Whenever I think of virtual reality, I wrinkle my nose a bit and think of the early 2000s and that one cheesy Aerosmith video. However, with so many film festivals now offering VR components in their programming, I'm convinced that the format has finally become something worthwhile --- particularly for cinema goers.
The latest festival to legitimize VR is San Diego's Horrible Imaginings Film Festival, which runs September 7th – 11th. Throughout the five-day festival (held at The Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park), guests and cinema fans can throw on the VR wear and immerse themselves into something horrific between traditional screenings.
We're talking about a horror experience called Burlap, which is a VR film directed by Justin Denton ( who also directed the Beware Crimson Peak VR experience for Legendary). "As soon as I finished that and realized the emotion and fear I could create in VR, a light bulb went off in my head," Denton said about the project. "And I just knew I had to explore the world of Burlap in the VR space."
Film fans interested in this alternative platform can compare the VR Burlap experience to Denton's traditional short film version, will screen in the Human Killer & Psychological Terrors Short Film Block on Sunday, September 11th.
"We believe virtual reality is an experience that is altogether different from that of traditional cinema," HIFF founder Miguel Rodriguez said. "With both VR and traditional versions of Burlap in the festival, we will be able to offer an exploration of the strengths unique to both mediums."
What can people expect from the Burlap VR experience? "To answer that might give too much away," Rodriguez said. "But rest assured, you have never experienced anything like it! This is a whole new level to exploring darkness! Horrible Imaginings has always looked to various traditional art forms to expand and elevate how we view the horror genre --- now we are looking to include the latest innovations in cinema as well!"
Check out more film madness unleashed within the trailer for HIFF below!
Tickets and passes are on sale for next month's Horrible Imaginings Film Festival online here.