Fantasia International Film Festival - The Dead Thing Film Review

 

THE DEAD THING

Director: Elric Kane

Executive Producer: Rebekah McKendry

Producer: Matt Mercer, Monte Yazzie

Writer: Elric Kane, Webb Wilcoxen

 

Love is not an easy thing to find in modern society.

THE DEAD THING provided Fantasia International Film Festival goers a depressing, dark side of modern dating with a mix of Me Too, THE INVISIBLE MAN and technology dependence.

Alex (Blu Hunt) is trapped in a downward spiral of shallow hookups and tepid connections, but she is caught off guard when her dating app swipes lead her into the arms of a mysterious, charming young man Kyle (Ben Smith-Petersen).

Despite their passionate night, when the sun rises, Kyle is nowhere to be found. Alex then sets out to find the one person who made her feel alive. Through her investigation, she is able to reconnect with Kyle, but also digs up a ghastly supernatural secret.

The pair quickly descend into a whirlwind of obsession, dependence, lust, and infatuation that has grave consequences.

There were some very smart creative choices made with this film.

First, the decision to have Alex a night shift worker helped to lean in to her loneliness and unsatisfactory love life.

Additionally, giving Alex only one co-worker who happened to be a male that didn’t understand boundaries and a roommate that was pre-occupied with her own love crisis, the alienation is palpable. And thanks to Blu Hunt’s strong acting, you’re rooting for Alex to have a happy ending.

Ben Smith-Petersen acting chops are definitely weaker but his slight weakness made this viewer feel like something was off with his character from the beginning. Maybe too much of some true-life events stared back at me on the screen but it’s usually the small red signs you blow off in a relationship that come back to bite.

Subtlety is horrific once you piece the entire puzzle together.

Which is exactly what THE DEAD THING pulls off so well.

Stories like THE DEAD THING need to continue to be told until our society finally makes a positive change with our male culture.

Genre films are the perfect outlet.

Fantasia International Film Festival - The Beast Within Film Review

 

THE BEAST WITHIN

Director: Alexander J. Farrell
Writers: Greer Ellison, Alexander J. Farrell

 

Starting off THE BEAST WITHIN with a quote from the Cherokee legend Two Wolves, “There are two wolves, and they are always fighting,” is the perfect way to set the stage for this family tragedy disguised as a fairy tale.

Set in the isolated countryside of England, Noah (Kit Harington) is a father with a secret that he is desperately trying to keep under control. His mysterious excursions at night leave his ailing daughter Willow (Caoilinn Springall) plagued with questions.

The old, timeless house in the woods that she lives in with her caring mother, Imogen, (Ashleigh Cummings) and absent father feels more like a haunted castle than a loving home.

As Willow investigates her father’s bizarre and dark behavior, a monstrous figure emerges from the shadows, terrorizing those who encounter it.

Supported by her grandfather, Waylon, (James Cosmo), Willow attempts to unravel the mysteries of the creature, and the revelations that she discovers will rock her family and leave her forever changed.

THE BEAST WITHIN is a very well-done metaphor for domestic abuse.

As the viewer, you only get a sense of what is going on with this family through Willow’s perspective. At times, Willow is happy go luck; other times she is walking on eggshells.

The setting and use of Harewood Woods and Castle provide this dark story with the right fairy tale vibe, so the audience feels a sense of magic and danger.

The acting and charisma with every actor cements the realistic family tragedy.

Very specific, well-acted lines from Noah and Imogen, provide the audience clues that this is not your traditional lycanthrope story.

Lines that signal red flags to an intense final battle between the two wolves include:

 “Don’t ever leave me again.” – Noah to Imogen

“Nothing changes.” – both Noah and Imogen to each other

“I love you when you’re like this.” – Imogen to Noah

At the climax of the film, viewers get the full reveal of Noah. Some fans may mock the reveal because it doesn’t fit certain horror standards.

