Blind Alley

Oh I fancy this one. Woman trapped in a laundrette by a psycho. Spanish language from the writer of The Devils Backbone (which is a better Spanish Civil War film than it was a ghost story in my opinion which is a recommendation). Keeping my erogenous zones prepped for this one.

Happy Horor Half Way

As we're halfway through the year I thought I'd reflect on my favourite genre releases so far, a list that will no doubt change under the influence of this years Frightfest line-up.

KIDNAPPED - harrowing, grim and technical brilliance.

TROLL HUNTER - found footage gem.

TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL - hilarious horror cliche reversal

DRIVE ANGRY - super hot American exploration vehicle.

I SAW THE DEVIL - no one does revenge quite like Korea.

RUBBER - bonkers and brilliant.

VICTIMS - director Bryant is set to be big.

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN - hilarious and ludicrous.

SUPER - kicked KICK-ASS ass. Like a Troma flick from a good director.

INSIDIOUS - unexpected fun rather than scary.

CHECKPOINT aka TERRITORIES - French production in English bleak and real.

MONSTERS - it slipped put on limited release on Boxing Day '10 but this is simply the best genre film of the year for me!

SUCKERPUNCH - not sexy? Idiots. Fantastic CGI with hotties in underwear.

PHASE 7 - brilliant and darkly humourless end of the world tale with a storming John Carpenter style soundtrack.

Looking at that and with still many more to come I think my year end list could breach 20 films or more!

Frightfest 2011 films announced

So here we go here are the 2011 Film 4 Frightfest films for the August Event:


PROGRAMME – SCREEN 1

THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2011
18:30 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (UK Premiere)
100 mins Director Troy Nixey Australia 2011

21:15 FINAL DESTINATION 5 3D (UK Premiere)
95 mins Director: Steven Quale USA 2011

23:30 THE THEATRE BIZARRE (European Premiere)
108 mins Directors: Richard Stanley, Tom Savini, Douglas Buck, Karim Hussain, Buddy Giovinazzo, Jeremy Kasten, David Gregory USA/France 2011

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST 2011
10:40 ROGUE RIVER (UK Premiere)
90 mins Director: Jourdan McClure USA 2010

12:45 THE HOLDING (World Premiere)
90 mins Director: Susan Jacobson UK 2011

15:05 The Total Film Interview: Larry Fessenden in conversation with Jamie Graham

Plus - American Horror: A Panel Discussion
90 mins

17:00 URBAN EXPLORERS (UK Premiere)
88 mins Director: Andy Fetscher Germany 2011

19:05 THE GLASS MAN (World Premiere)
120 mins Director: Cristian Solimeno UK 2011

21:55 TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL (London Preview)
86 mins Director: Eli Craig USA 2010

23:55 VILE (World Premiere)
88 mins Director: Taylor Sheridan USA 2011

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST 2011
11:00 TROLL HUNTER (Preview)
99 mins Director: Andre Ovredal Norway 2010

13:15 THE WICKER TREE (European Premiere)
90 mins Director: Robin Hardy UK 2011

15:35 PANIC BUTTON (World Premiere)
95 mins Director: Chris Crow UK 2011

18:00 FRIGHT NIGHT 3D (Preview)
120 mins Director: Chris Gillespie USA 2011

21:00 THE WOMAN (UK Premiere)
100 mins Director: Lucky McKee USA 2011

23:30 CHILLERAMA (European Premiere)
115 mins Directors: Adam Rifkin, Tim Sullivan, Adam Green, Joe Lynch USA 2011

SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2011
10:30 THE DIVIDE (Preview)
110 mins Director: Xavier Gens USA 2011

13:00 THE HORROR CHANNEL PRESENTS THE SHORT FILM SHOWCASE

+ ANDY NYMAN’S QUIZ FROM HELL 2

16:00 THE INNKEEPERS (UK Premiere)
102 mins Director: Ti West USA 2011

18:35 SAINT (UK Premiere)
85 mins Director: Dick Maas The Netherlands - 2010

20:50 KILL LIST (UK Premiere) – SPONSORED BY TOTAL FILM
90 mins Director: Ben Wheatley UK 2011

