This year's SCREAMFEST brought the best and brightest of the horror genre to the screen. The festival is one of the most celebrated film festivals and I am thrilled to have had the chance to see and experience some of the work from filmmakers all over the world. From Russia to France, the experience of the horror genre gives filmmakers the opportunity to write and direct their vision of what will make us cringe, hide our eyes, drop our jaws and hang tight on to the person next to us (whether we know them or not!
Formed in August 2001 by film producer Rachel Belofsky, Screamfest Horror Film Festival is a female-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that gives filmmakers and screenwriters in the horror and science fiction genres a venue to have their work showcased in the film industry. Among the numerous films that have been discovered and/or premiered at the festival include “Tigers Are Not Afraid.”, “The Wretched”, “We Summons the Darkness”, “Pledge”, “The Master Cleanse’, “Tragedy Girls”, “American Mary”, Paranormal Activity,” “30 Days of Night,” “Trick ‘r Treat” and “The Human Centipede.” Screamfest hosts monthly screenings year-round such films include “Mom and Dad” starring Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair and many retrospective screenings.
Now, on with the frights!
There is PANDEMONIUM at Screamfest 2023
Jeri Jacquin
Setting the stage for a journey like no other from writer/director Quarxx, Trangressive Productions and Film Seekers comes a melding of stories that creates PANDEMONIUM.
Nathan (Hugo Dillon) has woken up in the middle of the road on a very cold day. Seeing his car smashed, he realizes he has been in a car accident. Also in the accident is Daniel (Arben Barjraktaraj) who has realized long before Nathan that they are both dead. Nathan is furious at the thought but a very calm Daniel seems to understand their situation.
That’s when two doors appear, one seems lovely and plays music that Daniel can hear and the other door is a little less lovely. Both men begin to argue with one another as two who has committed the bigger sin but Nathan walks through the door. On the other side are stories such as Nina (Manon Maindivide), a young girl who is about to become the most heinous child.
Then there is Chloe’s (Sidwell Weber) story that is horribly relatable as her mother Julia (Ophelia Kolb) tries to come to terms with the question all parents ask, ‘what did I miss?’. When Nathan can hand no more, he is confronted by a creature that makes it clear that he will become the epitome of suffering but for how long?
Dillon as Nathan is carrying a heavy secret about his life and it follows him into death and beyond. Experiencing the pain, agony and heinous acts that human beings commit on one another sends Nathan deeper into the underworld where he feels he doesn’t belong. He could never have imagined that one decision would bring such pain. Dillon does an excellent job of convincing us to feel for Nathan as he dragged down hard.
Bajraktaraj as Daniel is the calm of the two. Realizing what has happened, he tries to convince Nathan but the two end up comparing life mistakes. I kept waiting for Daniel to bring in something more and that tension alone is amazingly done by Bajraktaraj’s portrayal of this character. One thing this character taught me, never say anything about being ‘pushed’.
Maindivide as Nina is a young girl who lives in a world all her own. In that world, people who do not follow along with her life vision don’t do well. Allowing her monster Tony in on what is happening at home brings in the worst horror I could have imagined. I don’t need a lot of blood and gore to convince me when evil is afoot. Maindivide’s performance rivals that of Patty McCormack’s portrayal of Rhoda in the 1956 film THE BAD SEED.
Kolb as Julia is the saddest story of them all because it is based on life and the issues facing young girls. Julia is a mother trying to raise her daughter to face things head on but has no idea what the young Chloe has been dealing with since moving into their new place. Mom is working and Chloe is going to school and sometimes life gets hectic and things are missed. Kolb goes into a dark place with her character and takes Chloe with her.
Other cast include Jerome Paquatte as Livreur and Carl Laforet as Tony.
Film Seekers is a London-based agency working with new and established filmmakers. Films such as LOVE SARAH and THE WITCH IN THE WINDOW are festival favorites and last year’s hit JUNE AGAIN, was nominated for four Academy Awards in Australia. For more on Film Seekers please visit www.film-seekers.com.