But this particular werewolf fits the story. There’s a certain loyal, caring canine look that again hints at the internal struggle.

And then the viewers get the truth in the last couple minutes of the film, and immediately go through their own struggle to process what was just revealed.

Director Alexander J. Farrell wanted to create a film that didn’t just scare but showcased the intensity of real-world complications. THE BEAST WITHIN hits those marks in wolf’s clothing.

And personally, as someone who dated a narcissist/emotional abuser, I felt seen and heard.

Because the abuser always finds something else to blame but themselves.

And it takes its toll on everyone around them.

Fantasia International Film Festival - Kryptic Film Review

KRYPTIC

Director: Kourtney Roy

Writer: Paul Bromley

 

The name KRYPTIC fits this film to a tee.

It starts off tame, then throws you deep down the rabbit hole, and ends in a redemption arc.

Clad in a pink windbreaker, Kay Hall (Chloe Pirrie) joins a group of women on a nature hike to Krypto Peak. The area is known for cryptids and an extensive list of missing women. One of those women happens to be renowned cryptozoologist Barbara Valentine (who could be Kay’s doppelganger).

When Kay strays from the group, she encounters the mysterious Sooka, and forgets who she is as she emerges from the forest.

Kay then becomes obsessed with finding Barbara Valentine and uncovering the truth behind her disappearance and the Sooka. Her journey introduces her to a variety of strangers and even more questions as to what is happening thanks to sexual encounters that push her deeper down wonderland.

In the final act, Kay meets up with Barbara’s husband (Jeff Gladstone) and finally gets a glimpse into the truth behind all these missing women.

There is a lot to take in with this film as it progresses, and at times it can be a bit infuriating – especially with the editing tactic of the sex scenes. They seem like a key piece to putting the puzzle together but it’s not until you see the last sex scene that the pieces seem to finally fit.

Another specific filming tactic in KRYPTIC is the use of the color red. It’s everywhere.

There are red jackets in forest by Sooka area, a special red fungus only found on Krypto Peak, red lighting in the dive bar, red dress on the hotel owner, a red flashlight used in the forest at night, and of course, blood – providing the viewer a sense of lust, danger, and aggression throughout.

But the strongest bit by far in this film is the final act. Throughout the film there are references to time portals where the Sooka lives and urban legends about some women returning through the portals to a different, better life.

The time portal information hits hard once you get a glimpse into Barbara’s real life and her interactions with her husband. He even asks her why she keeps disappearing. That’s when you immediately understand these women were possibly disappearing of their own free will after their first experience with the Sooka.

They wanted a better life for themselves, and based on what was briefly shown of Barbara’s, they rightfully deserved it.

This film has a lot to offer in terms of female empowerment. But not all viewers will catch on.

Fantasia International Film Festival - Opening Weekend Films

 Fantasia International Film Festival

Opening Weekend Films

The opening weekend of Fantasia International Film Festival was a success and already left its impression on me.

I’ll start you off with these two appetizing film reviews and will continue to provide you with a feast of unique film reviews throughout the next couple weeks.

 

CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS

Director: Alice Maio Mackay

Writers: Alice Maio Mackay and Benjamin Pahl Robinson

 

Alice Maio Mackay, (SATRANIC PANIC, T BLOCKERS) presented her sixth feature film CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.

Mackay is known for giving perspective of what it’s like to fight for your life while being queer and transgender in bigoted towns on the big screen.

And CARNAGE FOR CHRISTMAS is no different.

When true-crime podcaster Lola (Jeremy Moineau) visits her hometown at Christmas for the first time since running away and transitioning, the vengeful ghost of urban legend, The Toy Maker, arises to kill again.

After her sister’s roommate goes missing and is discovered dismembered, Lola inserts herself into the situation and decides she must solve the case before her community is slaughtered.

Unfortunately for Lola, she’s against not only a psychotic killer, but a town haunted by secrets.

