Screenings in the Bay (Friday to Sunday): Anti-Porno, Stereo Argento IV: The Purge!

Well here we are at the end of 2017, and the last Screenings in the Bay of the year. And it's super short! I'm not complaining, because there are a ton of awesome titles that recently became available on VOD and I think our hard working theatre employees need some days off too. And if you guys don't feel like sitting in a theatre tonight, check out Stereo Argento IV at The Stud tonight! It's the only drag/ horror dance party of its kind and one hell of a way to spend a Friday night!

Thank you guys for checking in throughout the year, and I hope you all have a great New Years night. See you all in 2018! ❣

Roxie Theatre

Anti-Porno (2016)

Screening All Weekend (1hr 16min)

Art House/ Comedy/ Drama (Rotten Tomatoes)

Young artist Kyoko (Ami Tomite) wreaks havoc on everyone that she encounters, her worst being reserved for simpering older assistant Noriko (Mariko Trutsui), whom she routinely humiliates-or at least that's what seems to be happening, before an abrupt about-face. Outrageous rabble-rouser Sono's contribution to the Roman Porno redux series contains plenty of sex, but is also a fourth-wall breaking, experimental study of feminine agency set against outlandish, eye-popping backdrops.

The Stud SF

Stereo Argento IV: The Purge

Friday 29th 10pm - 3am

The Purge commeth, and the Purge taketh away.

The year burns dimmer as we approach a new dawn.

Two incisions on the soles of your feet.

Exonerate the filth.

The spewed cynicisms of entitled buffoonery.

Take a trip with Stereo Argento.

Galvanize your mind, blood and soul

and journey into the light of Righteousness

(because She has something to say).

-Huntress

Digging Up the Dirt with KillDozer and Troy Escamilla, Writer/ Director of Christmas Horror 'Stirring'

Holiday horror, like everything else, has become "a thing". What once was the yearly tradition of genre fans alone has now been embraced by the masses and their love of all things Christmas. A new addition to this tradition is now the competition (I did not rhyme that on purpose) of finding the most obscure or newest holiday horror magic that goes into the stack of must watch films. This year a title popped up that gained support through a crowd funding campaign and is in its final stages of production. Stirring aims to bring that old time Christmas slasher cheer directly to the screen and I was lucky enough to talk with its creator, Troy Escamilla.

KillDozer: Let's start at the beginning. What first inspired you to bring a Christmas slasher to the screen?

Troy: I have always said that if I could only make two films in my life, one would be an 80's style throwback slasher and the other would be a Christmas themed slasher because, as a horror fan, these are perhaps my two favorite sub-genres. My first film, Party Night, is a total homage to films I grew up loving such as Prom Night, The Mutilator and of course Friday the 13th and Halloween, so there was really no doubt that my next film would be Christmas themed horror flick. I should mention that my favorite horror film of all time is 1974's Black Christmas; I find it to be a truly terrifying film that doesn't nearly get the credit it deserves for its influence on the genre. There truly is something unsettling and interesting about effective pairing the most joyous, wonderful and festive time of the year with horror and bloodshed, so I wanted to try my hand at crafting a holiday themed horror film that I felt fans would have a blast with. Hopefully, I accomplished that!


KillDozer: I have noticed a lot of debate happening between genre fans as to what constitutes a Christmas film vs. a film only being placed during the Christmas season. Do you consider Stirring a Christmas film? Did you write it with Christmas in mind as back drop or a valuable piece necessary to create a mood or make a point?

Troy: I absolutely consider Stirring a Christmas film. As mentioned, I have always wanted to write and direct a Christmas themed horror flick, so when I began the crafting the script, I knew Christmas had to play an important role. In the opening scene of the film, the inciting incident takes place during Christmas and is perhaps why the killer ultimately wears a Mrs. Claus costume. Most of the film takes place at a Christmas party and many of the killer's weapons are Christmas related, which I hope fans will get a kick out of.


KillDozer: Was the idea to shoot locally made due to budget restraints or for setting?

