Paz de la Huerta
Born: September 3, 1984 in New York City, New York, USA
[on advice that she avoid playing nudes scenes in future]: That’s good advice, but I’m telling you, typecasting is typecasting. And I mean, look at Charlotte Rampling. She’s a brilliant actress, and she’s still getting naked for films. If I look like that at her age, I’ll flaunt it.
| BOARDWALK EMPIRE Season 1 2010 Created by Terence Winter |
|
Drena De Niro
Born: September 3, 1967 in New York City, New York, USA
Former model and D.J.; worked exclusively for Giorgio Armani as musical supervisor for stores and shows; made directorial debut in 2001 with short documentary film Girls & Dolls (2000), which premiered on PBS’ “Reel New York Series” and won best directorial debut for documentary at New York Independent Film and Video Festival 2001. She is the daughter of actors Robert De Niro and Diahnne Abbott.
Charlie Sheen
Born: September 3, 1965 in New York City, New York, USA
Married to: Brooke Mueller (30 May 2008 – 2 May 2011) (divorced) (2 children)
Denise Richards (15 June 2002 – 30 November 2006) (divorced) (2 children)
Donna Peele (3 September 1995 – 19 November 1996) (divorced)
“The same role had been offered to Emilio a year earlier but the financing fell through. This time, Emilio was on another project, so Oliver Stone offered it to me. It was the break of my life, and I knew it. But it was a strange experience, because we filmed in the Philippines, less than 100 miles away from where my dad had filmed Apocalypse Now (1979). People say I look like him – now, here I was, not only making a picture about Vietnam the way he did, but also narrating it the way he did. And, like him, I had a moment that came close to death, when I fell halfway out of a helicopter, but was caught just in time by one of the actors.” – On Platoon (1986).
 Platoon1986 dir. Stone Starring Charlie Sheen Willem DaFoe |
 Red Dawn1984 dir. John Milius Starring Patrick Swayze Lea Thompson |
 Wallstreet1987 dir. Stone starring Charlie Sheen Michael Douglas |
 Being John Malkovich1999 dir. Jonze starring John Cusask John Malkovich |
| Major League 1989 dir. by David S. Ward starring Berenger Charlie Sheen |
 YOUNG GUNS1988 dir. Christopher Cain Starring: Emilio Estevez Kiefer Sutherland |
 WALL STREET 2dir. Oliver Stone Stars: Shia LaBeouf Michael Douglas |
 MAJOR LEAGUE 21994 dir. David S. Ward Stars: Charlie Sheen Tom Berenger |
 EIGHT MEN OUT1988 dir. John Sayles Stars: John Cusack Clifton James |
| A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MIND OF CHARLES SWAN III 2013 dir. Roman Coppola |
 SCARY MOVIE 52013 dir. Malcolm D. Lee Stars: Lindsay Lohan Charlie Sheen |
 MACHETE KILLS2013 dir. Robert Rodriguez Stars: Danny Trejo Alexa Vega |
Garrett Hedlund
Born: September 3, 1984 in Roseau, Minnesota, USA
[on Friday Night Lights (2004)]: I grew up on a farm, and Lucas in the jungles of Alabama, so I think we adapted very well. It’s just a lot that these guys are holding on their shoulders at such a young age. There’s a lot they’re dealing with, the town pressure or support, their home life, all of that causes a sense of internal insecurities. These guys are realizing how crazy it is that they’re going through all this at such a young age.
 INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS2013 dir. Ethan Coen Joel Coen Stars: Oscar Issac |
 Country Strongdir. Shana Feste Stars: Garrett Hedlund Gwyneth Paltrow |
 ERAGON2006 dir. Stefen Fangmeier Stars: Ed Speleers Sienna Guillory |
|
FOOTPRINTS, 13min, Canada, Horror/Family
Directed by Kevin Saycharuen
Deep in the forest, Cahng, an injured hunter searches for his family who are being haunted by a supernatural force.
Seen at the August 2016 HORROR/THRILLER FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.
