By: Addison Wylie Stage Fright is a spirited stab to revive the musical genre through comedy and horror. And thankfully, Jerome Sable’s game attempt at directing such a film satisfies his audience. Call it a yuk-yuck sort of flick. If a filmmaker isn’t working with cartoons or with Disney, it’s a daunting task for someone to make a musical from scratch. Musicals are – sadly – a tough sell in this day and age. Even…
By: Addison Wylie Sometimes, films directed at children – very, very young children – can be recommended based on how bright the visuals are. If the entertainment isn’t stimulating through its story, the film will at least stimulate the senses through its colour palette. That’s sort of the case with The Hero of Color City, a mediocre kids film with not a whole lot to offer. Frank Gladstone’s kiddie film is possibly the most literal…
By: Addison Wylie With every review, I try to inject some insight as to how I felt while watching the movie. Sometimes, I use humour and metaphors to get my point across. Writing has allowed my voice to travel along some creative routes in order to express an opinion about the medium. There’s no feeling quite like finding a conscious flow to your thoughts. With Gavin Michael Booth’s The Scarehouse, I have nothing interesting to…
Domestic Blood (DIR. Alexis Korotash) By: Addison Wylie A young woman awakens her passive boyfriend by reminding him of her blood-sucking roots in Domestic Blood, a clever take on relationships and moody vampires. Korotash wrote the funny screenplay, and has directed herself and Warren Short in this story about a late night confession. Short finds Korotash on the floor next to the toilet and covered in blood. This leads to a heart-to-heart which then forms into…
Uncommon Enemies (DIR. Alex Hatz) By: Addison Wylie A late-night rendezvous between a Nazi (played by James Gangl) and a seductive mademoiselle (played by Melanie Scrofano) is interrupted by a couple of American soldiers. When discovered, the Sergeant (played by Flashpoint’s Michael Cram) and the Nazi hold each other at gunpoint, while the French miss tends to the wounded Private (played by AJ Vaage). Uncommon Enemies is a comedic period piece that tries too hard…
By: Addison Wylie For those looking for a seasonal flick, Getting to the Nutcracker may hit the spot. Serene Meshel-Dillman’s documentary about the conception of The Nutcracker at Los Angeles’ Marat Daukayev School of Ballet is a eloquent film. If you’re a theatre enthusiast and are already humming Tchaikovsky, Getting to the Nutcracker will have you grinning throughout its entirety. Dillman documents each phase as best as possible leading up to the big show (which…
By: Addison Wylie Gracie Otto’s The Last Impresario was a documentary I wanted to like. But, I simply had a hard time buying it. I like her film’s subject, Michael White, and I’ve grown to like a lot of the projects he’s produced. I admire his eye for originality, and how far he bent his back to make sure provocative artists were heard. He took underdog productions like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cambridge Circus,…
Queen of Blood (DIR. Chris Alexander) By: Addison Wylie Two years ago, Fangoria’s editor-in-chief Chris Alexander rocked the Blood in the Snow Film Festival with his filmmaking debut Blood For Irina. He called it an “experience” and said the best way to view the film is by locking yourself in with it. He was absolutely right. His atmospheric silent film was a masterpiece and a sensory whirlwind; utilizing ominous music and smouldering cinematography to pull the movie goer…
By: Addison Wylie Heartbeat is a nice party guest that’s too shy to say anything. After a while, you’re a little annoyed that they haven’t involved themselves more. And when they finally speak up, they fish for compliments in a coy manner but also try and convince you that they have low self esteem. By the end of the night, cleaning up crushed red cups and mopping up spilled brew is more fun than trying…
As movie goers prepare for the season’s holiday offerings, horror fans buckle up for a round of Canadian talent at this year’s Blood in the Snow Film Festival. The festival, founded by Kelly Michael Stewart, features the cream of the genre crop. Blood in the Snow’s selections range from unsettling slow burns to the visually grotesque. It’s a competently passionate showcase that gives indie filmmakers a fantastic opportunity to premiere their work, and hands audiences a rare…