Film4 FrightFest 2011

I normally go to FrightFest every year, hitting up the biggest scary films and then not being able to sleep afterwards.  Personal torture you might say, but it is quite enjoyable!

This year I had no real plans to attend due to it being the end of Ramadan and tonnes of family dinner invites followed by big party on Eid.  But a phone call on the Thursday afternoon, just hours before the beginning of FrightFest changed everything!

A few weeks back I entered a competition on Total Film's website to win an all expenses paid FrightFest experience including full passes over the 4 days for the best seats in the house and 4 nights stay in the luxury boutique St Martin's Lane Hotel.  The winner they had lined up had to pull out and with only hours to spare before the opening film, they redid the draw and my name popped out.  I didn't care what was happening in my life but I took the prize!  I would get to go to the (FrightFest) ball after all!

The hotel was absolutely amazing!  Only minutes away from the Empire Leicester Sq, luxurious bed, fantastic view of the city and that bed again.....

Now onto the films. Due to the Ramadan/family commitments, I was unable to see as many films as I had hoped like Kill List and The Woman (but will try and see it in the cinema), but I did get to see some good ones.  Here is the list of the films, good and bad.

Tucker and Dale V's Evil
This has to be the best film of the festival for me.  Comedy/Horror with a twist.  
The story follows two hillbilly friends Tucker and Dale as they travel up to their 'summer house' in the secluded forest.  On the way, they encounter some bratty college kids who are out for a boozy and sexy weekend.  Both groups misjudge each other immediately and hilarity ensues.  
Its a Slasher horror with real comedic twists and turns.  Hello Officer, I have had a doozy of a day...


Don't be Afraid of the Dark
Guillermo del Toro's take on a old horror film style, long, lingering and never really gets off the ground sadly. 
A young girl moves into her father's home after her parent's separation but the house has other plans for her.  Scary things start to happen in the house with her getting the blame and no one believing her.  Until lives start to get threatened.
Fans of The Orphanage and Pan's Labyrinth will be disappointed as although there is a lot of the beautiful nuances and spanish style he is so famous for, the story line and plot holes do let the film down.  And any film with Katie Holmes in can't be that good.  There were a couple of jumpy moments and any horror films with kids in always get me.


Fright Night
Fright Night is one big camp ball of horror fun.  Jerry the Vampire (Colin Farrell) moves into a very small town just outside of Vegas.  Charlie (Anton Yelchin) realises that Jerry is bumping off more people than he can chew and decides to take action himself.  But not before recruiting Paranormal expert camp and theatrical Peter Vincent (David Tennant) to help with the madness
Its funny, very camp and full of comedic turns, as well as suspense and a but of gore.  Farrell and Tennant are excellent in this film.  They really know how to take the piss out of themselves and really get into a role! The 3D is not that good though.


The Glass Man
Andy Nyman does a star turn in The Glass Man, a story of a tragic man who floats through life with problems building around him to the point where he might lose everything.  I really liked the intricacies of the film but it didn't fit at FrightFest and shouldn't have been on.  Its a Channel4 movie.


My Sucky Teen Romance
Teen Vampire homage written and directed by 13yr old at the time Emily Hagins (now 18).  This is her third film and first in FrightFest.  Don't watch it.  I hate precocious American kids who write/direct their own horror films where because of their young age, the only real horror references they have is Twilight.  There is an Edward-a-like in this film.  Just seems like Emily gets bored easily and needs to find something else to fill her time with.


Well that was FrightFest for me this year.  I loved it and want to give a big thanks to Total Film for competition win, to Ian Rattray at Film4 Frightfest for checking me into the lovely St Martin's Lane Hotel, Stuart and Jacqui Barr for the film recommendations, Dan Berlinka for some pre and post film chats, Alex Kessie for coming with me to Don't be Afraid of the Dark and get scared together and Mark Manchester for seeing Fright Night with me.  Without you all, I wouldn't have enjoyed myself and loved every minute.  FrightFest 2012 here I come!