by Michele Pearson:
This month, I traveled to Hollywood for my most anticipated vacation of the year: Shriekfest. I have been looking forward to this since I first learned of the festival just over a year ago. I decided at that time to write a screenplay (my first ever and adapted from my short story Cold). I submitted it, even though it really was no where near ready, and didn’t make it into the festival. It was all good. I was on the newsletter email list and was paying attention when the wonderful Denise Gossett put out the call for judges. What the hell, I said, and sent her an email saying I’d love the opportunity. I’m a lifelong horror fan and I’ve written horror film reviews for All Horror.net. True, not the most prestigious of resumes but Denise gave me the opportunity and I’m so honored that she did.
During judging I saw about forty films, both features and shorts, and I know that they are just a fraction of what were submitted. I was so glad that some of the films I saw made it into the festival as they truly deserved it. It’s great to see so much talent and originality coming out of the indie film world in this world of remakes and franchise sequels. So let’s take a look at the films that made it in.
Features
The Employer
Written and Directed by: Frank Merle
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Dastmalchian, Paige Howard, Michael Lorenzo, Matthew Willig, Katerina Mikailenko, Nicki Aycox & Billy Zane
Five people wake in a locked room to find that they are in the final interview of their dream job. The question asked: Who among you has the killer instinct? Slowly they learn what kind of employer they are dealing with…and who wants the position bad enough to kill for it? An interesting premise that explores the lengths people will go to get what they want.
Muirhouse
Written and Directed by: Tanzeal Rahim
Starring: Iain P.F. McDonald, Kate Henderson, Steve Lynch, Libby Ashby and David Saporito
Don’t ever go ghost hunting alone! This Australian horror film (and the only international feature screened) was filmed on location at the Monte Cristo Homestead. Based loosely on actual experiences documented by visitors to the homestead, Muirhouse recounts the visit by ghost hunter Phillip Muirhouse. After learning that his crew has been delayed, he decides to investigate the haunted house alone. What follows is POV footage (thankfully, they went easy on the shaky handheld) and a lot of loud noises, some good jumps inducing moments and a lot of screaming. Since this was filmed on location, it’s apparent they were not able to do a lot with the house (it’s an historic landmark and antique museum) which explained why this was probably tamer than it could have been.
Devoured
Directed by: Greg Olliver
Written by: Marc Landau
Starring: Marta Milans, Kara Jackson, Bruno Gunn and Tyler Hollinger
An immigrant mother is working in a restaurant in New York City, trying to earn enough money for a life saving operation for her son. Suddenly, she finds herself being stalked by evil forces that threaten to harm her. What I liked about this film is that you really did not know what was happening to this poor woman. Is the restaurant haunted? Is she just crazy? The end was definitely unexpected and drew an audible gasp from the audience.
Mimesis
Directed by: Douglas Schulze
Written by: Joshua Wagner & Douglas Schulze
Starring: Allen Maldanado, Lauren Shafer, Sid Haig, Courtney Gains
Following a horror convention after party, a group of strangers wake to find themselves unwittingly cast in a real life horror movie. They quickly realize that they have rules they must follow in order to survive. A very original concept and was definitely fun to watch. A new and interesting take on the zombie genre.
Revenant
Directed by: Derek Cole
Written by: Stephen Twardokus
Starring: Stephen Twardokus, Liesel Kopp, Jon Gale
I’ve already expressed my love for this film many times. A struggling writer rents a reportedly haunted house with his girlfriend in the hopes of turning his experiences into a book. He quickly learns that there are some things better left alone. This is a truly scary haunted house film with live special effects which make it all the more real. During the screening, people were literally cowering on the floor. Given the audience, this speaks volumes for this film. I myself was curled up in a ball, even though I had already watched this once during judging and knew what was going to happen!
Found In Time
Directed and Written by: Arthur Vincie
Starring: MacLeod Andrews, Mina Vesper Gokal, Kelly Sullivan, Derek Morgan
Chris is a psychic who experiences his life out of order, his past, present and future a jumbled crossword puzzle. When he commits a murder in his future, he struggles to rearrange his past and present to prevent it from happening. This film drew rave reviews from the Shriekfest audience and won Best Sci-Fi Feature!
