Fantasy Filmfest is over

Last Tuesday and Wednesday I watched the last 4 movies at the Fantasy Filmfest. Somehow I´ve got enough of blood and corpses for at least a few weeks (until the Asia Filmfest starts in October). ;)
If I had to favor one of these movies, I would recommend watching "Just another Love Story". The Danish movie was one of the highlights at the Fantasy Filmfest in Germany and I was pleasantly surprised. Different to many of the other movies, this one actually had a good story, surprising twists and good actors. And best of all: The ending is great!
So Casey, in case you want to watch a good suspenseful movie, then watch this one. (There isn´t too much blood involved either! ;) )


Just Another Love Story

Jonas´ life takes an unexpected twist when he inadvertently causes a woman to crash her car and go into a coma. When she comes out of her coma her memory has vanished. Due to a mix-up she and her family believe that Jonas is in fact Sebastian, her boyfriend. Jonas pretends to be Sebastian. But one day the truth comes knocking at the door.
“Developing into an obscene, twisted romance, the story remains powerful (...) turning into a shocking, nerve-racking riddle played out with a brutal relish for the grotesque in the final part.” (Electric Sheep)
Watch the trailer on YouTube.


The Midnight Meat Train

A New York photographer hunts down a serial killer. The movie is based on Clive Barker's short story "Midnight Meat Train".
“Director Ryuhei (VERSUS) Kitamura tackles Barker with blood-soaked bravado, making MEAT TRAIN the most visually-stunning horror film in years (...) Through a perfect marriage of prosthetics and CGI, Kitamura unleashes some of the most outrageous and inventive kills to ever hit the screen: Victims are sliced, diced, bludgeoned, hacked, and smashed in several shocking jump-out-of-your-seat moments (how this got away with an R-rating is mind-boggling).” (Dread Central)
Watch the trailer on YouTube.


Acolytes

Three teens blackmail a serial killer.
"In this dead serious chiller set in the suburbs and forest of Australian Queensland, three high school students are excited to stumble across a corpse and pinpoint the murderer: the perfect chance to get rid of that creep Gary Parker, who has bullied two of them over and over?! Blackmailing a killer into offing a bully? Unfortunately, serial killers’ minds usually operate differently from those of somewhat sane teenagers." (Fantasy Filmfest)
Watch the trailer YouTube.


The Chaser

Joong-ho is a former detective (now pimp) in financial trouble as several of his girls have disappeared without clearing their debts. While trying to track them down, he finds a clue that the vanished girls were all called up by the same client.
“What THE CHASER brings to the table is a potent combination of a “you gotta grab-your-armchair” like intense script and performances from the entire cast that is worthy of “encore!” chants. The movie is directed by newcomer Hong-jin Na, a name that will likely become much better known in the coming months.” (Lunapark 6)
Watch the trailer YouTube.

Shuttle & Mirrors (Fantasy Filmfest)

Yesterday Benjamin and I watched another two movies at the Fantasy Filmfest: "Shuttle" and "Mirrors". "Mirrors" was the better movie, but actually there is no need to see either of them.
So 4 more movies tonight and tomorrow and then the Fantasy Filmfest is over. I guess I´ve seen enough horror movies for this year. It must be me getting older. Somehow I do not enjoy this kind of movies as much as I used to. (But I´m still impressed about the movie "Downloading Nancy".)

Shuttle
A late night airport shuttle ride home descends into darkness.

“Parts of the audience may find themselves somewhere bloodier and more disturbing than they expected to end up. But first-time director Edward Anderson balances what could have been a lowbrow slasher with a glacial tone that never relents and leads hardened horror fans to a stomach-churning conclusion.” Austin Chronicle

Mirrors
An ex-cop and his family are the target of an evil force that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home.

"Ex-cop turned night security guard Ben Carson (Kiefer Sutherland) discovers a horrific secret hiding behind the mirrors of an old department store. Checking your hairdo in a looking-glass will feel different after Alexandre Aja’s (HIGH TENSION, THE HILLS HAVE EYES) latest oeuvre, a forceful U.S.-remake of the Korean movie INTO THE MIRROR." (www.fantasyfilmfest.com)

The Brøken & Downloading Nancy (Highlight!!)

