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Sitges 2024: Clever Ghost Comedy 'Dead Talents Society' from Taiwan
How do you reinvent movies about ghosts? This is how. One of my favorite discoveries from the 2024 Sitges Film Festival is this delightfully kooky, hilarious, charming, clever film from Taiwan called Dead Talents Society. It can be labeled as a horror comedy, but it's so much more than just that. This first premiered at the 2024 Taipei Film Festival in Taiwan earlier this year, then screened at TIFF and Fantastic Fest before sliding into Sitges. It's another one of these indie gems films that I'm glad I took the time to watch, because amidst so many mediocre and forgettable horror films in 2024 (sorry but too many of them are awful), this one really stands out. Directed by John Hsu, Dead Talents Society is a bit of a Beetlejuice remix - it's not the only new Beetlejuice movie this year! Ghosts are the main characters – people who have died in horrible ways who haunt the living despite not being seen by them. However, the film is light and fun and witty, and what makes it great is it progresses to places I was not expecting at all, reminding us that we can be better.
› Posted on October 16 in Horror, Review, Sitges | Comments
Sitges 2024: Fleur Fortune's Thought-Provoking Film 'The Assessment'
There are an endless number of films about parenting (another good one this year - Nightbitch). There are always more stories to tell, and more ways to tell these stories. But few films about parenting are ever this intelligent, this thought-provoking, this compelling in their depiction of humanity's choices with parenting. The Assessment is a new science fiction film directed by French filmmaker Fleur Fortune, making her feature debut in what is irrefutably one of the most impressive feature debuts of 2024. Set in the near future when parenthood is strictly controlled, it's about a couple who wants to have a baby so they're put through a seven day "assessment" of their viability as parents. This film is so earnest and meaningful, so fascinating and entrancing. I cannot stop thinking about it. So many thoughts, so much to discuss. Layers upon layers, so much to analyze, with extraordinary filmmaking bringing it all to life... I'm in awe. This will be on my Top 10 of the year - it's one of these amazing indie creations that instantly earns a spot on your list of favorites.
› Posted on October 14 in Review, Sci-Fi, Sitges | Comments
Sitges 2024: 'The Rule of Jenny Pen' is an Instantly Iconic Horror Film
Who rules? Jenny Pen rules! Holy freaky hell this film is an instant horror classic. Yes, seriously. A knock out. What a film! What a fright! A new horror icon is born. The Rule of Jenny Pen is an outstanding new horror feature from New Zealand that premiered at Fantastic Fest 2024 before touring to 2024 Sitges Film Festival for its European debut. I'm so glad I was there to witness it and incur the wrath of Jenny Pen. As always, the best horror films are experienced with passionate horror audiences watching something together for the very first time, fully into the screening, cheering and applauding and gasping when all the craziest moments happen. The Rule of Jenny Pen isn't really the scariest horror film, and it doesn't really need to be. Modern horror doesn't have to be "scary" anymore to be good, that's obvious by now. But it is terrifying in an extraordinarily disquieting "I never, ever want to experience anything like this in my life ever" way. A guy who wears a doll on his hand torments old people? Ohh hell no. This is such a bonkers horror concept that shouldn't really work at all, but it does, oh it totally does, especially with this great cast and this filmmaker.
› Posted on October 13 in Horror, Review, Sitges | Comments
Sitges 2024: Spanish Stuck-on-the-Moon Thriller 'Luna' is a Disaster
Spain, we have a problem. I don't enjoy writing negative reviews and I don't feel good about bashing films. I try to remain positive and talk about what I love. But sometimes there's a movie that is just so terrible, so miserable, such a waste of time and talent, that it is necessary to write about just so that the film industry can learn from their mistakes. I doubt they will. They will continue making bad films like this one. But at least I expressed my frustration and dissatisfaction in hopes that maybe they would spend money on better projects next time around. Luna (which translates to simply Moon) is a Spanish science fiction thriller film directed by filmmaker Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas. Because it's an entirely Spanish production made mainly for Spanish audiences, the film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sitges Film Festival in Spain/Catalonia. It's bad. Like, really bad. Luna is one of these awful films that makes me want to actually stop anyone about to watch it and implore they do not waste any time or money on it. Alert, alert – avoid this film at all costs.
