Grimmfest 2013 – Highlights From The Festival

Kiss-of-the-Damned

Kiss Of The Damned


Editor’s Notes: Grimmfest 2013 ran from October 2nd to 6th. For more information on the festival visit grimmfest.com and follow Grimmfest on Twitter @grimmfest.

For five days in early October, Manchester, UK hosted northern England’s premier horror and cult film festival. With well over thirty features and shorts being screened and with many special guests in attendance, Grimmfest 2013 was by far the biggest and most successful yet. Selecting the best films is almost impossible but below are three that stood out and are absolute must see examples of the genre.

From first time feature director Elliot Goldner comes The Borderlands, one of the most atmospheric and frightening films to have been produced in recent years.

Grimmfest-2013

Big Bad Wolves

From first time feature director Elliot Goldner comes The Borderlands, one of the most atmospheric and frightening films to have been produced in recent years. This refreshing take on found and static camera footage draws on the audiences fear and unease when tackling supernatural subject matter as Vatican endorsed investigators visit a small, rural church with the clear intention of disproving apparent miracles. What they discover is far beyond their worst nightmares as local ignorance collides with ancient evil to terrifying effect.

Vampire films that contain a love story have been hijacked recently by a succession of teen related writing and film but with Kiss Of The Damned, director Xan Cassavetes is reclaiming the beautiful undead for horror. Telling the story of the stunning Djuna as she falls in love and struggles with her wayward sister this may sound slightly unappealing to many but what has been produced is one of the best vampire films you will see. Combining haunting gothic imagery with moments of visceral violence against a pounding, invasive soundtrack Kiss Of The Damned is certain to become a favourite among audiences and warrants repeat viewing to fully appreciate the style and inherent terror on display.

Balancing growing tension with unflinchingly black comedy Stalled is full to the brim with humour that will keep you laughing from start to finish while all the time wondering how the flawed hero is going to escape the groaning hoards intact.

The final film on this list could not be more different from everything else screened at the festival. Stalled from producer Richard Kerrigan, director Christian James, and written by and starring Dan Palmer, tells the story of a hapless handyman who becomes trapped in a toilet cubicle when a zombie outbreak ruins the office Christmas party in his building. Balancing growing tension with unflinchingly black comedy Stalled is full to the brim with humour that will keep you laughing from start to finish while all the time wondering how the flawed hero is going to escape the groaning hoards intact.

Other films to recommend from Grimmfest 2013 include faux documentary The Conspiracy which cleverly combines a sense of paranoia with found footage akin to early successfully frightening exponents of this sub-genre. Big Bad Wolves is an Israeli production based around the disturbing subject of child kidnapping and murder but handles its subject well and delivers lines of deadpan comedy dialogue that is a little uncomfortable at times but that never fails to shock and amuse equally.

Each year Grimmfest grows in reputation and stature. The above films are of the highest standard and are almost essential viewing for anyone with either a passion for horror or only a fleeting interest. For more information on all the films shown visit grimmfest.com.

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John Townsend

Staff Film Critic
My interest in film originated from the excited anticipation of waiting to find out which new film would be shown on television as the Christmas Day premiere, which probably says more about my age than I would like! I am a lover of all things cinematic with a particular interest in horror and began writing and reviewing as an excuse to view and discuss as many films as possible, with as many people as possible.

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