I had a tremendous amount of fun at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
The curators selected a wide variety of unique horror films, all of which speak to different communities and tones. From the wild fun of Christmas Bloody Christmas, to the urgent aggression of Give Me An A, to the subdued haunting of The Harbinger, there was something for everyone at the festival. Here are a few films I caught at the festival you’ll want to keep your eye on:
Something In The Dirt– an intriguing take on a haunted house story, Something In the Dirt perfectly encapsulates how easily people can be controlled by tapping into narcissism and egotism. Directed by Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson (who also act as the two leads John and Levi respectively) , the film follows two neighbors, trying to uncover strange anomalies in their apartment building. The film subtly frames their excavation in as pretentious and egotistic a light as possible, making it funnier and more demented as they’re led down a self-destructive maze of clues and conspiracy theories. What starts as a fun conspiracy excavation slowly reveals the worst in the two leads, as their egotism is only further validated with each clue they uncover. Building on the Lovecraftian themes of the directors’ previous film, The Endless, it almost feels like the two are being guided on this journey by some otherworldly force. I like that this force isn’t explicit; it’s just hinted at and felt throughout the film, forging a creepy atmosphere. Something In The Dirt is a unique vision that will reward anyone along for the ride.
Something In The Dirt is now playing in theaters
Mother Superior– An intriguing take on folk horror, director Marie Alice Wolfszahn makes the unique approach by tying witchcraft with eugenics. The film follows Sigrun (Isabella Händler), who starts a new position as the strange Baroness Heidenreich (Inge Maux)’s housemaid, so she can learn more about her family history. This journey leads Sigrun into the world of eugenics and the occult. While the film is a bit slow, the way it builds its occult mythology on racial purity is incredibly creepy. Tying the eugenic elements to Sigrun’s search for her own identity adds a sinister edge to her bond with the Baroness. It’s incredibly chilling to see how a seemingly fulfilling desire, like finding one’s family, can be warped and manipulated into something more sinister. Mother Superior is an intriguing watch for folk horror fans wanting something more character driven and timely.
Swallowed- a fun crime thriller, Swallowed at first feels like a by-the-numbers drug mule plot as we follow two friends, Ben (Cooper Koch) and Dom (Jose Colon), forced to smuggle drugs across the border. The strong performances, the chemistry between the leads, and the strong direction carry us through a typical first half. But once the genre elements reveal themselves, the intensity cranks to 11 and does not stop. Jose Colon’s performance makes you feel his character’s pain with every hit, as he gives an intensely physical performance. Cooper Koch also delivers as a friendly and fun guy who feels almost hijacked into a horror movie. His performance feels more like something out of a comedy or coming-of-age film, so when he’s contrasted with the horror elements, his fear speaks volumes. Plus, when Mark Patton (from A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 and subject of Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street) appears in the final act as a crime-lord, he delivers a hilariously terrifying performance. Seeing Mark Patton go over-the-top in any movie is always a joy, and his performance in Swallowed is no exception.
Old Flame- Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault. Directed by Christopher Denham, Old Flame is a unique take on the rape-revenge subgenre because it relies more on dialogue than action. The film follows two ex-college lovers, Calvin (Andy Gershenzon) and Rachel (Rebeca Robles). They confront each other at an alumni party when Rachel accuses Calvin of raping her back in college. The film is almost entirely dialogue-driven, and the performances from both Gershenzon and Robles perfectly carry the movie. Robles does a great job showcasing an edge that couples with her vulnerability, hinting at sinister things to come. Gershenzon is particularly performative and hatable; you can feel his grating phoniness that eventually becomes more threatening as the mask slips away. I appreciate this dialogue approach to the usually traumatically graphic genre, though unfortunately, the film does suffer some contrived writing issues where characters will make decisions that make no sense to move the plot along. Also, the ending isn’t as satisfying as I’d like it to have been, considering the intense build-up, granted I’m more a fan of the action oriented films within the subgenre, like Ms. 45 or Thriller a Cruel Picture. Still, the film is commendable for how strongly its performances carry the film and worth checking out.
Old Flame is available now to watch digitally
Mother, May I- An uncomfortable weird take on a possession story, the film follows two newlyweds, Anya (Holland Roden) and Emmett (Kyle Gallner) who house sit in the home of the Emmett’s late mother. Overtime, Anya starts acting strangely, revealing that she’s slowly becoming possessed by a spirit of Emmett’s recently deceased mother. Directed by Laurence Vannicelli, Mother, May I’s uneasy tone and slower pace kept me guessing, helped by the off-putting performances. At first, the stilted dialogue bothered me but half-way through when the film truly revealed itself, everything clicked. It was cool seeing a possession film where the horror comes from the anxieties Emmett is forced to confront when tackling the possession, not just the possession itself. The script effectively lays the groundwork of Emmett and Anya’s dynamic, making Emmett’s fears more relatable while handling the possession.
Mother, May I will be released by Dark Sky Films in Spring 2023
