So day 2 at Imagine was a more relaxed affair. I had planned to attend the Night of Horrors (the event the festival outgrew) but after the cancellation of Zombeavers and the announcement of Occulus at Dead by Dawn I cancelled my ticket having seen or having the opportunity to see 3 from the 4 films. I will also most likely catch up with the Quiet Ones whilst at home in Edinburgh over Easter.
So only three films Deadly Virtues: Love.Honour.Obey., L’étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps and The Desert and the latter two were a catch up of films I missed on the circuit last year.
First up was the excellent Deadly Virtues. I guess this probably, despite its Dutch director, counts as a British film. It is a blend of the home invasion/torture porn genres in which Aaron breaks into the home of a young couple whilst they are having sex in an upstairs bedroom. Aaron gags and binds the husband and tells his wife that they will live if she submits willingly to his sexual advances. Over the course of the weekend cracks in the couples marriage become evident and it becomes increasingly difficult to identify who is the real monster. The director described his film as "no budget" rather than low budget but as usual a tight script and convincing performances (except for Aaron's problem with his accent) more than make up for lack of money - and the lack of money is never evident on screen. THis is a film that deserves an audience.
Next up from the production team behind Amer was L’étrange couleur des larmes de ton corps another attempt to reinvent the Giallo genre nearly 30 years on. This film is clearly experimental and masterfully uses the techniques of film making (in particular a quite brilliant use of match cuts) to unbalance and disorient the audience. Trying to follow the narrative is probably quite useless, instead this is film as sensory experience. One should just relax and let the images flow over oneself. A film that really needs to be seen on a big screen and will lose a lot in the home (particularly as there are a number of scenes the BBFC will undoubtedly be troubled by). If you have the chance to see this on the big screen grab it with both hands and both feet. Recommended for the adventurous.
Finally The Desert, which i believe played Fright Fest last summer. This Argentinian film uses the zombie apocalypse to explore the relationship between three strangers who are brought together by the Zombie armageddon. Despite establishing clear rules, trust between the two male and one female protagonist breakdown when the privacy of big brother style video diaries is violated. Yet another in the Zombie film with nearly no Zombies genre. Recommended.
Tomorrow is an early start to squeeze in my final four films before I head for the airport for tea and my flight home.
 |