Sunday, March 17

The Phoenix Film Festival April 4 - April 14, 2024

 IT’S FESTIVAL TIME AGAIN!!! THE PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL APRIL 4 - APRIL 14, 2024

 


The Phoenix Film Festival alongside the International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival is my favorite time of the year. I didn’t make it last year so this year is a little extra special for me. I’ve been perusing the schedule and I have to say, there’s a lot to look forward to. From biting documentaries on pressing social issues to campy schlock-fest faire and world cinema dramas and talky rom-coms sprinkled all over, I’ve got a full and ambitious schedule for those ten days.

And don’t forget to spend some time at the Party Pavilions for tons of additional activities including the Silent Auction, Kid’s Day, Industry Night and of course, Film Prom.

I’ve made a lot of great memories over the years at PFF and IHSFF. I’m looking forward to continuing this tradition. I was supposed to pick my five most anticipated films of this year, but I couldn’t quite narrow it down that far.

The festival takes place April 4th – April 14th, 2024 at the Harkins Ciné Capri.



KIM’S VIDEO

Directed by David Redmon & Ashley Sabin

Screening Times: Friday, April 5th @ 9:05 AM, Tuesday, April 9th @ 12:10 PM

Youngman Kim ran a video rental store with an eclectic collection in Manhattan for many years. As the industry changed, Kim chose to give away his collection, stipulating that it remain intact and available to his existing clientele. This documentary tracks Redmon’s quest to find the collection.


BLIND COP 2

Directed by Alec Bonk

Screening Times: Friday, April 5th @ 6:50 PM, Saturday, April 6th @ 9:20 PM

According to this trailer: this film is not a sequel, the main character’s name is Blind Cop and I’m not sure, but it may be subtitled in braille. Yes, sign me up for every part of this. 



NO ONE ASKED YOU


Directed by Ruth Leitman

Screening Times: Saturday, April 6th @ 5:25 PM, Sunday, April 7th @ 4:00 PM

This is a documentary that follows “The Daily Show” co-creator, Lizz Winstead and her team of pro-choice activist as the travel the country calling attention to the threats to a woman’s right to choose. The official synopsis of this film uses the term, ‘call to action’. That usually gets me right in.


SHE IS CONANN

Directed by Bertrand Mandico

Screening Times: Tuesday, April 9th @ 9:05 PM, Thursday, April 11th @ 11:50 AM

This film’s main character is apparently played by six different actresses. Each killing her predecessor to take on her persona. Director Bertrand Mandico makes some visually stunning, albeit at times off-putting films (THE WILD BOYS & AFTER BLUE). But I’ve never seen his images projected onto the big screen. I’m looking forward to it.




THE CARAVAN

Directed by Núria Clavero and Aitor Palacios

Screening Times: Wednesday, April 10th @ 6:50 PM, Friday, April 12th @ 2:30 PM

Yuri, an eight-month pregnant Honduran woman, travels with her partner Mike, desperate to reach the border in enough time to give birth in the U.S. Amid all the talk of “Bad Hombres”, I think these are some of the most important stories to tell.



OKIE

Directed by Kate Cobb

Screening Times: Friday, April 12th @ 6:15 PM, Saturday, April 13th @ 3:40 PM, Sunday, April 14th @ 1:50 PM

After his father’s death, writer Louie returns home for a visit. He’s confronted by the community he left behind and their stories he’s exploited for his own fame. There’s just something about that synopsis to me that feels rich for exploration.



ET TU

Directed by Max Tzannes

Screening Times: Friday, April 12th @ 11:30 AM, Saturday, April 13th @ 5:50 PM, Sunday, April 14th @ 2:20 PM

It’s a dark comedy set on a theatrical production of Julius Ceasar staring Lou Daimon Phillips and Malcolm McDowell. What’s not to like? It sounds like a lot of fun to me. 


See you there!!!


Wednesday, March 13

International Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival 2024

April 4-14


Now that the Oscar’s have aired, it’s the perfect to time celebrate filmmaking by attending the Phoenix Film Festival! And if you’re like me and prefer dark over dramatic; blood over stolen kisses; the International Horror/Sci-Fi Festival is your ticket.

This year the International Horror/Sci-Fi Festival will be held in conjunction with Phoenix Film Festival from April 4-14 at Harkins Scottsdale 101.

I’ve been attending the festival since the early 2000’s and have yet to be disappointed. In fact, this year is one of the most diverse I’ve seen with films directed by women and men; from countries such as Malaysia, Morocco, Brazil and Korea; and stories ranging from haunting to outright gory.

I’m ready for a memorable showcase and have provided the 5 films I’m most excited to watch – but will definitely be seeing more than that. 

As you read through these films, jump on phoenixfilmfestival.com to secure your tickets. They do sell out fast!


