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diff --git a/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.en.md b/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f48b2f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2017-11-02-ramaskrik-2017/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,335 @@ ++++ +title = "Ramaskrik 2017 " +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["Ramaskrik", "film", "horror", "festival"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="ramaintro.jpg") %} +Ramaskrik +{% end %} + +Another year, another [Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival]! As always it has been a memorable weekend +filled with lots of horror movies, old and new friends, beers and generally a +great time. + +<!-- more --> + +I think the general quality of the films was even better this year compared to +previous years. Something I think can be attributed to the growing reputation +of this small festival in the mountain town of Oppdal, Norway. + +Another observation was that this year more of the films were based on rather +light or humourous premises. There were some great examples of the opposite, +darker themed films of course, but the general tendency seemed to be films +themed around good old fun and violence. I don't mind either, but the real +thrill for me is the films that are able to drag me deep into the darker parts +of the human psyche. + +## Thursday + +As with previous years, this trip starts on the [Horror train] from Oslo to Oppdal +where the festival is held. This time the organizers had booked the early train +from Oslo, which did seem excruciatingly early at that time in the morning. On +the other hand, we were able to catch more films as we arrived earlier, though, +so I think I favour the change. + +Most of the passengers in our section of the train was familiar faces from +previous years, but quite a few new faces had made it out of bed too! Pretty +soon everyone was quizzing and socializing. Great mood, and pretty soon the +trip was over, and it was time to check in at the hotel. + +{% figure(img="el-ataud-de-cristal.jpg") %} +Poster for El Ataúd de Cristal, 2016, Spain +{% end %} + +One of the films I had looked forward to this year was _[Bajo la Rosa]_ (Under the +Rose, 2017, Spain) but checking in to the hotel took longer than the time from +the train arrived until the film started. I wasn't too worried about this, as I +had another opportunity later in the festival to see it, so I went to fetch +some food before the next film instead. Major mistake, more about that later. + +The first film I was able to see was another spanish film, _[El ataúd de +cristal]_ (The Glass Coffin, 2016, Spain.) A great take on the claustrophobic, +enclosed in a small space horror story. An original story, great performance +from the actor, stunning visuals and a strong soundtrack lifts this way above +what I expected from the description. Highly recommended! + +Next up was _[Vampyrvidar]_ (Vidar the Vampire, 2017, Norway) a completely +different kind of film. This is a comedy, but with some serious themes hidden +in the wrapping. + +We meet Vidar, a sexually frustrated sheep farmer from the south-western part +of Norway. What we call the "bible belt" in these parts. Praying for better +luck with the girls, preferably the young ones ("20 plus") his wishes are +granted by a vampire Jesus. Things don't go quite as Vidar had hoped... + +Great fun, and tacfully blasphemous (to borrow a term from one of the other in +the festival audience.) Not sure how well it will work outside of Norway, but +if you like quaint comedy with vampires, blood and small town religious lunacy, +give it a spin! + +The official opening film of the festival this year was another Norwegian film, +_[Hjemsøkt]_ (Haunted, 2017, Norway.) While at heart it is a classic haunted +house movie, I think it scores some extra points due to an interesting +backstory and the main actor's (Synnøve Macody Lund) performance. Set in the +cold winter landscape of Norway, the visuals gives the film a distinct and +chilling feel to it. I really liked this film. Recommended. + +{% figure(img="hjemsokt-intervju.jpg") %} +Director Carl Christian Raabe and actor Synnøve Macody Lund of _Hjemsøkt_ is +beeing interviewed after the screening by Bente Maalen +{% end %} + +Last film for me this thursday was _[Revenge]_ (France, 2017) an intense +rape/revenge film with the main focus on the revenge part! This was an action +packed end of the first day, and a great film to follow with a few beers back +at the hotel. Recommended! + +## Friday + +{% figure(img="panorama-oppdal.jpg") %} +Panorama of Oppdal, taken from the window of my hotel room +{% end %} + +Friday started off quite relaxed. Waking up to the view above out the hotel +room window was not such a bad start. The first film of the day didn't +start until 11:30, so plenty of time to enjoy the hotel breakfast before +getting seated. + +I heard mixed reviews of _[Happy Hunting]_ (2017, USA) in advance, but I have +to say I liked it. The premise is not very original, but the characters, +atmosphere and story unfolds in an entertaining mix of small-town madness, +desert landscapes and alcohol/drug addiction. + +{% figure(img="tonight-she-comes.jpg") %} +Poster for _Tonight She Comes_, 2016, USA +{% end %} + +Next up for me was _[Tonight She Comes]_ (2016, USA), which can best be +described as a high school sexual comedy mixed with Evil Dead, and with the +blood of Braindead. Lot's of body fluids and quite funny, but gets a bit +predictable. Still entertaining enough. I especially liked the puritan satanic +family at the end. + +For the third slot I was unsure wether to go for _[Tragedy Girls]_ (2017, USA) +or _[Leatherface]_ (2017, USA). I ended up going for the first. + +I found Tragedy Girls to be quite entertaining. On