Bloodfest Fantastique Film Festival

Afternoon, cretins!

It's always a pleasure to announce more home-grown horror events here in Oz, especially those that promote all kinds fright fare. If you're a local movie buff here in Melbourne you're more than likely aware of the terrific Hello Darkness Film Festival, another like-minded genre fiesta soon to program its 3rd year in operation. Curated by MUFF (Melbourne Underground Film Festival) founder Richard Wolstencroft and presented by Monster Pictures, the Bloodfest Fantastique Film Festival kicks off its inaugural celebration this year in St Kilda, Melbourne, by showcasing a wide variety of both science fiction and horror delicacies over the course of nine highly anticipated days!

The heart of the idea behind BFFF is perhaps best described by the man himself, Mr Wolstencroft:

"We will have a theme at Bloodfest as we do at MUFF. Why? Because that kind of thing is not done at Australia’s so-called “quality” film festivals. Most totally lack any personality and curatorial direction and distinction and we like to buck that trend. The theme of Bloodfest is futurism and barbarism. As we move further in to the 21st Century we see a lot of disharmony, discord and violence all around the world. The horror and dystopian science fiction film totally examines this situation and prepares us for what could be a bleak future. Harlan from Videodrome described it thus, “The West is getting soft, patrón, and the rest of the world is getting tough. Very, very tough. We’re entering savage new times and we’re going to have to be pure and direct... and strong... if we’re going to survive them."

The festival commences June 10th and concludes on the 18th and will be held at the St Kilda Memo (88 Acland Street). Tickets for the opening and closing nights are available via info@bloodfest.com.au whilst all other passes can be purchased at the door on the night of each screening.

Visit the official website for more details, including a full downloadable program.

Hope to see you maniacs there!

St Kilda Film Festival 2011: 'Horrorpalooza'!

Evening, cretins!

It's time for another plug in the name of the grotesque! Yes sir, one of Melbourne's most renowned filmic celebrations, The St Kilda Film Festival, has come to greet us again and is more welcome than ever. 2011 marks the festival's 28th year in operation and will this time be run at the locale's esteemed Astor Theatre - the perfect temple for the worthy worship of celluloid. Could there be a better union of time and place? Yeah, didn't think so.

Of particular interest to genre fans, however, will be the festival's gnarly 'Horrorpalooza' segment: a compilation of old exploitation trailers played back-to-back for a straight ninety minutes! The set has been curated by native Melbourne filmmakers Jamie Blanks (Urban Legend, Valentine, Storm Warning) and Mark Hartly (Not Quite Hollywood, Machete Maidens Unleashed!) and will definitely prove a delight for fright fans and devotees of vintage movie marketing material. I know I'll be there!

'Horrorpalooza' will be screening from 10:30pm-12am this Saturday (May 28th) at the Astor Theatre (1 Chapel Street, St Kilda). Tickets can be purchased through the St Kilda Film Festival's official website.

Hope to see you maniacs there!

Next MHFS Screening: 'Scanners'

Afternoon, cretins!

Next week at The Melbourne Horror Film Society marks our first David Cronenberg screening and one of the 'King of Venereal Horror's best early efforts. Here's a hint: it involves a secret sect of psychic warriors, the unforgettable Michael Ironside and an exploding head. You guessed it - we're showing Scanners!

So, if you're a horror fan or even a novice to the cinema of the impossible, please don't hesitate to drop by this Tuesday (the 17th) at 1000 £ Bend and we'll be sure to get the show on the road by 7:30pm!

Remember: their thoughts can KILL!

Sydney Film Festival 2011: 'Freak Me Out' Full Line Up!

Evening, cretins!

A little while back I reported the current 'Freak Me Out' line up for this year's Sydney Film Festival, consisting of Mutant Girls Squad, Troll Hunter and Tucker & Dale vs Evil (CLICK HERE to read the post). However, today the FULL list was released on the festival website, featuring another six - count em' - SIX titles!

The recent additions are as follows:

Corridor (2010)
Director: Johan Lundborg, Johan Storm
Starring: Emil Johnsen, Yiva Gallon, Peter Stormare
Country: Sweden



Things couldn't be better for Frank, a confident young medical student who lives alone in a nice apartment and has no need for time-consuming distractions such as meaningful interaction with other human beings. That is until he meets Lotte, his needy upstairs neighbour whose unannounced and unwanted visits start getting on his nerves.

End of Animal (2010)
Director: Jo Sung-hee
Starring: Park Sae-kyung, Kim Yeong-Ho, Lee Min-ji
Country: South Korea



On a lonely stretch of road a cab driver and his pregnant passenger, Sun-yeong, pick up a possibly psychic and potentially dangerous young man who counts down to zero and then disappears. At the same instant all electrical and mechanical devices stop working. That's just the start of an utterly riveting drama that finds Sun-yeong encountering a succession of deeply damaged strangers on what she hopes is the path to safety.