Yesterday Benjamin and I watched two movies at the Fantasy Filmfest. First "The Brøken", a suspenseful movie, which reminded me a bit of "The Invasion" and later "Downloading Nancy".
"Downloading Nancy" is a great (though controversial) movie. The film stars Maria Bello as an unhappy wife whose online search for someone to put her out of her misery results in a torturous love affair. I think I have rarely seen someone play as good as Maria Bello. She played an emotionally and physically hurt woman and did that so well, that my heart was aching when I left the movie. (Benjamin´s too btw.) IMO the movie shows one of the best kissing scenes I have seen. The scene is wonderful and after the kiss Nancy says, "I wish I could have felt that" (which breaks your heart even more).

"Synopsis

When Albert Stockwell comes home from work one day he finds a note from his wife of 15 years, Nancy, saying she has gone to see friends. It is a lie.

After waiting several days, Albert realizes that his wife is missing. Nancy has met her salvation on the Internet in the form of Louis Farley. Louis's life, like Nancy's, has become a twisted quest for redemption via smutty chat rooms and alternative websites. Both wounded and alone, Nancy and Louis take comfort in one another through email, pictures and promises.

With Louis, Nancy goes to a different place, one of liberation and fulfillment. Its a location where pain is pleasure and where the end is the beginning. While she pursues the freedom that she feels will only come with ultimate liberation, Albert is left to put the pieces together and try to salvage what is left." (from http://www.downloadingnancythemovie.com)

Watch the trailer here. Co-starring Jason Patric, Rufus Sewell, and Amy Brenneman.

Eden Lake

I missed the opening movie of the Fantasy Filmfest (September 3 - 10, 2008) yesterday as it was sold out. At least they screened the movie late at night too.
In "Eden Lake" a couple gets harassed by local youths and the situation turns into a living nightmare. The movie keeps getting worse and I could have used someone sitting next to me, so I wouldn´t have had to jump at the unknown neighbor all the time. At one scene he even got up and said that he would get another beer and return after the horrible. He couldn´t take it anymore.

“EDEN LAKE lulls you in the beginning, then sends you through a complete nightmare before a totally unexpected ending. It’s horrifying and credible in a way few genre movies are.” James Watkins, director EDEN LAKE

I´m off to the next two movies tonight!

Fantasy Filmfest & Asia Filmfest

Next week the Fantasy Filmfest (September 3 - 10, 2008) will begin and in Oktober the Asia Filmfest (October 31 - November 9, 2008*). Last year I had the possibilty of seeing a lot of movies at the Asia Filmfest and I hope I can do the same this year. But first I´ll try to get to the Fantasy Filmfest. Actually it should be called Horror Filmfest, or is it just me choosing the scary movies?

* Hopefully I can spend my birthday at the movies.

Fantasy Filmfest 2007

The Fantasy Filmfest - the 21. International Festival for Science Fiction, Horror and Thriller is running in Munich right now. Our babysitter didn´t have any time during the festival week, but yesterday one of my best friends took care of the kids. We left them at her place for more than 5 hours and watched 3 movies non-stop. I always enjoy going to the movie theaters and I love horror and thriller - though there are almost no good movies in these categories. But we were lucky with this years selection:

NIMMERMEER
Toke Constantin Hebbeln
One night he will “fetch the silver from the night sky” – Jonas loves his father’s magical stories. When Helge dies, Jonas ends up in an orphanage whereupon dreariness and discipline rule his life … until a group of circus performers appear in the village.

KALTMIETE
Gregor Buchkremer First-timer Gregor Buchkremer puts himself on the map of German directors to watch, with this impressive mood piece. Inhabitants of a shared flat slowly go nuts over a roommate, who has locked himself up in his room. With subtle use of stylistic means Buchkremer creates an eerie atmosphere and tops his tale with a brilliantly surprising ending.


THE BOTHERSOME MAN
DEN BRYSOMME MANNEN / Jens Lien
“For office drone Andreas, suicide is preferable to a world where everything is spotlessly clean, everyone’s nice, and every home looks like an Ikea showroom. [This] delightfully droll sophomore feature by Norwegian helmer Jens Lien creates a surreal dystopia that’s only a taupe-colored shade from a realist depiction of contempo Scandinavia.” – Variety “Hell, heaven or dark mirror of urban yuppie life today, Lien’s Bothersome vision makes you feel Andreas’ cold sweat and quiet desperation – which may be our own as well.” – Chicago Tribune