PANDEMONIUM, first of all, definetly has a Dante like quality to the story that Quarxx is trying to tell. The cast brilliantly takes us on this ride and never gives us a moment to think. It is all in our face and we, the viewer, are forced to challenge our own beliefs about this life and the next, what is a sin and what is unforgiveable in the eyes of the universe.
The cinematography is also quite amazing and horrifying in equal measure. This film is horror for the mind in a way that I prefer for the genre. It had my brain on fire while continuing to watch what was in front of me, almost as if I tried to jump ahead of the story and man, was I very, very wrong in a few key places. That being said, I loved being wrong because Quarxx took those twisty turns and probably smirked at everyone. At least I hope he did!
In the end – hell knows no forgiveness!
Screamfest Brings New Vamp Vision with EMPIRE V
Jeri Jacquin
Screamfest 2023 brings writer/director Victor Ginzburg, writer Viktor Pelevin and Kvadrat Film Company to the forefront of new ideas of old vampires with EMPIRE V.
In Moscow, the young Roman (Pavel Tabakov) is constantly being harassed by his mother and wants to get away from a life of unloading trucks for a living. Falling into the hands of vampire Brahma (Vladimir Epifantsev), Roman finds himself at its mercy. After being told that he is about to become someone powerful, the boy begins to change taking on Brahma’s powers, name and wealth.
This is where the mythology of the vampire changes. Roman, now Rama, learns that the vampires do not need to ‘bite’ their victims but instead are able to use the parasite inside them (The Tongue) to take a single drop of blood. That one drop gives them sight into a person’s memories. Because of this, the vampires are able to eat and drink as humans do. Rama learns quickly however that superhuman strength isn’t given when becoming a vampire, no, instead a bag of candy provides fighting ability.
Rama learns about Glamor and Discourse which is how the vampires live, a list of knowing as it were about what drives them and, more importantly, the elixir known as Bablos. Rama meets Hera (Taya Radchenko) who was also recently made a vampire and falls hard for her – which is against the rules. Mithra (rapper Miron Fedorov) believes Hera to be his property and warns Rama to keep his distance.
As information and explanations are constantly being thrown as him, Rama beings to suspect that he is not being told everything. That is confirmed when he meets the Great Bat who lets him know who not to trust and about Bablos. But Mithra has other plans and when the war between the two vampires breaks rules, they come together to settle the matter but what happens because of the duel is equally shocking!
Tabakov as Rama is a young man who finds himself in a world he could never have imagined. Starting out using his new found everything in ways that were amusing to many vampires, he has no choice but to fall into line quickly with the help of Hera and much to the anger of Mithra. Tabakov, once settled and in proper attire, allows his character to become a smooth talking and smart listening vampire realizing others are trying to use him but he has plans of his own. I enjoyed watching his character expand.
Radchenko as Hera is smart, subtle and quickly understands what is at stake. She tries to guide Rama without Mithra knowing and sometimes it works but it eventually leads to the showdown. Hera has a plan of her own that doesn’t include anybody, which I loved, as she has decided what her place is to be in the mythical world of vampires. Radchenko gives it all and more and uses her character to show the depths and chameleon looks of this particular vampire.
Fedorov as Mithra is a vampire with an ego as big as the Big Bat! It is clear what he wants and he is trying every trick in the book to get it. Having someone like Roman/Rama take over is more than he can take. So, instead of being part of the fanged-tribe, he instead seems to pick battles and say what ever comes into his head believing he can not be stopped. Nothing wrong with being the smart-ass bad guy in a world filled with bad guys.
