This Wednesday (the 8th of April) sees the start of the 2015 Imagine Film Festival in Amsterdam, the largest Dutch genre film festival. What started as an annual horror marathon has now, in its 31st iteration, grown into an 11 day long spectacle in one of the fanciest venues in the Netherlands. There are workshops, lectures, sections dedicated to martial arts, horror, science fiction, fantasy... you name it.
Last month, the festival website started to show more and more of its programme, and now that it has been released in full, here is a gallery of things which caught our eyes. Click on the edge of the images to go to the next slide, or in the center to get a bigger version. And please use the comments to chime in with your own recommendations!
Openingsfilm: Ex Machina
One of the central themes at this year's festival is "We Love Robots", so what better way to start Imagine than with Alex Garland's Ex Machina? It's about an artificial intelligence who, when put in an actractive female-looking body, starts to seduce the scientists around "her", so it seems almost tailor-made for this edition!
Shelagh Rowan-Legg says in her review that the film has good and creepy moments, yet she is somewhat disappointed that once again, a stranger's femininity is only shown as sexuality and desirability.
James Cameron Double-bill: Aliens (70mm) and Terminator 2
This is a good week to be a James Cameron fan in the Netherlands, as Avatar has been briefly re-released to commemorate 10 years of IMAX in Amsterdam, and Imagine has this fantastic double-bill of two of his best films. And indeed, the Aliens print they will show is a 70mm one (and needs an exoskeleton power suit to be lifted).
Masterclasses and Lectures
The robot theme is strong in this one: Professor Eric Postma will give a lecture on the possibilities of giving an Artificial Intelligence social skills, while Professor Doctor Anneke Smelik will discuss human-robot relationships, from fascination to outright love.
As for the masterclasses, there is one about designing robots for films, given by Mark Setrakian (pictured above) of Men in Black and Pacific Rim fame. Other masterclasses are about the use of cameras, given by Belgian D.o.P. Manu Dacosse (Amer and The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears), and film editing, given by Bob Murawski (Army of Darkness and The Hurt Locker.
What is really cool about all these is that they are free of charge, so hop on in and get educated!
Liza, the Fox-Fairy
In this whimsical dark romantic fantasy comedy from Hungary, a lonely woman's quest for happiness is thwarted by a demon posing as a Japanese singer, who kills so many people around her that she becomes convinced she is a Japanese fox-fairy herself. A local detective believes otherwise and tries to save her.
Classic Martial Arts!
And here is a unique chance to see Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao on the big screen, and in their prime. Check out these titles:
Spooky Encounters (1980)
The Young Master (1980)
Righting Wrongs (1986)
Enough said?
Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno and Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends
A few years ago, the Imagine festival showed the first Rurouni Kenshin film, and now they've brought both sequels.
Christopher O'Keeffe says Kyoto Inferno delivers grand thrills, and Kwenton Bellette says that The Legend Ends is a competent finale to the series.
Europa Report
The Netherlands aren't exactly the first country to get this film (cough) but for Amsterdam audiences, this is the first time they can check out this found-footage docu-drama about an expedition trying to find life on one of Jupiter's moons.
In his review, Ryland Aldrych called it a very enjoyable sci-fi ride with strong acting, that gets far more right than wrong.
Lost Soul, The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau
Last year, the audience award was won by Jodorowski's Dune, a documentary about one of the most famous never-made films. Here is another such documentary, about what the hell happened on the chaotic set of John Frankenheimer's The Island of Dr. Moreau, before or and after he replaced director Richard Stanley, of Hardware and Dust Devil fame.
In his review, James Marsh calls it a candid and entertaining documentary.
Eye on Art: A Tribute to H.R. Giger
This year, the Imagine Film Festival highlights the works of the late and lamented H. R. Giger, whose creature designs for Alien basically changed film as we know it. During the evening-long tribute there will be art and filmclips shown, interviews held, presentations made, and finally the documentary Dark Star: H. R. Giger's World will be shown.
Spring
Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl turns out to have secret, boy is initially shocked but hey, love... Add some cannibalism and Lovecraftian tentacles into the mix, and, well, rest assured this is a pretty unique film.
In his review, Kurt Halfyard calls the film something fresh, intimate, icky, seductive and satisfying.
