For the previous four years, After Dark Films has presented Horrorfest: 8 Films To Die For. Each year, Horrorfest has seen eight independent horror films destined for limited release, chosen for theatrical screening in a festival atmosphere over one or two weekends in selected theaters across the country. Last year's Horrorfest was the last, with After Dark Films now replacing it with their Originals, in an even more limited screening. Last year was also the first Horrorfest I couldn't see in theaters, because none of the theaters within an hour's drive of my house were showing it. Now, I finally have my hands on the DVD Box Set of Horrorfest 4, so I can sit down and watch what I missed. And though I took my time finding the time to sit down and watch them, here are my impressions of the final 8 Films To Die For (in the order that I viewed them):
The Reeds
The Final
Dread
The Graves
Lake Mungo
Zombies of Mass Destruction
Hidden
Kill Theory
Conclusion: And that concludes Horrorfest. It was fun while it lasted. I had a good 4+ years. I suppose my last order of business would be to rank this (er, last) year's films, from best to worst - a task that I have been both looking forward to, and dreading...
Lake Mungo
Hidden
The Final
Dread
Kill Theory
The Reeds
Zombies of Mass Destruction
The Graves
Although this year, unlike last year, when there were a couple films that stood as being clearly the best, the ones that stand out were the couple that were clearly the worst. So there's a pretty big gap between The Reeds and ZMD, and I would recommend any of the films above that gap, and I would caution you to avoid those two below the gap.
Showing posts with label horrorfest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horrorfest. Show all posts
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Horrorfest III (2009)
Note: This review was originally posted on Bridge To Better Days. I am reposting it here for archival purposes. It has been backdated to the date of its original posting.
Night 1 - And it begins. Overall, I was quite impressed with the quality of the movies tonight. I had heard that After Dark had put more effort into getting better titles this year, and if the three films I saw today are any indication, it shows. I hope the rest of the titles are up to snuff.
Slaughter
Perkins' 14
Autopsy
Night 2 - You could call it "thriller night". Or, alternatively, "foreign film night". Although the first one is a UK production, so it's very much still in English. The crowds were a lot thinner on a Sunday night. Not that there was any chance of a sell-out last night, but instead of a few other groups, there was just one group of three people during the first movie I caught, and I was alone for the second (and last showing of the night). I'm conflicted about the crowds because, on the one hand, I want Horrorfest to be popular enough to keep coming back, but, frankly, I love it when the theaters aren't crowded with people.
The Broken
Voices
Night 3 - I suppose you could expect it from the "A" schedule, but tonight's films weren't quite on par, in my opinion, with the past two nights. Still, at least 5 out of the 8 films were really good, and it's hard for me to pick just one or two as my favorite (although Autopsy...). Anyhow, here's what tonight's films were like:
Dying Breed
From Within
The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations
Night 1 - And it begins. Overall, I was quite impressed with the quality of the movies tonight. I had heard that After Dark had put more effort into getting better titles this year, and if the three films I saw today are any indication, it shows. I hope the rest of the titles are up to snuff.
Slaughter
Perkins' 14
Autopsy
Night 2 - You could call it "thriller night". Or, alternatively, "foreign film night". Although the first one is a UK production, so it's very much still in English. The crowds were a lot thinner on a Sunday night. Not that there was any chance of a sell-out last night, but instead of a few other groups, there was just one group of three people during the first movie I caught, and I was alone for the second (and last showing of the night). I'm conflicted about the crowds because, on the one hand, I want Horrorfest to be popular enough to keep coming back, but, frankly, I love it when the theaters aren't crowded with people.
The Broken
Voices
Night 3 - I suppose you could expect it from the "A" schedule, but tonight's films weren't quite on par, in my opinion, with the past two nights. Still, at least 5 out of the 8 films were really good, and it's hard for me to pick just one or two as my favorite (although Autopsy...). Anyhow, here's what tonight's films were like:
Dying Breed
From Within
The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Horrorfest II (2007)
Note: This review was originally posted on Myspace. I am reposting it here for archival purposes. It has been backdated to the date of its original posting.
Night 1 - Setup: Waterfront Theatre was nice. There was a lot more cars on my way out (around 10) than on my way in (around 6). I was surprised that the screen dedicated to Horrorfest was such a small room. I counted only 85 seats. But, to be fair, there were less than 15 people in each of the two showings I caught tonight. Hey, I like smaller crowds, but I hope a) Horrorfest doesn't go out of business, and b) the Waterfront doesn't join the Destinta in believing that Horrorfest isn't worth the commitment. There was at least one other group, a woman and a younger girl, who stayed on for both of the showings I saw, and one person at the end of the second showing I caught commented on the film using the phrase "this one", suggesting that she had seen other Horrorfest titles. Just exciting to know that people are getting into the festival experience and not just happening to catch one on a whim.