Movie Review by Kierston Drier
Footprints, a Canadian film by Kevin Saycharuen, will surprise an audience at first with its’ exceptional attention to cinematic details and a level of luminous colour and brightness that is not characteristic of a traditional Horror. Cahng, an injured hunter lost in the forest, seems compelled to track down the monstrous beast that has ruthlessly murdered his wife and child. He is tortured by their absence, plagued by visions and nightmares of them, and appears to be constantly falling in and out of delusions including them.
One tradition that is held onto with stunning effectiveness is that the audience never sees the monster. It can be heard, and often palpably felt- but we are only once ever shown anything remotely supernatural, in the form of a sort of demon ghost who briefly appears in lieu of Cahng’s missing son.
There are cinematic moments in this piece that are no less than stunning. There are breath-taking moments of utter natural beauty that capture of the setting of the forest that truly make us feel that monster in this film lurks somewhere within the disconnect humans have put between themselves and nature. However the demon that is responsible for Cahng’s tragedy is not within the forest- it is within himself.
Footprints is not a clear film. It is debatable if the plot is linear. The pay-off, while impressive, does not answer all the questions the audience is bound to have by the end of the film. Yet, Saycharuen’s work has a poignancy to it that stirs deep, primal emotions in those who watch. It is a true piece of cinema, a true piece of art, in the sense that is leave us with more questions than answers.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:
DRAWN TO FEAR, 7min, USA, Horror
Directed by Daniel Robinette
A single woman named Hope has procured a rare book under strange circumstances. Little does she know that the book has a life of it’s own – drawing out the fears of those who possess it. Hope struggles to figure out the meaning of the book before it’s too late.
Seen at the August 2016 HORROR/THRILLER FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.
Movie Review by Kierston Drier
Drawn to Fear directed by Daniel Robinette, must be applauded at its excellent execution of story in the confines of the horror genre. Without being overtly cliche it manages to hit every cultural touchstone of the genre while still creating a story that is compelling, functional and utterly terrifying.
A young woman finds herself alone in her home and comes upon a mysterious book, whose terrifying pages predict her next few moments. Our hero, in a stroke of brilliance unbecoming of most young women trapped in horror films, calls the police only to have her phone call get dropped (no shocker).
A harsher critic of this film may point out that the plot could be considered aimless- we know nothing of what the book is, how it got there or why it has picked this unfortunate woman.
She appears to be, almost systematically, haunted by creatures, visions, and horrors of ever-escalating terror as the film progresses- with no real goal as to what they want from her.
This can easily be seen as a plot fault, as the audience is unsatisfied, since they do not know what the hero has done to instigate this supernatural attack.
However, this reviewer prefers to see Robinettes’ piece as a short that pays homage to the classic conventions of the genre. The piece creates a short, powerful, nail biting account of a standard the-bad-guys-are-coming-for-you tale. It also works in more than a few nods to the tropes and archetypes of horror and suspense. The Ingenue, the empty house, the unknown force, the hopelessness of unfounded escape- are the conventions that root horror films. It is the meat and potatoes, the traditional comfort food of what is “scary”. In this way, Drawn to Fear is a perfect appetizer of what supernatural horror brings to the cinematic table.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:
KADDISH!, 6min, France, Horror/Comedy
Directed by Emeline Castaneda
When, on his way back home, a man stops at a motorway service area, he did not imagine that by talking to his urinal’s neighbor, it will trigger some terrible events.
Seen at the August 2016 HORROR/THRILLER FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.
Movie Review by Kierston Drier
Kaddish! directed by Emeline Castaneda, is an absolute delight. Engaging, immediately suspenseful and unflatteringly hilarious, it is an example of the element of surprise doing everything a horror-comedy film should do.
It must be noted that horror-comedy as a genre is one of the hardest sub genres to execute without latching on the comfort of cinematic cliches, and yet Kaddish! does this flawlessly. With undeniably originality, Castaneda is able to weave tradition, religion, ethnicity, suspense, humour, music and zombies (yes, zombies.) into six minutes of your life well spent.
