Another Hole in the Head Festival Movie Review: Dead Body (2015)

http://sfindie.com/festivals/another-hole-in-the-head-film-festival-2014/

Dead Body (2015)

85 min

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

2015 (USA)
Directed by Bobbin Ramsey
Writing Credits: Ian Bell Ramon Isao
Nine high school kids celebrate graduation at a secluded home in the wilderness. They fight, philander, and feel nostalgic as they embark on a life away from home, in college. Once the party dies down they play a game: Dead Body. But when one party-goer takes the game too far, actually murdering the other guests one by one, it's up to the group to set aside their tensions, and ferret out the murderer before it's too late.

At first glance this looks like a typical slasher movie. But it isn't. Yeah, there is a killer going around brutally murdering a group of high school graduates who have gone to a cabin in the woods (where there is no cell coverage! *gasp*) to celebrate. But this there is much more to the story and a surprising motive behind killing.

The movie opens with Ilsa running through the woods and trying to hide from our killer. She is finally caught and can't believe who it is. Then it cuts to 12 hours earlier when she arrives at her friend Dominic's cabin to celebrate graduation. It was supposed to be just the two of them and two exchange students who live with Dominic's family. But Ilsa brought along 5 other friends. All the characters are classic slasher fodder stereotypes, but it works in this case. Then the murdering starts. The movie catches up to the opening scene and we find out how things turn out.

The film was surprisingly more terrifying than I thought it would be. The actors really sell it well. Kudos to them all for a great job. The story kept me guessing and questioning what I thought was going on, but I didn't see the classic psycho killer motive coming! 

Overall a great horror/thriller movie and worth a watch. It does have some gruesome scenes that are more disturbing because of the anger behind them than the actual visual.

4.25 "Let's play a game" Sheep

SharonS

Another Hole in the Head Festival Movie Review: Nina Forever (2015)

http://sfindie.com/festivals/another-hole-in-the-head-film-festival-2014/

Nina Forever (2015)
Rating: Unrated
98 min 

Genre: Horror, Comedy
14 March 2015 (USA)
Directed By: Ben Blaine, Chris Blaine

Written By: Ben Blaine, Chris Blaine
Stars: Fiona O'Shaughnessy, Abigail Hardingham, Cian Barry
Official Site
Holly wants to save Rob and has fallen in love with him. She is training to be a paramedic and works a dead end job in a supermarket where Rob is the only remarkable thing; lost and angry since the death of his girlfriend Nina. Drawn into a relationship, the first time they're in bed together so is Nina. A tangled and bloody mess of broken limbs, she is very much dead but still here, still talking, still angry... However Holly doesn't freak out and run - she is determined to be the one who heals Rob's wounds. She can deal with the dead girl sharing their bed, their lives, their minds. If it's what Rob needs, it's what Holly will do, whatever the consequences...

After his girlfriend Nina dies in a car crash, Rob unsuccessfully attempts suicide. As he begins to overcome his grief, he falls in love with a coworker, Holly. Their relationship is complicated when Nina, unable to find rest in the afterlife, comes back to life to sarcastically torment them whenever they have sex. The premise of Nina Forever is one that could easily descend into camp or gratuitous territory, but instead deftly walks a fine line as it navigates its story and emotions. Holly (Abigail Hardingham) begins a relationship with supermarket coworker Rob (Cian Barry) as he works through his grief over the accidental death of his girlfriend, Nina (Fiona O'Shaughnessy), and a past suicide attempt of his own. As their relationship grows, things take a turn for the weird when every time they have sex Nina appears, usually in bed with them, looking as broken and bloody as she presumably did at the accident scene that caused her death. 

As odd as the film is, it’s a brilliant odd that gets under your skin and makes you think about the nature of relationships, mourning, and closure. Rob and Holly’s relationship follows a believable progression and while there is a decent amount of nudity and sex, it’s never gratuitous. Instead, it emphasizes their growing romance and just how much of an imposition Nina’s presence is when she shows up. I was pleased that Rob and Holly’s relationship got away from just sex and into issues like learning who a person really is and the trials of moving in together – an event not helped along by Nina’s constant, taunting presence. It’s more of a relationship horror movie romance, but it’s one that has the ability to make you genuinely uncomfortable just as easily as it can make you laugh or empathize for the characters.

The cast is excellent all the way around. David Troughton has some wonderful moments as Nina’s father and Cian Barry brings a believable progression to Rob working through his grief and the strange turns it leads him through. Stand-out performances, though, are definitely O’Shaughnessy as Nina and Hardingham as Holly. Not only is it great to see such unique and multi-faceted women’s roles, but these ladies bring depth to both characters. O’Shaughnessy delivers a deliciously sarcastic performance while still coming off as a looming threat and, at times, genuinely vulnerable. Her physical acting is just phenomenal, as well, and when coupled with the special effects gives a performance that’s sometimes hard to watch but harder to look away from. Hardingham is impressive in the emotional range she showcases as Holly grows from naïve girl who doesn’t want to be seen as too sweet or too young, through the love she pours into her relationship with Rob, to where she eventually ends up. She makes Holly’s decision to not run from Nina believable, and her vulnerable performance makes watching how her good intentions turn around and bite her that much more poignant. At the end of the day, Holly’s journey dominates the film as Rob’s baggage and her insecurities eat away at her the more Nina gets in her headspace, and Hardingham makes it a tremendous journey to watch. Her exchanges with O’Shaughnessy are some of the high points of the movie.

