Program
Opening Night
Evil Things
(18+) Australian Premiere
Director: Dominic Perez
USA, 2010, 76 mins
Thursday 4th November, 7pm
Greater Union Cinemas
The outstanding debut feature for American film maker
Dominic Perez sees a group of five friends travel to upstate
New York for the weekend. What is supposed to be a
birthday celebration quickly turns into something a lot more sinister as a
terrifying ordeal unfolds. A completely convincing performance from a cast
of up and coming actors helps create an incredible level of tension that
builds throughout the film. Described by many as a pitch perfect horror,
Evil Things breaths new life into the hand held horror genre.
We Are What We Are (18+)
Director: Jorge Michel Grau
Mexico, 2010, 90 mins
Friday November 5th, 7pm
Greater Union Cinemas
This dark and powerfully emotional portrait of a struggling family bound by
a
TERRIFIFYING secret is truly a reinvention of the horror genre. Beautifully
shot and constructed, it is no surprise that this critically acclaimed debut
feature has been a hit at festivals around the world. With incredible
performances from its young cast members, We Are What We Are represents the
exciting new face of modern Mexican cinema.
Macabre (18+) Australian Premiere
Directors: The Mo Brothers
Indonesia, 2010, 95 mins
Friday November 5th, 9pm
Greater Union Cinemas
Putting Indonesian horror cinema well and truly on the map, Macabre delivers
a no holds barred thrill ride from start to
bloody finish. A good
deed turns out to be a deadly mistake as a group of friends offer assistance
to a strange girl in the remote countryside. The premise may sound familiar,
but the Mo Brothers deliver it with such style and flair that you cant help
but go along for the ride. Credit must be given to the cast for their
convincing portrayal of the bizarre and somewhat otherworldly characters
that add to the striking nature of this film.
The House of the Devil (18+) Melbourne Premiere
Director: Ti West
USA, 2009, 95 mins
Saturday November 6th, 7pm
Greater Union Cinemas
Based loosely on a true story, Ti West's haunted house
chiller is a fastidiously detailed, pitch-perfect homage to 80's horror.
From the opening credits, to the impeccable styling, to the meticulous art
direction, all the elements combine with ease to seamlessly transport the
audience back in time. Not satisfied to be merely a great retro piece, the
House of the Devil offers some genuinely good scares and is a real treat for
fans of classic suspense. Paying tribute to masterpieces such as Rosemary's
Baby and To The Devil a Daughter, West still manages to create a truly
unique piece of work, and one that is a real joy to watch.
Outcast (18+) Australian Premiere
Director: Colm McCarthy
UK/Ireland, 2010, 94 mins
Saturday November 6th, 9pm
Greater Union CinemasColm McCarthy’s outstanding debut
feature, Outcast, is an artistic, melancholy and decidedly human tale. Part
thriller, part horror, there is also a somewhat twisted love story at the
heart of this dark and visually attractive film. Exploring ancient Celtic
mythology, set against the harsh backdrop of a modern British housing
estate, McCarthy puts a decidedly modern spin on what goes bump in the
night. The exceptional performances and stylish cinematography help to
create a mood of mounting tension as the story slowly unravels. If you like
your horror dark and moody, this modest, raggedly beautiful little film
punches well above its weight.
The Silent House (18+)
Director: Gustavo Hernandez
Uruguay, 2010, 79 mins
Sunday November 7th, 5pm
Greater Union Cinemas
Shot in a single continuos take, Gustavo Hernandez's
The Silent House is a remarkable foray into the first person horror genre.
Telling the tale of a father and daughter who are about to begin a cleaning
job, the film is set largely inside a remote country house. Things start to
go wrong when the pair are investigating some strange sounds in the upper
reaches of the enormous house. Impeccably shot, beautifully cinematic and
featuring some extremely effective sound design, this is a definite edge of
your seat thrill ride from start to finish.