› Posted on October 12 in Review, Sci-Fi, Sitges | Comments
Sitges 2024: Riveting Countdown Thriller 'Zero' from Jean Luc Herbulot
Tick tock, time is running out. Will you be able to complete your mission? One of the most riveting, under the-radar films premiering this fall on the genre film festival circuit is called Zero - the latest feature from talented Congolese filmmaker Jean Luc Herbulot. It premiered at both Beyond Fest and the Sitges Film Festival in Spain – which is where I caught up with it – and still doesn't have enough attention yet. Herbulot made a splash back in 2021 with his film Saloum, a neo-Western thriller set in Africa, his second feature film at the time. That one also took time building up buzz before it eventually got a US release (trailer here). His third feature is Zero and it's his most provocative yet, taking aim at America this time, as it's about two Americans who wake up in Senegal with bombs strapped to their chests. Why? What's going on? What's the point? Are they being used - if yes, what for? Who is manipulating them? So many questions at the start that the film does eventually answer in distinct & surprising ways. It's really refreshing to see Herbulot continue to make edgy genre films that are unlike anything else made by North American and European filmmakers.
› Posted on October 10 in Review, Sitges | Comments
Venice 2024: Best of the Fest - Brady Corbet's 'The Brutalist' By a Mile
Each year, I am honored to have a chance to return to the beautiful city of Venice in Northern Italy to attend the Venice Film Festival and catch the latest films premiering there. This year's festival ended up being a mostly low-key, fairly uneventful event. Much like Cannes earlier in the summer, most critics went home wondering why it was such an unimpressive year. it's time to present my picks of my favorite films from Venice 2024. I've chosen only 6 of the best of the fest films that deserve to be highlighted - it's just not a "Top 10" year for fests. This was my eighth year returning to Venice, and I'm always glad to be back, even if there aren't a ton of great films. In total, I watched around 34 films at Venice this year, unfortunately only a handful of them were worthy. Brady Corbet's epic The Brutalist is the best film by a mile - nothing else is even remotely close to being in its league. It's a towering, monumental, majestic masterpiece and I'm glad we had the chance to experience it together at the festival during its initial unveiling. I always do my best to watch as many films as I can, hoping to find any hidden gems and breakout hits amidst the global selection.
TIFF 2024: Impressive Solo Ukrainian Sci-Fi Film 'U Are the Universe'
There's a Ukrainian sci-fi film floating around in the 2024 Toronto Film Festival line-up that is worthy of everyone's attention, especially sci-fi fans. U Are the Universe is the title of a 101 minute indie sci-fi film written and directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Pavlo Ostrikov - his feature directorial debut after a few short films and TV series previously. Even more remarkable is that this feature film was entirely written and shot in Ukraine during the ongoing war that started when Russia invaded in 2022. Specifics as to how and where they filmed and how they pulled it off aren't yet available, but all that matters is they made a damn good sci-fi film in the middle of the hell of war in Ukraine. It's obviously a very minimal production - there's only one actor starring in the film, it's both written & directed by Ostrikov, along with a small team of producers and filmmakers behind-the-scenes. The set design, the sci-fi concept, the VFX, everything about this little film is impressive regardless of where or how or when it was made. This is damn good filmmaking no matter what.
› Posted on September 11 in Review, Sci-Fi | Comments
TIFF 2024: Naomi Watts & Bing the Dog Are Exquisite in 'The Friend'
Falling in love with a dog can change everything. Most dog people already know this but I'll say it again just for the record: a dog is more than just a pet. They are a family member, they are your best friend, they love you unconditionally, they keep you on your toes, they make the world a better place, they bring unabashed happiness and beauty and joy and love to everyone they interact with, along with a few occasional woofs and growls. It turns out that 2024 is an extraordinary year for dog movies - more than a few favorites. After enjoying three others that I've raved about throughout the year (Black Dog, Dog on Trial, Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo) I've found my favorite dog movie of 2024 - The Friend. Adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name written by Sigrid Nunez, this film is a much more profound and soulful story of a woman's life changing thanks to a big dog. In fact, the dog really is the star of the show - a massive, cuddle bug Great Dane pooch named Apollo (in real life Bing). The story is actually about suicide and the weight of grief and depression and the struggles that life presents us, all of which is more glaring when a doggo enters your life.
