Moron's Film Now In Limited Release!
(Last Night For Many Cities)

A moron -- I mean that in a good way, a friend of the site -- shot a movie called Theater Bizarre now in limited release in 12 cities, including New York, LA, Columbus, Denver, San Diego, and Dallas. DC too. Click the link to check it out.

(Next weekend other cities are added, like Brookline (Boston)).

I'll do my own review tomorrow, but since it's in release right now (tonight and tomorrow night only for most cities), I'll just do a head's up post. It got a good write-up in... the WSJ, of all places:

As a macabre primer to this parallel universe [of off-kilter extreme horror/fantasy], we suggest "The Theatre Bizarre," a portmanteau both ghastly and intelligent, featuring a murderer's row of contemporary horror's more prominent practitioners. Producer David Gregory's conceit was to set half a dozen directors free to explore the traditions of Grand Guignol. The results—from, among others, South African cult director Richard Stanley, makeup wizard Buddy Giovinazzo and the talented Douglas Buck—are alternately shocking, shockingly existential and/or tender in ways that belie stereotypes. When horror makes it to the mall, it's generally a mess. "The Theatre Bizarre" may not be everyone's cup of tea. But within its genre, it's state-of-the-art.

Christian Toto similarly gives it a good review at Big Hollywood.

As I've warned before, the movie is for jaded horror film fans, the kind who sort of put their noses up at routine decapitation -- "Oh, terrific, I've only seen that in four of the six Final Destination movies."

It makes up for a lower budget by attempting a more intellectualized and conceptual form of horror, putting horror in mundane situations (such as a couple breaking up) rather than in Secret Government Laboratories.

It's a series of six short films each by a different writer and director.

I actually saw the premiere in New York last December. I liked it a lot. The final installment is called Sweets, and is especially good.

Sweets was really interesting to me, because I had seen the script in advance, and thought it the dialogue (about a break-up) was cliched.

But I didn't understand how they planned to play it. It was supposed to be cliched. I can't convey how well the actors performed it, except to say Is swear they were two of the most hysterical actors I've seen. The whole point was to have them act out the typical break-up dialogue in the most hilarious way possible.

The chick was awesomely deadpan (and, by the way, super-hot; I got to meet her and tell her what a super fan I was).

The guy on the other hand was... emotive beyond all reason. I don't want to spoil it. Let's just say he was funny.

Oh, and then there's like four minutes of excessive gore.

As I've said before, strong content warning for the trailer.

posted by Ace at 04:18 PM

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