Kaddish! follows our devoutly Jewish and incredibly compassionate hero as he makes the unfortunate discovery that the man at the urinal beside him is a Neo-Nazi, and decides to put his fate in Gods’ hands. And God responds with a standing ovation. This knowledge alone was enough to make me grab my popcorn and watch this film- please, do the same.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:
PREFERENTIAL OPERATION, 20min, Spain, Thriller/Drama
Directed by Roger Comella & Carles Velat
Four masked men kidnap the director of a bank branch in an unremarkable town. They put him in a van and ask him 90,000 euro from his own pocket.
Seen at the August 2016 HORROR/THRILLER FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.
Movie Review by Kierston Drier
Directed by Roger Comella and Carles Velat, Preferential Operation is a complex cinematic piece on several levels. Part suspense thriller, part tragedy, part comedy, the film can be hard to place into a single genre- but it nevertheless entertains on all fronts.
Our story starts on a local bank operator, openly disliked in the community, who is kidnapped on his way to work and subsequently interrogated and tortured by four masked invaders. Audience sympathy at first aligns with our hero, who, may be arguably overacting, succeeds in conveying his terror at the situation. As the story unfolds however, it becomes clear these masked men are previous victims of our bankers purposeful financial wrong-doings.
This piece is powerfully shot and our four masked “villains” are exceptionally well casted.
The piece is undoubtedly compelling, its plot is alluring and, most heartbreakingly, it is inspired by true events. It can be argued perhaps, that the film’s middle act falls slightly flat and that the conjunction of slap-stick style comic elements mixed with the psychological thriller/horror genre creates a non cohesive dichotomy.
However, this reviewer would counter that Preferential Operation is painting a picture with an intentional contrasting palate in order to create a more vibrant final image. An intense film? Absolutely. And whether it speaks to your personal cinematic tastes or not, certainly worth a film-goers time.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:
DON’T LET THEM IN, 13min, US, Horror/Thriller
Directed by David Lawrence
Dan Metzger, a struggling author, consumed with the urban legend of the Black Eyed Kids, fears his obsession has led their evil to his door.
Seen at the August 2016 HORROR/THRILLER FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.
Movie Review by Kierston Drier
Don’t Let Them In is a classic supernatural horror that delivers exactly what it promises – thrills, chills and CGI skills- all bundled together in 10-15 minute pocket of entertainment.
After a somewhat confusing opening scene which sets the stage for creepiness, the story opens on a glamorous well-to-do couple in a loving, but possibly stale marriage.
Our hero is writer working on his next big break and, while showering upstairs in their home, his wife is befallen by terrifying evil of some hideous sort.
The film harkens back to a standard set of classic tropes for horror films- the unknown power, the unseen enemy, the danger in the knock at the door you aren’t expecting. Don’t Let Them In may not offer anything new and unheard of to the genre of horror, but it is nevertheless tense, thrilling and suitable scary.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:
A FILM BY VERA VAUGHN, 10min, USA, Thriller/Sci-Fi
Directed by Sorrel Brae
In this supernatural digital-age thriller, a filmmaker falls through the looking glass when she must face her own terrifying creation.
Seen at the August 2016 HORROR/THRILLER FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.
Movie Review by Kierston Drier
Artfully shot, beautifully edited, high-intensity and highly compelling, Sorret Brae’s A Film By Vera Vaughn is a high-concept dual tale of a woman who winds up trapped in her own movie. (Or possibly trapped in someone else’s?) The story itself is hard to follow, but manages to be so utterly intense and compelling, it is difficult to care too deeply about the unanswered questions in the plot.
The plot’s structure may lack some basic skeletal features, but it does not mean the film lacks depth- on the contrary, the film has several layers of horror-thriller convention behind a supernatural element of unreality; the creepy light that keeps flickering in the hallway, the weird cameras’ that catch things they shouldn’t, the uncanny feeling you are always being watched- all expertly synchronized together to create an engaging tale of intensity.
Even though the film makes one walk away with some basic head scratching, it creates a sense of a movie well made- a feat of triumph for any short film.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Video of the short film:
BOARDWALK EMPIRE Season 2
Georgia Rule
Friday Night Lights