› Posted on September 9 in Review | Comments
Venice 2024: Shahab Fotouhi's 'Boomerang' is a Real Fest Discovery
Hidden within the line-ups of major film festivals are always a few surprises, a few outstanding discoveries that prove cinema is still evolving and growing in invigorating ways. I am happy to report that Boomerang from Iran is one of these discoveries from the 2024 Venice Film Festival line-up. It premiered in the 2024 Venice Days sidebar, also known as Giornate degli Autori which is the Venice Directors' Fortnight section. Boomerang marks the feature directorial debut of the up-and-coming Iranian filmmaker Shahab Fotouhi, who studied art and has been working in the art scene for years before finally making the leap into making films. Boomerang is a vibrant Iranian film that is uplifting and smart and vividly shot, so many perfectly composed moments including one where the two of the kids kids climb up a tree on the road in Tehran while a cop car drives by. I adore this film so much I had to rewatch it twice just to get immersed in the vibes and the amazing score and the filmmaking all over again. This is finally exciting cinema I'm always looking for.
› Posted on September 9 in Review, Venice 24 | Comments
Venice 2024: Egyptian Doggie Movie 'Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo'
Mr. Rambo deserves our all the treats and all of our love! It's a particularly impressive year for dog movies - and here is another one that goes right on the list of dog movies that deserve our admiration in 2024. Aside from the Hollywood offerings like Arthur the Dog and Dog Gone, there is a growing selection of indies that are winning over dog lovers worldwide. Black Dog (my review) from China and Dog on Trial (my review) from Switzerland both premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. The Friend with a huge great dane in it just premiered at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival. And this one from Egypt titled Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo just premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival this fall. It's an adorable, heartfelt tale of a man who goes off on an adventure to find a safe forever home for his dog after he gets into a fight with his neighbor. The plot is simplistic and straightforward, but it's still a great dog movie. Now I can't stop thinking about Rambo - he's such a cutie, so expressive and charming. Another masterful doggo in a movie.
› Posted on September 7 in Review, Venice 24 | Comments
Venice 2024: 'Joker: Folie à Deux' Takes Arthur to Court, And That's It?
"Hey Fleck, you got a joke for us today?" The moment has come. Everyone's favorite Clown Prince of Crime in Gotham City is back on the big screen. After five years of waiting, the sequel is finally here. Finally ready to dazzle us with some song & dance. Joker: Folie à Deux, again directed by Todd Phillips, is premiering at the 2024 Venice Film Festival - the very same place where Joker premiered back in 2019 and ended up winning the Golden Lion (here's my review from back then). How will the story continue? Where will Arthur go next? Well, it turns out he's going to court. Again - since this is the second time he's been in court for the events of the first Joker movie. Unfortunately, this time they do hold back. There are not many provocative ideas in this sequel, it's primarily a direct follow-up to the first movie, mainly commenting on & responding to the criticisms of and events within that story. This sequel feels closer to The Matrix Resurrections than anything else, despite being a glorious musical following the DC Comics villains the Joker and Harley Quinn as they find their way out of Arkham. So maybe we never really did need a sequel to the first movie after all?
› Posted on September 4 in DC Movies, Review, Venice 24 | Comments
Venice 2024: Luca Guadagnino's 'Queer' is a Meandering Fever Dream
Earlier in the year, when it was discovered that 2024 would be the year of not one but two brand new films made by the talented Luca Guadagnino, I made a prediction that Queer would be the real knock out next to the more forgettable Challengers. Now that I've seen both of the films it's time to admit - my prediction was wrong. It turns out its the other way around and Challengers is the winner. Luca Guadagnino's Queer is premiering at the 2024 Venice Film Festival in the Main Competition, the same festival where most of the Italian filmmaker's previous films Suspiria, Bones and All, I Am Love, A Bigger Splash, as well as his doc Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams premiered. He's back in Venice again with what has been described as his most personal work yet, an adaptation of William S. Burroughs' very queer novel of the same name - which was originally written in the 1950s but never published until later in 1985. It turns out this adaptation is Guadagnino's Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas - a sweaty, erotic fever dream that doesn't quite work as a film.
› Posted on September 3 in Review, Venice 24 | Comments
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