A Fiend’s Guide to the 2015 St. Louis International Film Festival

The 2015 St. Louis International Film Festival, also known as SLIFF, has begun. Even though Alex Winter couldn’t bring Freaked in town, he did bring his two great tech documentaries, Downloaded and Deep Web – in addition to being awesome to us and presenting Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. SLIFF has a robust schedule full of independent and foreign cinema along with some mainstream affair like Legend starring Tom Hardy and some possible future Oscar contenders like Carol. However, since we are a horror website, we are going to highlight some films that should definitely be on your radar!

FEATURE FILMS

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THE NAMELESS

Filmed in “The Exorcist House” here in St. Louis, which most of you might have seen last weekend during Discovery Channel’s laughable Exorcism: Live!, this thriller borrows from the premise that The Exorcist was based out of by having a main character, Amy, return to the house where an exorcism took place during her childhood. While I haven’t seen this film, any local horror fiend should take interest with a story so close to home.

The Nameless plays Saturday, November 7 at 10p at Tivoli Theatre – BUY TICKETS HERE

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THE KEEPING ROOM

If John Hillcoat’s The Proposition had a sister, The Keeping Room would be her name. While not as violent as her older brother, the film’s first two-thirds introduce an all female family consisting of two sisters and their female confidant/slave trying to survive and learn how to exist during the cruel final days of Civil War. Two soldiers that are abusing an authority that is soon set to expire cross paths with the older sister and what unfolds is a home invasion/standoff not seen since Peckinpah’s Straw Dogs. Due to the conflicting timeslot this film has, if you can’t make it to The Invitation, buy a ticket to The Keeping Room.

The Keeping Room plays Sunday, November 8 at 9:15pm at Plaza Frontenac – BUY TICKETS HERE

THE INVITATION

This is a film where the less you know, the better. I know I’m supposed to be “selling” you on the films listed here but the best sell for this is just to go in knowing nothing. The Invitation is a finely crafted paranoia thriller that feels like a dinner party organized by Alfred Hitchcock. DO NOT MISS THIS.

The Invitation plays Sunday, November 8 at 9:30pm at Tivoli Theatre – BUY TICKETS HERE

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DOUBLE BILL: HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT and NOTORIOUS

Hitchcock/Truffaut is a documentary that revolves around the legendary interview that Francois Truffaut had with Alfred Hitchcock in 1962. The film interviews with today’s leading filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, Arnaud Desplechin, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Wes Anderson, James Gray, Olivier Assayas, Richard Linklater, Peter Bogdanovich, and Paul Schrader. While I haven’t seen this one, I’ve heard nothing but good things and for any fans of Alfred Hitchcock, this is going to be worth your time.

Hitchcock/Truffaut & Notorious Double Bill plays Tuesday, November 10 at 7:00p at Webster University/Moore Auditorium – BUY TICKETS HERE

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POSSESSED

Claymation. Riffs from The Exorcist. What more do you want?

Possessed plays Tuesday, November 10 at 9:20p and Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00p at Hi-Pointe Backlot – BUY TICKETS HERE

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SEA FOG

Produced and co-written by Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer, The Host), Sea Fog is a tense thriller that deals with human-trafficking. This played the Toronto International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest last year and, personally, I cannot wait to see it. It might not be horror, but I hear it is very gut wrenching.

Sea Fog plays Wednesday, November 11 at 9:10p & Thursday, November 12 at 2:20p at Plaza Frontenac – BUY TICKETS HERE

TOD BROWNING’S THE UNKNOWN and FREAKS DOUBLE FEATURE

On Friday the 13th, fans of classic horror will have a rare opportunity to view two great Tod Browning films with a 35mm print of The Unknown starring Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford in addition to, what many consider Browning’s calling card, Freaks. What makes the evening more unique is that since The Unknown is a silent film, the film will be accompanied by St. Louis’ Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra, which plays an original score composed especially for this event. This one is important fiends! Step right up and buy your tickets while you can.

The Unknown/Freaks Double Bill plays Friday, November 13 at 7:30p at Webster University/Moore Auditorium – BUY TICKETS HERE

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DOUBLE BILL: BEAVER TRILOGY and BEAVER TRILOGY PART IV

If you want a documentary with mysterious Lynchian tendancies, this program might be up your alley. It’s probably better to quote Cinema St. Louis’ write up of this program.

As part of our tribute to Contemporary Cinema Award winner Trent Harris, SLIFF presents a double bill of “Beaver Trilogy” and the new documentary “Beaver Trilogy Part IV.” The saga of “Beaver Trilogy” began when filmmaker Harris met and videotaped Dick Griffiths in the parking lot of a Salt Lake City TV station. Fascinated by Griffiths, Harris went on to make not only a documentary but also two fictional accounts of the same story, the first starring a then-unknown Sean Penn and the second a young Crispin Glover. But the end of the trilogy wasn’t the end of the story. “Beaver Trilogy Part IV” tells what happened to the two men after that fateful encounter.

Beaver Trilogy and Beaver Trilogy Part IV: Double Bill plays Friday, November 14 at 6:30p at Webster University/Moore Auditorium – BUY TICKETS HERE

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SHORT FILMS

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NIGHT OF THE SLASHER

Playing with slasher tropes while still being faithful to horror fans, Night of the Slasher is a gem that you shouldn’t miss.

Night of the Slasher plays in the Narrative Shorts: Comedy 2 block on Saturday, November 7 at 7:15p at Tivoli Theatre – BUY TICKETS HERE

 THE MILL AT CALDER’S END

The Mill at Calder’s End is a visually stunning stop-motion animation film that features Barbara Steele that feels like true Gothic Romance.

MRS. K

In a luxury high-rise apartment, an about-to-deliver pregnant housewife starts to suspect her wealthy husband of something sinister.

The Mill at Calder’s End and Mrs. K plays in the Narrative Shorts: Sci-Fi, Thrillers & Westerns block on Tuesday, November 10 at 9:35p at Tivoli Theatre – BUY TICKETS HERE