Troy: Definitely budget constraints. I would have loved to have filmed in the winter in the Midwest with snow to nail the Christmas "feel," but unfortunately that just wasn't possible. Instead, we filmed in June in Houston, TX which is about the complete antithesis of a Christmas atmosphere as you can get! As a result, I tried to confine the locations to be mainly interior and the decked out everything in Christmas decorations, lights, trees, etc. My goal was to have something Christmas-y in virtually every shot. So while there is no scene (except in one particular scene which I truly believe will be the most talked about scene in the film!!), I feel confident that we still captured the tone and atmosphere I was trying to achieve.


KillDozer: We have seen a lot of successful and strong female characters brought to the screen this year. Was the idea to add Mrs. Clause into the holiday slasher mix a conscious one?

Troy: Honestly, I just wanted to do something different. Killer Santa films have been done numerous times now, so I wanted a new twist. I've never seen a killer disguised as Mrs. Claus in a film, so that's really the reason I went with it for the killer's costume. And actually, it works out well with the plot of the film, since it deals with a killer stalking a sorority house with a sinister past. Again, it's something different that I hope fans will appreciate.


KillDozer: What was casting like on this film? In your experience do actors shy away from projects like this because of the subject matter?

Troy: Casting, for the most part, was pretty exciting. I actually brought back some of the actors I worked with on Party Night, which was a amazing because in Stirring they play completely different characters. I was also able to bring on a few actors who actually auditioned for Party Night that I knew I wanted to work with. Additionally, I was thrilled to be able to bring some very familiar faces in the horror community on board including horror icon Brinke Stevens, Helene Udy and Kaylee Williams. Having been a fan of these ladies for many years, it was an absolute honor to have them bringing to life characters that I created. As far as actors shying away from horror projects, I believe that if you are upfront with the type of project it is, then those who inquire will already know what they are getting into. However--with Stirring I did have an actress back out the DAY BEFORE we were to film her scene because she finally got around to reading the whole script and objected to what occurs in the opening scene (which definitely may turn some people off). Luckily, one of my local actresses Hailey was able to get ahold of a friend and she stepped in and did an AMAZING job, so a HUGE shout out and THANK YOU to Minela! :-)

KillDozer: Holiday genre films have been in the spotlight much more since the big budget release of Krampus. Has this in any way inspired your last 2 projects? Is it easier to gain interest in a holiday horror film?

Troy: I feel holiday themed horror films have had a definite fan base even before Krampus was released. It's always fun to see all of my horror fan friends on social media post what Christmas themed horror film they are watching each day in December. Fans are definitely eager and open to new Christmas themed horror films, and hopefully Stirring becomes traditional holiday viewing!


KillDozer: Are you a "jack of all trades" on set? Do you have to be when working on independent projects?

Troy: Oh absolutely. I definitely wore many hats, from set decorator, production assistant, script supervisor, etc. I even play Mrs. Claus in two scenes of the film, so that was actually a blast! There truly was a tiny, tiny crew for Stirring, so we all wore different hats. Actors pitched in and served as boom mic operators, and my cinematographer definitely stepped up and assisted in many other roles. It's definitely important on small indie films to surround yourself with people who share your passion for the project because chances are, they will have to help out in a variety of ways. I've definitely been blessed in this respect on both my films.


KillDozer: What have been the toughest parts about bringing Stirring to the screen?

Troy: As mentioned, definitely budget constraints and the fact that we filmed in June in Houston. Certainly with a bigger budget, we could have improved special effects, sound, locations, etc, but working on an indie film, you quickly learn to work with what you have, and ultimately I am very pleased with how everything turned out.


KillDozer: I see you also have a Krampus film credit to your name. Does this mean you love or hate Christmas?

Troy: 'Twas a Tell Tale Kramus Tale is the Krampus flick your referring to. It was written by another up and coming indie horror filmmaker, Jake Zelch. We've discussed working together for quite some time, so he contacted me to see if I'd be interested in working with him on this film. I read the script and really enjoyed it. Initially, I was going to co-direct the film with Jake, but it's filming in March of this coming year and unfortunately I could not make the dates work with my schedule. However, I still hope to assist him with the project because it really is going to be tons of fun. Oh, and I love Christmas!


