Film festivals have emerged as one of the best, most fertile grounds for discovering new voices in genre filmmaking, so much so that just about every fest these days has a midnight sidebar for edgier, darker fare. Among the just-announced midnight selections at this year’s SXSW Film Festival (held March 9-17 in Austin, TX): Tales of killer lady bartenders, faceless spooks, space-traveling Nazis, a deadly virus, VHS tapes , and the most evil kind of nightmare-inspiring villain imaginable, feral children. (Shudder.) Let’s rundown the freakiest-sounding offerings of the SXSW Midnight slate! 1. Intruders (Spain, UK) “The haunting story of two children living in different countries, each visited nightly by a faceless being who wants to take possession of them.” –> “Faceless being.” Not scary sounding enough to you? JUST LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID TO CLIVE OWEN’S FACE . 2. [REC] ³ GENESIS (Spain) “Koldo and Clara’s wedding is horrifically interrupted when some of the guests start showing signs of a strange illness. Before they know what’s happening, the bride and groom find themselves in the middle of a hellish ordeal, as an uncontrollable torrent of violence is unleashed on the wedding.” –> The first REC inspired an Americanized remake ( Quarantine ) and itself earned three sequels ( REC 4 is forthcoming). Mysterious viral outbreaks never get old… or do they? 3. The Tall Man “When her child goes missing, a mother looks to unravel the legend of the Tall Man, an entity who allegedly abducts children.” –> There’s been a recent resurgence in child-themed horror – children in peril being pursued by the spooky creatures of fantasy — and for good reason: Even adults remember the dread inspired by the nightmare boogeymen of their youth. 4. V/H/S “A group of misfits are hired to burglarize a house in the countryside and acquire a rare tape. The guys are confronted with a dead body and an endless supply of cryptic footage, each video stranger than the last…” –> Having seen this anthology horror already , I admit it’s not so much scary as it is viscerally thrilling, an excellent use of the found footage gimmick made by folks who have a true affinity for the genre. 5. CITADEL (Ireland, Scotland) “An agoraphobic father teams up with a renegade priest to save his daughter from the clutches of a gang of twisted feral children.” –> FERAL CHILDREN. Oh hell no. Of course, there are all sorts of genre scares in the SXSW Midnight line-up as well, including grindhouse yarns ( Iron Sky ) and cult pics in the making ( John Dies at the End ). And don’t forget the shorts slate! SXSW programmers have a knack for finding exceptional short films each year, and the inclusion of my Sundance ’12 favorite — Jillian Mayer’s Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke , a Miami-set twist on La Jetee starring Uncle Luke of 2 Live Crew as himself — not to mention new shorts from Bill Plympton and Don Hertzfeldt, is promising. Full slate of Midnight films and shorts below. — SXSW Midnight Slate: The Aggression Scale Director: Steven C. Miller, Screenwriter: Ben Powell 4 hitmen + $500,000 of stolen cash + 1 family = WAR Cast: Fabianne Therese, Ryan Hartwig, Dana Ashbrook, Derek Mears, Jacob Reynolds, Joseph McKelheer, Boyd Kestner, Lisa Rotondi, Ray Wise (World Premiere) CITADEL (Ireland, Scotland) Director/Screenwriter: Ciarán Foy An agoraphobic father teams up with a renegade priest to save his daughter from the clutches of a gang of twisted feral children. Cast: Anuerin Barnard, James Cosmo, Wumni Mosaku, Jake Wilson, Amy Shiels (World Premiere) Girls Against Boys Director/Screenwriter: Austin Chick A psychological thriller about two girls on a killing spree. With edgy and ironic humor and a darkly meditative tone, it is also a coming-of-age story about a girl learning how the world really works. Cast: Danielle Panabaker, Nicole LaLiberte, Liam Aiken, Michael Stahl-David, Andrew Howard (World Premiere) Intruders (Spain, UK) Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Screenwriters: Nicolás Casariego, Jaime Marques The haunting story of two children living in different countries, each visited nightly by a faceless being who wants to take possession of them. Cast: Clive Owen, Carice Van Houten, Daniel Brühl, Pilar López de Ayala (U.S. Premiere) Iron Sky (Finland, Germany, Australia) Director: Timo