Small Gauge Trauma 2017 [Fantasia International Film Festival 2017]

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Small Gauge Trauma is a programming block of shorts at the Fantasia Festival that sort of functions as a two hour anthology movie without a wraparound story. The shorts can be in any genre and are chosen by rough theme. In the 2017 edition’s case the theme was “Family” and while I know that this doesn’t sound overtly ominous, trust me when I say that it should.

Before I even start the review(s) I’m going to issue a mild to medium spoiler warning. Short films are, well… you know… short. So I have to talk about something and because the various runtimes are often under ten minutes I may mention stuff that happens towards the end. I promise I won’t ruin any twists and I will try not to describe every aspect of the plot and story, but I have to work with what I got.

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Five Essential Stephen King Movies, and Five You’re Better Off Avoiding

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It’s a pretty interesting time to be a Stephen King fan, as 2017’s seen the emergence of King in almost all media. His works “It” and “The Dark Tower” are being adapted in to highly anticipated feature films, “The Mist” has been turned in to a series for better or for worse, and Scream Factory are re-releasing “Misery” on blu-ray later in the year for fanatics. With “The Dark Tower” coming to theaters very soon, I thought I’d ring in the occasion by highlighting five stellar Stephen King movies, and five you’re much better off avoiding.

What are some King adapted movies you think are worth watching, and what are some you think should be avoided? Let me know in the comments!

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Bushwick (2017) [Fantasia International Film Festival]

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A young woman coming home from school to introduce her boyfriend to her family arrives in Bushwick as an unknown military force is invading and killing people left and right.  As she tries to make her way home, she stumbles upon an ex-military man who helps her in her quest.

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Mayhem (2017) [Fantasia International Film Festival]

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In a law office building with raising tensions and a myriad of issues, Derek Cho is wrongfully fired as a virus takes hold of the workers making them lose all inhibitions and moral barriers.  During the CDC imposed quarantine, Cho and a soon to be homeless homeowner climb up the floors to get justice.

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68 Kill (2017) [Fantasia International Film Festival 2017]

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A man living in an abusive relationship is put through the ringer and finds his inner strength to survive and move on following a wild and crazy night and day.

Based on the novel by Bryan Smith, written and directed by Trent Haaga, 68 Kill is an insane ride filled by crazy, lunatic characters.  The whole thing seems completely nuts and ludicrous but it works.  Somehow, Haaga took all the most ridiculous characters and situations and makes them work in a sort of white-trash opera.  Here all the characters do dumb things for dumb reasons and they almost all are assholes and lunatics, yet the film is crazy fun to watch and has a story that moves at a good, fast pace and leads to a satisfactory ending.  Haaga took all of the most unlikely elements to make one of those film that should not work yet does so beautifully.

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You Only Live Once (Sólo se vive una vez) (2017) [Fantasia International Film Festival 2017]

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After witnessing a crime, a con man goes on the run and hides as an orthodox Jew, bringing his problems to an unsuspecting community.

Based on a story by Sergio Esquenazi, written by Esquenazi and Axel Kuschevatzky, and directed by Federico Cueva, You Only Live Once is one of those completely insane action comedy films that should not work but does.  The film is filled with a series of crazy ideas and turns into a partial comedy of error while also being a good thriller-ish comedy.  The story takes odd turn after odd turn until the very last frame to say the least.  Oddly enough, the entire insanity works, which shows good writing and talented directing.  Of course, a few jokes or attempts at jokes do fall flat and a few are offensive, but the film has so much going on that it’s easy to be entertained by it.

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