Skip to Content

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘El infierno’ a sometimes-fun, sometimes-infuriating mob tribute

El Narco (El inferno’) Written and directed by Luis Estrada 2010, Mexico Billed as a gangster movie of the same scope and caliber as Scarface and Goodfellas, but set in Mexico, El Narco (formerly El infierno) cribs the skeletal arc of these films adequately but is thematically and tonally all over the place. It’s a film that …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘El infierno’ a sometimes-fun, sometimes-infuriating mob tribute

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Bullhead’ a character study with a mean streak

Bullhead Written by Michael R. Roskam Directed by Michael R. Roskam 2011, Belgium Writer/director Michaël Roskam delivers an assured directorial debut in Bulhead, a disturbingly visceral art-house drama that ably blends elements from other genres. While punctuated with moments of austere dark humour, Bullhead ranks as one of the most original crime pics in recent …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Bullhead’ a character study with a mean streak

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Human Centipede 2’ a numbing, ineffectual parade of depravity

Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence Written and directed by Tom Six 2011, Netherlands/UK It’s probably worth mentioning that I was not a fan of The Human Centipede. I thought the film underwhelming, poorly directed and largely undeserving of the cult status bestowed on it by some. Like Paramount’s Paranormal Activity (the first film distributed by …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Human Centipede 2’ a numbing, ineffectual parade of depravity

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Carré Blanc’ bleak, yet consistently hilarious

Carré Blanc Written and directed by Jean-Baptiste Leonettie 2011, France The world of Carré Blanc is a desolate expanse of concrete housing complexes. A square emblem, representative of a nameless, faceless state entity, is emblazoned everywhere. Loudspeakers stationed at every street corner call out population statistics, urge residents to copulate, and endlessly extol the virtues …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Carré Blanc’ bleak, yet consistently hilarious

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Juan de los Muertos (Juan of the Dead)’ – vital, exciting filmmaking

Juan Of The Dead Written and directed by Alejandro Brugués 2011, Cuba / Spain Juan of the Dead is a Cuban horror comedy. For those keeping track, that doesn’t ever happen. In fact, it’s a huge testament to director Alejandro Brugués’ commitment to and love of the horror genre that this film even was made. …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Juan de los Muertos (Juan of the Dead)’ – vital, exciting filmmaking

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Milocrorze: A Love Story’ obscene and outrageous but also sincerely romantic

Milocrorze: A Love Story Directed by Yoshimasa Ishibashi Written by Yoshimasa Ishibashi 2011, Japan Starring Takayuki Yamada (13 Assassins), playing all three male leads, Milocrorze is the brainchild of Yoshimasa Ishibashi, best known for The Fuccon Family TV sketch show, which featured an all-mannequin cast. He’s spent years as a fucked-up video artist, and his …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Milocrorze: A Love Story’ obscene and outrageous but also sincerely romantic

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘A Lonely Place To Die’ a relentless, action-packed, gripping crime thriller

A Lonely Place To Die Directed by Julian Gilbey Screenplay by Will Gilbey and Julian Gilbey 2011, UK A Lonely Place To Die might just be the best action film of 2011, a relentless, action packed, hard-edged, gripping crime thriller. Think of it as a hybrid of the Most Dangerous Game and Cliffhanger. Melissa George …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘A Lonely Place To Die’ a relentless, action-packed, gripping crime thriller

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘The Corridor’ a taut thriller that showcases great talent

The Corridor Directed by Evan Kelly Screenplay Josh MacDonald 2011, Canada Imagine if Judd Apatow’s characters actually grew up, and during a midlife crisis they entered into an episode of The Outer Limits. If you can imagine that scenario than you’ll have a good grasp of what to expect from The Corridor. Canadian filmmaker Evan …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘The Corridor’ a taut thriller that showcases great talent

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘The Yellow Sea’ a typically expert, bleak Korean thriller

The Yellow Sea (Hwang Hae) Directed by Na Hong-jin Screenplay byNa Hong-jin South Korea, 2011 – The actual Yellow Sea, or the area of the East China Sea between the Chinese mainland and the Korean peninsula, is a mostly symbolic presence in Na Hong-jin’s (The Chaser) second film. While only on screen for a couple …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘The Yellow Sea’ a typically expert, bleak Korean thriller

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘An American Werewolf in London’ By Artist Olly Moss

  One of the special events at this year’s Fantastic Fest was a special screening of An American Werewolf in London, with special effects icon Rick Baker in attendance.Ticket holders received a Mondo poster specially designed for the event by artist Olly Moss. The print measures 15″x 24″ and is an edition of 380. Anyone …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘An American Werewolf in London’ By Artist Olly Moss

Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Boys on the Run’

Boys on the Run Written by Kengo Hanazawa (manga), Daisuke Miura (screenplay) Directed by Daisuke Miura 2010, Japan Tanishi is a mess. He spends his days filling vending machines with useless novelties and obsessively masturbating. A virgin at 29, he still lives at home floating along as a rank and file company man, hardly a …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Boys on the Run’

Fantastic Fest Debates 2011: Elijah Wood Challenges Dominic Monaghan

One of the many ways Fantastic Fest sets itself apart from other film festivals is by organizing events that don’t necessarily involve watching movies. One of the highlights every year at what the festival likes to call Fantastic Debates, features feuds between filmmakers, critics, and festival runners, settled during a night of public debates, alcohol …

Read More about Fantastic Fest Debates 2011: Elijah Wood Challenges Dominic Monaghan

Fantastic Fest 2011: Top 5 Places to Stuff Your Face Near The Festival

One of the joys of Fantastic Fest is that its attendees come from near and far to do essentially the same thing they’d be doing at home: watch kickass genre flicks and sit in a dark room in their underwear eating fried food. Okay, well, maybe not the underwear part. But say it’s day six …

Read More about Fantastic Fest 2011: Top 5 Places to Stuff Your Face Near The Festival

Fantastic Fest Announces List Of Short Films which includes must sees ‘Cop Hard’ and ‘Infernal Nuns’

The complete list of short films screening at Fantastic Fest has been announced. Unfortunatly as with most short films, there isn’t too much known about many of these. I know Infernal Nuns recieved a lot of praise from various blogs after it screened at Fantasia and Cop Hard is based on the popular web series, …

Read More about Fantastic Fest Announces List Of Short Films which includes must sees ‘Cop Hard’ and ‘Infernal Nuns’