Our Guesses for Films to Play Fantastic Fest 2014

It’s that time of year again, Summer is coming to an end and before you know it, Austin’s Fantastic Fest 2014 will be here. This year is the 10th anniversary of the festival. However, as of now, many people are unsure if it will return to South Lamar where it has taken place every year with exception of 2013. The South Lamar location closed in the Winter of 2012 and the land has gone through redevelopment. We have word via Twitter that it will be at S. Lamar but we won’t know for sure until the announcement is made.

While we still are waiting on the official announcement of the opening night film and all the waves of programming, like every year, we wanted to get our predictions for what may play at the festival out of the way. There is really no way of picking every film that could play the festival. What I typically do is look at films that are touring the festival circuit and pick from there. The probability on if a film will play Fantastic Fest is calculated on if the film has played a festival in the US yet or not. Fantastic Fest grabs a lot of cinema from Asia and, admittedly, I’m not familiar with a lot of the newer films that come out from that region. When I do watch those films, it is usually because I heard about it at Fantastic Fest, another film festival or a film is sent to me. Plus, our focus is mainly in horror and genre films but Fantastic Fest is not strictly just a horror film festival. In the descriptions below, I include a trailer (if available) and my reasoning on why I think it may play the festival or not. To make it simple, we will not use percentages. Rank of probability will be either High, Medium or Low. This year, I decided to keep most of my original picks in there and if I think they won’t play, I would put my prediction as low. Without further ado, let’s start guessing!

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What We Do In the Shadows

Probability: Low

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While I really want to see this film, it is losing its potency in the festival circuit. It has played Sundance, SXSW and will also play at TIFF this September. Since it doesn’t seem to have North American distribution, there is a possibility of it showing, but it’s highly unlikely.

Alleluia

Probability: High

No Trailer Available

Director Fabrice Du Welz made a splash with Calvaire (The Ordeal) and introduced a unique voice to the genre. While the film is playing TIFF, since Fantastic Fest is after that festival, they have fair game to play it. Unless the film doesn’t live up to standards of the programmers of Fantastic Fest, I see this one playing Fantastic Fest.

[REC] 4

Probability: High

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[REC]2 played at Fantastic Fest and, from what I understand, was a huge hit there. I would hope that since Fantastic Fest helped contribute hype to this, the filmmakers would bring the final installment to the festival. Filmax has a good relationship with the curators and programmers of the festival so I lean towards a greater probability that this will play.

Birdman

Probability: Low, unless it is a Secret Screening

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This is one of those tricky screenings. I had this on my picks before it was announced for the New York Film Festival. NYFF has a strict policy of having exclusivity on a highlight film. Granted, this has happened in the past and Fantastic Fest has worked around it. So, if this does show, expect a secret screening.

Digging Up the Marrow

Probability: Medium

No Trailer Available

I’m going to stick with my medium probability on this one. This showed in a rough form at Butt Numb A Thon last year in Austin. Adam Green was in attendance and from what I hear, the crowd ate it up. So, it wouldn’t surprise me that they bring it back in a finished form.

The Voices

Probability: Low

No Trailer Available

This film premiered at Sundance but I just have a gut feeling that in order to sell this movie, it needs to start playing genre festivals. I hear it is an oddball film but if it were to play anywhere, Fantastic Fest would be a good fit.

Hardcore

Probability: Low

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While the video above is not from the upcoming film, the same director of that video is working on a full-length POV action film with gore, violence and Sharlto Copley. I put this as a low probability because I’m not 100% sure if the film is finished or not. IMDb states it is but who knows. This could be a lot of fun.

Horns

Probability: Medium

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I have teetered on this one. I think it would be a great highlight of the festival or maybe even a Opening Night or Closing Night film. However, the film played at last year’s TIFF so it may be out of the film festival circuit until it actually comes out.

ABCs of Death 2

Probability: High

No Trailer Available

This is Drafthouse’s baby. Hell…this is really Fantastic Fest: The Movie. If the film is ready & assembled, it will show.

Turkey Shoot (remake)

Probability: Low

No Trailer Available

Based on the poster, this could be a film meant for Direct-To-Videodom. However, it’s a remake of a Brian Trenchard-Smith film, not to mention a remake of a film that Drafthouse founders love. I’ll keep this one low but honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me.

The Man In The Orange Jacket

Probability: High

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I have heard nothing but great things for this creepy little flick that feels like High Tension at times but adding in all sorts of insanity. Perfection for Fantastic Fest.

JELLYFISH EYES

Probability: High

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This has to play, right?

LET US PREY

Probability: Medium

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Christ almighty, does this not look insanely violent? Regardless if Fantastic Fest gets this title or not, it is on my short list.

KILLERS

Probability: Medium

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The Mo Brothers return. This is another film that played at Sundance but I feel this might be right up the alley of Fantastic Fest.

LIVE

Probability: Medium

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Noboru Iguchi, Noboru Iguchi, but most of all, Noboru Iguchi.

SUBURBAN GOTHIC

Probability: High

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Before Excision was a full length feature film, it was a short. The short played at Fantastic Fest previously. While I personally hope this one will be there, I do believe that this would be a great U.S. Premiere for the film.

Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

Probability: High

No Trailer Available

This film was purchased by Drafthouse Films just based on concept alone. Now that it has played a couple of festivals, I feel that there will be a homecoming with this film. Also, it gives Fantastic Fest the opportunity to track down some films from the Cannon library to have repertory screenings, which Fantastic Fest does every year.

 

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We will post the First Wave and any announcements about the festival in the upcoming weeks!