Nightstream a collaborative virtual genre film festival that brings together such heavy hitters as Boston Underground, Brooklyn Horror, North Bend, Overlook, and Popcorn Frights hits the Web THIS THURSDAY and of course Cinapse will be front and center covering! With over 40 features listed choosing what to watch could be a bit overwhelming, but fret not loyal readers we got you! Here’s the most anticipated from the writers covering the fest.
Dan Tabor:
THE QUEEN OF BLACK MAGIC
Another Indonesian horror remake brought to you by some of the same folks behind the fantastically brutal Satan’s Slaves. This looks to be more of the same and for that fact alone, I can’t wait to check this out.
The film is the story of three men who return to the orphanage where they were raised with their families in tow, to pay their respects to the dying caretaker who was like a father to them. During their visit they uncover a shocking secret that involves a female caretaker, who was believed to have been practicing black magic.
MAY THE DEVIL TAKE YOU TOO
The thing I love the most about Indonesian is how they localize horror tropes we’ve come to expect in these films, with their own religious and social sensibilities.
Directed by Timo Tjahjantohe (The Night Comes for Us), the sequel to May the Devil take You, feels thematically like it would make a great double bill with The Queen of Black Magic. The film also features orphans, this time teenage orphans, who unleash the demonic spirit of their former caretaker.
ANYTHING FOR JACKSON
I lived through the Satanic Panic of the 80s and still remember the whispers of cults and sacrifices that happened in my own area. So honestly, whenever I read any synopsis involving Satanists I am almost definitely checking it out. This film looks to explore the story of a pair of Devil worshippers who look to resurrect their departed grandson, which never goes wrong in the movies, does it?
CLIMATE OF THE HUNTER
The trailer for this gave me a very Duke Mitchell (Gone with the Pope) vibe and because of that, along with the synopsis below, I REALLY need to see this.
A tale of two sisters whose love-hate relationship is stirred up when they reunite with a childhood friend who they suspect may or may not be a vampire.
Along with the ones I am looking forward too, here’s a few I’ve already reviewed that are definitely worth checking out:
JUMBO
Probably my #2 of the year, I caught it at Chattooga Film Fest and fell in love with this otherworldly story of a woman and her beloved Tilt-A-Whirl. Here’s my Review.
DETENTION
Detention is a supercharged political supernatural thriller and was easily one of my favorite films at Fantasia. Detention is reminiscent of an old school dark ride as you’re slowly pulled through the narrative the scares and stakes are raised higher and higher till the tragedy is finally laid bare. Just be warned this one manages to hit particularly hard. Here’s my Review.
DEF BY TEMPTATION
Def By Temptation is a hidden gem of 90s horror that’s the story of a succubus preying on lecherous African American men in New York City, and the only man who can stop her. I reviewed the Vinegar Syndrome disc and it blew my mind. Here’s my Review.
LEAP OF FAITH
Caught this great doc at Sundance. Docs aren’t usually that interesting when from a singular point of view, but that’s not the case when you’re William Friedkin. The film is an engrossing portrait of the director and his horror masterpiece The Exorcist. He discusses not only his take on the film, but it’s inception and its legacy. Here’s my Review.
Jay Tyler:
When looking over the films that I wanted to cover for this festival, I focused on trying to have a diversity of tastes in horror, though I found myself leaning towards films with more of a dark comedic edge. Below are the top four that I’m really looking forward to, based purely on their pitch.
ANYTHING FOR JACKON
A Canadian picture that covers a pair of satanists who resurrect their son to harrowing effect. I’m always fascinated by Satanic Panic movies, as they often depict something about the filmmakers conception of evil, both on a personal and cosmic level. A movie that covers the lengths that parents will go to to protect their children also spoke to me, as a relatively new father.
BLOODY HELL
This is an Australian movie, and mostly spoke to me as an interesting genre experiment. A crime thriller that hints at something a bit more supernatural happening beneath the surface. The title suggests most demonic potential, so definitely want to see what’s going on there.
DINNER IN AMERICA
I am mostly picking this one up because it surprised me to see it on the slate. A black comedic rom-com about an asronist punk rocker and his biggest fan on a roadtrip doesn’t scream “horror” to me, so I was curious to see the perspective it came from. Plus the premise sounded like vanguard indie cinema of the mid-90s, a genre and time that I personally really appreciate.
SURVIVAL SKILLS
Probably my most anticipated movie of the festival, as it promises an interesting (and timely) premise: a police training video from the 1980s that devolves into an exploration of the violent nature of police culture in America. It promises a mix of social commentary and comedic bite, which is often my favorite flavor of filmmaking,
Eddie Strait:
LUCKY
This home invasion thriller centers on a woman going through a string of home invasions, much to the nonchalance of her husband, or anyone else, so she has to take matters into her own hands. The premise is compelling, and feels like it could be a home run or huge swing and miss. With star and writer Brea Grant and director Natasha Kermani leading the way, I’m thinking home run.
IT CUTS DEEP
Often times life itself can be funnier or scarier than anything movie monster. Like when you aren’t ready for parenthood and your partner tells you they want to start a family. It Cuts Deep is a dark comedy that promises to unnerve anyone who’s gone down a path in life they knew they weren’t ready for.
AN UNQUIET GRAVE
A chamber piece about two people struggling with grief over the loss of a loved one, An Unquiet Grave sounds engineered to make audiences uncomfortable. Normally an emotionally wrenching premise like this would be a turnoff, especially in a festival setting where fun is the name of the game, but An Unquiet Grave runs a scant 72 minutes. That makes me more intrigued and willing to see what the film can achieve.
MY HEART CAN’T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO
Movies about people doing horrible things with good intentions will almost always catch my attention, and My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To certainly does that. It’s about a brother and sister who dig themselves in deep while trying to help their younger brother. Desperate people can justify just about anything, but will this movie justify my interest? I think so.