KillDozer: You have done 2 holiday themed movies back to back. So my question is how long have you been surrounded by Christmas? And has it been torture?

Troy: Stirring has pretty much consumed my life for the past year and a half. Pre-production involved gathering as many Christmas decorations as possible. I scoured thrift stores and garage sales, begged friends and family, and browsed online for a good six months before filming became. Needless to say, my home became a mini-warehouse to Christmas decor! Then, having to deck the house we filmed in with the decor was also a time consuming challenge! While, I wouldn't say it has been torture, I can say that I did not put up ANY Christmas decorations this holiday season. Interpret that as you will! Haha!


KillDozer: Have you viewed Stirring with an audience? If so what have the reactions been?

Troy: Unfortunately, I have not since as of completing this interview, it is not finished yet. I'm just waiting on the score, which is an essential part of any film, to be completed. Once we have the score, the film will be done and I'll send an advanced screener link to our crowdfunding backers and to festivals.


KillDozer: Where can we follow you to support your work and stay in the loop?

Troy: You can find me on Facebook: Troy Escamilla And Instagram: TroyEsc
Both Party Night and Stirring also have Facebook pages where I try to keep people updated on any news, reviews, etc.


KillDozer: What is your favorite non horror Christmas film and why?

Troy: Definitely A Christmas Story! It's such a great film that captures a nostalgia that is rarely seen anymore. I also find it highly ironic that it's directed by Bob Clark who directed Black Christmas.


KillDozer: What is the worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Troy: Honestly, I have never received anything that I disliked immensely. If I personally do not have use for something I am given, then I become one of "those" people who regifts. :-P


KillDozer: If you could pit your Mrs. Clause against any other slasher in film history in a battle to the death who would it be?

Troy: Oh boy. I can't give the answer I really, really want to because it could definitely lead people to spoilers. So, I think it'd be pretty awesome to see Mrs. Claus battle Billy from Silent Night Deadly Night! It'd be like witnessing a lover's quarrel of sorts!


KillDozer: How did you discover Santa didn't exist?

Troy: My older brother ruined it for me. He found all the presents that my parents had hidden in their closet and unwrapped them all in front of me. Thing is, when he went to wrap them back up (because he truly thought my mother wouldn't be able to tell!), he had to use completely different wrapping paper because apparently my parents used all of the original. Instead of getting angry and saying anything, my parents acting like nothing was wrong, which I think was even worse because it caused my brother to be on edge all of that Christmas day.


KillDozer: Can you give me a fun VHS box style tag line for your film? (example-"The only Christmas miracle will be if you survive the night")

Troy: This year, you WON'T be going home for Christmas!

Follow Stirring and Party Night on Facebook for updates on the films!

-KillDozer

Bluray Tuesday: Featuring Flatliners, Jeepers Creepers 3 and Mayhem

December 26th 2017

I hope you all had a killer Christmas and break from work. Now Tuesday creeps up on us once more with the final Bluray Tuesday of 2017! This year has been full of awesome collection worthy titles, now let's see what we're closing 2017 with. The list begins with Flatliners, a remake of the 90's sci-fi thriller. Flatliners was a somewhat unnecessary reboot that had a few cool moments and horror elements thrown in, so I'd recommend a rent first. Next up is Jeepers Creepers 3 which hit theaters for one night only, and then hit the SyFy channel, where its home should have been. Jeepers Creepers 3 is another one I'd recommend renting or catching on cable first. Joe Lynch's new film Mayhem hits shelves today, starring The Walking Dead's Steven Yuen. You can check out our review here if you missed it. Rounding out the week is Brawl In Cell Block 99 and The Unraveling. So what will you buy, rent, or skip this week? Let us know in the comments. Until next week!

