Fantastic Fest – A Look at the Film, Parties, and Chaos that Await in Austin

The best way to describe how I approach Fantastic Fest is like summer camp. It happens once a year. You get back together with old friends. Yet in this case, this non-traditional camp is for fans of the most bizarre, violent, horrific, and FANTASTIC movies you could imagine. And even still, Fantastic Fest is so much more. This will be more third time attending Fantastic Fest and We Are Movie Geeks fourth time covering the crazy events that take place in Austin every September. For eight days I will be immersed in a world that is unlike any other film festival I have ever attended. What other festival is going to feature events like an opening night food fight, a karaoke party, a “nerd rap throwdown,” and the signature event at the festival – Fantastic Debates (which includes a verbal debate followed by a literal boxing match). These are just a few of the types of things that have me excited to arrive in Austin in a matter of days. Alamo Drafthouse CEO and Fantastic Fest co-founder Tim League and his team have once again assembled a great lineup that include screenings of TUSK, NIGHTCRAWLER, HORNS, THE GUEST, THE BABADOOK, and world premieres of EVERLY (starring Salma Hayek), THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN, THE ABC’S OF DEATH 2, the documentary MY LIFE DIRECTED BY NICOLAS WINDING REFN, and V/H/S-VIRAL. Before I head down to Austin, I wanted to showcase some of the reasons why I’m so excited about the festival and what you can expect from my coverage here on We Are Movie Geeks in the coming weeks.

The Alamo Drafthouse – The Greatest Movie Theater in the Universe

That’s not empty praise. The Alamo Drafthouse started in Austin in 1997 and has since branched out to spread the company’s love of cinema to other cities. For the 10^th Anniversary of the festival, the Drafthouse on South Lamar will be re-opening its doors after being closed for over a year due to upgrades and renovations – last year’s festival was held at a different venue – along with the re-opening of adjoining bar The Highball. Film fans and critics come from all over the world to attend this festival, not just for the lineup but because the atmosphere is integral to the festival. Great food, comfortable seating, and a friendly staff are just some of the perks of the location. But there’s one major fact that makes this place a Mecca for true cinemagoers: A very strict “No Cell-Phone Policy.”

A Dark Night Is Set For The Closing Night Festivities

Jake Gyllenhaal looks to have taken a rather dark turn in the upcoming film NIGHTCRAWLER. And given the fact that Fantastic Fest celebrates such risky and daring material, I can’t think of a better film to close out the film festival. NIGHTCRAWLER ranks high as one of my most anticipated films of the upcoming fall/winter film schedule so I’m extremely excited to get an early look at this film about a freelance crime journalist who scours the dark streets of LA at night. Director Dan Gilroy will also be present at the screening – to add to the long list of directors and stars attending this year (more on that soon). Finally, after the screening, the closing night festivities conclude with a huge blowout that is sure to bring out all of our own dark desires. The “26 Ways To Party” is described as a “closing night party takes its macabre cues from ABCs OF DEATH 2 by running down the alphabet from A to Z, unleashing a massive meltdown of madcap mayhem in Fantastic Fest history.” Ok… now that sounds like a dark and twisted night of fun.

The Top Names Working In Genre Film Will Be There

Let’s just take a moment to list a few names to see if this gets your attention: Edgar Wright (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ), James Gunn (SLITHER, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY), Eli Roth (HOSTEL, THE GREEN INFERNO), Ti West (HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, THE SACRAMENT), Kevin Smith (CLERKS, TUSK), Larry Fessenden (HABIT, THE LAST WINTER), Jen & Sylvia Soska (AMERICAN MARY, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK), Joe Lynch (CHILLERAMA, KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM), and Nicolas Winding Refn (DRIVE, ONLY GOD FORGIVES). These are all but a few of the directors that will be taking part in the festivities this year! Fantastic Fest has pulled out all the stops this year and has included an extremely impressive guest lineup for fans to hear speak before and after films. Who knows, you might even get a chance to share a drink or perform a karaoke duet with one of these names over at The Highball next door – a hangout that houses many of the after hour events if a midnight movie isn’t necessarily your thing.

Docs Aren’t Dead

Some may think that documentaries might not be the best fit for a festival that features films that feature a masked serial killer (THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN), a teen that develops devil horns (HORNS), and Nazi zombies (DEAD SNOW 2: RED VS DEAD), but then again, these films aren’t your typical documentaries. Probably the most awaited documentary of the bunch – maybe even one of the most anticipated films of Fantastic Fest – is ELECTRIC BOOGALO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS. If you grew up going to your local video rental shop every Friday night then there’s a good chance you know of The Cannon Group. More specifically, if you grew up watching violent action films starring Chuck Norris, Charles Bronson, and Dolph Lundgren, then you have seen some of the films featured in this documentary that just received high praise from its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Other documentaries this year include FUTURE SHOCK! THE STORY OF 2000AD (focusing on the underground comic by Grant Morrison and Alan Moore), LOST SOUL -THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (one of the biggest flops of the 90’s is looked at), and MY LIFE DIRECTED BY NICOLAS WINDING REFN (Refn’s wife and filmmaker Liv Corfixen follows her husband while he makes ONLY GOD FORGIVES).

NYMPHOMANIAC: EXTENDED DIRECTOR’S CUT

This film gets its own category because it seems only right for this truly epic film. One of the most controversial films of 2014 and one that divided critics and audiences alike is screening at Fantastic Fest in the way that director Lars Von Trier originally envisioned. Parts I and II – originally released separately earlier this year – are combined into one complete film that includes even more of the good stuff: sex. The EXTENDED DIRECTOR’S CUT is listed with a running time of a whopping 324 minutes! I guess it goes without saying that this is not for those of a more prudish nature. Offensive, graphic, and extreme, are all characteristics of a true Fantastic Fest film.

Lost and Forgotten Classics Are Given Their Due 

Each year a number of repertory screenings are integrated into the lineup of new films. Sometimes these films are overlooked gems, while others might have been long lost and will be screened for the first time in years! This year has a little bit of both. A rare 35mm screening of BUGSY MALONE (1976) will be screened with an accompanying book launch entitled KID POWER! – all about cool, tuff and inspiring kids in cult film and television. To go along with the Cannon films documentary, screenings of DEATH WISH 3 and NINJA III: THE DOMINATION are planned. Last but certainly not least, director Nicolas Winding Refn will be presenting the long lost film THE ASTROLOGER (1975).  This was recently rescued and restored by local non-profit The American Genre Film Archive and is directed by James Glickenhaus (THE EXTERMINATOR). 

Hopefully this gives you an idea of the many reasons why I’m so excited about Fantastic Fest this year. After 10 years of quality programming and entertaining events for fans of horror, sci-fi, fantasty, and exploitation films, Fantastic Fest has proven they are one of the best film festivals in the world. Stay tuned all this week and next week for We Are Movie Geek’s coverage of the fest. You can also follow my thoughts and exploits on Twitter @MPHaffner and through the hashtag #FFX. Get ready Austin… I’m coming for you!

For more info visit fantasticfest.com