By Adam Ruhl
Borgman
This is a new Dutch release that has been picked up by
Drafthouse Films. It’s a mystery story that really held my attention and I
could really get into the characters. The plot follows a homeless man who
invites himself into a family’s home for a shower and decides to stay, slowly
growing more involved with their lives. The key to this film is its dark; its
like an evil ‘What About Bob’ meets ‘Pacific Heights’ and a little ‘Rosemary’s
Baby’ thrown in. The film has a lot of intrigue and each twist just pulls you
further along in the mystery of who Borgman is and what he wants.
Hentai Kemen: Forbidden Super Hero
When I reviewed Greatful Dead yesterday I noted it was the
festival ‘over-the-top’ entry from Japan and today I realized I completely
overlooked this Hentai Kamen. In my defense, I was tired and Hentai is sexual
and violent in a completely different way from Dead. Hentai Kamen is actually
very similar to the Spiderman movies, the principal difference being that
instead of being powered by a radioactive spider, Hentai Kamen is power by
continuously sniffing used panties. I think that indicates what kind of parody
this this film is and it is a parody right down to the spoofing Marvel Studios
logo at the opening. It is immensely over the top juvenile gags that will
appeal to the fans of movies like Robogeisha (which in the interest of
disclosure I am one).
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
The latest offering from Writer-Director Stephen Chow is a
fascinating piece of Chinese mythology. It follows a demon hunter as he hunts a
powerful pig demon through ancient China. The film has a lot of great special
effects in the form of the demons; they appear as giant animals with impressive
design and execution. Chow who’s also known for Sholin Soccer and Kung Fu
Hustle brings his famous brand of cartoony humor. All in all it’s a great
journey and worth seeing if you get the opportunity.
Afflicted
The ‘found footage’ horror film is a genre I feel is just
about played out. We’ve seen people running away from monsters, witches,
aliens, all type of creatures while making an excuse for still holding the
camera. Afflicted follows a lot of the formula conventions pretty closely, but
it does have an element that makes it stand out. That comes in the form of the
Writer, Directors, and stars Clif Prowse and Derek Lee. They’ve written and
performed fictionalized versions of themselves and their natural and real
friendship makes the characters much more believable on the screen. That
dynamic goes a long way in selling the ‘found footage’ aspect of this movie
where other films often fall flat.
Chanthaly
Chan has a heart condition that leaves her in fragile health
and her controlling father keeps her a shut in. She begins to have visions of
her mother who supposedly died of the same heart condition and its clear she’s
trying to send a message. The film has a good atmosphere and great use of
natural sound. It’s a ghost story so there is a very slow build of the plot and
a lot of tension building. Chanthaly also has the distinction of being the
first feature directed by a woman (Mattie Do) in its native country of Laos and
the first horror film for the nation.
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