When Marnie Was There
With no new features on their slate, When Marnie Was There may become known in history as the last film made by the legendary Studio Ghibli. And while this entry is not exactly their most exciting film, the incredible craftsmanship on display, sedate pacing and sheer beauty make this a very worthwhile watch.
In his review, Christopher O'Keeffe called it "a touching story that is beautifully told."
Turbo Kid
Described as Mad Max on BMX-bikes, complete with 80's styling and music, Turbo Kid is... Wait, do we even need to know more?
It Follows
The indie-horror-that-could is currently combining its great festival reviews with actual box-office success in the US, and now we can see it in Amsterdam. A sexually transmitted haunting? Brrrr...
In his review, Jason Gorber calls it a somber, effective and assured thriller.
The Answer
A world premiere, not much is known about this one yet. A guy falls in love with a woman who works at his office, but when the couple starts dating they are suddenly being stalked by black-helmeted killers. As the fresh lovers try to figure out who-what-why, they stumble upon an alien conspiracy...
The Admiral: Roaring Currents
It's famous in Korea: the story of Admiral Yi Sun-shin and the Battle of Myeongnyang in 1597, where he commanded a small fleet of 13 ships to victory against the Imperial Japanese invading navy's 333 vessels. So the Koreans have made a whopping big and spectacular film about it, and here it is!
In his review, Pierce Conran says that if you're able to swallow a hefty amount of Korean patriotism, you get rewarded with some great battles and strong effects.
Norway
A vampire in Greece happily (un-)lives from nightly disco to disco, grooving and partying. But one day, he gets lured to a cave where he is introduced to a fake Bram Stoker, who proves to be a really nasty customer indeed...
In his review, Ben Umstead says Norway is exactly what it needs to be: fun.
Brotherhood of Blades
When the emperor of China fires the powerful head of his secret service, Wei Zhongxian, he sends three loyal soldiers after the man to have him killed. Wei knows the three soldiers are all in desperate need of money, and manages to catch them in a web of intrigue.
Housebound
After a failed robbery, Kylie is sentenced to stay at home with her mother (by way of ankle bracelet). Bad enough as that is, the house appears to have a supernatural unwanted guest, and Kylie tries to fight with it.
In his review, Peter Martin says it's a deadpan, diabolical, haunted thriller with oodles of blood, dark comedy, strong characters, and genuine suspense.
The Frame
Two people in parallel universes watch television every evening, unaware that each is seeing the daily adventures of the other. When one sees the upcoming death of "her favorite character" and tries to intervene, chaos happens.
It looks quirky and beautiful, and you can check out the trailer here.
The Dead Lands
A bone-crunchinly brutal action film taking place in ages-old New Zealand, The Dead Lands shows a traditional hero's quest for vengeance, but in a unique setting: the Maori warrior culture.
In his review, Jason Gorber calls it a mix of kinetic brutality and introspective spiritualism, and a memorable, rewarding experience.
V/H/S: Viral
Horror anthologies are going strong these days, and the V/H/S series is a good example. In this third outing, we get... ewwww, what IS that thing?!!
Michele "Izzy" Galgana calls the film uneven in terms of tone, but mostly good.
The Forbidden Room
Guy Madden's films are an acquired taste, an no mistaking. His latest is a bizarre series of intermingling absurd short stories, ranging from a crew stuck on a sunken submarine, to someone who tries (but cannot) stop looking at women's bottoms.
Jason Gorber says that for the adventurous or the masochistic, Maddin's latest ride is a hell of a lot of fun.
The Midnight Swim
Three sisters investigate the drowning of their mother, and discover that there might be a strange legend at work near the lake where it happened.
Kurt Halfyard was much impressed when he saw it at Fantasia, and in his review he said: "I will be very surprised if I manage to see a better film at this festival."
Wyrmwood
Called (often) a mix between Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Dawn of the Dead, this film shows you can still have some original film fun with zombies, especially when adding armor and cars.
In his review, Peter Martin calls it a splendidly gritty affair, wildly apocalyptic with dollops of silliness.
Closing Film: Big Game
The film capping off the festival could easily have been called "Escape From Finland". A young boy finds the sole survivor of a plane crash, and it turns out to be the President of the United States, as played by Samuel L. Jackson! Followed by assassins, the boy tries to keep the man alive and well, and get the both of them to proper authorities, but this is easier said than done in the Finnish mountains.
In his review, Jason Gorber calls it big fun, and an excellent genre film.