23:30 DETENTION (UK Premiere)
93 mins Director: Joseph Kahn USA 2011

MONDAY 29 AUGUST 2011
10:45 GUINEA PIGS (World Premiere)
90 mins Director: Ian Clark UK 2011

13:10 DEADHEADS (UK Premiere)
90 mins Directors: Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce USA 2011

15:30 SENNENTUNTSCHI: CURSE OF THE ALPS (UK Premiere)
110 mins Director: Michael Steiner Switzerland 2010

18:30 INBRED (World Premiere)
95 mins Director: Alex Chandon UK 2011

21:00 A LONELY PLACE TO DIE (UK Premiere)
98 mins Director: Julian Gilbey UK 2011



PROGRAMME – DISCOVERY SCREEN

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST 2011
10:35 THE MAN WHO SAW FRANKENSTEIN CRY (UK Premiere)
75 mins Director: Angel Agudo Spain 2010

12:30 A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE (Preview)
95 mins Director: Adam Wingard USA 2010

15:00 MIDNIGHT SON (UK premiere)
95 mins Director: Scott Leberecht USA 2011

17:15 RABIES (Preview)
90 mins Directors: Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado Israel 2010

19:30 BLOOD RUNS COLD (UK Premiere)
80 mins Director: Sonny Laguna Sweden 2011

21:30 KIDNAPPED (London Preview)
85 mins Director: Miguel Angel Vivas Spain 2011

23:30 STORMHOUSE (London Preview)
88 mins Director: Dan Turner UK 2011

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST 2011
10:30 THE DEAD (Special Event)
90 mins Directors: Howard J. Ford & Jon Ford UK 2010

13:00 ATROCIOUS (UK Premiere)
75 mins Director: Fernando Barreda Luna Spain 2010

15:30 MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE (European Premiere)
80 mins Director: Emily Hagins USA 2011

18:00 THE CALLER (London Preview)
88 mins Director: Matthew Parkhill USA 2011

21:05 THE DEVIL’S BUSINESS (World Premiere)
75 mins Director: Sean Hogan UK 2011

23:00 A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE

SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2011
11:15 KIDNAPPED

13:15 RABIES

16:15 BLOOD RUNS COLD

18:45 MIDNIGHT SON
PROGRAMME – SCREEN 1

THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2011
18:30 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (UK Premiere)
100 mins Director Troy Nixey Australia 2011

21:15 FINAL DESTINATION 5 3D (UK Premiere)
95 mins Director: Steven Quale USA 2011

23:30 THE THEATRE BIZARRE (European Premiere)
108 mins Directors: Richard Stanley, Tom Savini, Douglas Buck, Karim Hussain, Buddy Giovinazzo, Jeremy Kasten, David Gregory USA/France 2011

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST 2011
10:40 ROGUE RIVER (UK Premiere)
90 mins Director: Jourdan McClure USA 2010

12:45 THE HOLDING (World Premiere)
90 mins Director: Susan Jacobson UK 2011

15:05 The Total Film Interview: Larry Fessenden in conversation with Jamie Graham

Plus - American Horror: A Panel Discussion
90 mins

17:00 URBAN EXPLORERS (UK Premiere)
88 mins Director: Andy Fetscher Germany 2011

19:05 THE GLASS MAN (World Premiere)
120 mins Director: Cristian Solimeno UK 2011

21:55 TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL (London Preview)
86 mins Director: Eli Craig USA 2010

23:55 VILE (World Premiere)
88 mins Director: Taylor Sheridan USA 2011

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST 2011
11:00 TROLL HUNTER (Preview)
99 mins Director: Andre Ovredal Norway 2010

