diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md')
| -rw-r--r-- | content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md | 417 |
1 files changed, 417 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md b/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0d9ef62 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/film/2018-08-18-dead-by-dawn-2018/index.en.md @@ -0,0 +1,417 @@ ++++ +title = "Dead by Dawn 2018" +lang = "en" + +[taxonomies] +tags = ["Dead by Dawn", "film", "horror", "festival"] + +[extra] +author = "harald" ++++ + +{% figure(img="dbd-logo.png") %} +Dead By Dawn logo. +{% end %} + +In April this year a group of friends organized a trip to the [Dead By Dawn] +horror film festival in Edinburg. This was a new festival to me, even though it +has been going strong for 25 whole years already! Landing in Edinburgh the day +before the festival, we got to see a bit of the city, and did the mandatory +intake of Haggis and Whisky. Nice town, and by the look of it, a perfect +location for a horror film festival. + +<!-- more --> + +The festival is organized by Adéle Hartley, and takes place at the Edinburgh +[Filmhouse]. A great location for this type of event, not at least because of +it's excellent bar. This became the natural place to hang out, mingle and get +to know other enthusiasts between the screenings. + +The festival has a very personal and welcoming atmosphere. It's a bit like this +is Adéle sharing the films she loves with other horror and film fans. Given her +enthusiasm for the subject and the taste and connections she obviously have, +this is not a bad start. Add a great selection of films (a good mix of classics +and new productions,) interesting guests and passion for the genre. This was a +weekend that could not go wrong. + + +## Thursday, April 19 + +{% figure(img="siembamba-poster.jpg") %} +Siembamba aka The Lullaby movie poster. +{% end %} + +The festival starts off with a screening of the original _[Nosferatu]_ (1922, +Germany) with a live piano score performed beautifully by Forrester Pyke. The +version they screened was the one released by Eureka on BluRay, which is way +better and has several scenes that's not present in my old DVD version. The +live score added a unique touch to the screening—a great start. + +We go with the classics this evening, and the festival guest of honour, [John +Landis] introduces his classic _[Innocent Blood]_ (1992, USA). I had not seen +it before so it was a great opportunity to catch up. I think the film has aged +quite well. It definitely belongs among the other classics from Landis. After +the screening Landis answered questions from the audience, shared anecdotes +from the filming of Innocent Blood and some of his other films. A very +entertaining session. + +First _new_ film this evening, and the last of the day, was the South American +film _[Siembamba]_, aka _The Lullaby_ (2017, South Africa). I liked this a lot! +A supernatural/psychotic film about birth psychosis. It reminds me a bit about +_[Still/Born]_ (2017, Canada), but definitely carries it's own weight. A well +made, and at times quite creepy film. + +## Friday, April 20 + +Friday opens with _[Rabbit]_ (2017, Australia). An absolutely stunningly well +made film. This is dark and devastating. A film that is able to surprise at +many levels. In my opinion a very good film, and the highlight of the festival! +A slow burn that allows the devastation to really sink in. Go see it and enjoy! + +Back to the classics! John Landis presented a double feature of +_[Frankenstein]_ (1931, USA) and _[Bride of Frankenstein]_ (1935, USA.) I +skipped the first session, but did see the _Bride of Frankenstein_. Again the +copy they had got hold of was a really good one, which made this quite a joy to +see as well. Landis is entertaining, and has a lot of insight into the +cinematic history where these films belong. The session was worth it for that +alone. + +There's a short break before the next session so me and my travel companions +head over to the [Frankenstein Bar] for a quick beer and a bite. Nice and very +atmospheric bar, but the food was not impressive. + +### Shorts: What you make it + +Anyways, back at the Filmhouse I catch the first short-film programme at this +festival, named _"What you make it."