Beauty and the Beast
The film opening the festival this year is Christophe Gans' adaptation of the famous story, starring Vincent Cassel and Léa Seydoux. This version incorporates not just the Disney view but also the darker iterations from the past, and is generally gorgeous.
Shelagh loved the look but had issues with the story, and you can read her review here.
Capsule
This is a world premiere of a Dutch science fiction film, no less. The end of the world is nigh, and 900 people are selected to survive the apocalypse in a capsule. But the selection procedure is eyed with suspicion, as is the integrity of the people behind the plan.
Cheap Thrills
A bored rich couple has a few poor guys competing for cash against each other in increasingly stupid, immoral and dangerous games. It's an easy idea on paper, but according to everyone who has seen it, the execution here is stellar.
Peter Martin saw it at last year's SXSW festival, loved it, and wrote this glowing review for it.
The Dance of Reality
Chilean genius Alejandro Jodorowsky returns to filmmaking for the first time in over twenty years, with a semi-autobiographical tale full of anachronisms and magical realism.
Brian Clark reviewed the film and was delighted to discover that the old master is back in great form.
And speaking of Jodorowsky, ... (see next slide!)
Jodorowsky's Dune
This documentary tells the tale of "the greatest film never made", Alejandro Jodorowsky's adaptation of Dune. In the seventies, his vision got really close to being actually produced, but financial troubles and ego-clashing between Jodorowsky's gang of genius "creative warriors" finally doomed the project, though its half-finished concepts would go on to influence every science fiction film made afterwards.
Ryland has reviewed this award-winning documentary and says it's wonderful!
And speaking of Dune, ... (see next slide!)
Dune 70 mm
How's that for a double-bill? The Imagine programmers have secured a 70 mm print of David Lynch's adaptation of Dune, and will be showing it after one of the screenings of Jodorowsky's Dune. A perfect combo in a perfect venue. If you're a fan of either the film or the book, this is the double-ticket to go for!
Raze
A criminal organization captures women and has them battle each other to the death, in a bone-crunching piece of exploitation violence with unusually strong performances.
Christopher Bourne was impressed and says so in his review.
Savaged
A mute young woman is raped and killed by a gang of rednecks, but is revived through Native American magic and starts a killing spree. Can she kill all her attackers before her body has decomposed?
Check out the trailer and a longer synopsis here.
Deadly Virtues: Love.Honour.Obey.
Another World Premiere with strong Dutch ties (Ate de Jong directed and co-produced it), this is a home intrusion thriller with a twist. A married couple gets held hostage by an intruder with a very uncommon agenda. Through tenderness and torture, he plans to use the woman's virtues to demonstrate that her husband doesn't have any...
The Creep Behind the Camera
This is a dramatized account of the goings-on during the making of one of the worst films ever made, especially highlighting the deranged con-man who ran the show. This is a much-anticipated world premiere, and you can expect a review soon!
The Raid 2: Berandal
Chances are you've heard about this one, maybe even on this site! Chances are you're also able to see this already, if you're in the right country. But in The Netherlands, this will be the first chance to see The Raid 2: Berandal.
And highly anticipated it is too, because its predecessor actually won the festival's audience award two years ago. Ryland reviewed it at Sundance and called it the most epic martial arts action film ever made, no hyperbole.
Killers
A sadistic Japanese serial killer and an avenging Indonesian vigilante start circling each other, with gruesome results. Quoting from an impressed Jason Gorber, who saw it at Sundance: "It's a film that shoves its baseball bat down your throat, leaving you shaken and introspective afterwards."
Read the rest of his review as well!
The Pool
Another Dutch world premiere, this horror film follows two families who illegally camp near a pond in the forest. What starts as a fun trip sours when a malignant force starts to influence them, and rot and madness strike.
Expect a review soon!
The Wind Rises
This is reputedly the last full feature directed by Hayao Miyazaki, and as always his films are intelligently crafted and gorgeous to look at. Chronicling the life of someone obsessed with creating perfection, this film obviously contains some self-reflection by the master.
Christopher O'Keeffe reviewed the film and was stunned by it.
Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead
The sequel to 2009's Nazi zombie flick Dead Snow picks up the story minutes after the end of the first film, and appears to be funny and gory. The question needs to be asked though: will there also be a promotional campaign with Linni Meister singing about her ass this time?
Ragnarok
Think of a Norwegian version of The Goonies, based around certain Viking legends and Norse mythology, and you wouldn't be a million miles off the mark.
In his review, Peter Martin calls it a fun family adventure, with Norwegian style and a welcome edge.
Willow Creek
For years, Bobcat Goldthwaith was primarily known as the certifiably mad actor with damaged vocal chords from the Police Academy films. Recently he has shown to be a very interesting director as well though, one who knows his craft and seemingly does not have any inhibitions. In his most recent film Willow Creek, a young couple is chasing the legend of Bigfoot, but what will happen if they do meet him? It's a knowing riff on films like The Blair Witch Project, but one which is actually worth checking out.
In his review, Andrew Mack calls this a scary, unnerving and tense addition to the found footage horror sub-genre.
And speaking of scary... (see next slide!)
The Babadook
A lonely mother stuck in a house with a small child and something terrible is a potent source of horror. Add originality and some impressive drama to the mix, and with luck you'll get something as frightening as this film.
In his review, Todd Brown calls this an ambitious and promising film from an obvious new talent.
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon 3D
Tsui Hark's insane prequel to his equally insane blockbuster hit Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame is reportedly of varying quality, but come on... A gorgeous-looking Chinese kung-fu epic by Tsui Hark, with fish people and giant sea monsters? In a huge venue, in frigging 3D? I am soooo there...
Why Don’t You Play in Hell?
We're big Sono Sion fans here at ScreenAnarchy, and this film is among his funniest and most extreme, which is saying something. A gang war revenge is exploited for the purpose of reality television, with devastating results.
Founding father Todd was so impressed by the film's wackiness, that it enticed him into making a strong remark, which famously led to him having to eat his shirt at Fantastic Fest.
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Witching & Bitching
In Álex De La Iglesia's new film, a bunch of crazy bank-robbers on the run become the target of a coven of witches, and all hell breaks loose.
In his review, Kurt Halfyard calls the film vulgar auteurism at its most manic.
Moebius
Kim Ki-duk returns to his infamous roots in this family drama, which starts with a frustrated mother castrating her teenage son. Things turn shocking from there on.
Pierce Conran calls the film insane and brilliant in his review (and given the combination of synopsis and director this is not surprising...)
Garden of Words
Shinkai Makoto's newest anime is short but gorgeous, and once again he reflects on human relations and the pleasure-and-pain of an impossible love. Trung Rwo calls the film a unique experience, cheesy at times but with heart.
Europe has many fine genre film festivals, and Amsterdam's Imagine Film Festival, which starts this week, can proudly call itself a member of that group. The line-up for this year's edition is particularly impressive. There is anime and other animation, there are unique screenings like a Tsui Hark film in 3D, or a David Lynch film in 70 mm. There are international guests like Jodorowsky, and a few world premieres.
