is one of the more unique offerings in the subgenre of alien-body-snatchers cinema. It follows the travails of two genderless extraterrestrial lovers who have left their home planet for hopefully better lives on Earth. They must inhabit human bodies, with plenty of reasons to change them, as they try to grasp the language, mannerisms, and mindsets of Americans. The film touches on a variety of current social issues in the post-pandemic United States while avoiding becoming overly didactic, and the cast members — led by Molly Plunk, Mike Lopez, and Keith Kelly — give earnest performances that give the proceedings a grounded yet humorous feel. Bonus points from me for the fact that the film is narrated by Russell Mael, vocalist for one of my all-time favorite rock bands, Sparks. Omen (Augure; Belgium/The Democratic Republic of Congo/Netherlands/Germany/France/South Africa, 2023) Omen deals in magical realism and African mysticism, with horror-adjacent elements
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesNewsTrailers
Brace yourselves, horror fans! The unsettling Irish horror film Gateway is set to premiere on Shudder this April, bringing a dose of dread to viewers in the US, Canada, Ireland, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. A Gateway to Terror Written and directed by Niall Owens, Gateway unfolds within the seemingly innocuous setting of an abandoned house. A group of desperate criminals seeking refuge stumble upon this ordinary-looking dwelling, unaware of the horrors that lurk within. The official synopsis hints at a chilling discovery that turns the tables on these unwelcome guests. Have they found a safe haven, or has the house itself become a malevolent entity with its own sinister plans? A Glimpse into the Unknown The recently released trailer for Gateway offers a glimpse into the film’s unsettling atmosphere. Eerie shadows dance across dusty walls, whispers seem to emanate from unseen corners, and a sense of paranoia steadily builds. As the trailer progresses, the desperation of the characters becomes
Continue reading →
ForeignIndieMoviesSci-Fi
Thomasina (Thom) and Martha (Mars) Hanbury (played by Emma Appleton and Stefanie Martini respectively) are brilliant adult orphans who live in rural isolation in a grande ol’ manse… a location where Thom has come up with a real humdinger of an invention by the name of Lola; a television that can receive signals from any date in the future the device is set to. Also a horse seemingly lives in their home… which normally would be odd enough, but alas one trumps the other… Anyway, the year being 1941, and the setting England the girls get up the gumption to begin delivering messages warning of Nazi attacks before they happen, saving countless lives. Their success leads to the attention of the British Military, thanks to the prying eyes of Lt. Sebastian Holloway of the Royal Corps of Signals (Rory Fleck Byrne) who soon allies with the sisters to literally change the course of World War II. As you can imagine,
Continue reading →
Film FestivalsForeignMoviesReviews
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant; Canada, 2023) What an absolute blast Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is! Director Ariane Louis-Seize’s French language coming-of-age vampire dramedy is a true charmer. Sasha (Sara Montpetit) is a reluctant teen vampire who suffers from adverse reactions when she witnesses humans being physically harmed. Her family members do their best to wean her off of blood bags and start her biting people. Matters become even more complicated when she meets bullied teen Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard) at an anonymous meeting for depressed and suicidal individuals. Paul is looking for a meaningful way to end his life, and sees that in Sasha’s becoming a true, people-biting vampire. Louis-Seize, who cowrote the screenplay with Christine Doyon, has crafted a touching, whimsical feature that examines the potential humanity in an undead being, gently and thoughtfully focusing on two characters trying to find their way in this world — and in Paul’s case,
Continue reading →
DocumentariesEventsFilm FestivalsForeignMoviesNewsShort FilmsThriller
Horror buffs and genre-film fans of all stripes: The Calgary Underground Film Festival has just released its lineup for its 2024 edition! There’s fright fare galore, from slashers (In a Violent Place; The Last Video Store) to monster movies (Kryptic; Infested) to supernatural chillers (Oddity; The Vourdalak), and beyond. Following is the official press announcement. The Calgary Underground Film Festival has announced the full lineup of films playing the 21st Festival, from April 18-28, 2024 at Globe Cinema. On-scale with the expanded programming of last year’s 20th Anniversary Festival, the largest in the organization’s history, CUFF 2024 will show 41 feature films, 37 shorts, and host 8 special events over 11 days. From horror and sci-fi to indie comedies and music docs, the festival showcases diverse programming of films that defy convention. CUFF is Western Canada’s largest genre film festival, internationally recognized as a top horror film festival on the circuit, and one of the most anticipated events for local
Continue reading →