_ The short films in this section were: + +{% figure(img="underwater-poster.jpg") %} +Underwater poster. +{% end %} + +* _[Nothing a little soap and water can't + fix](https://cargo.jenniferproctor.com/Nothing-a-Little-Soap-and-Water-Can-t-Fix)_ + (2017, USA, 10 min): A collage of bathtub scenes from various horror films + combined into a sort of story on it's own. Quite interesting. + +* _[Väg 13 (Road + 13)](http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/en/item/?type=film&itemid=85966)_ (2017, + Sweeden, 7 min): A girl is on her way to the vet with her dog, and attracts + the attention of a neighboring car. Short and absurd, the way I like it. + +* _[Underwater](https://en.unifrance.org/movie/42698/underwater)_ (2017, + France, 18 min): An investigator with some special abilities is summoned to a + surveillance operation in a criminal case. A very well told story, and + visually wonderful. I especially liked the use of effects to visualize the + parts of the story you otherwise could not see. One of the better short films + at this festival. + +* _[Two bites](https://vimeo.com/275382038)_ (2017, Australia, 14 min): A + family gathers around the deathbed of their mother, hoping to put their best + face forward to secure their heritage. Things don't go as planned. + +* _[La fille + accordeon](https://www.pifff.fr/2017/court-135-La-Fille-Accordeon-en)_ (2017, + France, 4 min): A trapped girl tries to escape from her captors. A simple + premise with a surprising execution. Different and a quite sweet film. + +* _[Das Mädchen im + Schnee](http://www.swissfilms.ch/de/film_search/filmdetails/-/id_film/2147032209)_ + (2017, Switzerland, 7 min): A foley artist adds the finishing sounds to a + scene. A fascinating process, and perhaps a surprising end. Slow and very + well made film. + +* _[Through the Haze](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6484260/)_ (2017, Australia, + 11 min): The newest kid on a construction job has to go through the rituals + to become one of the guys. A hilarious take on drunken logic and what could + possibly go wrong when combining heavy machinery with excessive drunkenness. + +--- + +After the short films we get another new film, _[Knuckleball]_ (2018, Canada) +by Canadian director _Michael Peterson_. Peterson was present and both +introduced the film and answered quastions after the screening. + +The film relies heavily on the performance by 12 year old actor _Luca Villacis_ +(who handles the job like a pro!) and _Michael Ironside_. The film definitely +has references to both classic comedies like the Home Alone films, but also +some classic horrors. It's a times quite dark, but is not quite as convincing +as it could have been. I enjoyed it for the atmosphere and the performance by +the actors, but felt it never manages to build the scare that it tries to. + +The last event of the day is the much anticipated taste-along to _[Evil Dead II]_ +(1987, USA.) I've never been a fan of the film, but this sounded like a lot of +fun, and that's just what it was! + +The event was done in cooperation with _[The Conjurers Kitchen]_, who had made, +packaged and transported a huge amount of treats and candy shaped like elements +from the film. At certain iconic scenes the film was frozen and you had to find +and eat the treat that looked like whatever was on the screen. This was great +fun, and the creativity and madness that has gone into making these treats +deserve admiration! 10/10 - would eat again! + +{% figure(img="evil-treats.jpg") %} +The treats of the Evil Dead II taste-along. Made by The Conjurers Kitchen. +{% end %} + +## Saturday, April 21 + +### Shorts: It's your funeral + +Saturday kicks off with a short film session named _"It's your funeral."_ A +great collection of short films about approaching death in more or—most +likely—less dignified ways. The films in this session was: + +{% figure(img="som-ein-reier-still.jpg") %} +Still from _You've made your bed, now lie in it_. +{% end %} + +* _[You've made your bed, now lie in + it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXHY6OcRYlE)_ (2016, Norway, 15 min): A + farmer is told by a psychic who has so far never been wrong, that he is to + die on thursday. We follow the farmer in his solemn struggle to prepare his + own funeral. A slow, atmospheric film from the slow norwegian countryside. + Excellent! Do watch it! + +* _[The Mother Situation](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5996448)_ (2016, + Australia, 8 min): Again we meet