13:15 THE WICKER TREE (European Premiere)
90 mins Director: Robin Hardy UK 2011

15:35 PANIC BUTTON (World Premiere)
95 mins Director: Chris Crow UK 2011

18:00 FRIGHT NIGHT 3D (Preview)
120 mins Director: Chris Gillespie USA 2011

21:00 THE WOMAN (UK Premiere)
100 mins Director: Lucky McKee USA 2011

23:30 CHILLERAMA (European Premiere)
115 mins Directors: Adam Rifkin, Tim Sullivan, Adam Green, Joe Lynch USA 2011

SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2011
10:30 THE DIVIDE (Preview)
110 mins Director: Xavier Gens USA 2011

13:00 THE HORROR CHANNEL PRESENTS THE SHORT FILM SHOWCASE

+ ANDY NYMAN’S QUIZ FROM HELL 2

16:00 THE INNKEEPERS (UK Premiere)
102 mins Director: Ti West USA 2011

18:35 SAINT (UK Premiere)
85 mins Director: Dick Maas The Netherlands - 2010

20:50 KILL LIST (UK Premiere) – SPONSORED BY TOTAL FILM
90 mins Director: Ben Wheatley UK 2011

23:30 DETENTION (UK Premiere)
93 mins Director: Joseph Kahn USA 2011

MONDAY 29 AUGUST 2011
10:45 GUINEA PIGS (World Premiere)
90 mins Director: Ian Clark UK 2011

13:10 DEADHEADS (UK Premiere)
90 mins Directors: Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce USA 2011

15:30 SENNENTUNTSCHI: CURSE OF THE ALPS (UK Premiere)
110 mins Director: Michael Steiner Switzerland 2010

18:30 INBRED (World Premiere)
95 mins Director: Alex Chandon UK 2011

21:00 A LONELY PLACE TO DIE (UK Premiere)
98 mins Director: Julian Gilbey UK 2011



PROGRAMME – DISCOVERY SCREEN

FRIDAY 26 AUGUST 2011
10:35 THE MAN WHO SAW FRANKENSTEIN CRY (UK Premiere)
75 mins Director: Angel Agudo Spain 2010

12:30 A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE (Preview)
95 mins Director: Adam Wingard USA 2010

15:00 MIDNIGHT SON (UK premiere)
95 mins Director: Scott Leberecht USA 2011

17:15 RABIES (Preview)
90 mins Directors: Aharon Keshales, Navot Papushado Israel 2010

19:30 BLOOD RUNS COLD (UK Premiere)
80 mins Director: Sonny Laguna Sweden 2011

21:30 KIDNAPPED (London Preview)
85 mins Director: Miguel Angel Vivas Spain 2011

23:30 STORMHOUSE (London Preview)
88 mins Director: Dan Turner UK 2011

SATURDAY 27 AUGUST 2011
10:30 THE DEAD (Special Event)
90 mins Directors: Howard J. Ford & Jon Ford UK 2010

13:00 ATROCIOUS (UK Premiere)
75 mins Director: Fernando Barreda Luna Spain 2010

15:30 MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE (European Premiere)
80 mins Director: Emily Hagins USA 2011

18:00 THE CALLER (London Preview)
88 mins Director: Matthew Parkhill USA 2011

21:05 THE DEVIL’S BUSINESS (World Premiere)
75 mins Director: Sean Hogan UK 2011

23:00 A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE

SUNDAY 28 AUGUST 2011
11:15 KIDNAPPED

13:15 RABIES

16:15 BLOOD RUNS COLD

18:45 MIDNIGHT SON

21:15 THE MAN WHO SAW FRANKENSTEIN CRY

MONDAY 29 AUGUST 2011
11:00 THE CALLER

13:00 THE DEVIL’S BUSINESS

15:45 ATROCIOUS

18:35 MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE
21:15 THE MAN WHO SAW FRANKENSTEIN CRY

MONDAY 29 AUGUST 2011
11:00 THE CALLER

13:00 THE DEVIL’S BUSINESS

15:45 ATROCIOUS

18:35 MY SUCKY TEEN ROMANCE

An amendment has been made to the line-up. Guinea Pogs will not be completed in time for the festival and will be replaced by another VeryigobFos production A NIGHT IN THE WOODS.

