Asheville, North Carolina should be bracing itself for serious damage to its collective cranium, as more titles were announced today for this year's edition of ActionFest, "the only international film festival devoted exclusively to action cinema and its unsung heroes."
As previously reported, the festival will run from April 12-15, opening with Michael J. Bassett's Solomon Kane and closing with Peter Chan's Wu Xia. In between, an eagerly awaited world premiere will have a chance to impress, and several outstanding selections will be unreeling. (Descriptions all provided by ActionFest.)
Bad Ass
World Premiere
Director: Craig Moss, USA
Danny Trejo (Machete) plays a decorated soldier who returns from Vietnam only to be shunned by society. Forty years later, when he protects an elderly man from a pair of skinheads, he becomes a hero, but his good fortune takes a turn for the worse when his best friend is murdered and the police won't do anything about it. Also starring Charles Dutton and Ron Perlman.
The Aggression Scale
Regional Premiere
Director: Steven C. Miller, USA
Fresh from critical & audience acclaim at SXSW comes this intense thriller about four heavily armed hitmen and two unusual teenagers who go to war over $500,000 of stolen cash. Starring Ray Wise (Twin Peaks, Robocop) and Dana Ashbrook (Twin Peaks) and Derek Mears (Friday the 13th, Predators)
The Lost Bladesman
North American Premiere
Director: Alan Mak, Hong Kong/China
From the director of Infernal Affairs (remade by Martin Scorsese as The Departed) comes the story of legendary hero Guan Yu (Donnie Yen, Wu Xia, Hero) in his journey to slay six powerful generals.
The Day
Regional Premiere
Director: Douglas Aarniokoski, USA/Canada
Open war against humanity rages. Five survivors are lost and on the run. The pursuit is relentless, ammunition supplies are dwindling and the battle is everywhere. This is a 24hr look into their lives. Fight or die. Starring Shawn Ashmore (X-Men), Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism), Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings; Lost) and Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight's Tale)
Headhunters
Regional Premiere
Director: Morten Tyldum, Sweden
Based on the international best-seller by Jo Nesbo, Askle Hennie stars as an accomplished corporate headhunter who moonlights as an art thief. When he steals a valuable painting owned by a former mercenary, he get more than he bargained for, and must set off on a heart-stopping race against time to save his reputation and his life.
Goon
Regional Premiere
Director: Michael Dowse, Canada
The most outrageous sports comedy in years stars American Pie's Seann William Scott as a bouncer labeled an outcast by his brainy family. After overcoming long odds to lead a team of under performing misfits to semi-pro hockey glory by beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way, he must have a knock'em'down confrontation with a famous enforcer (Liev Schreiber).
God Bless America
Director: Bobcat Goldthwait. USA
Comedian and filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait (World's Greatest Dad) takes a caustic spin on Bonnie & Clyde with this dark comedy starring Joel Murray as a terminally ill everyman on a mission to rid society of its most repellent citizens, joined by an unlikely (and very willing) accomplice in 16-year-old Roxy (Tara Lynne Barr).
More information is available at the official site, and we'll have more special coverage of the festival coming up soon.