Though it saddens to me say, Fantastic Fest 2014 has come to a close. Another year of movies and mayhem has ended and somehow the newly renovated Alamo Drafthouse is still standing – even if the crowds partied hard enough every night to make me expect the worse. Fantastic Fest has always shown the best genre films from around the world and this year was certainly no different. In fact, this year’s lineup featured an extraordinary array of bloody slashers, dark comedies, bizarre love stories, and crazy documentaries. Here’s my Top 10 Favorites From Fantastic Fest 2014!
Honorable Mentions:
THE TRIBE
The idea of a film without any dialogue or even a film score can be a tough sell for even a seasoned filmgoer like myself. So it really says something (no pun intended) that THE TRIBE soars as a unique storytelling experience that showcases pure and raw emotions. The film follows a new student at a school for the hearing impaired. It doesn’t take long for him to slip into the wrong crowd, but it’s all the more heartbreaking as we see him descend even deeper into the school’s criminal world of drugs, prostitution, and violence. There’s an explanation at the beginning of the film that some might see as a warning that states: “There are no subtitles. There is no translation.” We do hear the natural sounds of the environment and of the characters actions, which are used to excruciating effect during two extremely disturbing scenes that made most of the audience I saw this with very squeamish. While the coldness and bleak nature of the film made the film somewhat laborious, I find it hard to not at least recommend this based purely on the fact that I’m not sure I will ever see and not hear a film this shocking and raw feeling ever again.
ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS
This is the third documentary that Mark Hartley has made chronicling the underbelly of cinema. Following in the footsteps of NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: THE WILD, UNTOLD STORY OF OZPLOITATION! and MACHETE MAIDENS UNLEASHED, ELECTRIC BOOGALOO is a film that has so much to love if you’re a fan of film history. Keep in mind, the films that are chronicled here are far from the classics often discussed in film history. Cannon films are responsible for such sleazy B-movie VHS-era “classics” like MASTERs OF THE UNIVERSE, BREAKIN’, DEATH WISH III, and MISSING IN ACTION. Several writers, directors, and actors from this period recount the crazy experience of working for Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus. Sadly some of the big name stars from these films are missing (including Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone), but if you grew up during the VHS-era, there is no reason for you to miss this insightful and often humorous account of one of cinema’s craziest companies. Plus, who doesn’t love to re-watch ridiculous scenes from NINJA III: THE DOMINATION.
10. TOKYO TRIBE
A Japanese, hip-hop, musical. That is all you need to know to figure out if this film is for you or not. TOKYO TRIBE’s neon world of rival gangs is intentionally over the top and excessively garish to the point that I found myself laughing more at the set-design and costumes than the so-bad-it’s-good rap lyrics. Destined to be a cult classic, TOKYO TRIBE is without question a Shion Sono film (director of SUICIDE CLUB and STRANGE CIRCUS). One could make a case that the film is a satire of Western excess, sexism, and pop culture, but even ignoring the social message at work, it’s hard not to admire the crazy amount of energy this film is bursting at the seams with. TOKYO TRIBE feels like a film from another planet from a director who is constantly pushing the audience into new and unseen territory.
9. CUB
Typically killing kids on screen is a film taboo – though there have been a few exceptions over the years. Belgian director Jonas Govaerts doesn’t let this unspoken rule stand in the way of his feature film debut CUB. Part slasher film, part survival horror, and part coming of age drama, CUB perfectly balances themes of youthful abandon and isolation with a healthy amount of gory horror. A mysterious werewolf/boy creature that is given the name “Kai” haunts the woods as two troop leaders and their cook lead a group of scouts on camping trip. Some might feel that the film is maybe too mean-spirited given the dark nature of the story, but I enjoyed the uneasy feeling, the talented young cast, and the unpredictable story that delivered a real gut-punch of an ending.
8. DEAD SNOW 2: RED VS DEAD
The title says it all. A bigger budgeted sequel that picks up moments after where the first Nazi zombie outing left audiences, DEAD SNOW 2 is a bloodier, crazier, and more exciting sequel that fans will no doubt love – even critics of the first one might find it hard not to love this follow-up. Tommy Wirkola returns to the directing chair. Between his knack for visual gags and a talented cast that includes the surviving star from the first film Veagr Hoal and newcomer Martin Starr as a geeky Zombie Squad, the humor is almost as non-stop as the gore. This is one of the best horror comedies to be released in recent years and is a must-see for zombie film fans!
7. JOHN WICK
JOHN WICK has enough John Woo visuals to engage action die-hards but with a distinct European sensibility for those looking for more than just rampant bloodshed. Shoot-em-ups can be found each year almost as often as dead bodies pile-up in this film – which the director confirmed in the Q&A was in fact 84. However, it’s not too often that you find one so carefully and meticulously constructed as JOHN WICK. The level of world-building on display is commendable. Neon clubs, exotic bathhouses, and an elite hotel that houses the most feared men and women in this underground crime world, all give JOHN WICK the feel of a giant and exciting game board for Keanu Reeves to enact his revenge. WICK soars at being both a perfect example of how to construct an exciting action film as well as being a fine example of how style over substance isn’t always a bad thing.