Vuorensola, Screenwriters: Michael Kalesniko, Timo Vuorensola In 1945 the Nazis went to the moon; in 2018 they are coming back. Cast: Julia Dietze, Götz Otto, Christopher Kirby, Peta Sergeant, Stephanie Paul, Tilo Prückner, Michael Cullen, Udo Kier (North American Premiere) John Dies At The End Director & Screenwriter: Don Coscarelli On the street it’s called “soy sauce,” a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Suddenly, a silent otherworldly invasion is underway. Can college dropouts John and Dave save humanity? No, they can’t. Cast: Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman Modus Anomali (Indonesia) Director/Screenwriter: Joko Anwar A man tries to save his family who go missing during a vacation in the forest. Cast: Rio Dewanto, Hannah Al Rashid, Izziati Amara Isman, Aridh Tritama, Surya Saputra, Marsha Timothy, Sadha Triyudha, Jose Gamo (World Premiere) [REC] ³ GENESIS (Spain) Director: Paco Plaza Screenwriters: Luiso Berdejo, Paco Plaza Koldo and Clara’s wedding is horrifically interrupted when some of the guests start showing signs of a strange illness. Before they know what’s happening, the bride and groom find themselves in the middle of a hellish ordeal, as an uncontrollable torrent of violence is unleashed on the wedding. Cast: Leticia Dolera, Diego Martin (World Premiere) Super Secret Screening Be the first to see this feature film coming to theaters near you. The Tall Man Director/Screenwriter: Pascal Laugier When her child goes missing, a mother looks to unravel the legend of the Tall Man, an entity who allegedly abducts children. Cast: Jessica Biel, Jodelle Ferland, Stephen McHattie, William B.Davis (World Premiere) V/H/S Directors: Ti West, Adam Wingard, Joe Swanberg, David Bruckner, Glenn Mcquaid, Radio Silence, Screenwriter: Ti West, Simon Barrett, David Bruckner, Radio Silence, Glenn Mcquaid A group of misfits are hired to burglarize a house in the countryside and acquire a rare tape. The guys are confronted with a dead body and an endless supply of cryptic footage, each video stranger than the last… Cast: Joe Swanberg, Calvin Reeder, Kate Lynn Shiel, Sophia Takal, Lane Hughes, Helen Rogers, Adam Wingard NARRATIVE SHORTS A selection of original, well-crafted films that take advantage of the short form and exemplify distinctive and genuine storytelling. The winner of our Grand Jury Award in this category is eligible for a 2013 Academy Award nomination for Best Narrative Short. Aaron Burr, Part 2 Director: Dana O’Keefe History is a contest. Another Bullet Dodged Director: Landon Zakheim In the fading echoes of a relationship, character is revealed. Bear Director: Nash Edgerton Jack means well, but sometimes good intentions have horrible consequences. The Black Balloon Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie In New York City, a lone black balloon, once part of a huge 100-balloon bouquet, learns that humans are complicated creatures with extreme highs and lows. Part Sci-Fi, part children’s film. The Chair Director: Grainger David The story of one boy’s reaction to a mysterious outbreak of poisonous mold in his small town. A Chjána (The Plain) Director: Jonas Carpignano Inspired by real events, A Chjàna (The Plain) follows Ayiva, an African migrant worker who seeks to reunite with his best friend in the wake of the most significant race riot in Italian history. A Fábrica Director: Aly Muritiba An inmate convinces his mother to take a risk smuggling a cell phone for him into the penitentiary. FOXES Director: Lorcan Finnegan A young couple trapped in a remote estate of empty houses and shrieking foxes are beckoned from their isolation into a twilight world. A world of the paranormal or perhaps insanity. Heimkommen (Coming Home) Director: Micah Magee When Robert’s girlfriend dies, he turns his grief against his younger sister Jo. Jo plays ice hockey with the boys, hoping to gather strength to bring her brother back to the land of the living. In The Pines Directors: Zeek Earl, Chris Caldwell Simultaneously an exploration of nature and psyche, the film documents a young woman’s hunt for extraterrestrial meaning. Part science fiction, part psycho-thriller, part poetry – this film crafts a memorable scene rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Joy Director: Colm Quinn Nicola reluctantly introduces her newborn daughter to her best friend Tess. Liar Director: Adam Garnet Jones When a brutal teenage revenge plot gets pushed too far, 14 year-old Tara is forced to choose between standing helplessly on the sidelines or stepping in to defend the boyfriend that hurt her. Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke Directors: Jillian Mayer, Lucas Leyva A modern Miami adaptation of the 1962 French short film La Jetee, starring Uncle Luke of the 2 Live Crew. Little Dad Director: Noah Pritzker An insecure father prepares for a party at his in-laws. Mouthful Director: Robert G. Putka Bobby and Bliss are a happy couple, that is, until they begin to tell each other things probably better left unsaid. A single question leads them down a highway to relationship hell. My Friend Kills Time Director: Jakob Rørvik Thomas moves to a remote cabin in an attempt to disappear completely… even from himself. My Friend Kills Time mixes visual textures and haunting soundscapes to create a cinematic diary of a young man’s isolation. Not Far From The Abattoir Director: Kyle Thomas A story of a man controlling his demons and trying to imagine a better life outside of the only town he has ever called home. Pitch Black Heist Director: John Maclean Two men, professional safe crackers, meet on a simple job to relieve an office safe of its contents. The catch; a light activated alarm system impelling them to embark on a pitch black heist. Playtime (Spielzeit) Director: Lucas Mireles A seamless journey through the lives of German youth on a Sunday afternoon. Random Strangers Director: Alexis Dos Santos Lulu and Rocky meet, fall in love, spend the night together, and fall asleep looking at each other…except for the fact that he is in Berlin and she is in Buenos Aires. Reinaldo Arenas Director: Lucas Leyva Told from the point of view of a dying shark, Reinaldo Arenas is the story of an unintentional immigrant in Miami. REMAINS Directors: Jeremiah Zagar, Nathan Caswell A blend of documentary and fiction, Remains is about recollection and fading memories. Combining three years of recorded voice messages with stunning macro photography, the film documents a relationship from its inception to its end. Sea Meadow Director: Lily Baldwin A disoriented young woman stumbles upon an empty estate. There are signs of a lush life, but the inhabitants have disappeared. Or have they? Sea Meadow revamps the thriller with pop mashups and stylized dance tableaux. Shoot the Freak Director: Bradford Willingham Through the freak’s musings, this film chronicles the last days of the iconic, abrasive Coney Island attraction Shoot the Freak. In masked anonymity, the nihilistic teen indulges in drug-induced daydreams of violence and oceanic abandon. A Short Film About Ice Fishing Director: Jason Shahinfar In rural South Dakota two friends go out for the most explosive day of ice fishing either will ever experience. Syndromes Directors: The Golden Filter, Kristoffer Borgli A young girl’s bizarre and unexplained ability to help others leads to her involvement in a sinister underworld. Would You Directors: Brian McGinn, Rod Blackhurst Two friends play ‘Would You Rather.’ When their choices magically start to come true, they find themselves in a variety of awkward and funny situations. DOCUMENTARY SHORTS Unfiltered slices of life, from across the documentary spectrum. Aisha’s Song Director: Orlando von Einsiedel Musically lush and stunningly shot, Aisha’s Song is a touching and uplifting story of female empowerment from a part of the world where women are all too often overlooked. A Brief History of John Baldessari Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman No more boring films! Everything you need to know about the godfather of Conceptual Art… narrated by Tom Waits. BRUTE FORCE Director: Ben Steinbauer The story of Apple Records notoriously irreverent recording artist, Brute Force. CatCam Director: Seth Keal When a German engineer creates a tiny camera for his newly adopted stray cat to wear, the photographs reveal more than ever expected. Cutting Loose Directors: Finlay Pretsell, Adrian McDowall “I’m trusted with a pair of scissors and I’m in here for murder.” A snapshot of prison life in the build up to the annual hairdressing competition. Family Nightmare Director: Dustin Guy Defa Unearthed home movies and haunting dubbed voices collide to create a personal portrait of family