The film showcases the themes of relationship baggage, grief, and self-consciousness, things everyone can relate to. The witty script by Ben and Chris Blaine and killer music are a bonus. The ending is a realistic take on closure, and I appreciated that they went there instead of trying to wrap everything in a neat bow.

4.5 bloody romantic sheep



Guest Reviewer: Selah Janel

Another Hole in the Head Festival Movie Review: Hunting Grounds

9/3/16 UPDATE: Today Indiewire announced U.S. distribution for the film will come from Uncork'd Entertainment and the film's title will be changed to Hunting Grounds. An exact release date is TBA.

The film will retain its original title and poster art (see below) in foreign territories.

http://sfindie.com/festivals/another-hole-in-the-head-film-festival-2014/

Hunting Grounds
original title: Valley of the Sasquatch (2015)
Director: John Portanova Starring: Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Jason Vail, David Saucedo, D'Angelo Midili, and Bill Oberst Jr.
20 February 2015
Horror, Thriller

Running Time: 91
Country: USA
After losing their home following a devastating tragedy, a father and son are forced to move to an old family cabin. Neither reacts well to being thrown into this new world. The son's attempts to relate to his father are complicated when two old friends arrive for a weekend of hunting. This trip into the forest will unearth not only buried feelings of guilt and betrayal, but also a tribe of Sasquatch that are determined to protect their land.

Coming soon to a film festival near you. Get more information at valleyofthesasquatch.com

This isn't your typical horror movie. Instead of focusing on the outside threat, Sasquatch, the film makers chose the father and son dynamic. There is still monster killing madness, but this is more of a drama about how people react when put in life threatening situations. 

The beginning of the film shows the beautiful Washington state mountain wilderness. Once it was time for Sasquatching all the shots were in the dark and most of the time I couldn't tell what was happening to who. They used an actor to play Sasquatch but you only get glimpses of him or one of his appendages. He looked like Chewbaca's stunt double. Gave the movie an old school feel, before the days of CGI.

The movie centered around the teenage son, Michael, played by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte and his acting out shone the others. 

It wasn't what I expected, but there were a few twists. While Sasquatch obviously reacts because its territory is being invaded, there is no reason shown for one of the most important plot twists. 

3 "Don't mess with my family" Sheep

SharonS

Go to Indiewire to see new trailer

Another Hole in the Head Film Festival 2015!

It's time for the annual Another Hole in the Head Film Festival in San Francisco, CA. Starting tomorrow, I Smell Sheep will be screening some of full length movies! All the details about the festival and the film program guide are below. Keep an eye out for our reviews over the next 10 days.

Our annual festival of horror, sci-fi, dark fantasy and exploitation cinema defies convention to bring you the most outrageous genre films from both emerging and established filmmakers. Ten days of celluloid mayhem not usually found in your local cineplex!

“San Francisco’s original genre film festival is characterized by a scrappy, DIY aesthetic that eschews big studio content and recent trends towards elevated genre. Holehead’s programming remains curatorially committed to the genre’s graphic roots in shockploitation, visceral thrills and gleeful mayhem.” – Michael Guillen, The Evening Class

THE COMPLETE 2015 FILM PROGRAM + SCHEDULE

Download the HoleHead program guide as an app:

Google Play Store Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eric.sfindiefest

Apple itunes Store

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sfindiefest/id937353416?mt=8

Press Release: Another Hole in the Head Film Festival 2012

I Smell Sheep will be screening 4 films from Another Hole in the Head Film Festival #9! Here is the list of the movies I will be reviewing along with links to their trailers followed by the press release for AHITH#9. Good times!

The Amazing Adventures of the Living Corpse

Animated Feature, Justin Paul Ritter 2012

President Wolfman

Mike Davis 2012

Deadball

Yudai Yamaguchi 2011

Slice and Dice: The Slasher Film Forever

Calum Waddell 2012

Press Release

ANOTHER HOLE IN THE HEAD

FILM FESTIVAL 2012

November 28th to December 9th, 2012

At Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison St, Victoria Theater, 2961 16th St, Roxie Theater, 3117 16th St, and Vortex Room 1082 Howard Street in San Francisco

Attention freaks: ANOTHER HOLE IN THE HEAD FILM FESTIVAL is back for its 9th year of psychotic savagery and bloody pandemonium. San Francisco's original genre film festival will screen 54 films in 11 days, November 28 through December 9, 2012, at Terra Gallery, Victoria Theater, Roxie Theater and Vortex Room. For Tickets and more information, please call (415) 820-3907 or visit www.sfindie.com

Viewers will be soul-sickened and morbidly offended as they watch murderous maniacs, evil ghosts, Nazis in space, a werewolf President, and zombies galore! 28 features and 26 shorts from here and abroad will screen at four venues in the Mission and SOMA. If you’re truly hard core about horror, if you’re a dork for dark fantasy, or if you’re a freak for crazy sci-fi, then you can’t miss ANOTHER HOLE IN THE HEAD #9

Click for more info about times, pricing and movies being shown...