Something odd from last year..

[bacchus]

Not a big deal really but...

Was browsing the Postcards from Cannes 2014 to see how many of the films mentioned there eventually ended up at last year's FrightFest when I read something that bothered me...

http://frightfest.co.uk/postcards/frigh ... -2014.html

In the Day 4 postcard, Alan wrote this about 'Honeymoon' (starring Rose Leslie) which went on to show at FrightFest a few months later.......

"Paul and I are dividing the titles between us to be more time efficient as there are just so many. Yesterday began with Leigh Janiak's HONEYMOON, which turned out sadly to be another naff riff on INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS but on the tightest of budgets. You know the style type I mean; beam of intense white light sweeping through the bedroom as newlyweds Harry Treadaway and Rose Leslie sleep; the latter acting weirdly Stepford Wife and the former doofus not understanding why she's standing in front of the mirror after a sleepwalk through the woods memorising how to say her name; the long rubber tentacled thing that's crept between her legs. The problem here is this HONEYMOON is over in 20 minutes and then the audience has to remain three steps ahead of the characters until the foregone conclusion. Apparently an Edinburgh Festival attraction, frankly they are welcome to it."

Now that was a bit negative to say the least. I very much enjoyed 'Honeymoon', in fact it was one of my favourites last year.

Saying things like the Edinburgh Festival are welcome to it and slagging it off as a poor Invasion of the Body Snatchers then selecting it for FrightFest a month or two later is a bit....hypocritical? Ironic? Sour?

I want to have faith that the films chosen are selected on merit, that they are chosen by the lads for being something special and good enough for us paying festival goers.

Surely a breif opinion of it like that should have meant it shouldn't have been selected? I am glad it was as it was a good watch but this doesn't sit right with me. After last year's "Shockwave Darkside" and now a film that wasn't favoured by the organisers being shown, my faith that a vast proportion of the selected films aren't shoehorned in due to marketing/sponsors/contracts is quickly diminishing.

Alan or anyone else care to chime in on this one?

[DJBenz]

Saying things like the Edinburgh Festival are welcome to it and slagging it off as a poor Invasion of the Body Snatchers then selecting it for FrightFest a month or two later is a bit....hypocritical? Ironic? Sour?

I think you have to remember that each member of the Frightfest team is an individual as well as being part of the selections process. While there might be films that they personally don't care for, they may still agree that the film would sit well as part of a particular strand or see its appeal to a wider audience.

[Malky]

I think 80 films were shown last year, not all will be liked by everyone.

[iomega]

bacchus your comments are fair enough, but you have to keep in mind that many things influence the film selection for FrightFest. As was pointed out we all, like FrightFesters have different tastes and thats' why the event plays so well. There is something for everyone. There are films that we all don't like still end up in the festival and go on to play well and of course we don't always get it right.

Anyway, how many films that were mentioned in last years postcards went on to play the event?

[Deadjilldando]

16 in total - Home, Honeymoon, Alleluia, Wolfcop, Life After Beth, Nymph, Drownsman, Zombeavers, VHS Viral, The Guest, Housebound, Late Phases, Starry Eyes, Xmoor, Dead Snow 2, White Settlers.

You also mention about 5 titles that went on to play LFF - Shrew's Nest, Spring, It Follows etc...

[bacchus]

bacchus your comments are fair enough, but you have to keep in mind that many things influence the film selection for FrightFest. As was pointed out we all, like FrightFesters have different tastes and thats' why the event plays so well. There is something for everyone. There are films that we all don't like still end up in the festival and go on to play well and of course we don't always get it right.

Anyway, how many films that were mentioned in last years postcards went on to play the event?

I think I just had this romantic idea of the four of you sat down in a sweaty basement somewhere in London in early June time, each clutching a clipboard with various notes of all the genre festivals from the previous few months and comparing each other's lists until you all unanimously decided on the slate.

I guess you're right though - there wouldn't be a festival at all if you had to find 80+ films all of you unanimously enjoyed as it just wouldn't happen. I'd like to think at least 3 of you didn't fancy Shockwave Darkside though(!).

I'll be there in August, can't wait.

[Lucio Frizzi]

The thing that puzzles me sometimes is how the 4 organisers, who are all so cine literate can choose some of the absolute dreck that's been shown down the years. I get the comedies and the more left field choices because there is an audience for them and yes, part of the attraction of the festival is that there is something for everyone but (sorry, I know it's been mentioned to death) Shockwave?, Dust?, 13th Sign? and others too numerous to mention. This is rank bad film making by anybody's standards....

[killer guinea pigs]

Completely agree with the above comment......but you forgot hammer of the gods and bubba's chilli parlour........why oh why oh why of why !

[killer guinea pigs]

Sorry i go on about this but the other reason this hurts is the slots these films are given.,,,

i dont think it would be an issue if they had been put on the discovery screen or a early morning slot.

for example tower block was given the closing fim, bubba's chilli parlour was about 21.00 on a saturday night and hammer of the gods one afternoon....this is from memory but you take the point.

and another thing me a my friend always cringe at is any kind of world premiere from the uk is usually an excuse for a crap film and if the boys tell us that the next film we are about to see has just finished editing in the last week and we are the lucky punters to see this first....aka pile of crap...also excuse if crap so the boys can say well we hadnt seen it but just supported uk talent.....hhhhmmmmm.

[FranksWildYears]

and another thing me a my friend always cringe at is any kind of world premiere from the uk is usually an excuse for a crap film

You think? I thought Kill List was great, although I think Neil Maskell's a superb actor so admittedly I'll watch pretty much anything with him in it.

[DJBenz]

and another thing me a my friend always cringe at is any kind of world premiere from the uk is usually an excuse for a crap film

You think? I thought Kill List was great, although I think Neil Maskell's a superb actor so admittedly I'll watch pretty much anything with him in it.

I hated Kill List, but I don't deny it was an important genre title and a good catch for the festival.

[TheDukeAbides]

The Dead 2: India

[DJBenz]

The Dead 2: India

Ugh.

[killer guinea pigs]

i quite like kill ist as it happens but i thought it was shown in cannes before but could be wrong.

the dead 2 was rubbish though and anything by adam mason was complete rubbish i hope his latest isnt on the main screen and then i will enjoy the discovery screen for once !