dysfunction. The Fuse: or How I Burned Simon Bolivar Director: Igor Drljaca A nine-year-old boy thinks he is responsible for the civil war in Bosnia. Kudzu Vine Director: Josh Gibson This ode to the climbing, trailing, and coiling species Pueraria lobata evokes the agricultural history and mythic textures of the American South. The Love Competition Director: Brent Hoff The World’s First Love Competition. The Man That Got Away Director: Trevor Anderson A musical documentary that tells the true life story of Trevor’s great-uncle Jimmy in six original songs. Meaning of Robots Director: Matt Lenski Mike Sullivan’s world is overrun by an army of miniature sex robots with no end in sight. Minor/Major: The TV on the Radio Tour Documentary Director: Chioke Nassor An intense documentary portrait on the band TV on the Radio as they transition from minor label darlings to major label success. New York Accent Director: Caleb Slain Once a man with all the answers, Dr. Ed Dobson is struggling to resolve his own questions before succumbing to the unusual disease eating away his body. Written in Ink Director: Martin Rath Can one change what has already been written in ink? SX GLOBAL SHORTS A showcase for cutting-edge documentary shorts from around the world. Abuelas Director: Afarin Eghbal In Buenos Aires, an old woman looks forward to all the joys of becoming a grandmother. However, unfolding historic events mean she is forced to wait over 30 years. The Contest Director: Jakub Cuman Observational documentary made during the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition Preliminaries in 2010. Chronicle of Oldrich S. Director: Rudolf Smid Mr Sedlacek wrote one-sentence entries in his chronicle from 1981 to 2005, everyday stories of his life, his village, and of international events. This animated documentary is based on 80 of those entries. The Contract Director: Lina Mannheimer On the 5th of May 2005, Beverly Charpentier declares an oath of allegiance to Catherine Robbe-Grillet. Hereby she gives up her freedom, for the rest of her life. Doctor Rao Directors: Alexej Tchernyi, Wu Zhi Doctor Rao passed away. Family and friends are celebrating his last journey. Walt Disney Square Directors: Renata Pinheiro, Sergio Oliveira A “quasi-musical” approach to contemporary urban life that reflects Brazilian society and many others throughout the world, this documentary describes at the same time a place, a city and a country. ANIMATED SHORTS An assortment of stories told using a mix of traditional animation, computer-generated effects, stop-motion, and everything in-between. The winner of our Grand Jury Award in this category is eligible for a 2013 Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short. 663114 I am a 66-year cicada. There was a big earthquake. There was a big tsunami. There also was a big accident. Belly Director: Julia Pott I can feel you in my belly. Caldera Director: Evan Viera A young girl goes off her medication to leave a bleak metropolis and immerse herself in a vibrant oceanic cove. Chocolate Milk Director: Eliza Kinkz Growing up in a Texas drug rehab, a teenage girl learns the rules of life and dairy products. Combustion Director: Renaud Hallée Fire used as a visual and musical tool. Giraffe Danger Director: Randall Hopkins A giraffe with personal space anxiety has a bad day. The Hunter Director: Marieka Walsh A hunter searches for a missing boy deep in the snow covered mountains. He must make decisions that will forever change his relationship with the wilderness he fears. The Hunter is a stop-motion sand animation. “it’s such a beautiful day” Director: Don Hertzfeldt Bill finds himself in a hospital struggling with memory problems, in this third and final chapter to Don Hertzfeldt’s “Everything will be OK” trilogy. Little Boat Director: Nelson Boles One little boat, one big journey. The Maker Director: Christopher Kezelos Life is what you make it. (notes on) biology Director: Danny Madden An animated account of an organism adapting to its environment. Once It Started It Could Not End Otherwise Director: Kelly Sears A terrifying look back at high school. Paint Showers Director: Miguel Jiron Swirling cosmos of paint give way to a storm of color and drips. Photographs Directors: Christina Manrique, Robert Clogher An elderly woman living in an abandoned town finds a camera, which becomes a means for her to recreate her past life and remember a lost love. Reddish Brown and Blueish Green Director: Samantha Gurry Child services, schwag, and the American dream. The Shrine / An Argument Director: Sean Pecknold An elk wanders through a world of madness. Summer Bummer Director: Bill Plympton A man daydreams about what terror could be lurking in his backyard pool. MIDNIGHT SHORTS Bite-sized bits for all of your sex, genre, and hilarity needs. Cheap Extermination Director: Minka Farthing-Kohl For Ernst, the perfect disguise was to play himself. Cherry On Top Director: Mike Damanskis A prostitute finds new ways to attract business. Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared Directors: Rebecca Sloan, Joseph Pelling A short film about teaching creativity—by This Is It Collective. Duck Sauce, “Big Bad Wolf” Director: Keith Schofield Keith Schofield’s original, outrageous and very, very funny promo for Duck Sauce’s single Big Bad Wolf has been burning up the internet, causing millions of pelvises to be thrust worldwide. An instant classic. I Am Your Grandma Director: Jillian Mayer An autobiographical video diary log (vlog) that Jillian Mayer records for her unborn grandchildren. J.P.B.F. Director: Steve Collins A woman interviews for a job at a nefarious company that may or may not f**k b**ts. Jacuzzi Boys, “Glazin” Directors: Lucas Leyva, Jillian Mayer Glazin’ is part of a larger narrative where a group of 6 anonymous girls innocently paint their privates and rig them to lip-synch their favorite song as a gift to the band. Machines of the Working Class Directors: James Dastoli, Robert Dastoli Two robotic blue-collar workers take a brief hiatus to discuss delusions of grandeur. Man & Gun Director: Brian McOmber A post 9/11 fairy tale about a man’s love affair with guns. Merman Director: Jono Foley Harrison swims through the darkest recesses of his mind. Other Director: Daniel DelPurgatorio Patrick is a brilliant doctor in an obsessive race to alter his own grim prognosis. During a series of unconventional experiments, he discovers a scientific loophole unlike anything he had ever imagined. Perished Directors: Aaron McCann, Stefan Androv Radanovich Sometimes survival is worse than death. Zombie Chic Director: Todd Cobery A stuffy dinner party is interrupted by the zombie apocalypse. MUSIC VIDEOS A range of classic, innovative, and stylish work showcasing the scope of music video culture. Alexander, ”A Million Years” Director: Benjamin Kutsko Baskerville, ”Reloaded” Director: Marieke Verbiesen Battles, ”My Machines” Director: DANIELS Casey Veggies, ”Euphoria II” Director: John Bollozos Céline Desrumaux, ”Countdown” Director: Céline Desrumaux CHRISTEENE, “African Mayonnaise” Director: PJ Raval Cults, ”You Know What I Mean” Director: Kevin Lin Ganesh Rao, ”Empyrean” Director: Ganesh Rao The Good The Bad, “030” Jeppe Kolstrup Gotye (Feat. Kimbra), ”Somebody That I Used To Know” Director: Natasha Pincus Hawaaii, ”Welcome” Director: Churl Gwon Herman Dune, ”Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” Director: Toben Seymour Hooray For Earth, ”True Loves” Director: Young Replicant Hyperpotamus, ”De Camino” Director: Lucas Borras Kina Grannis,”In Your Arms” Director: Greg Jardin Little Tybee, ”Boxcar Fair” Directors: Brock Scott, Tom Haney Ok Go, ”All Is Not Lost” Director: Ok Go, Pilobolus, & Trish Sie Porter Robinson, ”Spitfire” Director: Saman Keshavarz Son of Kick,“Playing the Villain” Director: Matt Devine (Glues Society) When Saints Go Machine, ”Parix” Director: Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen Whomadewho, ”Every Minute Alone” Director: William Stahl Yip Deceiver, “Get Strict” Directors: Brandon LaGanke, John Carlucci Yuksek, ”ALWAYS ON THE RUN” Directors: David Hache, Marc-Edouard Leon TEXAS SHORTS An offshoot of our regular narrative shorts program, composed of work shot in, about, or somehow relating to the Lone Star state. foolproof Directors: Zach Anner, Marshall Rimmer Zach Anner, the freeloading roommate, and Marshall Rimmer, the responsible businessman, eat their morning cereal together. The Gathering Squall Director: Hannah Fidell A teenage girl is forced into adulthood after she is assaulted by a classmate. The Guessing Game Director: Angela Cheng A very short comedy set in a retirement home with senior citizens. On the morning of his birthday, Emmett asks his