Flatliners: Amazon - $19.99

Medical students experiment on "near death" experiences that involve past tragedies until the dark consequences begin to jeopardize their lives.

 

Jeepers Creepers 3:  Amazon - $12.99

Taking place between first film and the second film, Sgt. Davis Tubbs and a task force of hunters embark on a mission to destroy the Creeper during its last days of feeding. The Creeper soon fights back when they get close to discovering its mysterious and dark origins.

 

Mayhem: Amazon - $14.99

4K: Amazon - $17.99

A virus spreads through an office complex causing white collar workers to act out their worst impulses.

 

 

The Unraveling: Amazon - $16.99

Michael Silver is pushing thirty, about to get married to his pregnant girlfriend, and slowly relapsing into a heroin addiction. One day at work, Michael is suddenly kidnapped by his friends and taken into the woods for a surprise bachelor party. At first, everything seems fine, but right as Michael's heroin withdrawals begin to kick in, one of his friends turns up dead in the middle of the night. Attempting to escape the woods and find help, the remaining group is forced into a desperate game of survival.

 

Brawl in Cell Block 99: Amazon - $14.99

4K: Amazon - $19.99

A former boxer loses his job as an auto mechanic, and his troubled marriage is about to expire. At this crossroads in his life, he feels that he has no better option than to work as a drug courier. He soon finds himself in a gunfight between police officers and his own ruthless allies. When the smoke clears, Bradley is badly hurt and thrown in prison, where his enemies force him to commit acts of violence that turn the place into a savage battleground.

 

 

Killing Gunther: Amazon - $14.99

A group of eccentric assassins are fed up with Gunther, the world's greatest hit-man and decide to kill him but their plan turns into a series of bungled encounters as Gunther seems to always be one step ahead.
 

  

The Mountain Between Us: Amazon - $19.99

4K: Amazon - $24.99

Stranded on a mountain after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must work together to endure the extreme elements of the remote, snow-covered terrain. Realizing that help is not on the way, they embark on a perilous journey across hundreds of miles of wilderness, pushing each other to survive and discovering their inner strength.

 

 

From Hell to the Wild West: Amazon - $16.99

A psychotic killer has found a new hunting ground. A place where people frequently go missing so his murders can go un-noticed. The American frontier. The wild west has never been wilder as it encounters its first serial killer. A deranged psychopath slaughters his way through a mining town in the Sierra mountains. A law man is on his trail and is ready to serve justice. What he doesn’t know, is that this killer could be... Jack the Ripper.

 

Nightworld: Amazon - $24.99

When former cop, Brett Irlam, takes a job as head of security at an old apartment building in Bulgaria’s capital city, Sofia, he immediately begins to experience a series of bizarre and terrifying events. As he starts to delve deep into the building’s sinister history and investigate its shadowy owners and past employees, Brett quickly uncovers a malevolent force nestled deep in the bowels of the building, a force that will not stop at anything to be set free into our world.

 

- The Impostor

Screenings in the Bay (Friday to Sunday): Christmas Evil, 12 Monkeys, IT

I hope everyone is just about ready for the holidays! When you need a break from getting ready, why not take a trip to the movies? There aren't too many noteworthy screenings happening this weekend, but Christmas Evil, presented by Midnites for Maniacs, is a definite highlight. And two of the Overlook's favorites of the year are now available on VOD!

The Shape of Water (2017)

Screening All Weekend! (2hrs 3min)

Adventure/ Drama/ Fantasy

An other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment.

Roxie Theatre

Brazil (1985)

Friday 22nd @ 6:45pm (2hr 22min)

Drama/ Sci-fi (IMDB)

A bureaucrat in a retro-future world tries to correct an administrative error and himself becomes an enemy of the state.