one level it works as a +commentary on the shallowness of social media and it's selfmade celebrities, as +well as being a decent splatter and a high school drama at the same time. At +times it becomes too much high school drama, which in my view drags it a bit +down. Still an entertaining and fun film with a few nice splats along the way. + +This was about the time I decided to skip dinner to be able to watch more +films. Popcorn and Svele helps to keep starvation at bay, and I was ready for +the next film! + +{% figure(img="nails.jpg") %} +Poster for _Nails_, 2017, Ireland +{% end %} + +_[Nails]_ (2017, Ireland) is at the first glance a fairly traditional ghost +story. Set in an old hospital complete with long dark corridors, flickering +lights and strange sounds in the night this could have been just another +collection of jump scares. + +I think it goes well beyond that, though. The main character is paralyzed after +an accident, and unable to move. She can only observe what happens around her at +night. The story is decent, but the performance and how the story unfolds works +to its advantage. Also after all the more fun-based films so far, a darker +piece was very welcome. I recommend you check it out! + +Next to last film on friday was _[Happy Death Day]_ (2017, USA). We're back to +a lighter and more entertaining film again, but one that works surprisingly +well. This is a scary murder mystery. The films main character is being +murdered on her birthday, only to have to relive the same day again and again, +until she can find out who kills her. A somewhat refreshing take on much of the +same premise as behind Groundhog Day. + +I decide to end the day with _[Kodoku Meatball Machine]_ (2017, Japan). Which +did not work at all for me. + +The film tries to replicate the style of fighting anime cartoons, but with real +film and actors. The monsters look like something taken out of the Warhammer +40k role playing game, with about as interesting dialog as you can expect from +that. + +If this sounds like your thing you may want to check it out, but my +recommendation is to go watch something else instead. It's a bit of a shame, +because the beginning of the film builds up to something that could have been +interesting, and the actual premise of the story could have been made into an +interesting (short) film. In this case that did not happen, though. + +Well six films in one day is quite enough anyways, so off we go for some beers +and discussions of the films we have seen this day. + +## Saturday + +Halfway into the festival it begins to dawn that it will not last forever. The +screenings start a bit earlier today, but after a hearty breakfast I'm ready +for _[Mayhem]_ (2017, USA). Quite a rollercoster of a zombie-horror set in an +office building. + +For those of us having worked in large office complexes, this film had almost a +therapeutic effect! An original take on the genre, well executed and great +start of the day! Highly recommended! + +{% figure(img="wettlaufers-enke.jpg") %} +Image from _Wettlaufers Enke_, 2017, Norway +{% end %} + +Next up was a _[Wettlaufers Enke]_ (Wettlaufers Widow, 2001/2017, Norway). A 30 +minute amateur film that has waited 16 years before being screened. + +Originally filmed in 2001, the director was too self-conscious to release it. +So it was shelved until he finally got enough courage to release it after 16 +years. I'm really happy he did, because the film is well made, has great +atmosphere and an original story. Shot in a murky black and white really +enhances the feeling of unease. Recommended! + +Then I did a major mistake again. I went to see _[Kurt Josef Wagle og +mordmysteriet på Hurtigruta]_ (Kurt Josef Wagle and the Coastal Express Murder +Mystery, 2017, Norway.) Unless you happen to like movies that work on the +premise that "this is funny because I talk with a funny voice," you don't need +to waste your time on this drivel. + +After such a let down, there was only one thing to do: Go get some food and a +beer to get back into the mood. That meant I missed _[Killing Ground]_ (2016, +Australia) which I had planned to see. Oh well... + +{% figure(img="juleblod-poster.jpg") %} +Poster for _Juleblod_, 2017, Norway +{% end %} + +Back at the Hotel to drop off some more movies I bought at the stand of +_Another World Entertainment_ at the festival, I stumble upon a chance to see +the new Reinert Kiil movie, _[Juleblod]_ (2017, Norway). + +Again Ramaskrik is hosting a special screening for one of it's films. Last year +they showed _Howl_ in a train car, and the year before that again, _Villmark +II_ in an outdoor cinema in the forest. This year we went to an old barn at the +_Oppdal Museum_ where we were fed porrige before the film was screened. The +director and main actors were present, and answered questions after the +screening. A very enjoyable experience! + +The film is dark, and has a good story. Still there are some parts that are +dragged on for too long, and I think the police detectives are way too +caricatural. Still, Santa is doing a nice job of eradicating the naughty boys +and girls, and there are some splendid splats in this movie. Recommended! + +But this was the slot where I had originally planned to see [Bajo la Rosa], +so sadly I missed it. Looks like an interesting film, though, so hoping I'll +be able to catch it somewhere later. + +Back at _Oppdal Kulturhus_ where the rest of the screenings are held, we arrive +just in time for Guillermo del Toro's _[The Shape of Water]_ (2017, USA.) + +This is absolutely not a horror film, but still a film that is dark enough that +many in the audience wanted to see it anyways. Also it's not very common to be +able to watch films this far in advance of general availablility (more than one +month before US release, and about four months before Norwegian release.) +Another