By Stuart Barr
This Thursday, the 12th edition of London’s FrightFest film festival begins. Rising from humble beginnings in the Prince Charles Cinema off Leicester Square, FrightFest has grown into a five-day behemoth marathon of fear occupying two screens at the luxurious Empire (including the vast screen 1). 2011’s line-up looks to present a vintage crop. One of the pleasures of attending the full five days is the sense of getting a snapshot of where the horror and dark fantasy genre’s head is at; this year’s programme mixes everything from 3D Hollywood spectaculars to art-house horror and low budget grindhouse gore.
As ever at FrightFest, the festival shows it’s Union Jack colours with a strong representation of British films, but this years theme seems to be American Nightmares, as the festival welcomes cult US director/actor/producer Larry Fessenden and will be hosting a debate on US horror with Fessenden joined by directors Ti West, Lucky McKee, Adam Green, Joe Lynch and Andrew van den Houten.
So without ado, I’m going to present my personal pick of films to look out for at the festival. Inevitably I will probably miss the breakout hit but here goes:
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK
The opening film this year sounds like a corker. Genre superstar director Guillermo Del Toro scripted and produced but has passed directors chair duties to first time feature director Troy Nixey. This supernatural chiller starring Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes promises to be a roller coaster chill fest kicking of proceedings in fine fashion.
THE THEATRE BIZARRE
A six-part anthology film, this features behind the camera contributions from FX legend Tom Savini and COMBAT SHOCK director Buddy Giovinazzo. Anthology films can be tricky to pull off, but have the advantage that if one part fails to grab you by the goolies, another will be along in ten minutes. However there is one particular reason I have picked this film… Richard Fucking Stanley is back in the director’s chair. The long absent, ever so slightly twisted visionary behind HARDWARE and DUST DEVIL, Stanley has been in the wilderness for far too long.
A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE
Playing on the smaller second screen (lovingly referred to by FrightFesters as the disco screen) this is an intense road movie in which a recovering alcoholic discovers her ex-boyfriend is a serial killer. Not quite the torture porn opus the title suggests, this is an indie horror with a kitchen sink edge. Another film that comes trailing strong festival buzz from the US circuit.
THE HOLDING
It’s great to see female directors in any film festival, let alone a horror/fantasy fest, so I’m instantly interested in this Peak District set thriller which also features a great cast including the terrific Kierston Wareing and Vincent Regan.
RABIES
An Israeli slasher film? I did have to double-check it wasn’t called RABBIS (expect to hear this joke more than once at the festival). However jocularity aside, RABIES made a strong impression at the Edinburgh Film Festival, and it’s always exciting to see a genre piece from a fresh territory.
THE GLASS MAN
This film appears to be a timely example of a recession themed horror film. A middle-class man with money woes is given an offer he can’t refuse. Refuse it, you idiot, you’re in a horror film! Starring FrightFest superstar Andy Nyman fresh(ish) from his phenomenal theatreland success with the play GHOST STORIES.
TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL
It’s about fucking time! We’ve been waiting to see this for ages. Tucker & Dale flips the redneck psycho genre convention on its head as hillbillies Tucker and Dale have an unfortunate encounter with some spoilt rich kids. Gore and laughs in equal measure, Tucker & Dale is not just probably the funniest film at FrightFest, it’s one of the funniest films of the year. Period.
THE WICKER TREE
Robin Hardy’s sequel to his classic film THE WICKER MAN (no, not the Nicolas Cage one) is either going to be amazing or disastrous, and at this point I have no idea which. Christopher Lee also returns.
FRIGHT NIGHT 3D
Now bear with me here, I know you hate remakes as much as I do but this one shows some signs of a certain pedigree. Director Craig Gillespie has an unusual CV that includes LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, writer Marti Noxon has TV credits ranging from BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER to MAD MEN, and a cast that includes Colin Farrell in the vampire role, Anton Yelchin, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Toni Collette and David Tennant. Okay it’s in 3D, but I’m quietly optimistic despite negagtive reviews Stateside.
MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE
I just love the title.
THE WOMAN
From Lucky McKee, an interesting director he foregrounds feminist themes in his films, and author Jack Ketchum, THE WOMAN could be FrightFest 2011’s most controversial film. A respectable family man discovers a feral woman in the woods and locks her in his cellar in an attempt to “save” her. Some Sundance viewers were outraged, indeed one irate man was immortalised on YouTube calling for the print to be burnt after being ejected from a Q&A. That’s unlikely to happen at FrightFest.
KILL LIST
The follow up to the acclaimed thriller DOWN TERRACE promises to be a hit man film with a difference. Director Ben Wheatley’s film has been gathering astonishing buzz on the festival circuit and looks like it could be the watercooler film of the festival.
A LONELY PLACE TO DIE
The festival closes with this British thriller with an instantly arresting concept. A group of climbers stumble over a pipe sticking out of the ground in a remote Scottish Glen. They then hear the cries of a child buried alive underneath. Who could have put her there, and how will they feel about the climber’s attempts to rescue her? A LONELY PLACE TO DIE stars Melissa George (TRIANGLE, 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, WAZ) and the fantastic British actor Sean Harris (24HOURPARTYPEOPLE and HARRY BROWN).