Other cast includes: Igor Zhizhikin as Baldur, Fedor Bondarchuk as Professor Kaldavashkin, Maxim Droz as Jehova, Marina Zudina as Mother, Vera Alentova as Ishtar, Anna Chapman as Anna, Sofya Sinitsyna as Olya, Viktor Verzhbitzkiy as Baal, Andrey Smirnov as Oziris, Igor Gordin as Grigory, Bronislav Vinogrodskiy as Loki and Vladimir Dolinskiy as Enlil.
EMPIRE V takes the mythology most Americans have grown up with and thrown it out the window. From the new ways of being a vampire to the origin story of these vampires to the way they feed and the elusive Bablos – this is a trip and a half. Buckle up because these bats are taking us all on a different vampiric ride.
The sets drip with excess of reds, golds, crystal glasses filled with whatever, stylish suits and expensive cars. The scenes are equally somber on the outside and bombed out looking but open the door and the lifestyles show through.
It is interesting the political life of these vampires and how they see the role of human beings to their survival. I grew up with vampires, celluloid speaking, but EMPIRE V throws that mythology on its head and twists it around to a world that is complex and blood-less. Coming in a tad under two hours, head scratching and thought processes are going to go on much longer than that! And no, I’m not telling you what bablos is.
In the end – blood, beauty and bablos!
Screamfest Warns WHAT YOU WISH FOR
Jeri Jacquin
Screamfest is bringing many offerings and from writer/director Nicholas Tomnay comes a dish served differently with WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
Chef Ryan (Nick Stahl) is in financial trouble and decides to head to Latin America to fellow chef and friend Jack (Brian Groh). Having not seen each other for 12 years, Ryan is impressed with where Jack has landed being a chef to the uber rich. Ryan is also hiding from someone he owes a great deal of money too and is intending to hurt his family.
Enjoy a few comforts in the multi-million-dollar house Jack is staying at, Ryan is a little envious of the life his friend is living. Interestingly enough, Jack does not seem as excited about his job as Ryan is. When Jack disappears one night, Ryan makes the split decision to take over his life in its entirety, money, identity and all. There is a catch.
Enter Imogene (Tamsin Topolski), the head of the company Jack works for and she is expecting Jack/Ryan to be preparing a dinner for very special guests. Quickly, Jack/Ryan learns what is expected of him in the most horrible and heinous of ways. Realizing there is no way out, he begins to do what is asked of him.
The dinner starts out well until an unexpected visitor, a Detective Ruiz (Randy Basquez) is looking for his nephew. Imogene manages to keep her cool and even Ryan is managing to get the job done until he meets Det. Ruiz and discovers that the life his friend Jack was living has an underlying dark side making escape impossible.
Stahl as Ryan gives us the character of a man between a rock and a cash hard place. He is nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof while being a tad jealous of the life his friend has, especially when he sees Jack’s finances. It all seems like its too good to be real and, as the title suggests,
Shout out to David Tominaga as Akira because he seemed to be having fun during all the happenings and chaos. Not phased one bit by what is going on around him, he actually invites trouble and offers it dinner without a care in the world. He made my jaw drop and then I laughed so well-done sir!
Topolski as Imogene is calm, cool, collected and a bit nerve wracking to watch as she goes from one potential disaster to another. Her character almost glides instead of walks through these scenes knowing just what to say and how to handle anyone that gets in the way. Okay, I just love this character and Topolski add her frightening grace and style as nothing seems to shake her.
Basquez as Detective Ruiz is about to discover more than he had ever planned but, in the meantime, just sit right on up to the table and enjoy the most fabulous chef made dinner on the planet dude!
Other cast include Juan Carlos Messier as Maurice, Ariel Sierra as Officer Gallo, Norma Nivia as Frankie, Megumi Hasebe as Li Na, Evan Sudarsky as Alvin, Greg Winter as Barry, Maria Gomez as Maria, Brian Acuna as Roberto, Maria Cuellar as the Grandmother, Raphael Philippon as Bjorn, and Penelope Mitchell as Alice.
