Zombie Command

Day 1 of Frightfest and it’s my first time at any sort of film festival. Not being able to convince anyone else to sit in a darkened room for 5 solid days and watch 26 movies back to back, plus the fact I bought the 2nd last weekend pass meant that I was flying solo on this one for the most part.

Luckily I knew one other guy that was going through Twitter and a few IMs (@baker2d) but was still looking for something to do before the first film started. Another Twitterer (@_dangerous of Gorepress) got in touch saying that people were going to Captain’s Cabin for a few drinks before hand and I thought it’d be a good idea so went to meet him.

Having picked up my tickets and goody bag I arrived at the bar a little earlier than he did but some other people from the forum were there and I got chatting to a few of them. One of the girls there (whose name I immediately forgot) gave me the single greatest thing ever but you’ll have to wait to see what it was. After a few beverages we went up to The Empire Cinema.

Taking my seat I got talking to a girl called Emma, from IndieMoviesOnline.com who was sitting next to me and was to be there the whole weekend. The first film up was the world premiere of Christopher Smith’s TRIANGLE, starring Melissa George.

TRIANGLE -

When Jess (Melissa George) sets sail on a yacht with a group of friends, she cannot shake the feeling that there is something wrong. Her suspicions are realized when the yacht hits a storm and the group is forced to board a passing ocean liner to get to safety, a ship Jess is convinced she’s been on before. The ship appears deserted, the clock on board has stopped, but they are not alone… Someone is intent on hunting them down, one by one. And Jess unknowingly holds the key to end the terror.

Initial thoughts – This was a really good film to start Frightfest with, despite some inconsitancies in the plot. The couple of occasions where Emma jumped 6′ in the air meant I thought I’d be able to guage how scary movies were by her reaction (since I’m the rock solid, stoicly heroic type). Unfortunately it was not to be as after returning from chatting with some others I found a little note saying she was going home to write up TRIANGLE. That’s dedication!

Second film of the short first day (only 3 films) was THE HILLS RUN RED. Dave Parker returns to movie horror after The Dead Hate the Living (currently enjoying a pitiful 3.3 on IMDb), so I wasn’t expecting much.

THE HILLS RUN RED –

Film student Tyler (Tad Hilgenbrink) is obsessed with the infamous slasher film ‘The Hills Run Red’ starring the iconic maniac Babyface. No known print exists, only a grainy internet trailer, and the enigmatic director disappeared after the only public screening of his lost masterpiece. Wanting to document the whole weird story Tyler has searched for persons connected to the film to interview. Finally he locates the director’s daughter, Alexa (Sophie Monk), the only survivor but traumatized from being tormented on-set, she’s reluctant to revisit her experiences until Tyler compels her to guide his film crew into the backwoods where the film was shot. Once there, they realize too late he film’s principal photography never ended.

Initial thoughts – Despite being direct to DVD, this was actually a rather good slasher film. There’s one genuinely brilliant moment and is competent in most other regards but mostly it falls down when compared against the films it references. Still it’s what I expected to see coming into it and so didn;t disappoint.

Between the main features Frightfest also screens shorts, skits, documentaries and making’s of and the first up also happened to be the first with zombies, woohoo!

DEADWALKERS (despite sounding like a zombie version of Marvel’s [or should that be Disney's] Blade) is a western short by Spencer Eastabrooks.

DEADWALKERS –

Bounty hunter and gunman Jack Link (Michael Shepherd) has a knack for trouble, but when he stumbles into a town cursed with the undead, he might have bitten off more than he can chew. If you thought the western was dead, you were right!

Initial thoughts – DEADWALKERS was a bit of a disappointment for me, primarily as some of the effects were really quite good but the zombies were made up like The Joker with white face paint and black eyes. Spending a bit of time on a few latex wounds would have gone a long way. The final let down was that the set-up was good and the pay-off had potential but it just wasn’t executed well enough for me to want to see any more.

Last up for the night was INFESTATION, which promised zombies on the picture in the Frightfest program but instead delivered bugs. Many people disappeared for this last movie, as often happened across the event as tiredness from travel and sitting in the dark set in.

INFESTATION –

Our hero, Cooper (Chris Marquette), awakes to find himself nauseous, weak and covered in webbing, hanging from the ceiling of an office where, just minutes ago, he started his new job. As he struggles out of his slimy prison he comes face to face with his opponent – a grotesque, powerful and very angry bug. All 3 ft of it. And so begins a hideous, nail-biting, comedic, all-action adventure to find a safe haven while constantly outwitting an infestation of monstrous proportions. As Cooper embarks on his journey, he befriends a ragtag group of survivors including Sara (Brooke Nein), a feisty attractive female. Although the situation is dire, Cooper can’t help himself from trying to solve his dating problem while trying to save his life. Will they make it to safety before they are picked off one by one? And what other surprises are in store for our group of unlikely heroes?

Initial thoughts – Film of two parts, often funny but the bug infestation setting trying to take itself too seriously, it would have been better going for pure comedy. Some dodgy special effects also lessen the impact the bugs have though solid performances from all the cast elevate it above being just a made for TV movie.

Finally I had the scariest part of the day – the drunk bus home. Wasn’t too bad though but the hour+ journey home was going to be a constant battle for getting up again the next day. First day at Frightfest was good :)