Below is my entire review on said event.
My friend Grant & I arrived at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh and after a quick strong black coffee headed to our seats. The introduction was short and sweet, we were informed the first group of short films would tickle us and the main would have us wondering what the hell was going on.
Staplerfahrer Klaus - A very funny short film from Germany, filmed in the style of an instructional video to health and safety in the work place, in this case the film follows the pits and pearls of Klaus's first day as a forklift driver. Lots of funny twists, blood and humour...what more can you ask for?? Check it out below.
You Better Watch Out - Another short film from Australia, this time a old man finishes his shift as a Santa for a local department store. This old man lacks festive cheer and is subsequently abducted by two, ski mask wearing, men intent on making Santa pay for the presents they never got as kids. Sinister and funny at the same time as only the Australians can do.
Tanami The Baby's Curse - This was the first feature film of the event. From Japan and done in the style of Evil Dead meets Scooby Do, my friend and I are divided on our reviews of this film. He thought it was nonsense but well filmed haha but I saw fun and Japanese classic film techniques. Not the best film to leave the land of the rising sun but one you certainly wont forget soon.
Intermission....
Mama - This short film from Spain freaked me out with a clever use of build up of music and climax of scare!! Two girls wake up with one informing the other that Mama is home. As they try to escape the house Mama is there waiting for them!! Check it out below....Scary stuff!!
The Ugly File - A bizarre short film about a photographer taking pictures of babies with deformities for his client.
Last of the Living - The second feature tips its cap to Shaun of the Dead & Mad Max 2 in another mental Australian film. The story centers around three friends living life as part of the last of humanity as the rest of the world has been infected by a strange virus rendering them mere zombies hungry for that taste of brains and blood. Our three heroes are persuaded by a woman to help take a possible cure to an island research center. The story has wit and comedy spurting viscously like the blood spray from the bitten necks of the cast of this film. Well Worth a Watch.
Intermission.....And after seating complications....
Wheelchair Werewolf - This short film is just silly and crazy at the same time. Basically is a spoof trailer for a film that centres around the premise that a small town is under threat by a werewolf...this one though, has a twist...its got wheels!!! Awesome film, mad laugh and something you gotta check out below!!
The Killer - A pretty predicable short film from the Americans. A strange man comes to town hunting a man and ends up staying for dinner in a local bed and breakfast...but what exactly is in that stew??
Night of the Creeps - The third feature and personally the one I was most looking forward to seeing. A hark back to the 80's in this one. I am sure I originally saw this film in the early 90's, and as I was a bit older than I was in the 80's and subsequently allowed to watch the more grim and gruesome flicks. This film, re-released recently, got a special showing at Spawn of Dawn this year and 10secs in to it the memories flooded back. The film is about alien parasites infecting a college campus and the hero (the geeky kid) stepping up to bring them down and bedding the girl!! I was not disappointed by this one.
Breakfast intermission.....
Hold Your Fire - Easily one of the most disturbing and yet amazing works of movie art I have seen. Check it out if you get the chance!!
Buried - The second Australian short film, funny as fuck ... nothing need more be said.
Home Movie - From the title you could be mistaken for thinking this could be a pornographic film or even a spoof in the same vein as Date Movie, Scary Movie & Disaster Movie. You'd be wrong on all counts...this film is disturbing and excellent and uncomfortable all in one. A Family of 4 (Mum Dad Brother & Sister) live on the outskirts of New York and make family films...however the kids aren't like kids and over the course of different specially filmed events (Easter, Christmas and so on) a apparent chain of disturbing events are catalogued showing the kids to be killers in the making. I would recommend this film to every horror fan!
Last intermission.....
Pib & Pig - A funny short delivers in the style of a kids Plasticine programme...What you see is what you get.
Advantage - This short played out like a Aphex Twin music video with a couple getting trapped in a tennis court while the flood lights blind them and disturbing industrial noise powers through the speaker system..slowly they are both taken away by mysterious creatures. Check it out below.
Les Dents De La Nuit - This last French feature was the most fun of all. A comical tale of Vampires and Partying. Three partying friends get invited to an exclusive party with a group of other socialites only to find out the VIP's are out for blood. For those unafraid of fun and blood, a definite must see.