-with-

Twelve Monkeys (1995)

Friday 22nd @ 9:30pm (2hrs 9min)

Mystery/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller (IMDB)

An intense film about time travel, this sci-fi entry was directed by Terry Gilliam, a member of the comedy troupe Monty Python. The film stars Bruce Willis as James Cole, a prisoner of the state in the year 2035 who can earn parole if he agrees to travel back in time and thwart a devastating plague. The virus has wiped out most of the Earth's population and the remainder live underground because the air is poisonous. Returning to the year 1990, six years before the start of the plague, Cole is soon imprisoned in a psychiatric facility because his warnings sound like mad ravings. There he meets a scientist named Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe) and Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt), the mad son of an eminent virologist (Christopher Plummer). Cole is returned by the authorities to the year 2035, and finally ends up at his intended destination in 1996. He kidnaps Dr. Railly in order to enlist her help in his quest. Cole discovers graffiti by an apparent animal rights group called the Army of the Twelve Monkeys, but as he delves into the mystery, he hears voices, loses his bearings, and doubts his own sanity. He must figure out if Goines, who seems to be a raving lunatic, holds the key to the puzzle. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Presented by Midnites for Maniacs

Christmas Evil (1980)

Saturday 23rd @ 9:15pm (1hr 40min)

Horror/ Slasher 

A deranged department-store Santa becomes a cold-blooded killer in this taut psycho-thriller that spends time looking back at the poor fellow's life. The story is also titled Christmas Evil and Terror in Toyland.

VOD

IT (2017)

Available on VOD (2hrs 15min)

Drama/ Horror/ Suspense (Rotten Tomatoes)

New Line Cinema's horror thriller "IT," directed by Andy Muschietti ("Mama"), is based on the hugely popular Stephen King novel of the same name, which has been terrifying readers for decades. When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.

Mother! (2017)

Available on VOD (2hrs)

Drama/ Horror/ Suspense (Rotten Tomatoes)

A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. From filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream), mother! stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer in this riveting psychological thriller about love, devotion and sacrifice.

-Huntress

The Overlook Theatre Reviews: Mayhem, Joe Lynch's

3 of 7 viewers "Liked" "Mayhem" (2017, USA)

Here's what the creatures had to say:

Lord Battle - "Joe Lynch returns with his second installment of shot in Serbia video game narratives taking place in a single building films. Full of light laughs and film homage played like nerdy in-jokes, Mayhem reeks of "fun". I did really enjoy the fight choreography as it felt organic even if the staging ranges from casual hallway brawl to boss fights (literally). Fans of Office Space should seek this film out over The Belko Experiment." - 2.5 Stars

Wandering Panda - "A fun movie filled with mindless violence. Its story was a weak point and not very memorable, but the cast is great and the movie was shot beautifully." - 3.5 Stars

Math Mage - "A scathing criticism of corporate America written by someone who has never experienced corporate America. A beta male wish fulfillment/revenge film, written by a seventh grader who would totally kick everyone's ass if he really let loose but he won't because he's too nice. (super convenient that excuse virus is floating around)" - 2 Stars

Huntress - "It’s hard not to think of The Belko Experiment when you hear that there is going to be another high body count horror movie set in an office, but Mayhem gets further from Belko the more I think about it. Aside from the fact the Mayhem’s office workers were not fully in control of their behavior, while Belko was all about the choices people made, there was one difference that stood out to me much more; Belko was not afraid to make you feel awful. Mayhem was a lot more fun, with higher levels of adventure and fantasy, and it felt like a Joe Lynch movie. But the lack of real tension and atmosphere robbed this movie feeling even remotely horror." - 3 Stars

The Great Hornito - Walkout - Default 2 Stars

Trash - "It’s basically The Belko Experiment for people who like their movies tame, easy, structured predictably, and really think the world owes them something. A female lead who is so underdeveloped, it’s not even clear what she’s doing in the movie or if she’s got any kind of life outside of 1) looking hot 2) liking cool bands that boys like and 3) trying not to let the bank foreclose on a house that she may or may not own? It doesn’t matter because her purpose is to fuck the nerdy guy, who’s been suuuch a success in life, and absolutely is going to pick pursuing his art over a steady paycheck, (very realistic). Whatever corporate critique is going on in Mayhem will likely only work for people who have little to no corporate experience, but really hate THE MAN. That’s not how things work. That’s not how people talk. That’s not even the right vocabulary. And where the hell is HR? The violence is disappointing. The weapons are ineffective. Just do an ounce of research, please. I laughed once when someone said “I’ll suck your cock,” because the word cock makes me happy. Cock." - 1.5 Stars

