London FrightFest 2011: The Woman Review

Plot: Under a facade of suburban normality, a family lives under the abusive reign of the father, with his twisted view of what a perfect family should be, and who dispenses mental and physical abuse. While on a hunting trip, he comes across a feral woman and captures her and brings her back home in a bid to civilise and "educate" her, with disastrous consequences.

Review: I have a confession to make. I nearly skipped The Woman at FrightFest. Watching three films back to back before its screening had taken its toll and I knew nothing about it apart from its reputation of ultraviolence. Yet what a fantastic surprise this turned out to be, an electrifying experience from start to finish, that instantly became my favourite film of the year so far.

London FrightFest 2011: Fright Night Review

With the ongoing merry-go-round of 70's/80's horrors remakes, it was only a matter of time before somebody brought their attention to Fright Night (1985). It might not quite be up there with such horror classics as Friday the 13th and Halloween, and have the same iconic imagery, but is still fondly remembered by those who have seen it thanks to its successful balance of scares, wit and laughs.

When the 3D remake was announced last year, it became quickly apparent that it was not going to be some cheap cash-in however. A director plucked from the indie world was on board (Craig Gillespie, who directed Lars and the Real Girl) as well as a great cast you certainly would not expect with that sort of films: Colin Farrell, David Tennant, Toni Collette...

Fright Fest Round Up- Part 2

So day two of FrightFest. The first screening of the day was Israeli horror Rabies, which is actually the first Israeli horror ever made. The first scene make it look like it is going to be a derivative teen horror, however the story takes plenty of unexpected turns and you quickly realise that the story can be read at many different level without never feeling didactic. While it took me some time to understand where this was going, it became obvious than this was a lot smarter than your average horror, and can also be enjoyed as a subtle metaphor for the ongoing conflict in Israel. The two directors Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado were present and came across as really likeable and full of enthusiasm for the genre.

London's FrightFest Round Up - Part 1

The Woman (2011)

The horror/fantasy film festival Fright Fest has become a real institution in London. It takes place every year over the long bank holiday week end at the end of August, in one of the biggest screen of the city at the Empire Leicester Square and with an adoring audience of fans that is probably the best in the world. Even if many of the films presented will end up as late night DVD fodder, seeing them on a huge screen among such a reactive audience makes it an entirely different and much more enjoyable experience altogether. They scream, laugh and clap at all the right places and I cannot think of a best place to watch a horror film.

This year's line up was the usual mix of f high profile titles (Final Destination 5, Fright Night...) and more unusual picks, with a great worldwide selection that included the first horror films ever made in Switzerland (Sennentuntschi) and Israel (Rabies).

Hellraiser 9! Really?

Horror is the one genre that has suffered from sequelitis more than any other. We have to admit, us, horror fans, that our tolerance level to any kind of trash is very high. And to what depths of mediocrity have we been exposed... Friday the 13th 10, AKA Jason X, in Space! Leprechaun 4, in Da Hood! Leprechaun 5, in Space! Wrong Turn 5! In space? Not quite yet, although I had no idea there was a Wrong Turn 3. Or 4. One franchise is beating them all however, and really is scrapping the bottom of the rusty barrel with dirty nails full of splinters: Hellraiser.

The Muppets: OK Go!

What is the most anticipated film of the next 12 months? Move over The Avengers! The Dark Knight what? The Amazing Spider-who? One film is blowing them all out of the water, The Muppets, of course! What might have sounded like an unlikely project some time ago, the revival of what was thought to be a moribund franchise, has managed to build up some mighty momentum over the last few months. And while waiting for the release which is months away still, we are being treated to more script details and a hilarious video for a reinterpretation of the Muppets theme song.

Box Office Blood Bath

Last week end three new films were vying for the attention of a late summer audience, yet ended up like jilted bridesmaids at the altar of the US box office, with earlier releases The Help and Rise of the Planet of the Apes keeping the first two spots. With week end results struggling to reach double digits above the million dollar mark, these were terrible results. Add the 3D premium attracted by all three films which should have boosted the revenues, and have a look at the actual attendance figures, and these results are abysmal. Just what went wrong?