Unearthed
The Deaths of Ian Stone
Night 2 - My second day of Horrorfest was a lot of fun, and the average quality of films was definitely higher. There were also more people, this being a Saturday night. I got a chance to dine at Uno's, which is on the Waterfront. That was a treat, since Uno's is one of the best restaurants ever, and I don't often get a chance to eat there. Then it was an evening of three films to die for! And the best part - I think I've found my favorite for this year's festival! There's still three films to go, but I have a good feeling about this one. (FYI, my favorite from last year was The Abandoned).
Lake Dead
Mulberry St
Tooth And Nail
Night 3
Nightmare Man
Crazy Eights
Borderland
Conclusion: I'm still gonna say Tooth And Nail is my pick for favorite. Overall, I had a great time at Horrorfest this year, and, it's kinda hard to tell but, I'm tempted to say the quality of this year's films was a little bit better than last year, despite what anyone might tell you. I've heard that the fest has been doing a lot worse than last year, in terms of box office sales, but I don't know all the details. I do hope that Horrorfest returns next year, though. It's great fun for a horror fan, and though the quality of the films varies, I have yet to be disappointed in the overall experience. So here's to next year!
Night 1 - Setup: Waterfront Theatre was nice. There was a lot more cars on my way out (around 10) than on my way in (around 6). I was surprised that the screen dedicated to Horrorfest was such a small room. I counted only 85 seats. But, to be fair, there were less than 15 people in each of the two showings I caught tonight. Hey, I like smaller crowds, but I hope a) Horrorfest doesn't go out of business, and b) the Waterfront doesn't join the Destinta in believing that Horrorfest isn't worth the commitment. There was at least one other group, a woman and a younger girl, who stayed on for both of the showings I saw, and one person at the end of the second showing I caught commented on the film using the phrase "this one", suggesting that she had seen other Horrorfest titles. Just exciting to know that people are getting into the festival experience and not just happening to catch one on a whim.
Unearthed
The Deaths of Ian Stone
Night 2 - My second day of Horrorfest was a lot of fun, and the average quality of films was definitely higher. There were also more people, this being a Saturday night. I got a chance to dine at Uno's, which is on the Waterfront. That was a treat, since Uno's is one of the best restaurants ever, and I don't often get a chance to eat there. Then it was an evening of three films to die for! And the best part - I think I've found my favorite for this year's festival! There's still three films to go, but I have a good feeling about this one. (FYI, my favorite from last year was The Abandoned).
Lake Dead
Mulberry St
Tooth And Nail
Night 3
Nightmare Man
Crazy Eights
Borderland
Conclusion: I'm still gonna say Tooth And Nail is my pick for favorite. Overall, I had a great time at Horrorfest this year, and, it's kinda hard to tell but, I'm tempted to say the quality of this year's films was a little bit better than last year, despite what anyone might tell you. I've heard that the fest has been doing a lot worse than last year, in terms of box office sales, but I don't know all the details. I do hope that Horrorfest returns next year, though. It's great fun for a horror fan, and though the quality of the films varies, I have yet to be disappointed in the overall experience. So here's to next year!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
After Dark Horrorfest: 8 Films To Die For (2006)
Note: This review was originally posted on Myspace. I am reposting it here for archival purposes. It has been backdated to the date of its original posting.
Night 1: I saw the first three movies of Horrorfest tonight. It was fun, and the movies were pretty good. I've included brief descriptions and my reactions to each of the movies below. I've also included for each movie reasons I think that these particular movies might be considered too graphic for general audiences (and hence, why they're a part of Horrorfest).
Reincarnation
Unrest
Dark Ride
Night 2: I saw three more Horrorfest movies tonight. And once again, I've included brief descriptions and my reactions to each of the movies below (as well as reasons I think that these particular movies might be considered too graphic for general audiences). I'd like to say that the quality as well as the creepiness of the movies shown tonight were generally higher than the movies shown last night. But it's no surprise they'd save the better movies for Saturday night.
The Gravedancers
The Abandoned
Penny Dreadful
Night 3: Well, I just saw my last movie of Horrorfest. I regret not being able to see Wicked Little Things, but the schedule was earlier for Sunday and it was just too early for me. I do not, however, regret missing Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror.
The Hamiltons
Night 1: I saw the first three movies of Horrorfest tonight. It was fun, and the movies were pretty good. I've included brief descriptions and my reactions to each of the movies below. I've also included for each movie reasons I think that these particular movies might be considered too graphic for general audiences (and hence, why they're a part of Horrorfest).
Reincarnation
Unrest
Dark Ride
Night 2: I saw three more Horrorfest movies tonight. And once again, I've included brief descriptions and my reactions to each of the movies below (as well as reasons I think that these particular movies might be considered too graphic for general audiences). I'd like to say that the quality as well as the creepiness of the movies shown tonight were generally higher than the movies shown last night. But it's no surprise they'd save the better movies for Saturday night.
The Gravedancers
The Abandoned
Penny Dreadful
Night 3: Well, I just saw my last movie of Horrorfest. I regret not being able to see Wicked Little Things, but the schedule was earlier for Sunday and it was just too early for me. I do not, however, regret missing Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror.
The Hamiltons
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