On the very sad day that news came in of the untimely passing of a horror legend the genre action continued to be showcased in the heart of London during this years 2015 Film4 Frightfest. There was revenge, supernatural happenings and even some seasonal scares courtesy of creepy anthology ‘A Christmas Horror Story’.
Farhope Tower 1/5
A group of paranormal investigators known as the UnSpecter investigate an abandoned tower home to a rash of former multiple suicides. They’ve been promised a potential TV deal if they can pick up some good ghostly goings on. For me this has been the worst film of the festival so far, the kind of nonsense you’d be annoyed with if you wasted your time with it on Netflix. Overbearing music plays throughout as the tedious halfwits talk rubbish and have pointless arguments and continuously forget to film stuff, which dude is like totally the point. One to avoid like the plague.
Short Film Showcase #2 4/5
A selection of short films from around the world. My favorites were ‘Vintage Blood’ about terror in Muswell Hill and the insane ‘Crow Hand’. Very funny.
Scherzo Diabolico 1.5/5
A tale of revenge from Adrián García Bogliano, the director of the excellent ‘Here comes the Devil’ is a tale of kidnap and revenge in the name of career advancement. I was really surprised by this one; I’d enjoyed the director’s previous films but this felt like a mess. The acting is decent throughout but the story is full of frustrating plot holes and I found it very difficult to care about anyone. The music, whilst integral to the plot is highly irritating. It felt like a short film that just kept going.
A Christmas Horror Story 3.5/5
A fun, scary and bloody anthology tale in the spirit of the Amicus and Creepshow anthology movies of the 70s and 80s. Santa battles zombie elves, Krampus the Xmas Devil stalks a family and a Christmas tree brings in an unwelcome guest. I was surprised at how enjoyable this was. It’s pacy, and very suspenseful with great jump scares that are actually fun rather than startling. A real audience pleaser and the perfect gift for a horror fan this Christmas. It has William Shatner in it.
Report by Richard Mansfield (@mansfielddark)
Please visit: www.MansfieldDark.com
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