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I am so bad at this live coverage business. The fest is winding down, I’ve seen dozens of
movies, and I’m just now finishing my post of the first day. I may have bitten off more than I can chew. At least I can’t be fired from my own
blog. Without further ado, day 2.
Movie 4: HAGAZUSSA: A HEATHEN’S CURSE
Beautifully shot, glacially paced, and confusing as fuck,
still not sure how I feel about this 15 Century witch tale by Lukas Feigelfeld. There are some great moments, but it’s even
harder to engage with than THOROUGHBREDS.
Good if you are in a Terrence Malick style meditative mood. Not recommended for new mothers or people who
like clean food.
Movie 5: LET THE CORPSES TAN
This Belgian ode to Italian giallo, filmed in Corsica, LET
THE CORPSES TAN should have been tailor made for me, but the editing speed and
relentlessly intrusive effect shots completely pulled me out. Directors
Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani don’t let up for a second, which is a
pity, since there are some breathtaking shots in here. Any highlights were immediately buried by the
next fifty unnecessary effects rolled out the next minute. I might appreciate it more on the next watch,
but this time it was like I was watching while wearing a helmet filled with
multicolor LED fireflies.
Movie 6: KING COHEN
Now this one was
tailor made for me. Larry Cohen is one
of my favorite filmmakers, and this doc goes deep into his colorful career. Cutting together scenes of his work with
interviews with the likes of Scorsese, Joe Dante, and Fred Williamson, it
emphasizes Cohen’s guerilla style of shooting without permits, staging
elaborate action scenes in airports and New York landmarks with no one the
wiser. The best interviews were with the
man himself. Cohen’s comedian roots
shine through in every wise ass story he tells.
To top it all off, Larry Cohen was present for the screening and turned
the Q & A afterwards into a rollicking, hilarious extension of the
doc. Cohen and actress Laurene Landon
then switched theaters, leading straight into my next movie…
Movie 7: MANIAC COP 2
Believe it or not, I’ve never seen MANIAC COP 2. So the opportunity to see a 35mm screening
with writer Larry Cohen and star Laurene Landon (Hundra herself!) attending was
a dream come true. It was not a disappointment. I’m definitely doing a full review on this
film soon (since it is currently available), but again, the most entertaining
part of the experience was Cohen, live and unfiltered. This Q & A was even wilder, with Landon going
on about her fear of star Robert Davi’s rumored foot fetish and Cohen’s
detailed breakdown of a real maniac cop case from the ‘90s. I feel sorry for any mediator trying to
wrangle Larry Cohen, the man is a force of nature.
Movie 8: APPLECART
Going in, I knew nothing about this slick, low budget horror
movie, but it can all be summed up in two words, Barbara Crampton. The story of a family holiday to a secluded
lodge in the woods destined to go south is bounced off a True Crime style
television show inaccurately documenting the tragedy that unravels. Points to first time director Brad Baruh’s ambitious,
if not entirely successful, execution.
My biggest issue was the flatness of the video, and the lack of
distinction between the real footage and the TV reenactment stuff. The effects and creature design are nice, but
the real reason to watch are the outstanding performances by AJ Bowen as the
dad and Barbara Crampton deliciously digging into her villain role. The ‘80s horror queen is clearly having a
blast, especially as she spooks the shit out of the family before all hell
breaks loose.
Literally scratching the surface here, so there is much more
to come. Eventually.
C Chaka
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