Fantastic Fest: Relocos y Repasados (High Five)

Fantastic Fest 2014

Screening #12

Relocos Y Reposados IMDb

Wow!  A Stoner Comedy from Uruguay.  And a very good one too.  I fucking loved it.  Very trippy sequences.  Munchies everywhere.  Funny dialogue.  Can't get better than this in the stoner genre.  You got a group of five people conducting an "experiment."  Each one of them gets high with a different drug.  Shit starts happening and before you know it, there are people covered in shit.  Well, one of them at least.  There are chase scenes. Madness everywhere.  I love the grocery scene where our lead character, high on lsd, gets into it in the milk aisle.  Oh, lots of metal and rock music here too.  Haven't seen a great Stoner comedy in a while.  Thank you, Fantastic Fest.  Thank you.  Time for some munchies.

I can't wait to add this one to my Stoner section.

The director, producer, and one of the actors were present.

Fantastic Fest: Spring (2014)

Fantastic Fest 2014

Screening #11

Spring IMDb

I enjoyed this subtle sci-fi romance.  The whole movie was entertaining.  Good dialogue.  Good unpredictable moments.  And I think I'm in love with the main actress, Nadia Hilker.  She can be a sweetheart whenever she doesn't show her "bad" side in this movie. Love the cinematography too.  Italy looks very beautiful.   The sci-fi elements don't show up until the second half.  It has a little bit of horror too.  Sweet movie I would recommend to couples who love their genre movies. 

Fantastic Fest: From The Dark (2014)

Fantastic Fest 2014

Screening #10

From the Dark IMDb

I went to this screening by accident this morning. I was supposed to go see a press screening of Tokyo Tribe but they were having technical difficulties.  One of the volunteers misdirected me to a theatre thinking I was going to see another movie and instead, it was this Irish horror.  I didn't like it. A predictable monster horror flick.  These monsters are like vampires.  It all takes place in the middle of nowhere in Ireland.  This couple are on the road and boom, all of a sudden, they get stuck on mud.  They split up.  It gets dark.  Vampirish monsters are out.  The couple must survive the night without getting bit. That's it.  I woke up at 7am to accidentally see this.  At least I'll get to see Tokyo Tribe later.

No trailer found for this movie.

Fantastic Fest: The Town That Dreaded Sundown(2014)

Fantastic Fest 2014

Screening #9

The Town That Dreaded Sundown IMDb

This slasher flick is a remake of a 1976 movie.  Never seen it.  This didn't bring anything fresh to the genre. Just your typical horror where teenagers make out in the car before getting killed.  It's a small town in the border of Arkansas and Texas.  The town's drive-in theatre is showing the original Town That Dreaded Sundown and all of a sudden some kind of copycat is also slashing victims.  It's got an 80's vibe to it.  Kudos for the kill scene using a knife strapped to a trombone

Overall, I didn't connect well with this so I wouldn't personally recommend it.

Fantastic Fest: In Order of Disappearance (2014)

Fantastic Fest 2014

Screening #8

In Order of Disappearance IMDb

Fuck yes!  I'll say it again, Fuck yes!  Nothing better than a revenge film with gangsters in it and also being a dark comedy.  This Norwegian film reminded me of a lighter version of Fargo.  Good characters.  You know you're in for a treat when both the protagonist and the antagonist are awesome characters.  Let's not forget the "Serbs" led by the one guy who played Hitler in the movie, "Downfall."  Good stuff.  Love that they put title cards of names everytime a person dies.  This movie also has a great shootout towards the end.  Tarantino style!  This was my number one anticipated film at Fantastic Fest when I did my research and it delivered.

So far this is my favorite film at the festival.  Let's see what other crazy shit I get myself into.

Fantastic Fest: The Absent One (2014)

Fantastic Fest 2014

Screening #7

The Absent One IMDb

Decent detective mystery in the same vein as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo movies.  As a matter of fact, this Danish film is based on a best selling book.  This movie is part two.  Part one is the movie, "The Keeper of Lost Causes" also by the same director.  This movie is a slow mystery ride to a hardcore third act.   The main detective is tryng to solve a 20 year double murder case when the only witness pops up.  Enjoyed it. Lots of deceit and scandals here.  

While it may not be among my top of the festival, I still think is worth checking out if you love your detective mysteries.

Fantastic Fest: I Am Here (2014)

Fantastic Fest 2014

Screening #7

I Am Here IMDb

Excellent Drama with a fairy tale vibe to it starring Vicky Vale (excuse me, Kim Basinger).  It's in English but it's from Denmark and Germany.  Good performances.  Kim Basinger plays Maria.  She can't have a baby and can't wait for the adoption process so she takes desperate measures and goes on the road to find a baby.  Not just any baby.  She wants to rescue a baby from a prostitution ring controlled by the Russian mob.   With the help of a dwarve, yes, you heard me right, she goes on her mission.  A spiritual baby that talks to God also guides her.  It's a slow moving movie but touching as well.  Nice to see a cameo by Peter Stormare (Fargo) as the Russian prostitution mob leader.  Enjoyed it!

The director of the film was present for a Q and A.  He directed a ervenge movie that was a hit in 2007 called "Princess." Gotta check it out.

No trailer found for this movie.