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Movie Review: A SHADOW OF DARA (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERA SHADOW OF DARA, 14min., Bulgaria, Sci-Fi
Directed by Kirill Proskura

A leader of a rebellion risks everything to find a powerful commander of an alien world who’s been captured by enemies and put into a fabricated reality for the extraction of valuable information.

Shown at the September 2016 Sci-Fi/Fantasy FEEDBACK Film Festival

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Science Fiction lovers are a tough crowd. Pleasing them requires so many things; a knock-out, often high-concept story, with an unbeatable twist, compelling and thematic world building and epic stakes. This is on top of the already compulsory requirements of good production value, solid performances and strong story elements.

Enter A Shadow Of Dara, directed by Kirill Proskura, an edge of your seat science fiction that boasts intensity, polish and turns to keep you guessing until the every last frame. Quickly paced and excellently performed, this is the tale of the chosen leader of an alien world who must fight against being trapped in an artificial reality, in order to not reveal important information to his enemies. Once he is able to break free from his false-reality changes, however, he must team up with members of another planet (coming to him from the future) to avoid loosing both worlds as they know it.

If there is any flaw to be had in this otherwise very well composed piece of sci-fi cinema, it is that it’s highly condensed manner can muddle the details and make it hard to follow. Conversely, the piece is strong enough to warrant a second watch. Full of details and gripping good versus evil, the piece has multiple twists and turns. The final moment in the film provides a great ending, and leaves the audience wanting more.

Hailing from Bulgaria, A Shadow Of Dara could be a proof on concept for an excellent feature, where its’ themes will make nods to well loved films like Inception and the entire evil-alien genre. Regardless anyone with an appetite for a good science fiction film would enjoy this film. It will keep you wanting more.

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Movie Review: GHOSTBOY (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERGHOSTBOY, 9min., UK, Animation/Comedy
Directed by Jonathan Brooks

An exciting tale of mystery, mayhem and friendship, ‘Ghostboy’ teaches the very important lesson to not judge a book by it’s cover…

Seen at the August 2016 FAMILY FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Coming to use courtesy of Jonathan Brooks and Foolhardy films, Ghostboy reminds us that not all ghosts are here to haunt us. Charmingly designed with exquisite musical composition and engaging visual motifs, Ghostboy invites us to take a look at life for a few moments through the eyes of a child.

Whimsical, bright, and full of colorful imagery, this film takes us on the adventures of Alfie, a reluctant young boy moving into a new home with his unassuming grandmother and his perpetually upbeat mother.

Of course, he soon finds that his new home is already occupied by an evil hostage-taking spider, a creepy doll and most distressingly, a ghost-child. Not all ghosts are bad though, as Alfie soon discovers.

This short is one of those brilliant films that fires the imaginations and delights the senses of child and adult alike. With kid-friendly humor and just enough tension to keep the plot engaging from moment to moment, Ghostboy offers a pleasant mixture of fun and games that is enjoyable for the whole family.

The soundtrack and music design is beautifully constructed, the animation is delightful and visually lush and story is delightfully fun.

Enjoy the show!

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Movie Review: FOOTPRINTS (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERFOOTPRINTS, 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.

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Movie Review: DRAWN TO FEAR (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERDRAWN 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.

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Movie Review: KADDISH! (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERKADDISH!, 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.

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Movie Review: PREFERENTIAL OPERATION (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERPREFERENTIAL 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.

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Movie Review: DON’T LET THEM IN (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERDON’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.

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Movie Review: A FILM BY VERA VAUGHN (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERA 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.

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Movie Review: DO NOT DISTURB (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERDO NOT DISTURB, 13min, UK, Thriller
Directed by Jon James Smith

George takes a detour on his way home from the office, which sets off a dark tale of lies and confusion.

Seen at the August 2016 HORROR/THRILLER FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Do Not Disturb directed by Jon James Smith, is a compelling piece, composed of endless twists, turns and red herrings. Expertly shot, with keen focus and attention to detail, the piece follows a man’s untimely death and the intrigue that follows his mysterious end.

Smiths’ work is undoubtedly engaging- catching the viewer from the very first moments of screen time. The piece also employs interesting characters, compelling details, passion, and yes, even the occasional chuckle.

Where Do Not Disturb becomes troubled, perhaps, is that the plot is so rich, so detailed and so contingent on certain characters moving the story forward, there are moments where the plot gets confusing. Too meaty a story in too short a time, the film has the air or far too much matter condensed into too small a space. Smith’s work Do Not Disturb is definitely worth a watch, but it may take you two, or three to catch every nuance.

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Movie Review: NATIVE IMMIGRATION, 15min, UK, Comedy (2016)

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MOVIE POSTERNATIVE IMMIGRATION, 15min, UK, Comedy
Directed by Eric Romero

A mockumentary about a new shocking phenomenon named by the experts as ‘Native Immigration’. We will put a face to people like Manuel, Olamilekan and Chen Lee, whose life took a 180 degree turn when they discovered that…. they are immigrants.

Seen at the July 2016 COMEDY FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Native Immigration by Eric Romero is a fine example of political satire. It follows, mockumentary style, one reporter investigating the phenomena of EU natives who come to shocking realization that they are foreigners. The irony here is that they are not actually immigrants, but would be able to pass as immigrant due to their ethnicity or cultural origin.

Unapologetically poking at the ridiculousness of judging a person based on their appearance, Native Immigration is full of one-line gems like “ I thought he was my dad, but it turns out he was just another chinese guy.”

With immigration being a hot topic with the EU in regards to Brexit, this movie is crucially timed to be a hot comedy button. Also potentially controversial enough to land itself in trouble. But for the audiences in North America, the film produces laughs, chuckles and more than a few ironic moments.

The risk of the film’s premise is to be commended, and while the comedy was flat in certain areas, the piece has some truly brilliant comic moments and a hilarious tag at the end. To quote the late and great Oscar Wilde, “ If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh. Otherwise they’ll kill you.” Bravo Native Immigration.

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