Fantasia Fest 2021: Dispatch 1
Having spent my early childhood amidst the wonderful 1980s satanic and punk panic hysterias, and hitting puberty just as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” cracked the music world open, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for movies about weirdos, freaks, and all manner of anti-establishment provocateurs. With the help of the oddballs and devil worshipers, I saw in countless ‘80s movies and found the freedom to be myself — and I’ve never looked back.
To this end, Kier-La Janisse’s wonderful documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched feels very much like it was tailor-made for those of us who have willfully rejected conformity in favor of intelligent, inclusive, and politically-aware lifestyles.
As a primer on the Folk Horror film movement, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched is an exhaustive and entertaining resource that’s sure to pique the interests of even the most timid genre movie fans. Beginning with what is generally considered the Folk Horror holy trinity (1968’s Witchfinder General, 1971’s Blood on Satan’s Claw, and 1973’s The Wicker Man), this thoroughly researched and lovingly made documentary moves seamlessly through themes and subgenres, covering more films than seems possible. (There are a lot more Folk Horror movies out there than you might think).
Admittedly, at over three hours, its runtime may scare some viewers off, but for those of us who love films steeped in political, historical, and cultural allegory (not to mention lots of cool imagery and imaginative cinematography), Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched is a must-see. Believe me, your watchlist will thank you.
May I offer a sequel idea? Chaos Nights and Days of Anarchy: A History of Punk Panic Films. You can have that one for free. I just want to be interviewed for it. Grade: A —James Rosario
Following a group of amateurs from Dorset, England, as they bring their theatrical interpretation of Alien from their local theater to London’s West End, the documentary Alien on Stage mainly acts as a thrilling countdown to the big performance. The small-town troupe consists mainly of bus drivers, and the joy they experience throughout this once-in-a-lifetime journey proves palpable thanks to directors Lucy Harvey’s and Danielle Kummer’s ability to capture the production’s raw energy from both the performers’ and audience’s sides. Full of laughs and creativity, the love this troupe has for Alien is, appropriately, infectious and a pure delight to witness. Grade: A-minus —Joel Winstead
Culled from the festival’s backyard, Quebecois writer/director Julien Knafo’s generally well-made zombie thriller Brain Freeze speaks to modern social issues by literally having the super-wealthy live on their own island. Additional social commentary via a chemical that melts snow and allows for wintertime golf weaves in prescient environmental concerns, and when the compound hits the water supply and turns the well-off inhabitants into flesh-eating monsters, sharply executed action soon follows. But the adventures of the few survivors looking to escape without getting infected peters out after about an hour, and the infusion of other genre-tastic elements (twin assassins, anyone?) fail to recapture the film’s initial charms. Grade: B-minus —Edwin Arnaudin
(Photos courtesy of the Fantasia International Film Festival)