Tiger Stripes

I make no apologies for being a woman and have plenty suffered since I was a teen with all things hormonal. I just have a very angry uterus I’ve decided. The concept of a young girl becoming feral as her body changes sounds fascinating and a story I’m ready to cheer for.

Tiger Stripes also made its debut at Cannes last year and has won several awards in the festival scene. 

Synopsis:

An 11-year-old girl is carefree until she starts to experience horrifying physical changes to her body.



Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person

Yes, it's a very long title but seriously, what an idea to tell on screen! Just from the title alone, I want to know why this vampire seeks blood on an entirely different level.

Synopsis:

Sasha is a young vampire with a serious problem: she’s too sensitive to kill! When her exasperated parents cut off her blood supply, Sasha’s life is in jeopardy. Luckily, she meets Paul, a lonely teenager with suicidal tendencies who is willing to give his life to save hers. But their friendly agreement soon becomes a nocturnal quest to fulfill Paul’s last wishes before day breaks.



Property

Property is already being talked about a lot for taking a different route with home invasion and using it to showcase social class disparities. With many people already on edge all around the world, I want to see how this film goes down and if it provides any hope for our future.

Synopsis:

To protect herself from a revolt by the workers on her family’s farm, a reclusive woman locks herself in her own armored car. Separated by a layer of glass, two universes are about to collide.



Bakemono

Here comes all the blood and guts! This creature feature is said to have a very Memento feel and they used all practical effects. I’m in!

Synopsis:

A multitude of guests visit the same cheap Tokyo Airbnb at different times, unaware of the gruesome creature waiting for them.



Sleep

One thing that has always fascinated me and scared me a bit is the ability to do crazy things in your sleep with no recollection of doing it. This Korean feature looks like a slow burn that may haunt most sleepwalkers and insomniacs.

Synopsis:

A young, expectant wife must figure out how to stop her husband’s nightmarish sleepwalking habits before he harms himself or his family.



Wednesday, November 22

Exorcist: Believer Review


Exorcist: Believer

Dir: David Gordon Green

Starring: Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn, Ann Dowd, Lidya Jewett, and Olivia O'Neill

2h 1m


"The Exorcist" continues dominating "top 10" discussions for horror movie fans every spooky season. And it should be in every conversation; the 1973 classic is a stunning and terrifying experience that delivers on many cinematic levels. Every sequel of the original, along with any film dealing with demonic possession or exorcism, emulates the William Friedkin film with varying degrees of success. 


"Exorcist: Believer," helmed by David Gordon Green, attempts to reexamine the religious themes and recreate the startling scares of the original film. Unfortunately, it seldom comes close to conjuring a meaningful scare. It suffers from a muddled storyline that would feel like just another run-of-the-mill exorcism film if not for its title and some nostalgia with a returning character. Aside from a few unique horror designs and some committed performances for two young actresses, "Exorcist: Believer" is disappointing. 


The film begins in Haiti with a young married couple whose vacation is interrupted by a natural disaster, an event that forces Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) to choose between saving his severely injured wife or their unborn child. Victor reluctantly chooses his child's life. 13 years later, Victor and Angela (Lidya Jewett) live in Georgia. Angela yearns to know more about her deceased mother while Victor is doing his best to be the sole parent of his maturing daughter. After school, Angela and her friend Katherine (Olivia O'Neill) go missing in the nearby woods after trying to summon Angela's mom. A frantic search ensues, and after three days, Angela and Katherine appear in a nearby barn with no recollection of what happened to them. But the two young girls have returned home with something unholy inside them, an entity that wants their souls. 


"Exorcist: Believer" begins with an intriguing setup, one that immediately situates the lead character, Victor, in a tormenting circumstance of life and death for the woman he loves; it's a decision that will define every action moving forward for the character. Victor, portrayed by Leslie Odom Jr. as a protective father and science-focused skeptic, anchors the wildly uneven story. While initially promising, the film abandons much of the emotionally driven father/daughter character development for unsatisfying nostalgic callbacks to the original movie, even bringing back the elegant Ellen Burstyn for an uninspired character arc. David Gordon Green, who co-wrote the script with Peter Sattler, seldom achieves new directions that separate his film from other exorcism films of recent memory. Without the nostalgia to continuously remind the viewer, there would be no need to connect it to the original classic. 


One of the critical issues with this film is the narrative, which never quite decides if it wants to showcase a battle of good versus evil or would instead pursue the intense and frightening horror show components. This tone imbalance and lack of character development turn the film into a clip show of storytelling elements that never come together meaningfully or scary. 


A few scenes offer chilling and unsettling moments, specifically the two young girls' deteriorating physical and emotional states. There is also some startling imagery, seen through strobing light effects, that reveals a monstrous entity that continuously haunts the thoughts of the two possessed girls. Unfortunately, much of "Exorcist: Believer" feels lost within its need to honor the past and excel beyond the many imitators. 


Monte's Rating

2.00 out of 5.00