Bob presents an Overlook Film Festival overview! Read on for what we’re excited for, along with reviews of what we’ve already seen!
From April 9th through 12th, America’s most haunted city becomes even more spooktacular with this year’s iteration of the Overlook Film Festival, presenting the best and brightest of new silver screen horror. Well, it extends to the 16th with a series of special archival presentations. Let’s also not forget the series of events, panels, and parties.
This year, Overlook is showing 40 genre flicks, of all over in style, tone, and methods, domestic and international, new and archival. It’s a fantastic lineup! Check it out here.
As horror nuts, we’re excited about every single one of them. But we (or Bob writing this) can’t talk about them all, or we’d be here all day! However, we wanted to share some of Cinema Crazed’s top 10 highlights of films we’re looking forward to, in alphabetical order [we ain’t playing favorites]. Some of these are lined up for reviews over the next week. Not telling you which ones! Gotta stay tuned by coming back! Check below for the seven we’ve already viewed and discussed.
PS – Don’t forget the 3 blocks with 26 shorts. As of right now, we’ve seen a good chunk of them. Great stuff. (listing here)
New to us, and can’t wait to experience!
Boorman and the Devil.
Directed by David Kitterage. This may be due to the extreme amount of time I spent on Boorman’s Excalibur from the Arrow release, but I’m all ready for this look at his Exorcist II. The director of this was a commentator on that, and he knows all his stuff. Exorcist II is such an odd film. I need to know all the details. I love a good story of a film’s creation – whether the film went wonderfully or failed on all the wrong ways (like this, sorry). Give it to me!
Buddy
Directed by Casper Kelly (Too Many Cooks, Fun Size segment of V/H/S/Halloween). More from the absurd, messed-up mind of Casper Kelly, genre-twisting meta-sensibilities to his weird whims? Count me in. A girl must escape the murderous turn of a children’s television show she’s stuck within. Michael Shannon and Patton Oswalt? Hell yes.
Drag
Directed by Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitze. Two sisters break into a home for some good ol’ fashioned robbery. Of course, it doesn’t go to plan – one throws our her back, rendering her unable to move. Thus, the title as they must get out when the owner comes home. With Lizzy Caplan and John “Uncle Jessie” Stamos.
Exit 8 [UPDATE: REVIEW HERE]
Directed by Genki Kawamura. Based on a game I’ve not heard of, I’m in for the liminal backrooms sort of thing. I love that sub-genre. House of Leaves forever, and I guess the Backrooms movie is coming soon. Anyway, I’m in for the psychological horror of an endless hallway and repetition. Make me go insane, baby!
Faces of Death [UPDATE: REVIEW HERE]
Directed by Daniel Goldhaber. The infamous VHS series, which asked the viewer to question if it was all real or faked, gets an update when an internet moderator comes across what might be snuff films.
The Furious
Directed by Kenji Tanigaki. Okay, I lied. This might be the one I’m most ready for. Wild action spectacular as a man takes down the syndicate that kidnapped his daughter. All the buzz says this is an insane ride with some of the best action sequences in a long time. I can hear Emelie chattering with excitement.
Grind
Directed by Brea Grant, Ed Dougherty, and Chelsea Stardust. Can’t go wrong with some Barbara Crampton! The Horror Queen is featured in this anthology (I dig those too!) of the horror of working menial jobs.
Marama UPDATE: REVIEW HERE
Directed by Taratoa Stappard. The Victorian Gothic subgenre is infused with colonial ramifications as a Maori woman travels to England to find her family and finds herself as a governess in a home filled with secrets and terror.
Normal [UPDATE: REVIEW HERE]
Directed by Ben Wheatley. Ignoring Rebecca, I have always enjoyed the genre-bending work Wheatley delivers. For Normal, Bob Odenirk uncovers some dark secrets in the seemingly normal town of… Normal. Always up for Odenkirk; enjoying his late career action push.
Over Your Dead Body
Directed by Jorma Taccone. Another director I’m hyped for after his work on Naked Gun and Popstar (and much more), with the writers of Pizza Movie adapting a Tommy Wikola (Dead Snow) flick. And Samara Weaving! Weaving and Jason Seigel play a couple who, separately, figure the only way out of their dead-end romance is to murder the other at a secluded cabin. Seems like a great ride, with confidence from all parties involved.
FILMS WE’VE ALREADY REVIEWED!
As we cover several festivals (including SIFF, FantasticFest, Frightfest, Screamfest, and Fantastia), many of the featured features have been seen and reviewed by the Cinema Crazed Crew. Check those out here, click the title for the review.
American Werewolf in Paris [archival]
Directed by John Landis. The best werewolf picture of all time! Two American hikers get mauled by a werewolf. The dead one has dire warnings for the survivor, who is doomed for lynanthopy. Stay off the moors, and stay in the theatre for the horror-comedy classic.
Directed by BT Meza. After a car accident messes with her memory, Jessica Rothe and her family start to unravel as memories, traumas, and more descend upon them.
Blackout [archival presentation]
Directed by Larry Fessenden. Always up for Fessenden (although not listed above, he has a new release at the festival)! For this film, a small town deals with what might be a werewolf
Directed by Simon Glassman. One of my favorites of last year (okay, it was an honorable mention…), this is 100% up my alley. A small town’s destruction via Lovecraftian forces is followed by public access commercials, PSAs, and news clips. Comicly absurd, this hit that wonderfully cheap and strange public access feel, and tells the story, well, stories with the subplots within the continued commercials, by perfectly designed 30-second spots.
Directed by Brooke H. Sellers. Harkening to the ouvre of John Waters, a young woman finds her independence while her menstrual cramps become literal monsters.
Directed by Gregory Morin. In a dirty French nightclub bathroom, a man gets his head stuck in the open toilet. His attempt to escape is a nasty, tense film of a multitude of gross-outs and surprises.
The Restoration at Grayson Manner
Directed by Glenn McQuaid. An accident leaves a man missing his arms, and his prosthetics give him powers to fight back against his overbearing mother (Alice Krige!)
Final Thoughts
Overlook opens April 9th and runs through April 16th (with the majority of events and showings to the 12th). A fantastic slate of flicks to check out! With so many films just about to be released nationally, the coverage from Cinema Crazed and other outlets can give a jump on what’s going to a great summer of horror! Check back for updates!