Midnight Bloom - "I really enjoyed this movie, Steven Yeun and Samara Weaving make a good team! It reminded me of The Belko Experiment and Bloodsucking Vampires. Steven Yeun’s character as Derek Cho also reminded me of Glenn from The Walking Dead because of the way his character in the movie developed real quick, from taking everyone's shit, to not giving a shit, all while being a bad ass in a corporate office beating the shit out of everyone. This movie has action from beginning to end! Such a fun, cool story about how everyone gets infected by drinking water and how they go through different stages." - 5 Stars

The Overlook Theatre Final Rating* 

(Below is for after you've seen the film)

As you can tell from my review, I was not the biggest fan of Joe Lynch's Mayhem. I do however realize that this is simply not my type of film. It lost half a point with me because of how aggressively the film comes off as a Steven Yeun vehicle. But this seemed to only affect me. Math Mage and Trash seemed to have problems with the very straightforward and transparent story (they were not shy about this), while the newest creatures Wandering Panda and Midnight Bloom were laughing out loud.
I've thought a lot about what informed our particular audience opinions that night, in an attempt to come up with a better explanation than age difference (in which there's at most 15 years), but it's looking that just may be it. The younger fiends are fans of The Walking Dead. The punk and wizard are not. Huntress and I fell off. This seems to say, well duh, if you like Steven Yeun you'll like the film. But what about Joe Lynch fans? Huntress, Trash, and I are all fans of the Joe Lynch personality and 2 out of 3 of us agree Wrong Turn 2 is the best of the franchise. Math Mage, Wandering Panda, and Midnight Bloom know nothing of him or his filmography... This appeared to be getting me nowhere until I changed up my approach. Instead of asking about who made the film and what the creatures thought of the individuals, I asked what did they want from the film? Trash and Math Mage are both very creative individuals. One is a musician, writer, and filmmaker. The other runs 3 different D&D games a week in 3 different styles with 3 different systems. While, Midnight Bloom and Wandering Panda are still figuring out what inspires them. So am I saying that thoughtful people will be bored by Mayhem? Maybe, but I don't mean it that way. Although the counter-argument to my compliment about the chaos within the frame being well constructed was that it was canned chaos, with every instance giving us the same equation of 2 guys fighting, 1 coupling having sex, and 1 crazy person acting wacky. I just feel like this could still be an age thing where the old can't help but compare and the young don't know any better. Anyway who cares, Steven Yeun is in it.

- Lord Battle

The Overlook Theatre materialized in a residence for a screening on 12/14/2017

*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not affect the rating.

UNNAMED FOOTAGE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES A WEEKEND OF FOUND FOOTAGE HORROR AT THE BALBOA THEATER

San Francisco, CA -- The Unnamed Footage Festival, a weekend of found footage horror, first person cinema, and faux documentary, is coming to the historic Balboa Theater in San Francisco the weekend of March 24th - 25th, 2018. A collaboration between Philadelphia’s Unnamed Film Festival and Bay Area based organization, The Overlook Theatre, The Unnamed Footage Festival will include in-competition new selections from around the world, and a series of revival screenings. The two-day event will feature in-person talks and Q&A's with filmmakers who contribute to this niche subgenre, as well limited edition art and collectibles for badge holders.

The Balboa Theater resides in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond District and has been an operating movie house since 1926, splitting its single screen in two in the late 70’s. Rumors of paranormal activity at the classic cinema, which is built over a former cemetery, have spread by way of staff and patrons for years, making it the perfect location for UFF.

The festival's slate of films will consist of narratives shot in the first person, and show the exciting diversity within the medium that has gone uncelebrated until now. While THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY defined the genre, many others went under the radar. UFF will offer audiences the chance to revisit older titles and discover new ones, while exploring comedy, science fiction, and drama, with an emphasis on the genre most often linked to found footage — horror movies.