WHAT YOU WISH FOR is a frightening lesson in living beyond one’s means, running away, and the biggest of all evils – jealousy. The character of Ryan, step by step, gets into so much trouble with money that he thinks running away will save him. When he realizes it won’t, what normal people wouldn’t do, Ryan does! He wants to be shocked by the life his friend has been leading but it doesn’t stop him from taking what isn’t his.
Keeping the story in a very tight quarters makes for fantastic tension with each event pushing the human envelope further and further. The viewer then is left to question, how far are all these people willing to go? When that question is answered, you might want to put the popcorn down!
Writer/director Tomnay takes us on a delicious journey of human nature and then slams us with the harsh reality of what his created characters are capable of. The casting is excellent as each has their definitive role and watching them interact will either leave your horrified or delighted – perhaps a nice mixture of both is acceptable as well.
In the end – escape, forever!
SOMEWHERE QUIET Proves Shocking at Screamfest 2023
Jeri Jacquin
At this years Screamfest, writer and director Olivia West Lloyd along with Last Rodeo Studios comes the story of unraveling SOMEWHERE QUIET.
Meg (Jennifer Kim) is recovering from a horrendous kidnapping that left her with anxiety and fears. Husband Scott (Kentucker Audley) is doing his best to try and bring some solitude and support taking her to a family home that is quiet and soothing.
Enjoying the quiet and time with Scott, that is all interrupted when his cousin Madeline (Marin Ireland) bursts onto the scene. Loud, boisterous and cutting with her words, Meg begins to feel that Scott is spending more time with Madeline and ignoring how it is affecting her. Lashing out in her own way, Meg’s behavior becomes slightly erratic which causes Scott to become unlike himself.
All Meg wants is quiet time with Scott to regather the life she once had, find answers to why it happened to her and remember who is responsible. In the way of it all is not knowing if what she sees and hears is real or a mix up in her mind. However, what is driving it all is more sinister than Meg could ever know!
Kim as Meg is brilliant as a woman who is trying to understand why she was kidnapped and how she is to find a normal life in the aftermath. Watching Kim take this character through every tragic emotion, this is a journey worth taking as the story goes from beginning to end. We are unwittingly invited on Meg’s journey of what is real and what are mixed up thoughts in her mind. Well done!
Audley as Scott is a husband who just doesn’t know how to handle the emotional situation his wife is going through. Trying to be there for her, he consistently tries to help her think through the mix ups Meg is experiencing. Lighting up when his cousin Madeline enters the picture, it is his chance to get away from the troubles in his marriage. Audley also gives us a range of character that has us following along with his part of the story.
Ireland as Madeline comes into the picture and brings laughs, childhood stories and wants to help the couple. Scott is thrilled his cousin is coming around to bring a little fun but Meg sees her as I did – completely irritating and creepy. That being said, I was fascinated with the way she behaves and the sharpness of speech. So well done!
Other cast include Paula Lord as the woman in the woods, and Michael Neeson as Joe.
Last Rodeo Studios is a team of accomplished film producers, writers and entrepreneurs with collective film credits that have been featured in film festivals around the world. These include Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, LAFF, SIFF, Telluride, DOCNYC and DIFF. These films have also been nominated for Golden Globes, BAFTA and Academy Awards. For more please visit www.lastrodeostudios.com.
SOMEWHERE QUIET is a well-written and even more well-filmed thriller. This is my favorite genre of ‘horror’ films because is has more to do with our own fears than blood and gore. Writer/director Lloyd takes the very simple premise and consistently pokes from all sides never letting us once off the hook.
The combination of what is real and what might be imagined had me thinking I needed paper and pen to keep notes! I loved that so much because it challenged what I saw and what I thought I saw within the story and what is presented on film. Keeping the cast small and the sets simple is also another favorite of mine and it lends itself so much to allow the focus to be on Meg.
SOMEWHERE QUIET is a treat and the cast is the one handing out the candy!
In the end – what is real?
