Fantastic Fest has come across our radar a few times, thanks to other film critics that we know. It is one of the festivals that we would love to attend one day. From witnessing the world premiere of the latest horror movies to participating in interactive pop-ups, Fantastic Fest is to be experienced live. While we were not able to attend this year, the Fandads were lucky enough to cover the fest remotely.
Being that this was our first year covering Fantastic Fest, it was a little hard to get screeners for some of the movies playing. Interviews were another issue because many of them were held during the day, and it was hard to schedule them around my job. Maybe after having one of these events under our belt, we will be able to get access to more movies next time or attend in person.
Here is the list of movies we were able to see and a quick review of them.
Bad Haircut
This is one of the movies I wished I was able to watch with a crowd. From the simple premise to the outlandish characters, this one needs to be seen with an audience. There are a lot of moments that will have you scratching your head and wondering what was going on when this movie was being made. The barber, Mick (Frankie Ray), is one of those characters that will become iconic and will stay with you after the movie ends. Bad Haircut will become a cult classic that will grace midnight screenings for years to come.
The Curse
The Curse explores the dangers of social media and how it can be used against you. The main character, Riko, sees Instagram posts from a friend that has passed a while back. Who is updating her posts and what is that ghostlike figure in the background of the pictures. Director Kenichi Ugana told us in an interview that the idea is “based on a Taiwanese folklore about curses, (sic) the grudges that lurk in social media”. The story also came from a friend of his who was seeing the posts from “the account of a friend who was supposed to be dead and was being updated .” The movie does have a slow burn but when the scares come, be sure to leave the lights on all night. The final 15 seconds of the movie will stay in your head for days.
Dolly
If you were to take the final 20 minutes of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and extend it into a full length movie, you will have Dolly. The movie is full of anxiety inducing moments that will have you fearing the forest, porcelain dolls, and shovels. Dolly is horrifying in concept and makes use of its short runtime. Fabianne Therese shines as Macy, whereas Max the Impaler is menacing as Dolly. The movie does not have many kills but the few that are shown on screen are brutal and gory. Make sure to stay through the credits and pay attention to the song lyrics.
Luger
Luger is a fun heist movie in the same vein as Snatch. The two leads, David Sainz and Mario Mayo, find themselves in one bad situation after another while attempting to get back a stolen car for a client. An antique relic throws them on a retrieval mission that tests their mettle and friendship. The movie is filled with twists and turns that will have you wondering who you can and can not trust.
Fantastic Fest is not only about showcasing movies but also awarding those movies during an awards competition. Here are the winners from this year’s festival.
“MAIN COMPETITION” FEATURES
Jurors: Mercedes Bryce Morgan, Fred Durst, Patton Oswalt
Best Picture: THE PLAGUE, directed by Charlie Polinger
Best Director: Bartosz M. Kowalski – 13 DAYS TILL SUMMER
Special Mention: DECORADO, directed by Alberto Vázquez
“NEXT WAVE” FEATURES
Jurors: Aaron Schimberg, Otessa Moshfegh, Lars Knudsen
Best Picture: CAMP, directed by Avalon Fast
Best Director: Paolo Strippoli – THE HOLY BOY
Special Mention: LUGER, directed by Bruno Martín
“HORROR” FEATURES
Jurors: Jose Cañas, Mònica García Massagué, Brandon Hill
Best Picture: THE VILE, directed by Majid Al Ansari
Best Director: Martín Mauregui – CRAZY OLD LADY
Special Mention: Best Kill – Knife in Bed in THE CURSE, directed by Kenichi Ugan
SHORT FILMS
Jurors: Lisa Ogdie, Shams Mohajerani, Matt Pifko
SHORTS “BEST OF FEST”
WATER SPORTS, directed by Whammy Alcazaren
SHORTS WITH LEGS
Best Picture: WATER SPORTS, directed by Whammy Alcazaren
SHORT FUSE
Best Picture: THE DYSPHORIA, directed by Kylie Aoibheann
FANTASTIC SHORTS
Best Picture: GIANT SKELETON, directed by Austin Birtch
DRAWN AND QUARTERED
Best Picture: A BREATH OF MINDFULNESS, directed by Milly Cohen
Honorable Mention: THE GNAWER OF ROCKS, directed by Louise Flaherty
AUDIENCE AWARD
THE HOLY BOY, directed by Paolo Strippoli
FANTASTIC PITCHES
Jurors: Barbara Crampton, Toby Poser, Tim League, Matt Johnson
PLAY HOUSE director Nicolas Curcio, Producer Kirby Gladstein, Producer Ben Gojer