Originally released in 1981, The Killing of America is a “documentary of the decline of America.” The film is a collection of news footage and interviews about violent events that have happened in the United States up until the murder of John Lennon in Manhattan in 1980 and the violence at the gatherings following his death.
The Unraveling (2015) [FrightFest 2016]
As his fiancée is expecting his child, Michael struggles with his heroin addiction. As his habit threatens his growing family, he is kidnapped and taken to the woods. Written by Thomas Jakobsen and Justin S. Moore and directed by Jakobsen, the film takes the addiction head on then moves in surprising directions. The characters built are believable within the film’s established boundaries but also as humans. What happens to them is not something everyone will go through but their reactions make sense, their actions as well. One twist was a nit off feeling but once it’s passed, the film resumes being believable.
Crow (2016) [FrightFest 2016]
A rich land developer buys a big piece of land on which stands a protected forest and wants to clear most of it to build a mansion for his wife and himself. Standing in his way are a group of travelers squatting the land and its farmhouse. As he forces them out and starts clearing the land, forces show their discontent.
Abattoir (2016) [FrightFest 2016]
Julia, an investigative reporter, starts looking into the disappearance of complete rooms from houses where violent deaths have occurred. As she gets closer to the truth, things and people get weirder. Her investigation puts her life in danger as she gets too close and discovers more about the rooms and herself.
Francesca (2015) [FrightFest 2016]
In Italy, a detective and an inspector investigate a string of murders happening in their city. They are soon led to a 15 year old kidnapping case which may shed some light on their current investigation. Director Luciano Onetti with his co-writer Nicolas Onetti builds an almost perfect old school giallo, however it was shot in 2015. Their film builds a story and characters straight out of the subgenre and these create an entertaining film about two police detectives looking for a serial killer.
Lost Solace (2016) [FrightFest 2016]
Spence is a sociopath who preys on rich women in their times of need. He starts off as the absolute perfect boyfriend, the man most women want: He’s romantic, thoughtful, takes charge when needed, helpful, and he’s good looking. In reality, he’s cold, calculated, doesn’t care about anyone, he’s a sociopath. After he meets his new mark Azaria, he gets in deeper than usual with her family as his health takes a bad turn.
Através de Sombra (Through the Shadow) (2015) [FirghtFest 2016]
Brazil, 1932, during the coffee crisis, Laura takes a job for a rich man to go to his coffee plantation and be in charge of his niece and nephew and to take care of their education. While attempting to take full control of the situation at the plantation, Laura starts hearing and seeing things no one else is, things she may be imagining or simply the only one who can hear and see them.