FrightFest Diary: Day Five and Top 5 Movies
All good things must come to an end, and nowhere else is that more true than the gory glory that is FrightFest.
Three films left and this day is gonna be a real mash......a monster mash.
THE FIELD GUIDE TO EVIL I adore the idea behind this; an anthology incorporating horror based on folklore from around the world. The problem is that with anthologies you are always going to get some weaker segments, and whilst some are very interesting and have some very spooky imagery or well executed technical moments, not to mention the beautifully moody opening title sequence, there are a couple of segments, particularly the American "Melonheads" one, that do not land and will simply turn viewers off. And oh boy did it turn people off, I think there was a steady stream of people walking out the whole way through. It is a shame, because there is some real creativity and skill here. My favourite segment was the second one, featuring a mother alone and helpless against an evil djinn.
Verdict: 2.5/5
FRANKENSTEIN'S CREATURE
Something very different now. This is a film of a one man play, done entirely in a single take that even gives One Cut of the Dead a run for its money, and a continuous monologue derived from the text of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein from the point of view of the mad scientist's famous creation. This was a mesmerising experience, almost lulling you into a trance with it's form of part art film evoking the style of early film techniques, part theatre. It helps that James Swanton is such a captivating performer. You just can't take your eyes off him as he expounds on the creature's realisation of the state of his possible soul through the lens of the lives he takes. This is much closer to Shelley's text than most film adaptations that people will be familiar with, but it's all the better for it as it feels like a much more raw and human interpretation of the text.
Verdict: 4/5
THE GOLEM
Jewish religion and mythology is a well not drawn from enough when it comes to horror. There are countless movies of demons and ghosts that take a Christian or Catholic approach, but not so much Judaism. One of the only real examples that comes to mind is 2012's The Possession, based on the true story of the haunted ebay Dybbuk box. The Golem is an artificial humanoid raised as a means of protection for the Jewish people and controlled through the name of God being written on a piece of paper stored in its mouth. It's a concept that could have a lot of potential, but this movie does not live up to any of that. An isolated Jewish village is threatened and the rebellious Hannah, who is still grieving for her dead son, proposes to create a Golem to repel the aggressors. It goes about as well as you might expect, but it's a little hard to even slightly care about anything that happens or any of the characters. Add to that a pace that drags and whilst not an unpleasant experience it is a tedious one.
Verdict: 1.5/5
FINAL THOUGHTS
It really was a great festival this year, full of laughs, shrieks of joy, more free DVDs than will fit in a promotional tote bag, and over all too soon. But what was the tip top of the class for me? Well while Ghost Mask Scar had masses of personal appeal and Anna and the Apocalypse was entertaining as heck, I think I have to go with:
5. Summer of '84- It is a shame that this will get buried in the deluge of 80s nostalgia horror, because it really is a great watch.
4. The Devil's Doorway- Found footage may be overplayed for some, but this vintage style gave a spooky aesthetic that lingers.
3. The Night Eats the World- A more cerebral zombie movie focusing on isolation and survival.
2. Upgrade- Simple concept, flawlessly executed, what more could you want? Some insanely sick kills? Well it has those too.
1. One Cut of the Dead- Original and made me laugh like no other comedy has for some time, please just watch it.
Until next year, FrightFest, it's been a frightfully good time.
Happy watching.