As part of our celebration of all things horror in the month of October, we’re having some of our favorite filmmakers, writers, bloggers, and so on write guest blogs for us all month talking about their favorite things in the world of horror and/or Halloween.
Today’s entry comes from our good friend David Louden over at the always fantastic Knifed In Venice with his top five horror films. David decided to make his list consist of only indie films with what we’ll be known as the “Indie Five.”
Over the years in Hollywood and worldwide National film movements there have been many different trends in horror cinema, from the psychological realm of Weimar cinema in Germany with Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to the world of the found footage movie and The Blair Witch Project, Troll Hunter and Cloverfield not to mention the multiple attempts at 3D and other gimmicks including blood oaths and cinema audiences marrying Satan on 42nd Street pre-screening, horror cinema has moved with the times in order to deliver fear. During the 100 years of cinema there has been one constant, not just in horror but in cinema in general. That constant is those working outside of “the system”, the independents, the guerrillas, the men and women who strive to create not to fulfill a contracted requirement but for the sake of creation. I’d like to take a moment to share with you five independent horror films that have captured an audience (no matter how big or small) and are worthy of your consideration…with the lights on…and behind a cushion.
1. The Taint (USA, 75 minutes) Dir. Drew Bolduc, Dan Nelson
The Taint’s been described as the love child of David Cronenberg and John Waters and for me brings back memories of the first time in watched Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste. Not since Jackson have I seen a film that is so enthusiastically and brilliantly made in equal measure. So what’s it about? The water supplied has been tainted with something that turns the males of the community into well endowed mindless, misogynistic zombies. This film was one of my picks of the year over at Knifed in Venice and is still a firm favourite.
2. AM1200 (USA, 40 minutes) Dir. David Prior
Short but oh so sweet from the director David Fincher has dubbed “the next big thing” and decided to champion. It’s a loose HP Lovecraft adaptation about a man who decides to rob him employer before ending up in what can only be described as a hell of his own making. The cinematography alone is reason to watch, make sure you leave the window open as the cabin pressure will get unbearable.
3. Deadville (Northern Ireland, 85 minutes) Dir. Kieran Majury
Most of the country is dead. One man lives alone and in a nightmare as he searches for a cure for his dying wife. Shot for £1,000 Deadville mixes traditional zombie lore with some great writing and cinematography. A little known fact is that one of the film’s producers raised money for the film by doing magic shows at children’s parties.
4. Bobby Yeah (UK, 23 minutes) Dir. Robert Morgan
It’s another short one but a damn good one. Robert Morgan is one of those directors you’ll see in a few years time and get to say “I saw his stuff back when…”. This naughty little animated movie sees Bobby hitting any and all buttons before him, he just can’t help himself and then it hits a wrong one and does a bad thing.
5. Excision (USA, 81 minutes) Dir. Richard Bates Jr.
Ok so this film’s got a little more clout behind it than the previous four but it’s still independent and incredibly well put together. AnnaLynne McCord is downright unrecognisable in the lead role. Excision is out this October in all respective indie cinemas and subterranean flea pits.
-David Louden
No comments:
Post a Comment