We are back with a brand new programme

and just as the nights are getting longer

our theme is also the darkest of the year.

Same as last year following the science fiction theme is the horror theme or as we call it the Dark theme just because some titles stretching the word horror a bit. We found it very hard to decide on each film as we had so many candidates and was only 100% set on one title. But we think we managed to put together a great selection of well known classics and more obscure titles; some older, some very recent titles and exploring several subgenres of horror at the same time. Some weeks we even doubled up the selection but still the rejects could make a full dark season equally great as this one. And luckily we forgot few titles while making the programme all which would make the selection even harder. We will include some of them at the end of our post. But let us see which ones made the cut.

 

28.10. Zombie Flesh Eaters by Lucio Fulci (1979)

Strangers looking for a woman’s father arrive at a tropical island where a doctor desperately searches for the cause and cure of a recent epidemic of the undead. (imdb)

Released in Italy as Zombi 2, people searching to this day for part 1. The reality is that Romero’s ‘Dawn of the Dead’ was released in Italy as Zombi and the producers wanted to cash on that. Even though some argue it is superior to Romero’s classic. Watch out for the shark against zombie scene.

30.10. special screening: Socialist Zombie Massacre (Socialisticky Zombi Mord) (2014)

Failed Russian experiment gone horribly wrong is brought to Czechoslovakia during the 1968 invasion and forgotten about. Some 15-20 years later the gas is accidently released in a Slovak school turning the students into bloodthirsty zombies. Only the janitor, former Russian special forces, knows what is going on. And he intends to keep it that way.

Film was made by students in Slovakia with a budget of 19,152 Euro and 49cents. For a genre done to bits there are many original moments in the film and some cheesy dialogues somehow fit into the whole thing perfectly as well. Sexy female students shooting machines guns and wielding hammers and sometimes their shirts are getting ripped off…it is a amateur film done right.    

04.11. Vampire double bill:

What we do in the Shadows by Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi (2014)

Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are finding that modern life has them struggling with the mundane – like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.(imdb)

Mockumentary from New Zealand made by Taika Waititi (director of ‘Boy’ one of our first screenings) and Jemaine Clement (known for Flight of the Conchords) If you know and like the humour of either of these guys you are in for a treat. Otherwise I guess you have to like this style of intelligently done silly humour to appreciate the comedy genius that is ‘What We do in the Shadows’

Only Lovers Left Alive by Jim Jarmusch (2014)

A depressed musician reunites with his lover, though their romance – which has already endured several centuries – is disrupted by the arrival of her uncontrollable younger sister.

Jim Jarmusch is the king of independent cinema and our love for his movies was talked about before several times. Maybe except ‘Limits of Control’. Therefore we will just say another masterpiece by the master.

After our first week dedicated to zombies this week is all about vampires. And since the ‘Twilight’ movies gave the subgenre a very bad name we wanted to show how to do it right. Another suggestion would be “A girl walks home alone at night’ (2014) an Iranian spaghetti western vampire romance.

11.11. Deep Red (Profondo Rosso) by Dario Argento (1975)

A musician witnesses the murder of a famous psychic, and then teams up with a feisty reporter to find the killer while evading attempts on their lives by the unseen killer bent on keeping a dark secret buried.(imdb)

‘Giallo’ means yellow in Italian but it is mostly red that used in the films in the genre referred to by this term. Giallo films are generally characterized as gruesome murder-mystery thrillers, that combine the suspense of detective movies with scenes of shocking horror, featuring lots of gore, stylish camera work and often beautiful  musical arrangements. They are considered as the inspiration for the American slasher films of the 80’s. The most famous directors include Lucio Fulci, Mario Bava, Sergio Martino and of course Dario Argento. Dario Argento better known for ‘Suspiria’ is also the director of our giallo film of choice and his masterpiece ‘Deep Red’

18.11. Plan 9 from Outer Space by Edward D. Wood Jr. (1959)

Aliens resurrect dead humans as zombies and vampires to stop humanity from creating the Solaranite (a sort of sun-driven bomb).(imdb)

Labelled as the worst movie of all time made by the worst director of all time Ed Wood. But they are also those who consider him a genius and this film a masterpiece so come and judge for yourself. The making of this movie was depicted in the Tim Burton movie ‘Ed Wood’ starring Johnny Depp, which we recommend to watch if you need some background for this film. It was the last film appearance of the brilliant Bela Lugosi.

25.11. The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock (1963)

A wealthy San Francisco socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people there in increasing numbers and with increasing viciousness.

We just realized we never had a Hitchcock movie in our programme so far and therefore shame on us.

02.12. Taxidermia by György Pálfi (2006)

Three generations of men, including a pervert that constantly seeks for new kinds of satisfaction, an obese speed eater and a passionate embalmer.(imdb)

It is very hard to describe this film in few sentences, so we just going to say to trust us on this and if you should choose one film one of the programme make it this one. It is crazy, violent, shocking, deep, symbolic…a must watch. Some symbols will be lost on those not familiar with the culture but it is still powerful viewing for everyone.

Part of the ongoing Visegrad Film Festival project.

09.12. Alien & Aliens screening as one movie

We already received some confused questions about our last entry in the programme. So let us explain. The plan is to show Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien’ (1979) and go straight into James Camerons ‘Aliens’ (1986) as if it were one movie. This will require of you two things. 1.To be a fan of the franchise 2.Lots of coffee.

Every film will be supported by the scariest and coolest horror short films we could get our hands on. Screw Christmas it will be Halloween until we say its over. Bwuahahaha….

some of the other movies considered: Jacobs Ladder, Eraserhead, Dead Man’s Shoes, Shining, The Exorcist, Repulsion, Audition, Evil Dead, Santa Sangre…