Fantastic Fest 2008: Fear[s] of the Dark

Editor, News; Toronto, Canada (@Mack_SAnarchy)

Not all animation suits all tastes. That is why it is great that an omnibus of animated works by some of the best in the business offers such a diverse and exciting mix of styles and explorations into personal nightmares. Shorts by Charles Burns, Blutch, Peirre di Sciullo, Marie Caillou, Lorenzo Mattotti, and Richard McGuire explore fears. Each piece of work is just as exciting as the next. Some are more exciting than others. Some are more disturbing than others. And this should always be looked at as a strength in this case as there isn't a weak short of the bunch. All are technically marvelous. Really, where it is going to divide the audience is in the viewer's personal reaction to the content, perhaps touching on frayed nerves or hidden skeletons.

The animated pieces by Blutch and Pierre di Sciullo act as bridges between the rest of the pieces. Blutch's piece proved to be the most challenging for me as the prey in this short are not what you usually hunt when walking through the woods with your dogs. While the outcome of that short was projected very early on it still manages to disturb and leave a lasting impression on my mind. Pierre's abstract sections inter spliced throughout don't offer anything except for abstract shapes and designs on the screen while a woman dwells on her fears and phobias. It's abstractness kept it from making any impression on me.

Charles Burns' piece for one looks just awesome. A young biology student, fresh from home in the sticks and in college, tries to meet women. When he finally does meet one and things move fast and quick back to his place his date becomes host to an old forest resident who hitched a ride on his bed. Things are great at first, she is warm and attentive, but soon things begin to fall apart and become explosive. Our friend will soon be reunited with his old insect friends and things will reach their ultimate worst.

Marie Caillou's piece of an young girl in Japan who is haunted in her dreams and bullied at school should resonate very well with our Japanese cinema fans here at ScreenAnarchy. Offering a very clean style with great use of shades of gray it is a harrowing piece but also fun to watch as the Japanese folklore symbols and Yokai make an appearance. I'm pretty sure as well that the tentacles near the end of her short were also true to Hentai style and a touch phallic at there end.

Lorenzo Mattotti's short tells the story of a man reflecting on a past event that happened in his village when an unknown monster began terrorizing his village. This was the least likely of all the shorts to make any sort of impact on me. It looked good but just didn't hold my interest. In my thoughts it is the weaker of the bunch.

The collection end with Richard Mcguire's stunning piece about a man who breaks into a home to get out of the cold weather. Little does he know that the matron of the home is still at home waiting for him in the dark. It is presented in such a stark and restrained style and at times only the man's face and hands are available. It looks awesome in its minimalist presentation. And it is also a great story and a great way to end the collection. Definitely one of my favorite pieces of the bunch.

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