“There’s nothing scarier than watching a found footage horror film in a creepy old theater ” says an Unnamed Representative, speaking through a phone with a voice modulator. “But the idea behind UFF isn’t just to scare the audience, we want to dissect the way these are made. We want to talk about how the forced perspective is used to manipulate the viewer, and the creativity in the use of different cameras.”

UFF is currently looking for films made by anyone, anytime — there are no limits regarding completion date, or release status. Due to the nature of this genre, sometimes films take years to complete and slip through the cracks, and UFF’s goal is to hunt down and revive these movies, and give new films the chance to screen theatrically.

Submissions are being accepted through February 15th, with a flat submission rate of $5 per short and $10 per feature. “Just go out and shoot something,” says the garbled voice of the Unnamed Representative. “A big part of this is to encourage filmmakers to play in this underappreciated storytelling format. There is so much room for exploration, and we want to see what strange and exciting things artists can do with it.”

Submissions are now being accepted through FilmFreeway

Badges will be on sale in 2018. Follow the Unnamed Footage Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates. Updates will also be released as they become available on the weekly Overlook Hour Podcast.

THE UNNAMED FILM FESTIVAL BIO
Founded late 2015 in Philadelphia by Madeleine Koestner and Alex Gardner, the Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival takes place in the Fall in Center City featuring a selection of the best new and undiscovered genre films. Now entering their third year, the festival has grown into a four day event gathering both fans and industry for an impressive slate of films, the most recent edition bringing the premieres of TRAGEDY GIRLS, TERRIFIER, and RUIN ME to the East coast city.

THE OVERLOOK THEATRE BIO
The Overlook Theatre is a bay area based site whose focus is promoting local events and cultivating a sense of community among genre film fans. In addition to bi-weekly screenings, weekly film release highlights, group film reviews, and think piece editorials, they have branched out into the podcast world, and are quickly coming up on the milestone hundredth episode of The Overlook Hour podcast. To hear interviews with indie filmmakers and discussions on overlooked films, check them out on iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud.

Unnamed Representatives are available for phone and email interviews. Press requests can be sent to UnnamedFootageFest@gmail.com

Bluray Tuesday: Featuring Mother, Suspiria & Leatherface

December 19th 2017

Bluray Tuesday returns this week with some cool pickups. First up from Synapse is the remastered Suspiria in exclusive steelbook packaging. A must own for sure, I will be getting my copy soon before they sell out. Synapse Film's website doesn't have it listed anymore but Amazon is still carrying it. Next up is one of my favorites of the year, and probably in my top 3 horror films of 2017 Mother! This film is so crazy and messed up, I had to check it out a second time to decide how I felt. I highly recommend this film. If you missed it check out our review here. Lionsgate this week releases another prequel in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise titled Leatherface. I honestly didn't care too much for this prequel it had some gross out scenes but besides the last 3 minutes it didn't feel like a "Leatherface" film. Overall I'll probably buy it to add to the collection because I'm a completest, but I highly recommend a rent first. Christopher Nolan's newest film Dunkirk hits shelves today and Best Buy will carry an exclusive Steelbook for it. Rounding out the week is The LEGO Ninjago Movie, the spinoff of The LEGO Movie and Best Buy will exclusively carry a steelbook packaging for this as well. So what will you buy, rent or skip this week? Let us know in the comments. Until next week!

Suspiria: Amazon - $89.99

Susy Banyon is a young U.S. ballet student who arrives at a German dance academy. The violent and bloody murder of one of the students and her friend opens Susy's eyes to the history of the mysterious academy. As the body count rises, Susy becomes involved in an increasingly labyrinthine tale of murder, black magic and madness.

 

Mother!: Amazon - $19.99

4K: Amazon - $24.99

A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. From filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream), mother! stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer in this riveting psychological thriller about love, devotion and sacrifice.'