the potent mix of family, death and + inheritance. A different take this time, and a very entertaining one at that. + +* _[Cold fish](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6722198)_ (2017, New Zealand, 12 + min): An old man is about to give his life to the waves, but is disturbed by + a young and quite annoying kid. A reflective piece more than anything. Still + quite enjoyable. + +* _[Salvatore](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7784418/)_ (2017, The Netherlands, + 11 min): Salvatore is in an old peoples institution, but tries to live his + life in as much beauty as he can. The only disturbance in the rather annoying + male nurse, so he decides to do something about that. I enjoyed this a lot, + and got quite fond of Salvatore and his way of life during the few minutes I + got to share with him. + +* _[RIP](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6441412)_ (2017, Spain, 16 min): What do + you do when you have invited simply _everyone_ to the funeral of your husband, + and then he wakes back up to life? A hilarious film about prestige, status + and love – in that order. Great film! + +--- + +{% figure(img="trench-11-poster.jpg") %} +_Trench 11_ poster. +{% end %} + +Next up is the WWI thriller _[Trench 11]_ (2017, Canada.) A film that does a +lot out of little. It plays on the dynamic between trust and distrust when +either could be fatal if you chose wrongly. Good, original story, and very well +executed. Highly recommended! + +### Shorts: We're not in Kansas anymore + +Another short film programme followed, _"We're not in Kansas anymore."_: + +* _[Amy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7549990)_ (2017, USA, 7 min): We meet a + girl being tenderly taken care of by an older nurse. Or perhaps it's not + quite as it seems. A well executed short film that takes you to the edge of + your seat. + +* _[Crying Bitch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0lSsS0TGv0)_ (2017, Japan, + 15 min): A young successful man has a woman for every day, while his caring + wife is waiting at home with dinner and love. Except, behind the surface and + hidden from her husband the wife has learned martial arts. Great fun, lots of + (well deserved) groin kicks, and over all an action packed revenge short. + +* _[Milk](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7281172)_ (2017, Canada, 10 min): + Getting up for a glass of milk in the night may be scarier than you think. + Quite a well made film, but I felt it got too predictable and left too much + unfulfilled. + +* _[We together](https://vimeo.com/175191424)_ (2016, USA, 7 min): Dancing + Zombies. What more is to say, this is as feelgood as a zombie flick ever + gets. Fun and different! + +* _[Smashed](https://youtu.be/UB2OSDsXM90)_ (2017, Australia, 13 min): A gang + of teenagers kidnap a friend to get to his girlfriend. Not the best of ideas, + and not the best of results. Quite a good movie, but again a bit too + predictable. Still worth seeing. + +* _[Homesick](https://www.homesickfilm.com/)_ (2017, USA, 13 min): A + beautifully filmed and very well told story. A young boy is abandoned by + his parents, and coping as best he can in what's left of his home. A slow paced + film, but one you definitely should watch. The cinematographer and director + was present at the festival, and I'm happy they seem to be working on a + feature length project together. If this short is anything to go by, I'll + definitely be on the lookout for that. + +* _[Daemonrunner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyNF7mXH3aY)_ (2017, + Australia, 5 min): Daemons rage in cyberspace and are being hunted down by a + special task force to keep everyone safe. Quite well made and an interesting + concept. + +* _[We summoned a demon](https://vimeo.com/230488802)_ (2017, USA, 6 min): Fun + and entertaining. A couple of guys summon a demon to be cool. Not the + brightest kids on the dark side, but at least they summoned a demon! + +* _[Wyrmwood: Chronicles of the dead + (teaser)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5NVs9zyZdM)_ (2017, Australia, 7 + min): This one didn't catch me at all. Too slick, too much focus on effects, + and does not manage to catch my attention. It has some good moments though, + but over all this feels like a commercial series to cater too the gaming + crowd. + +--- + +{% figure(img="the-slaughtered-lamb.jpg") %} +From _An American Werewolf in London_. +{% end %} + +After a break John Landis is again on the stage, this time introducing his +classic _[An American Werewolf in London]_ (1981, USA.) Again it's time to +catch up on the classics for my part. It becomes very clear why this is +regarded as such a classic as it is. It was great to finally see this on a big +screen, and both the introduction and Q&A with John landis would be worth the +price alone. Nobody is able to make nerdy film trivia as entertaining as this +guy! + +Next up is _[Spookers]_ (2017, New Zealand.) A documentary about a haunted +house operation outside Auckland. Entertaining enough, but at that time my head +is starting to get overloaded, so I don't feel I'm able to appreciate it as +well as I could. This is a slow film, that I think would work much better as an +opener rather than this late in the program. + +I had been looking forward to the double bill, all-nighter _[The Living Dead at +the Manchester Morgue]_ (1974, Italy/Spain) and _[Dellamorte Dellamore]_ (1974, +Italy/France/Germany,) but I was simply too tired to even try! A couple of cask +ales from the pub was consumed and then it was the long way back to the hotel +for my part. + +## Sunday, April 22 + +Sunday started with the fresh, and pretty lighthearted _[Dave Made a Maze]_ (2017, USA.) A +hilarious ride, and a perfect start after three days of gore, glory and horror. + +It's a bit of a strech to call this a horror, but it is a great and well made +comedy aimed at horror fans! Original, captivating and plain old silly fun from +start to finish! This is the kind of film you can show to your non-horror +friends and still have fun, although the horror fans will have even more fun! +Bring pizza! + +### Shorts: 2D & Deranged + +The last of the short-film programmes of the festival, the _"2D & Deranged +programme"_ was entirely focused on animations. The wonderful thing about +animations are that they allow for a great deal of surrealism, something which +definitely was the case in this session. + +The session starts with a number of clay animations from _[Lee Hardcastle]_. These +range from 60 sec claymation summaries of classic horror films and video games, +as well as some other pieces. Check out his website or +[youtube-channel](https://www.youtube.com/leehardcastle) for a glimpse into his +twisted world. + +The rest of the short films in this session were: + +{% figure(img="beastly-things-poster.jpg") %} +_Beastly things_ poster +{% end %} + +* _[In one drag](https://vimeo.com/167923570)_ (2016, Germany, 4 min): A stop + motion animation about when the sigarette butts takes revenge. +* _[L'Aria del Moscerino](http://oliverkrause.com/l-aria-del-moscerino.html)_ + (2017, Germany, 5 min): A fruit fly with a taste for the good things in life + – sweet fruits and opera. Great 2D animation and a fun, though not entirely + unsuspected twist. +* _[The Death, Dad & Son](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7036616)_ (2017, France, + 14 min): A wonderful clay animation about the warm relationship between Deah + and his son. Check this out if you get the chance! +* _[Belial's dream](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtWSyIRJ_qw)_ (2017, UK, 5 + min): A disturbing and surreal nighmare made into film by Rob Morgan. + Absolutely worth a watch, though it may not be everybody's cup of tea. + Personally I loved it! +* _[Coyote](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7846672)_ (2018, Switzerland, 10 min): + A coyote seeks revenge on a pack of wolfs after they killed his family. + Classic revenge/drama in a quite unconventional wrapping. Highly recommended! +* _[Beastly things](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7259008)_ (2017, USA, 5 min): + A beautifully hand-drawn animated film about a young street artist that needs + to deal with a crew of bullies. Very nicely made and a well told story + without dialogue. + +--- + +With the early part of the days programme mostly on the light hearted side it +was time to kick it up a notch. The Taiwanese film _[Mon, Mon, Mon, Monsters]_ +(2017, Taiwan) (meant to be pronounced in the voice of Scooby Doo,) was quite a +nice change of pace. Despite the tounge-in-cheek name, the film was quite an +interesting one about a theme that a lot of horror fans probably can feel at +home in–bullying. Well made, interesting story, and a few