In the opening scene, we see Lola at her best, taking the lead on her podcast and portraying herself as a subject matter expert when it comes to true crime. And Moineau does a fantastic job portraying her in that role.

But as the film goes on, it becomes clear that Lola has too much story to tell, and she no longer comes off as an expert but a bitchy Nancy Drew.

Additionally, with having carnage in the film title, there just wasn’t enough of it. In fact, the coolest carnage scene didn’t occur until ¾ of the way into the film – and at that point as a viewer I wasn’t exactly following all the back story Lola provided for me to feel invested in these killings, or her own agenda.

I wanted more of the Toy Maker and got coal instead.

If Mackay had gone more towards a THANKSGIVING-style holiday gore fest with a simpler story line, I think this film could have left a little bit better impression on me. It just wasn’t jingling my bells for the expectations I had.

THE OLD MAN AND THE DEMON SWORD

Writer/Director: Fábio Powers

 

I want you to picture your favorite large sword from your favorite anime. And then I want you find this gem of a genre film, THE OLD MAN AND THE DEMON SWORD, and rethink which sword you’d want to own.

Inspired by Portuguese legends and a tribute to American B-movies and tokusatsu, THE OLD MAN AND THE DEMON SWORD is 63 minutes of pure cheesy fun.

In the remote village of Pé da Serra in the mountains of Portugal, we first meet a monk wielding a demonic sword. We quickly learn the sword and monk made a pact to fight off specific evil threats.

But local town drunk, António da Luz, puts himself in the middle of the initial fight and soon finds himself wielding the sword next.

Together, António and the sword will have to learn how to count on one another to fight the encroaching evil.

The overall vibe of this film is very Mystery Science Theater 3000. It’s low budget, provides hilarious costumed evil spirits and special effect monsters that look like a CGI mash up of Ray Harryhausen creations. The coolest of the practical/special effects is by far the demon sword that wants to own the scenes but is better at being the companion to António.

Most of the scenes are just flat out hilarious - including one in particular where António takes a bathroom break from training with the sword only to piss a very large stream of urine that brings a forest spirit to life. I seriously can’t make this up.

And while you’re laughing at how cheesy it all is, the dialog between the sword and António is well thought-out and becomes very heartfelt. We even get deep moments around grief, religion, good vs evil, and empathy.

You fall for António's charm and root whole-heartedly for him. 

Then Powers hits you with a fourth wall surprise that just puts the cherry on top of such a unique genre film.

This will be a film I have to have to show others after a couple of rounds. It’s just too much fun not to share.

 

 

Fantasia International Film Festival 2024

 Fantasia International Film Festival

Cue the fireworks! The Fantasia International Film Festival is here!

This July 18 - August 4, Fantasia will celebrate genre films with a jam-packed program of screenings, workshops, and launch events.

There are so many intriguing films to view this year, and I plan to see as many as I can and share capsule reviews with you here on Coda.

For now, I’ve narrowed it down to five films I’m most excited to watch!

 

THE BEAST WITHIN

I’ve missed brooding Kit Harrington and look forward to seeing him again in what sounds like an intriguing family drama tinged with superstitious folklore.

Synopsis:

Kit Harington is a father with a secret that he is desperately trying to keep under control. His mysterious excursions at night leave his ailing daughter (Caoilinn Springall) plagued with questions. As she investigates her father’s bizarre and dark behavior, a monstrous figure emerges from the shadows, terrorizing those who encounter it. Supported by her grandfather (James Cosmo) she attempts to unravel the mysteries of the creature, and the revelations that she discovers will rock her family and leave her forever changed.

 

THE CHAPEL

Carlota Pereda is back! I feel head over heels for PIGGY and can’t wait to see what unfolds in her ghost story, THE CHAPEL.

