After visits to various other festivals I have already seen around 1/3 (22) of the titles to be screened at Frightfest. There are no spoilers below which limits what I can write. Here are my views on those films. I won't be coming this year
. Perhaps I'll see you all again next year.
Bad Milo has been available on blu-ray in Germany. This dark comedy has its moments, but at best it is just above average
Among the Living I caught this at Fantasia. It's being sold as Friday 13th meets Stand by me and that description works for me, although the theme of friendship is abandoned after the first half and it becomes as standard slasher. I was slightly disappointed BUT it is still very much worth your time.
Babadook Shown at Amsterdam's Imagine film festival this is a very effective psychological thriller. Recommended.
Creep I managed around 60 films at Fantasia. This is among by top 3. For me it is a must see at FrightFest.
Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead I watched this for a second time with the Fantasia crowd. Its a sequel that improves on the humour of the first. Again this is a must see at FrightFest - particularly when in the company of the FrightFest audience.
Deadly virtues This very small British Home Invasion movie screened at Imagine. I liked it. Recommended.
Drownsman This was my final film at Fantasia. The buzz in the audience was amazing - although perhaps because half of them were cast and crew. An above average slasher.
Faults Another film I saw at Fantasia, I really liked this. Its a bit of a slow burner with a dense intelligent script. THis one is difficult to recommend as its going to be a marmite film.
Green Inferno This one played Fantasy Film Nights in Germany back in March and also Fantasia. Recommended.
Harvest, The Another screening from Fantasia with a really interesting director Q&A. The Harvest is another of my picks of the films I saw at Fantasia. It has a super script and is well acted, particularly by the child actors. Recommended.
House at the end of time I bought a ticket to see this at Fantasia purely as a time filler, but I am glad I did. Very atmospheric and it plays with time in an interesting way. Recommended.
Housebound The best horror comedy for some time I saw this at Dead by Dawn. Its a very easy Must See.
Late Phases Another from Fantasia. I really like the lead character in this film, but its a film I could easily skip to see something else in the lineup.
Life After Beth Brilliant Q&A at Fantasia. Great film. Must see.
Nightmare on Elm Street With Freddy himself in attendance this must be a must see. I still recall the screening he attended at Dead by Dawn many years ago where he was running up and down the aisles scaring people with his Freddy gloves
Open Windows The stars didn't make Fantasia
. An interesting attempt to use social media to tell a story (although Cybernatural which also screened at Fantasia pulled this off more convincingly). It could be missed, but overall I would recommend it.
Shining, The No comment required.
Signal, The This was on general release here in Germany last month (July). I found it very tedious.
Visitor I'm so jealous as I will miss the chance to see this on the big screen.
Wolf Creek 2 This played the Glasgow event. I would recommend it.
Wolfcop Not the worst film I saw at Fantasia, but it came close.
Zombeavers Another film that was transformed by seeing it with a Fantasia audience (it was pulled at the last minute from the Imagine allnighter). I think with a Frightfest crowd behind it this is a must see.
Based upon the films I have seen I would say that the line-up is very solid, I would have no problem watching almost all of the above for a second time, without any obvious great films.