The House With 100 Eyes
Directed by: Jay Lee & Jim Roof
Written by: Jim Roof
Starring: Jim Roof, Shannon, Malone, Larissa Lynch, Liz Burghdorf, Drew Hopper
I struggle to review this film because it is one that I actually hated. I didn’t hate it because it was a badly made film or it had a horrible premise. I hated it because I felt dirty having seen what I did before I walked out. Yes I did, in fact, walk out of this film, as did a number of people. It’s a POV film about a deranged couple who set out to make snuff films in their house using runaways found on the streets of Hollywood. Part of my problem with the film (and a common complaint among both those who stayed and those who walked out) was the screeching sound that played through most of the video camera shots. It was completely unnecessary and did nothing but annoy the audience. My main reason for walking out was that the actress playing a seventeen year old girl looked more like she was twelve or thirteen. As a mom of an almost eleven year old, this struck a little too close to home.
Last Kind Words
Directed and Written by: Kevin Barker
Starring: Brad Dourif, Spencer Daniels, Marianne Hagan, Sarah Steele, Clay Wilcox, Alexia Fast
Eli and his parents return to their childhood farm where he meets the mysterious Amanda. Quickly falling in love with her, he learns that the line between the living and the dead is blurred. This film is beautifully shot and has a haunting (pardon the pun) soundtrack and flow. I have yet to see another film with this storyline and was impressed with the originality.
It’s In The Blood
Directed by: Scooter Downey
Written By: Sean Elliot and Scooter Downey
Starring: Lance Henriksen, Sean Elliot, Rose Sima, Jimmy Gonzales
One of my favorite features and winner of Best Thriller Feature. Estranged father and a son head out on a relationship building hike only to find themselves trapped by an entity. Who or what this entity is or where it came from is almost irrelevant as they find that they must battle their inner demons to escape the physical one. Winner of Best Thriller Feature.
Nailbiter
Directed by: Patrick Rea
Written By: Kedal Sinn
Starring: Erin McGrane, Meg Saricks, Emily Boresow, Sally Spurgeon
The last feature of the festival. A different take on the werewolf genre but with odd plot holes. A mother and her daughters are trapped in the basement of a farmhouse during a tornado. After the storm has broken, they find something else is holding them hostage. This film had some beautiful shots and a nice budget that seems to have been spent on helicopter shots and skimped on creature effects.
This film won Best Horror Feature Film. Given the competition, I was surprised at this outcome.
Short Films-My Favorites and the Winners
There were so many shorts, which you can see on the Shriekfest schedule. I’ve decided to highlight those that I personally enjoyed and I heard a lot of response to in the audience.
Blue Hole
Directed and Written By: Erik Gardner
Starring: Scott Speiser, Caitlin Rose Williams, Drew Wicks, Aubrey Mozino, Jesse Kristofferson, Jennifer Jones
Based on a true story and actual place in New Jersey, a madman claims that an eerie pond, near a cabin in the woods, can bring back the dead.
Blackout
Directed and Written By: James Bushe
Starring: Genna Foden, Darren Sean Enright, Dan Wheeler, Cole Dines
When a mysterious blackout strikes the nation, a small group of robbers decide to use this to their advantage. Unfortunately, something else is too. A good horror short with some fun laughs. Winner of Best Horror Short Film.
She’s Having A Baby
Directed By: Chris and Robert Smellin
Written By: Stefan Meza, Chris Smellin and Robert Smellin
Starring: Wendy Bos, Tommy Clifopoulos
Now this was twisted. A woman will go to any lengths to get pregnant, even kidnap and murder. A bizarre and disturbingly funny entry from Australia.
Requiem For The Undead
Directed and Written By: Melvin de Jesus Jimenez Najera
Starring: Romeo Navarro, Fernando Venega, Mauricio Islas Bennetts, Alexandra Lemur
Set in post zombie apocalypse Mexico, a member of the anti-zombie police force must rethink how he deals with the un-dead when he is bitten himself.