Troll Hunter

So it's one of those fake documentry movies but the schtick this time is a crew in pursuit of the truth behind a series of bear attacks on the Norwegian border with Russia. They smell a goverent conspiracy and uncover the secret work of, well the titles a spoiler already, a troll hunter and begin to film him as he educated them on the various breeds of troll witnessing some of the facinafing beasts along the way.

It's the found footage film of the year! So goes the hype but does TROLL HUNTER live up to it's reputation? Oh yes. Happy Horror Hard On is very happy indeed at this Norfic mash-up of THE BLAIR WITCH HUNT (obligatory mention) and Scandanavian folklore. If you do not like "found footage" flicks then you're all ready lost to the cause but if you do you'll find a gem in this film. It maybe could do with a little trimming of the fat in some places just to zip along faster but the troll effects are great and a lot of fun.

Already touted for a remake by Chris Colombus for people who don't read subtitles too well it's a full on hairy troll hard on for TROLL HUNTER.

Shadow

Set along a mountain cycling path, called The Shadow, this Italian lenses horror features badly dubbed Brit psychopath stalking a soon to return to Afghanistan soldier an the attractive female he meets along the way before all of them, good bad or indifferent stumble into the lair of the cover character and everything goes a bit HOSTEL/SAW.

Despite the backing of Film 4 Frightfest to release SHADOW in the UK spurned along by their positive reviews the movie itself is actually quite derivative and dull. There was definitely hints at the possibilities of a technicolour overload and screaming rock score that graced many Italian films of the past but, if you will excuse the pun, this is a pale shadow of those visual and auditory nightmares SUSPIRIA and INFERNO. The lacklustre "torture porn" or "backwoods survival" element of the story hampers the movie form being the twisted tale that lead villain Mortis should inhabit. And THAT ending, let's just say I've had enough of that ending sometime ago it's not big or clever anymore and has been done better before.

Floppy.

Hatchet II

Back to the swamp time as the legend of Victor Crowley further expands in Adam Greens second splatterfest HATCHET II. Lead Marybeth is recast with HALLOWEEN starlet Danielle Harris and the cast is plumped out with Tony Todd taking onore than a cameo in fact his character has ulterior motives behind entering the backwoods to Marybeth avenge her family against the belt sander wielding swamp ghost.

You know I want to love this and i want to love the original but I just don't. I find both films pretty sub-par in terms of script, acting, production and general horrorishness. Now Adam Green has made two superb films with SPIRAL and my favourite horror film of 2010 FROZEN and though I get what HATCHET is about I'm just not into it. I thought it might be an age thing but I like the new NIGHT OF THE DEMONS and all it's over the top silliness so maybe it's not that at all.

Floppy for HATCHET II even though it does star the gorgeous Danielle Harris.

Frightfest 2011

July 1st is a big day for me because I'm going to find out all of the films playing at this years Film 4 Frightfest in that there London. So my little perverted horror fueled mind is already pondering what delightful, demented and probably down tight awful treats we'll see this year.

DETENTION

THE INNKEEPERS

SLEEP TIGHT

THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 2 has been refused a UK certificate but could this be appealed in time for Frightfest?

RABIES

PHASE 7

STORMHOUSE

SECTOR 7

MIDNIGHT SON

LIVID

18

THE GLASS MAN (Andy Nyman's in it this must be as close to a sure thing as you get)

INBRED

KILL LIST

HAEBUS CORPUS

KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM

THE TALL MAN

OUTPOST 2

Already confirmed are DON't BE AFRAID OF THE DARK and A LONELY PLACE TO DIE as well as the brilliant TROLLHUNTER though this one had played out at a number of festivals and select performances already. Rumours have it that this is a British horror year which counts out a vast amount of my predictions.


I assume the annoying Discovery Screen will return, why not include some of these films in the main programme if they're that good? I don't like the idea that i miss out on films that I would likely want to see.