Hobo With A Shotgun (2011)
Director: Jason Eisener
Starring: Rutger Hauer, Molly Dunsworth, Gregory Smith
Country: Canada/USA



Cult kingpin Rutger Hauer is baaaack! Starring in the sleaziest piece of gutter trash to hit the screen in years, the 67-year-old is dynamite as an unnamed Skid Row bum who arrives (on a freight train, natch) at the hellhole of Hope Town and doesn't like what he sees. Helped by hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold Abby, the pissed-off pensioner swaps his walking stick for a shotgun and points it in the direction of the nastiest crime family you're ever likely to meet.

Kill List (2011)
Director: Ben Wheatley, Amy Jump
Starring: Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley, MyAnna Buring
Country: UK



Jay's got problems. His marriage to Shel has descended into a screaming match, his £40,000 stash has disappeared and he hasn't worked in eight months. A former soldier who hasn't recovered from a 'stormy' mission in Kosovo, Jay's a hit man and he's hit rock bottom.

Septein (2011)
Director: Michael Tully
Starring: Michael Tully, Robert Longstreet, Onur Tukel, Jim Willingham
Country: USA



Cornelius (played by writer-director Michael Tully), a Christlike figure and brilliant sportsman, has returned after an 18-year absence. Amos creates grotesque art in the barn, while Ezra dons a frock and does the housework. Then there's Wilbur Cunningham, who lives in a tyre in the backyard. When a plumbing problem needs fixing the you-know-what really hits the fan.

Stake Land (2011)
Director: Jim Mickle
Starring: Nick Damici, Conner Paolo, Kelly McGillis
Country: USA



Striking the perfect balance of bloody thrills and pungent social commentary, ace director and co-scripter Jim Mickle (remember that name) centres his tale on teenage orphan Martin and his tough-as-nails vampire-slaying guardian, 'Mister', surviving on the road after America is overrun by bloodthirsty beasts. What separates this film from the pack is the added threat posed by Jebediah, a fanatical Christian fundamentalist whose followers believe the monsters have been sent by the Almighty himself.

The festival kicks off on June 8th and continues through until June 19th.

Once again, visit sff.org.au for more information about booking tickets, venues, etc.

Short Review: 'Drive-In Delirium: Vol.1 & 2' (various)

There’s something I’ve always adored about old movie trailers. Unlike today’s bloated, spoiler-riddled spiels that do a better job at destroying a movie’s prospects than enticing people to see it, the sincere, almost naive marketing strategies of the 60s, 70s and 80s spawned some of the most memorable film previews ever to appetize a main feature. Ironically enough, film trailers of yesteryear were often far more honest in their intentions than anything seen today at your local multiple, including censor-free lashings of squalid sex and venomous violence!

So, if you’re a nostalgic film nut like me and love it when a distributor manages to unearth a hidden gem or two, then you’re gonna love Umbrella Entertainment’s recently released Drive-In Delirium: the ultimate vintage trailer collection! Spread over 8 discs and clocking in at over 23 hours (yep, you heard right!), this staggering collection presents countless trailers from a wide variety of sub-genres within grindhouse cinema such as biker movies, women in prison movies, revenge flicks, kung-fu films, slasher films, Italian cannibal epics, nazi exploitation and many more, all in their original aspect ratios. Each trailer is allotted into a separate category (the occasional unavoidable cross over occurring from tiem to time) and easily accessed via scene selection menus on each disc as well as being listed within the reverse cover art. Nifty ‘intermission’ tags and ‘snack bar’ promos are also included, featuring some of the funkiest food and drink products this side of a Chucke Cheese commercial.

Volume #1’s segments are:

* Chicks In Chains
* New World Nuggets
* Psychic Terror
* Undead and Loving It!
* Bad Muthas
* Read ‘Em Their Rights
* Ninja Fu
* Nature Gone Wild!
* Stalk ‘N Slash
* An Eye For An Eye
* Shaken Not Stirred
* Pop The Clutch
* Tune In. Turn On. Drop Out.

Volume #2’s segments are:

* Giallo A-Go-Go
* We Are Going To Eat You!
* Don't!
* British Blood And Bosoms
* Sexy For Satan
* A Fist Full Of Euros
* Satan Made Me Do It
* Spooked
* The Creature Wasn't Nice
* Cosmic Carnage & Funked-Up Futures
* Hard Naked Truth

It goes without saying that this cavalcade of coitus and carnage is nothing short of spectacular. If you’re a connoisseur of sinful cinema or even have the slightest appreciation for the magic of movie marketing, Drive-In Delirium is more than worth your time.

Both boxsets can be purchased through Umbrella Entertainment’s official website.