 

 

Leatherface: Amazon - $14.99

In Texas, years before the events of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in the early days of the infamous Sawyer family, the youngest child is sentenced to a mental hospital after a suspicious incident leaves the sheriffs’ daughter dead. Ten years later, he kidnaps a young nurse and escapes with 3 other inmates. Pursued by authorities including the deranged sheriff out to avenge his daughter’s death, the young Sawyer teen goes on a violent road trip from hell, molding him into the monster known now as Leatherface.

 

American Gothic: Amazon - $21.99

When six young friends fly off on a weekend getaway and suddenly find themselves with engine trouble, they have no choice but to land on a remote American island. Looking for shelter, they are grateful when they meet Ma and Pa and their children - an eccentric family still living in the 1920s backwoods. But what begins as simple hospitality becomes a terrifying race for survival when one by one the friends start disappearing, dying horrible deaths. Fleeing the outside world many years ago, the family have created an island domain, where all strangers are sinners - and the killing has never stopped.

 

The Amicus Collection: Amazon - $58.99

Asylum: A young psychiatrist interviews four inmates in a mental asylum to satisfy a requirement for employment. He hears stories about (1) the revenge of a murdered wife, (2) a tailor who makes a suit with some highly unusual qualities, (3) a woman who questions her sanity when it appears that her brother is conspiring against her, and (4) a man who builds tiny toy robots with lifelike human heads.

And Now The Screaming Starts: A terrifying secret darkens the halls of the Fengriffen estate where beautiful young bride Catherine (Stephanie Beacham) finds her romantic wedding night turning to horror when she's ravaged by an eyeless ghost. Meanwhile, a disembodied hand lurks in the darkest corners of the house, unbeknownst to Catherine's aristocratic husband, Charles (Ian Ogilvy). As the newlyweds soon discover, the Fengriffen bloodline has been tainted by a vicious curse passed down from generation to generation, and only with the help of Dr. Pope (Peter Cushing) can the latest victims hope to conquer a supernatural evil which has been lying in wait for centuries.

The Beast Must Die: Tom Newcliffe, a rich businessman and expert hunter summons six guests to his huge country estate which he has rigged up with video cameras and a high-tech security system. He tells them and his surprised wife that they are all to stay over a weekend and that all of them will be kept on the estate during that weekend. For each guest, dead bodies have followed in their wake and the way that the dead have been murdered means that one of the guest is a werewolf and Tom has summoned his guests here to discover who it is and to hunt it down... The film has a clip at the beginning asking people in the audience to try to identify the werewolf and near the end there is a 30-second "Werewolf Break" for the audience to think over the evidence.

The Vault Of Amicus: Locked in a vault, five men swap stories of recurring nightmares in this anthology horror film based on the EC Comics series. In "Midnight Mess," Harold Rodgers (Daniel Massey) murders his sister to collect inheritance money, only to find her resurrected as a bloodthirsty vampire. A friend of Maitland (Michael Craig) buries him alive and leaves him to die in "Bargain in Death." The three remaining stories feature a magic trick turned deadly, voodoo mysticism and a twisted domestic dispute.

 

The LEGO Ninjago Movie: Amazon - $22.99

4K: Amazon - $29.99

The battle for NINJAGO City calls to action young Master Builder Lloyd, aka the Green Ninja, along with his friends, also secret ninja warriors. Led by Master Wu, as wise-cracking as he is wise, they must defeat the evil warlord Garmadon, who also happens to be Lloyd's dad. Pitting father against son, the epic showdown tests these fierce but undisciplined modern-day ninjas as they learn to check their egos and pull together to unleash the inner power of Spinjitzu.

 

 

Steelbook: Best Buy - $29.99

 

Stronger: Amazon - $14.99

A victim of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 helps the police track down the killers while struggling to recover from devastating trauma.

 

Dunkirk: Amazon - $24.99

4K: Amazon - $29.99

In May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be found. At the end of this heroic mission, 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated.

 

 

Steelbook: Best Buy - $29.99

 

 - The Impostor