Fortune Faded
Directed By: Alexander Heringer
Starring: Folkert Ducker, Sarah Kempin, Stefanie Kern, Kai Baeuerle
Told in reverse chronological order, in this super short film we see the events that led to the fire which destroyed a man’s life.
Survivor Type
Directed and Written By: Billy Hanson
Starring: Gideon Emery
A disgraced surgeon is stranded on a deserted island following a cruise ship wreck. Finding a camera, he decides to document his stay and his struggle to survive. Based on a story by Stephen King. This film brings whole new meaning to the phrase “full of yourself”.
The Sleepover
Directed By: Chris Cullari
Written by: Chris Cullari and Jennifer Raite
Starring: Carolyn Jania, Gus Kamp, Josh Feldman, Kristine Blackburn, Walker Davis
A small town has lived with The Slasher for years, so much so that it’s become a way of life. Unfortunately, no one told the new kid. A cute film that has my favorite bumper sticker ever. Winner of Best Super Short Film.
Dispatch
Directed By: Stefano Argenziano
Written By: Sean Elwood
Starring: Paolo Capzzo, Nadia D’Amico
An entry from Italy, this solo performance is gripping and plays on our primal fear of what we cannot see. Tim, a 911 operator, gets a call that will make his night unforgettable.
The Dump
Directed By: Rebekah McKendry
Written By: David Ian McKendry
Starring:Matthew Currie Holms, Jack Bennett
By far, the funniest short of the festival. Two unrelated serial killers run into each other in their body dump site. After a brief argument, they begin to talk about their profession..and the stereotypes that exist about it.
Damien Shadows P.I.: Psychic Investigator
Directed By: Edward Romero
Written By: Eric Hollerbach
Starring: Eric Hollerbach, Ian Longway, Martin Cummins
A delusional internet ghost hunter struggles for recognition. After his partner is “possessed”, he finds a new partner to investigate his biggest find yet. I laughed until I cried, as did others around me. We were still laughing about this hours later.
Stay At Home Dad
Directed By: Andrew Kasch and Cody Goodfellow
Written By: Cody Goodfellow
Starring: Matthew Currie Holmes, Alisha Seaton, Trent Haaga, Ricky Grove
An out of work dad undergoes a bizarre experimental treatment. The second short to star Matthew Currie Holmes but a bit more bizarre than The Dump. Definitely funny.
Seance
Directed By: Tallie Brinson III
Written By: Tony Germinario
Starring: Brandon Heitkamp, Steven Molony, Lindsay Shelton, Farley Jackson
Two friends attend a seance when one is unable to sleep. They learn way more about themselves and their past than they intended.
Realitory: Welcome to the Machine
Directed By: Michael Condro
Written By: Michael Condro, Colin Costello Starring: Deprise Brescia, Derron Ross, Samantha Cutaran, Robert Craighead, Kaylena Mann
Another one that touched home…but in a good way. When their daughter is kidnapped and murdered by a pedophile set loose by the system, a family decide to take matters into their own hands and exact the most appropriate form of justice.
A Light In The Darkness
Directed By: Fed Wetherbee
Written By: Fed Wetherbee and PJ Tamayo
Starring: Mark Whitten, Natalie Cordone, Bill Stinchcromb, Chris Lindsay
A Star Wars fan film that tells another story from a galaxy far far away. A young boy sees the Jedi who saved his people get killed by traitors. Years later, he and his friends decide to fight back and reclaim their planet. Winner Best SciFi Short Film.
Michele Pearson is a contributor for DarkMedia. She covers Vampire Diaries and any other films, books, etc that come her way. She reads everything from Lonesome Dove to Game of Thrones and loves epic tv series like Doctor Who and Star Trek: TNG. Michele also loves a good horror film and was able to channel that love as a judge for Shriekfest 2012. Follow her on Twitter at @GirlInRowB and check out her blog at http://www.girlinrowb.com.
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