6. NIGHTCRAWLER
NIGHTCRAWLER reveals a world where everyone is either the hunter or the prey. It shows us that we are all animals at heart looking to not just better ourselves, but will ultimately do anything to get ahead of the pack. Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo play the two main hunters in the film. With a shit-eating grin, greasy hair, and bulging eyes that showcase the character’s eagerness for fame and fortune, Gyllenhaal feels like the car accidents his character goes to examine – he’s a complete wreck but you don’t want to look away. It’s a role that demands attention and Gyllenhaal gives it his all. Russo is in top form as well playing a news producer trying to maintain high ratings. Russo plays the part with intimidating gravitas. Her scenes where she plays opposite Gyllenhaal ignite the screen with even more sparks and fire than some of the on-screen car crashes towards the later half of the film. If the first hour or so shows how well Dan Gilroy can handle dialogue, it’s the last 30 minutes that shows how confident he is in the directing seat. Intense, nail biting, and shocking, NIGHTCRAWLER delivers an explosive finale that will leave you shaken.
5. IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE
Hans Petter Moland’s Norwegian crime drama is the second film on this list to focus on a man’s revenge fueled killing spree. Stellan Skarsgard might not seem like competition for Keanu Reeves or even Liam Neeson or Charles Branson for that matter, but IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE is a biting crime caper that racks up as many laughs as it does dead bodies. Skarsgard delivers one of his strongest performances in a film that has a unique Norwegian flare while still appealing to the Hollywood crowd who enjoy Coen Bros-esque gallows humor. Don’t be surprised to see this become a hit at your local arthouse theater when it will no doubt get released next year.
4. GOODNIGHT MOMMY
If there were ever a film to come out this year that made those of us without kids to continue to stay that way, it would be GOODNIGHT MOMMY. The film’s original German title ICH SEH, ICH SEH, may not be as creepy sounding as the new English title, but might be more accurate given the film is centered around twin identical boys. As their mother attempts to recover from facial plastic surgery, the dynamic duo struggles to accept the changes in their mother. I will just leave it at, that but believe me when I say this is a very disturbing film in more ways than one. The ultra modern home that’s isolated deep in the Austrian countryside already gives the film an uneasy feeling of unpredictability, but as the relationship between the mother and her boys is put to the test, the tension becomes almost unbearable. GOODNIGHT MOMMY is an endurance test that leaves a lasting impression… especially on this viewer who definitely won’t want kids anytime soon.
3. THE BABADOOK
On the surface, THE BABADOOK is about a mysterious children’s book character that come to life to haunt a mother and her child. It may sound like a straightforward idea but it is writer and director Jennifer Kent’s handling of the material that makes this film so memorable. THE BABADOOK may be the scariest horror film of the year, but at the same time it is so much more. Beneath the slow-building dread lies a classic tale of a woman coming to terms with her own demons. Depression, regret, and life as a single mother are all examined in a thoughtful manner that elevates the film to a Polanski level of horror. Between the cold, almost black and white photography, and slow building dread, THE BABADOOK feels like a classic tale of psychological horror. Jennifer Kent brings out a strong performance from the talented Essie Davis, but it’s her approach to real life anxieties and everyday horror that makes THE BABADOOK a must-see for non-horror fans and horror fans alike.
2. FELT
FELT is a compelling and deeply tragic look at an artist that refuses to turn away from the problems she sees in the world. Amy (Amy Everson) is an artist living in California who weaves a world of dark satire through her knitted creations. A haunting and melodic score by the band Deaf Center sets the tone of the film perfectly. Your reaction to the film and its effect on you will ultimately depend on your willingness to accept the underlying issues that are at the heart of director Jason Banker and co-writer Amy Everson’s story – male dominance and its psychological effects on women. Banker employs a mix of documentary and story to form a film that blurs the line between reality and fiction. FELT has a statement to make but not one that takes away from its thoughtful and impressive storytelling.
1. SPRING
What makes SPRING such a treat to discover is the way in which the story is presented. Evan has been through a lot of recent hardships – losing his mom and his job in the same week – and the idea of a new life, or at least an escape from his old one, comes in the form of an aimless journey through Italy. An air of mystery sets in once Evan arrives in Italy and meets a mysterious young woman. Directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead are careful about revealing what exactly is going on as the audience is left speculating at what’s around the corner. Benson’s genuine love for the characters is evident through the poignant dialogue and is perfectly brought to life through two wonderful leads in Lou Taylor Pucci and Nadia Hilker. A heartbreaking vulnerability is conveyed in their performances – a style that is equally as rare to see in the horror genre. More patient genre fans will appreciate some shocking and surreal make-up and effects work that is showcased in the second half. At a festival like Fantastic Fest, a film like SPRING stands out as a refreshing approach to a character driven horror story with elements of dark fantasy.
There were so many great films that were shown at this year’s Fest that it was very hard to narrow it down. Fantastic Fest 2014 was an absolute blast and I look forward to returning next year!