Wound (18+) Australian Premiere
Director: David Blyth
New Zealand, 2010, 76 mins
Sunday November 7th, 7pm
Greater Union Cinemas
Before Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste there was David
Blyth’s Death Warmed Up, New Zealand’s
first ever splatter horror film. Equally controversial is Blyth’s
latest foray Wound – a supernatural horror that is certainly an interesting
piece of work. Not for the faint of heart, the film serves up a plethora of
graphic imagery as it takes the audience on a dream like ride through the
fears and desires of lead character Susan (outstandingly
played by NZ actor Kate O'Rourke). Wound depicts Susan's slide into madness
as it explores the dark and distorted demons that lie deep within us all.
Dealing with all that contributes to mental illness, Blyth
tackles the issues of an increasingly uncaring society and the horrors of
the everyday. If David Lynch and Peter Jackson got together to make A
Clockwork Orange…it may turn out
a little like this. Wound is definitely a unique cinematic experience that
is sure to leave an indelible mark on Hello Darkness audiences this year.
Red, White & Blue (18+) Melbourne Premiere
Director: Simon Rumley
USA, 2010, 103 mins
Monday November 8th, 7pm
Greater Union Cinemas
Hard hitting and full of raw emotion, Simon Rumley's follow up to his cult
classic The Living and the Dead pulls no punches. While there is no shying
away from the revenge thriller aspect of this film, it is also a deeply
affecting love story and, at its heart, a well crafted character study.
Australia's Noah Taylor is shockingly convincing as Nate, a man teetering on
the edge of the depths of savagery while his co-star Amanda Fuller is also
very strong as the emotionally withdrawn Erica. Playing on the idea that one
little mistake can have unthinkable consequences, this is an engrossing
tale, both moving and terrifying, with plenty of twists and turns along the
way.
Irreversible (R)
Director: Gaspar Noe
France, 2002, 97 mins
Tuesday November 9th, 7pm
Greater Union Cinemas
Gaspar Noe's controversial classic gets a well deserved
cinematic revisit this year, as part of the Hello Darkness program. The hard
hitting and unrelenting nature of Noe’s approach to storytelling may be
difficult for some viewers, with its portrayal of the darkness of real life
horror, but this raw confronting piece is a must see film. The incredibly
intense and fast paced story is told in reverse, so the audience is kept in
the dark as to character motive and meaning until late in the piece.
Challenging the viewer to judge purely on what they see before them, with
very little context or history, Noe initially appears unforgiving. As the
true horrific nature of the story unfolds, it is as if only upon consumption
of the whole is the director allowing us to really comprehend its many
parts. Outstanding cinema.
The Ordeal (18+)
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Belgium, 2004, 88 mins
Wednesday November 10th, 7pm
Greater Union Cinemas
Deliverance meets the Texas Chainsaw Massacre in this European hillbilly
horror from Fabrice Du Welz. Marc is a small time cabaret singer who's van
breaks down on a secluded road on a dark and stormy night. Forced to take
refuge in a nearby village, Marc's arrival sets in motion an increasingly
strange chain of events involving the somewhat colourful locals. As reality
and fantasy blur, Marc's troubles grow into nightmarish proportions. While
often surreal and dreamlike, The Ordeal is also a tough, gritty and
unflinching film that is decidedly unsettling.
Closing Night
Amer (18+) Australian Premiere
Directors: Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani
France/Belgium, 2009, 90 mins
Thursday
November 11th, 7pm
Greater Union Cinemas
Paying homage to their beloved Giallo films of the
1970s, Helene Cattet and Bruno Forzani's debut feature is a true delight for
the senses. The film tells the story of Ana, in three distinct parts -
childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Featuring an incredibly powerful
opening act that draws on childhood fears so successfully that the audience
to face long forgotten fears . With very little dialogue, the film is driven
by the experience of being watched. Shot on vintage stock with stunning
visuals, bright colours and some beautifully crafted sound design, Amer is a
real gem of a film and deserves to be seen on the big screen.
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