great experience at Ramaskrik, and we even got a limited poster to +prove it! + +As for the film, this is a beautifully filmed beauty and the beast-like story. +Guillermo del Toro is a master of making visually stunning films, and this is +no exception. The story is good enough, and the performances are as you would +expect them. I enjoyed it, and I think quite a wide audience will do too. + +Last film for me this saturday was _[Victor Crowley]_ (2017, USA,) a film that +did not really work that well I think. A jungle slasher that for the most part +plays out in the body of a crashed plane. + +This could have been an interesting setting, but it fails to build anything +worthwile. Again the characters are more charicatures than people you can +identify with, and there's really no chemistry neither between the actors, nor +the location. A film that can be safely skipped. + +## Sunday + +{% figure(img="hounds-of-love-poster.jpg") %} +Poster for _Hounds of Love_, 2016, Australia +{% end %} + +Last day of the festival already? Oh well, off we go and start with _[Hounds of +Love]_ (2016, Australia). Beautifully shot, great soundtrack and a captivating +story. + +One of the best, but also by far the most difficult film to watch at this +festival. A gritty and realistic film about a young girl abducted by a couple +for sex and then disposal. Highly recommended, but perhaps not as the first +film after you wake up! + +Next up was _[Freehold]_ (2017, UK). Introduced as probably the most disturbing +film of the festival, which it well might have been. A lot of fun though. Not +so much horror, as a creepy black comedy, but it works really well. Very +different from most other stuff I've seen. Highly recommended! + +Last film of the festival for me this time was _[Still/Born]_ (2017, Canada). A +horror with supernatural elements centered around a couple that get twins where +one of them is stillborn. At times somewhat similar to [Babycall], but darker +and better produced. Another great film! Recommended! + +## Shorts + +Throughout the festival several short films are screened before the main +features. Here's the shorts I came across this year: + +* _[Buzzcut]_ (8 min, 2016, USA) Getting a haircut proves to be more difficult + than anticipated, due to the impending doomsday. Fun little number, with + great effects! + +* _[Storage]_ (6 min, 2017, USA?) Something's lurking in the cellar of an + appartment complex. Well made, creepy and good story. + +* _[Great Choice]_ (7 min, 2017, USA) A surreal ride that's best to see without + any advance knowledge. Well worth watching, though! + +* _[Fucking Bunnies]_ (Saatanan Kanit, 17 min, 2017, Finland). A satanic sex + cult moves in next door. Complications arise. Great fun! + +## Winding down + +Again, a great festival is over, time to say goodbye to old and new friends, +thanks to the organizers and the always friendly staff at Skifer Hotel and head +for other adventures. Next Ramaskrik will held at 18. - 21. of october 2018. +I'll definitely be there again if at all possible! + +If you liked this report, you can check out my other reports from Ramaskrik +{{ taglink(tag="Ramaskrik", name="here", lang=lang) }}. You may also like my reports +from {{ taglink(tag="Dead by Dawn", lang=lang) }}. + +[Babycall]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1595833 +[Bajo la Rosa]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6130310 +[Buzzcut]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6315044 +[El ataúd de cristal]: http://elatauddecristal.com +[Freehold]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/08/26/freehold-two-pigeons-british-black-comedy-horror-film-overview-cast-plot-reviews-trailer-dvd/ +[Fucking Bunnies]: https://vimeo.com/198744796 +[Great Choice]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6952952 +[Happy Death Day]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5308322 +[Happy Hunting]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5189770 +[Hjemsøkt]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6322902 +[Horror train]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCKx6YnEOKE +[Hounds of Love]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/17/hounds-of-love-2016-australian-psychological-horror-drama-film-overview-cast-reviews-trailer/ +[Juleblod]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6228890 +[Killing Ground]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4728386 +[Kodoku Meatball Machine]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6063024 +[Kurt Josef Wagle og mordmysteriet på Hurtigruta]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7411406 +[Leatherface]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2620590 +[Mayhem]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/03/16/mayhem-2017-comedy-action-horror-movie-steven-yuen-plot-review/ +[Nails]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4695098 +[Ramaskrik Horror Film Festival]: https://ramaskrik.no +[Revenge]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6738136 +[Still/Born]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/07/stillborn-2017-canadian-horror-film-overview-cast-plot-reviews/ +[Storage]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUZdaoefuno +[The Shape of Water]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580390 +[Tonight She Comes]: https://horrorpedia.com/2016/08/17/tonight-she-comes-2016-slasher-horror-film-matt-stuertz-overview-teaser-trailer-reviews/ +[Tragedy Girls]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3859272 +[Vampyrvidar]: http://vampyrvidar.no +[Victor Crowley]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/08/23/victor-crowley-usa-2017-horror-movie-hatchet-reboot-cast-plot-overview-teaser-trailer-review/ +[Wettlaufers Enke]: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5859042 |