surprising twists +made this a very welcome addition to the "have seen"-list. Highly recommended! + +_[Aj Zombies]_ (2017, Peru/France) was next up on the agenda. Also a film that +was able to surprise in a positive way. We're back in the rather lighthearted +horror/comedy segment again, but it has a nerve that keeps it interesting +throughout. Here I think the characters and cast really carry the film, and +help give what could be just shallow and silly some more substance. Grab a +beer, invite some friends, and you'll have a great evening with this one! + +Before the last film of the festival, there was a closing ceremony. This was +another fun twist with this festival. The films that had been collected for the +_Shit-film amnesty_ throughout the festival was presented and the shittiest of +them all was awarded. The lucky person who submitted the worst film was awarded +the entire collection. It sounded like he would have hours of really cheezy +watching to do! There was also a gift ceremony where gifts were passed around +the audience while some music played, and the ones who still had a package when +the music stopped was to keep it. I didn't win this time... + +{% figure(img="downrange-poster.jpg") %} +_Downrange_ poster. +{% end %} + +Enough fun and games, the last film of the festival was the drama _[Downrange]_ +(2017, USA/Japan.) If the day until now had been light hearted and fun, this +film brough balance to the tabs. This was a deep dive into the pure unmotivated +brutality that the human mind can display. + +A very simple premise, an almost static setting, but so well executed and with +such intensity that it ends up as one of the most memorable films of the +festival. Highly recommended! + +...and then it was over. A few more cask ales in the Filmhouse pub, a few +goodbyes to new friends and many great memories that needs to be processed. + +A big shoutout to Adéle Hartley who organizes this amazing festival. This is +definitely _her_ festival, and just the fact that she puts so much of herself +into it gives the festival a very unique and personal touch. Also the rest of +the staff, both of the festival and the Filmhouse (and the pub) all helped make +this a memorable and extremely positive experience. And of course to all the +people I met, had a quick chat with or shared a toast with: I'll see you again! + +[Dead By Dawn]: http://deadbydawn.co.uk/ +[Filmhouse]: http://www.filmhousecinema.com/ + +[Nosferatu]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/06/23/nosferatu-1921-german-horror-film-f-w-murnau-overview-review/ +[Innocent Blood]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104511 +[Siembamba]: https://horrorpedia.com/2018/01/30/the-lullaby-reviews-horror-movie-film-south-african-2018-siembamba-overview-plot/ +[Still/Born]: https://horrorpedia.com/2017/05/07/stillborn-2017-canadian-horror-film-movie-cast-plot-reviews/ +[John Landis]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Landis + +[Rabbit]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3415358 +[Frankenstein]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884 +[Bride of Frankenstein]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0026138 +[Frankenstein Bar]: http://www.frankensteinedinburgh.co.uk/ + +[Knuckleball]: https://horrorpedia.com/2018/04/19/knuckleball-reviews-movie-film-horror-thriller-2018-overview-cast-plot/ +[Evil Dead II]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/10/07/evil-dead-ii-1987-horror-movie-sam-raimi-overview/ +[The Conjurers Kitchen]: https://www.conjurerskitchen.com/ + +[Trench 11]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5033290 + +[An American Werewolf in London]: https://horrorpedia.com/2012/11/16/an-american-werewolf-in-london-reviews-1981-comedy-horror-movie-film-overview-cast-plot/ +[Spookers]: http://www.spookers.co.nz/spookers-movie.html +[The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue]: http://thezombiesite.com/the-living-dead-at-manchester-morgue-1974/ +[Dellamorte Dellamore]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109592 + +[Dave Made a Maze]: http://davemadeamaze.com +[Mon, Mon, Mon, Monsters]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6648404 +[Aj Zombies]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7592928 +[Downrange]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6138228 +[Lee Hardcastle]: http://www.leehardcastle.com/ + |