Horrorphile's 2009 SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL PICKS
June 1st 2009 00:33
I love this time of year: Sydney Film Festival. Fifty-six years old and going strong. Kicking off this Wednesday June 3rd and going through until Sunday June 14th. It’s twelve days of cinema heaven. Although the pickings are a little slim on the hardcore horror front, the lean selection promises to be intense, visceral, memorable, and destined for cult status (with one already holding that honour). Here are the six titles worth checking out.
Coraline
Wednesday 10 June 6.30pm @ Greater Union VMAX
Saturday 13 June 12pm @ GU5
Okay so maybe my inclusion of this animated girls own adventure is a little tenuous, but it’s based on the book by legendary modern fantasist Neil Gaiman, features a phantasmogorical view of an alternate reality, and is directed by Henry (The Nightmare Before Christmas) Selick, plus apparently there are some genuinely creepy and nightmarish moments, even if it is aimed at the younger audience. I’m sure it’s a cult classic bursting at its sown-up seams.
Here’s the trailer:
Dead Snow
Saturday 6 June 9pm @ Dendy Opera Quays
Sunday 14 June 8.40pm @ GU9
A Norwegian Nazi zombie black comedy set in the snow! YES! Severed-tongue-in-cheek this will be one of the Festival highlights I’m sure. Hardgore alpine nightmare guaranteed for instant cult status. Further proof the best horror movies are currently coming out of the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.
Here’s the trailer:
Paranormal Activity
Wednesday 3 June 8.30pm @ GU9
Saturday 13 June 8.35pm @ GU9
Presented as found footage a la Blair Witch Project, this is spine-tingling stuff for the ghostheads. A video is set up around the house of a young American couple in an attempt to record poltergeist, and sure enough, the paranormal reveals its elusive self, but in ways designed to truly terrify the couple … and the audience.
Pontypool
Saturday 6 June 8.15pm @ GU9
Monday 8 June 3.45pm @ GU8
Holy rotting cannibals, another zombie flick! Cult Canadian director Bruce McDonald delivers a caustic tale of small-town chaos pitched at those of a literary bent. Taking its cue from low-budget 70s horror and capitalizing on parochial ill-behaviour this is one nasty virus worth catching. Bring on the new flesh!
Here’s the trailer:
Van Diemen’s Land
Friday 5 June 8.40pm @ GU9
Sunday 7 June 6.10pm @GU9
The second recent feature (the other being The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce) based on the events surrounding the legend of Alexander Pearce, the nineteenth Century penal colony convict who escaped into the Tasmanian wilderness (Van Diemen’s land) with a bunch of other criminals. Pearce was eventually captured, but was the only survivor. In his pockets was the flesh of his comrades. Dying Breed also uses the Pearce legend, but twists it into modern tale.
Here’s the teaser trailer:
Wake in Fright
Saturday 13 June 11.45pm @ State Theatre
A lost dark Ocker gem from 1971, Outback (as it was known overseas) tells the nightmare tale of a teacher from Sydney who takes a job at a school in the desert. The Yabba locals don’t take too kindly to him and are hellbent on showing him the gnarly ropes they way they see ‘em. Controversial and palpably Australian, this movie won’t do any favours for the Outback tourism board, even if it is nearly forty years old. Co-stars the always brilliant Donald Pleasance.
Here’s a classic excerpt:
Coraline
Wednesday 10 June 6.30pm @ Greater Union VMAX
Saturday 13 June 12pm @ GU5
Okay so maybe my inclusion of this animated girls own adventure is a little tenuous, but it’s based on the book by legendary modern fantasist Neil Gaiman, features a phantasmogorical view of an alternate reality, and is directed by Henry (The Nightmare Before Christmas) Selick, plus apparently there are some genuinely creepy and nightmarish moments, even if it is aimed at the younger audience. I’m sure it’s a cult classic bursting at its sown-up seams.
Here’s the trailer:
Dead Snow
Saturday 6 June 9pm @ Dendy Opera Quays
Sunday 14 June 8.40pm @ GU9
A Norwegian Nazi zombie black comedy set in the snow! YES! Severed-tongue-in-cheek this will be one of the Festival highlights I’m sure. Hardgore alpine nightmare guaranteed for instant cult status. Further proof the best horror movies are currently coming out of the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.
Here’s the trailer:
Paranormal Activity
Wednesday 3 June 8.30pm @ GU9
Saturday 13 June 8.35pm @ GU9
Presented as found footage a la Blair Witch Project, this is spine-tingling stuff for the ghostheads. A video is set up around the house of a young American couple in an attempt to record poltergeist, and sure enough, the paranormal reveals its elusive self, but in ways designed to truly terrify the couple … and the audience.
Pontypool
Saturday 6 June 8.15pm @ GU9
Monday 8 June 3.45pm @ GU8
Holy rotting cannibals, another zombie flick! Cult Canadian director Bruce McDonald delivers a caustic tale of small-town chaos pitched at those of a literary bent. Taking its cue from low-budget 70s horror and capitalizing on parochial ill-behaviour this is one nasty virus worth catching. Bring on the new flesh!
Here’s the trailer:
Van Diemen’s Land
Friday 5 June 8.40pm @ GU9
Sunday 7 June 6.10pm @GU9
The second recent feature (the other being The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce) based on the events surrounding the legend of Alexander Pearce, the nineteenth Century penal colony convict who escaped into the Tasmanian wilderness (Van Diemen’s land) with a bunch of other criminals. Pearce was eventually captured, but was the only survivor. In his pockets was the flesh of his comrades. Dying Breed also uses the Pearce legend, but twists it into modern tale.
Here’s the teaser trailer:
Wake in Fright
Saturday 13 June 11.45pm @ State Theatre
A lost dark Ocker gem from 1971, Outback (as it was known overseas) tells the nightmare tale of a teacher from Sydney who takes a job at a school in the desert. The Yabba locals don’t take too kindly to him and are hellbent on showing him the gnarly ropes they way they see ‘em. Controversial and palpably Australian, this movie won’t do any favours for the Outback tourism board, even if it is nearly forty years old. Co-stars the always brilliant Donald Pleasance.
Here’s a classic excerpt:
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