Synopsis:

Carol Peralta (Belen Rueda) doesn't believe in ghosts. But bills must be paid and she knows how these things work so she's become a medium. When Carol receives word that her mother has died, it brings the opportunity to leave the small village she was raised in behind forever. However, her mother's passing coincides with the village's annual fall festival commemorating the opening of a sealed chapel said to be haunted by the spirit of a young girl whose ghost must be appeased with gifts for five days before the chapel is sealed up again. Into this unwanted distraction comes Emma (Maia Zaitegi), a little girl whose belief in the afterlife and a need to reach the chapel's inhabitant carries with it a possible redemption—or damnation—for them all.

 

THE SOUL EATER

The film INSIDE still haunts me and this time, directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo, have opted to tell a mystery with a dark supernatural element, including an ending that Michael Gingold states, “the true, tragic scope of the horror is revealed.”

Synopsis:

A pair of quite different investigators arrive in Roquenoir, a town in the French mountains, and wind up approaching the same case from two different directions. Commander Elisabeth Guardiano (Virginie Ledoyen) has been sent to look into a married couple’s grisly murder, and Captain of the Gendarmerie Franck De Rolan (Paul Hamy), from the “department of alarming disappearances,” intends to track down a group of missing children. Their missions turn out to be linked, and one of the elements tying them together is “The Soul Eater,” a local bogeyman legend intended to encourage kids not to wander off into the woods. This creature may not be a myth after all, and as strange details about that double killing come to light and more bizarre deaths occur, Guardiano and De Rolan are drawn toward discovering a shocking truth.

 

KRYPTIC

As an adult, I’ve grown to love cryptoids; although I’m sure I’d pee my pants running into one in real life. But I digress. Kourtney Roy’s feature KRYPTIC sounds like a fun adventure I’m willing to take second hand.

Synopsis:

Clad in a pink windbreaker and hiking boots, Kay Hall (Chloe Pirrie) joins a group of women on a nature hike to Krypto Peak. The area is known for cryptids and is also where renowned cryptozoologist Barbara Valentine went missing three years prior, while she searched for a mysterious creature. When Kay strays from the group and has a disturbingly viscous encounter with the beast, she forgets who she is and becomes obsessed with finding Barb Valentine. The deeper Kay goes into the woods, the more she learns about Barb, and the deeper she delves into her psyche, the closer she gets to the truth.

 

ODDITY

I can’t turn away from the chilling mannequin in the photo promo for this film (above) and after reading about this film, I need to know how far down the horror rabbit hole director Damian McCarthy is going to take us.

Synopsis:

Darcy (Carolyn Bracken) is a blind medium blessed with genuine occult abilities. She runs an antique shop, secretly collecting haunted and cursed items. Through a chance encounter, Darcy begins to decipher terrible secrets about her twin sister’s unsolved murder. A murder once presumed to have been perpetrated by a patient from a nearby mental-health institution, who was soon afterwards found dead, his head crushed to pieces with only a glass eye remaining unscathed. With the otherworldly help of a nightmarish wooden mannequin, Darcy embarks on a fact-finding mission of supernatural retribution, opening doorways into pure horror.

Bonus Film

THE DEAD THING

I have one more film I can’t wait to watch but full disclosure, I know the director, executive producer, and am good friends with the producer, Monte Yazzie.

So of course, I am going to support this awesome group, but you should too! If you are an avid listener of the Colors of The Dark podcast, THE DEAD THING is Elric Kane’s directorial debut, with Dr. Rebekah McKendry as executive producer.

Synopsis:

Alex (Blu Hunt) is trapped in a downward spiral of shallow hookups and tepid connections, but she is caught off guard when her dating app swipes lead her into the arms of a mysterious, charming young man Kyle (Ben Smith-Petersen). Despite their passionate night, when the sun rises, the mystery man is nowhere to be found. Alex then sets out to find the one person who made her feel alive. Through her investigation, she reconnects with Kyle, but also digs up a ghastly supernatural secret. The pair quickly descend into a whirlwind of obsession, dependence, lust, and infatuation that has grave consequences.

Don't forget to stay tuned for capsule reviews from Fantasia International Film Festival starting July 18!