What Films Might Play at FANTASTIC FEST 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Updated on 9/7 to reflect third & final wave.

Editor’s Note: Coincidentally, this post was supposed to be published in the early morning of July 14th.  I noticed it wasn’t published after the first wave of Fantastic Fest films were announced.

Last year, I experienced my first Fantastic Fest.  It was also my first film festival that I attended outside of St. Louis.  My attendance meant a big deal for me, not only as a fan, but for the site as well.  Not knowing when the official announcement for Fantastic Fest 2011 will be released, I can only assume it will be within the next couple of weeks as Fantastic Fest always released their first wave of films in mid-July.  Beyond the break are some of my guesses on films that may or may not play – one of which is definitely playing.

Fantastic Fest, for those that aren’t informed, thrives off the new and old films of the horror genre and its subgenres & foreign cinema.  Last year, the Opening Night film was Let Me In.  There were other mainstream films shown as well as independent films without distributors.  Fantastic Fest comes right after TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) and seems to take selections from that festival as well as Fantasia (which is happening this month).  I will update this post with what we got right and wrong along with links to the official announcements as they are released.  Without further ado, here is my wishlist and films I think that might have a chance of playing at the festival:

Beyond the Black Rainbow

This film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year.  It is also showing at Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal this month.  I believe there is a high probability that this film will be playing Fantastic Fest 2011.  It seems like one of those genre benders that fits perfectly with the program.

Probability: 90%
Confirmed

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Brawler

This is the new film from director Chris Sivertson and stars Marc Senter – who has been in all of Sivertson’s films.  This is currently on the Fantasia Film Festival schedule.  This one is a maybe.  I loved Sivertson’s adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s The Lost  so I hope this one gets picked by Tim and his team as I’m excited to see it.

Probability: 60%

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Chillerama

I’m pretty sure this one will be announced. Why?  It is a return of 80’s anthologies with modern directors like Adam Green, Tim Sullivan, Joe Lynch and Adam Rifkin – who are fans before directors.  I know Green loves the Alamo Drafthouse – just look up the interview I had with him, Kane Hodder and Danielle Harris for Hatchet II as he is wearing a “Badass Cinema” shirt.  It will be playing Frightfest 2011 in the UK – which Green and Lynch have been tied to for a couple of years now.  I’m hoping they make a stop in Austin for this one.

Probability: 80%

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Dream Home

Pang Ho-Cheung’s foreign slasher just seems like it might play at Fantastic Fest.  Fantastic Fest likes to pick from the horror genres and definitely mines the foreign markets for some of its picks.  The only thing that is working against this title is it has been out for awhile in its native country and, apparently, has been bootlegged out.  The film just might not be fresh enough for a film festival.

Probability: 50%

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Dream House

This might be more of a wish than what I think might play at the festival.  I have been a fan of the director known as Jim Sheridan and for him to enter into my beloved genre…well, excited is a understated word in my book.  Where it gets tricky is that this film will be a major release so if it does play, it will be gala screening more than likely.  Fantastic Fest has a tendancy to pick a few big studio films and I think this is one that, if the deal can be worked out, should play at the festival.  Otherwise, it’s release date is September 30th – a day after the end of the festival.

Probability: 60%

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Haunters

This is the first title in this alphabetical list that I’m a bit fuzzy on.  All I know is it is the directorial debut from The Good, The Bad and The Weird screenwriter Kim Min-suk and it is playing at Fantasia Film Festival.  Fantasia’s website likens the film to Unbreakable which sounds “fantastic” enough for me to be a consideration.

Probability: 40%

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Invasion of Alien Bikini

This one is mainly based on the plot synopsis I read and the name.  I just have a gut feeling that this will play the festival, it seems like the epitome of Fantastic Fest.  It sounds wild, thrilling and another genre masher – which is the definition of the festival.

Probability: 90%
Confirmed

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Knights of Badassdom

Here is another one that I’m rolling the dice with.  I think if this doesn’t play, Chillerama will or vice versa.  If this and Chillerama do play, I’m sure we will see Joe Lynch make an appearance.  I don’t believe this film has a distributor nor am I sure if it is even completed (IMDB says Post-Production).  I also am pretty sure it doesn’t have a distributor.  So, unless they plan on shopping it to Sundance for their 2012 program, it needs to play TIFF or Fantastic Fest or maybe both.