fellow residents to guess his age and is surprised by their answers. Hellion Director: Kat Candler All hell breaks loose when seven-year-old Petey is left with his hell-raising brothers. But things go from bad to really, really bad when Dad gets home. Knife Director: James M. Johnston From the rugged cross-timbers of Texas comes a portrait of greed and vengeance. Magpie Director: Russell O. Buh On a trip to reconnect with his estranged and recently engaged daughter, Phillip finds a sex tape of the little girl he used to know. Dinner is going to be awkward. Spark Director: Annie Silverstein While a boy waits out his father’s tryst he is unexpectedly forced to deal with the lady-friend’s daughter. Set on a ranch in Bastrop, Texas, Spark uses the environment to explore the internal space of children. Tumbleweed! Director: Jared Varava The true and historically accurate tale of one tumbleweed that did not tumble. What It’s Like Director: Matt Naylor A magazine writer goes to an old folks home to buy mushrooms from one of the elderly residents. What starts as a bizarre transaction becomes a moment of connection across generations. TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SHORTS Texas High School students offer a glimpse of a bright future for Texas filmmaking. The Apparition Director: Jonathan Munoz Paranormal Elimination 101. The Bench Directors: Kalen Doyle, Hirsh Elhence There’s a note for that. The Bench Director: Christian Benavides One son’s letter to his father. Boom Directors: Daniel Matyas, Brian Broder All around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel. The monkey thought ’twas all in fun, then Pop! goes the weasel. Burn Spark Directors: Maqui Gaona, J.J. Rubin In the future, one man fights the system to choose his own love. Chance Director: Jasmine DePucci A young girl experiences a transformation by an evil spirit contained within the fluffy seams of a teddy bear. Code Red Director: Zach Prengler Four nerdy guys buy the hottest video game of the year, but what they bought was not what they expected. Drawings Directors: Christian Larrave, Alex McKenna The story of two doodles in love. Drones Director: Micah Autry A social issue film that projects the life of the protagonist and how he overcomes constraints of a normal life. Drum Roll Please Director: Alexander Villanueva Opposable thumbs have allowed humans to become the dominant species. How dominant, you say? Janitor’s Laundry Director: Brian Broder A dark thriller exploring the actions of a murderous janitor, who attacks lonely victims at the local laundrymat. Josh Lumsden, “Guilty” Director: Josh Lumsden Josh Lumsden sings and dances while trapped in a mental asylum. Julian Edmonson: Who I Am Director: Jake Wangner Julian Edmonson is a point guard who graduated from Fossil Ridge High School. This is a video putting a spotlight on this student before he went off to college. Knit-Picky Director: Bobby Jorgenson Life socks. Language Director: Leah Schell Jason and his Korean foreign exchange student struggle to overcome a language barrier. Masterpiece Director: Anele Page An artist struggles to create a masterpiece for a special cause. McChange: a Manifesto Directors: Jonathan Griffin, Josiah Sandhu Mark McNeil is the president that Pasadena Memorial High deserves, but doesn’t need right now. Plasticine Dream Directors: Samantha Fine, Andrew Fields Romance molded into the shape of a dream. The Process Director: Ty Whittington Ty Whittington, a young artist, takes us through the process of creating an artistic illustration in his own way. The Proposal Directors: Marcella Jimenez, Susannah Rodrigue The story of a young boys hope for childhood love. SAFE Director: Pierce Harvell When a tornado threatens the lives of two brothers, one decides to take the initiative towards survival despite the reservations of his twin. Silent Night Director: James Bradford Run fat boy, run! Zwichensug Directors: Cole Martin, Josh Willis An anonymous man with skills of inexplicable origin infiltrates the corporate hideout of a shady, but high-ranking businessman. Using fast and fluid tactics, our protagonist is determined to complete his task. Previously: The 2012 SXSW Features slate For more on the SXSW Film Festival, click here .
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The Scariest-Looking Genre Pics in SXSW’s Midnight Line-up