Probability: 70%

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Livid

Dear deity, please get Livid to play Fantastic Fest.  I know that Fantastic Fest usually only hosts very independent films as World Premieres, but everyone in the horror community loved these directors’ (Alexandre Bustillo & Julien Maury) previous work in À l’intérieur (Inside) that this would be a blessing.  The only thing is that IMDB lists this film in Post-Production with a French release date of November 2, 2011.  Did I mention that this film takes place during Halloween and I love Halloween Mr. Deity?

Probability: 40%
Confirmed (3rd Wave)

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Melancholia

Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns! Chaos Reigns!

Ok, it’s Von Trier and he had a successful, almost viral, reaction to Antichrist at Fantastic Fest 2009 that one wonders if he will bring this film to Austin.  Personally, I don’t think it will happen, but you never know.

Probability: 50%
Confirmed (2nd Wave)

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Midnight Son

Midnight Son is a very independent film.  Fantastic Fest opens its arms to independent film.  However, it only has a few slots in the festival for these, so this film limits the chances to a slim possibility.  Nonetheless, it got picked up by Fantasia and I received emails on it in the past so I’m sure they submitted the film to Fantastic Fest.  We even posted a trailer of it back in November.  According to their site, they posted on July 8th that they have been accepted to some big genre film festivals with Fantasia and Frightfest being two of them.  Fantastic Fest might be able to squeeze this in, but just because a film plays Fantasia doesn’t mean it will play at Fantastic Fest.  Also, if it plays at Fantasia and Frightfest, it loses some exclusivity.

Probability: 50 %

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Night Fishing (short film)

This is Chan-wook Park’s short film filmed entirely on an iPhone 4.  It’s playing at Fantasia and is a very, very high profile short film – which sounds like we are stuck in bizzaro reversal world.  I’m pretty sure that Fantastic Fest will play this before a feature.  Another reason why I think it will be picked up is because the film was “filmed” using smartphone technology and Fantastic Fest is very rooted in technology and gadgetry.

Probability: 75%

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The Cabin in the Woods

Half wish, half possible.  I want to see this film.  Most horror fans want to see this film.  MGM has been down a rollercoaster and this is a film that is completed.  What better test audience than Fantastic Fest.  If it works, attendees of the festival are rabid and will definitely hype it up.  However, is MGM willing to take the gamble.

Probability: 50%

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The Theater Bizarre

The Theater Bizarre is Severin’s first venture in theatrical production after running a successful line of cult home entertainment line.  Fantasia picked it up for the World Premiere but I truly think that Fantastic Fest will be showing this film based on Severin’s sub arm, Intervision and their involvement with Mondo in releasing VHS tapes of Sledgehammer and Things.

Probability: 85%

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The Thing (2011)

This will be the Opening Night or Closing Night film..ok I don’t know that for sure but Carpenter’s The Thing is so embedded in Alamo Drafthouse history and the fact that this film leaves traces in a genre junkie’s bloodstream AND the fact that it comes out three weeks after the start of the fest and two weeks after the close, I have to think that Universal will want to test it out with Fantastic Fest as there is the whole subconcious remake argument and rumblings are that this film is actually pretty good – even though it is not a true remake.  This is one film where my probability will be totally off or spot fuckin’ on.  I hope it is the latter.

Probability: 90%

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Urban Explorer

Another Fantasia entry from Germany that uses Germany’s history of the Nazi’s to paint a creepy backdrop.  I have heard great things about this film and I hope that Fantastic Fest picks this one up.  It all depends because Fantastic Fest isn’t just a horror film festival, they dabble in it but they don’t roll around with it and book every horror flick out there.

Probability:  75%
Confirmed

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The Wicker Tree

Another film that is deeply rooted in cult film history that I think Fantastic Fest will recognize.  It will currently play Fantasia, but I haven’t heard of any other festivals as of yet.  I really hope that I get to see this in Austin as I won’t make it out to Fantasia or TIFF.

Probability:  70%

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Zombie (Zombi 2)

This one is kind of a cheat.  It was mentioned that Blue Underground will be showing Zombie (Zombi 2) at Fantastic Fest when they announced the Blu-Ray Release.  I did hear a recent rumor that Blue Underground might be doing a Fulci Double Feature with The House by the Cemetary but that hasn’t been confirmed. Here’s to hoping for a Mondo Poster!

Probability: 100%
Confirmed

 

There you have it.  There are 17 films in this list so we will see once Fantastic Fest lists their releases how close we get.  I cannot wait to get back to Austin and spend 7 days watching 3 to 4 movies a day.  Keep checking back as I will change the probability once the films are announced!