Audition (Odishon)

Japanese Poster

US Poster

US Poster Alt.

1999UR115 minutes

Cast:

Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Tetsu Sawaki, Jun Kunimura, Miyuki Matsuda, Toshie Negishi, Ren Ôsugi

Director:

Takashi Miike

Genres:

Foreign, Foreign Horror, Asian Horror, Japan

Language:

Japanese

This movie is:

Violent, Dark, Suspenseful, Scary

Director Takashi Miike fashions an explosive drama in Audition. Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi) has lived as a widower for too long and decides it's time to marry again. But how will he find a wife? When a friend suggests he hold a fake audition to pick the right woman, he takes him up on it -- only to realize that his choice may be a better actress than he bargained for.

This is one sick and twisted movie, and I mean that in a good way....sort of. What begins as a bittersweet little film about a widower's search for a new companion becomes a dark, surreal tale not for the squeamish. Director Miike explores themes about the role of women in male-dominated Asian society, with the women taking their revenge in a jarring sequence that plays like a kick to the gut. The tone of the film shifts seismically between beginning and end, and Miike handles it seamlessly, moving from quiet, contemplative scenes to psychologically and graphically violent imagery. For viewers with a strong constitution, there is much here to recommend.

Anyone who knows the genre can tell you that the most creative and frightening horror in the last 5 years has been made overseas- in Japan. AUDITION is no exception. Takeshi Miike breaks all rules, so don't expect a "typical" horror film- or cinematic "experience" for that matter. Miike's films are often extreme, and often dark, but always unforgettable.

Dead Snow (Død Snø)

Russian Poster

Russian Poster Alt.

Russian Poster Alt. 2

2009TV-MA91 minutes

Cast:

Vegard Hoel, Stig Frode Henriksen, Charlotte Frogner, Jenny Skavlan, Jeppe Laursen, Lasse Valdal, Ane Dahl Torp, Bjorn Sundquist, Evy Kasseth Rosten, Vegar Hoel, Orjan Gamst

Director:

Tommy Wirkola

Genres:

Foreign, Foreign Horror, Horror, Zombie Horror, Scandinavia

Language:

Norwegian

This movie is:

Violent, Campy

A group of Norwegian friends get the scariest history lesson of their lives during a weekend getaway to the snowy town of Øksfjord, where the party is interrupted by throngs of Nazi zombies who once occupied the area. Armed with a machine-gun-equipped snowmobile, the gang fights for survival in director Tommy Wirkola's quirky horror, shot on location in the mountains of Norway. The film had its U.S. premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

Great, great fun for fans of horror comedy! I thought the balance between gore, terror, shock, and hilarity was spot-on perfect. Part of the Midnight Adrenaline series at SIFF 2009, Dead Snow delivered exactly that—lots and lots of adrenaline! The kills are outrageously gross and wickedly funny and the tone moves back and forth between scary and comic with a constant ebb and flow, delivering regular cathartic relief to the build-up of terror. My favorite: when one of the men cuts off his own arm with a chainsaw, trying to avoid infection, because he's just been bitten by a Nazi zombie and doesn't want to turn into a zombie! If that doesn't sound like an absolutely inspired sight-gag to you, stay far away from this! These are zombie experts (zombie film-buffs that is) so they are better equipped than most of the victims in your average zombie flick to launch a spirited defense. Granted, I haven't seen every zombie flick out there, but I thought this fact alone added a good deal of originality to the story. Of course they don't listen to the warning from the local, who turns out to be way less savvy about survival of a zombie attack then the kids he's warning—I mean, how has this dude ever lived long enough to give the creepy warning in the first place?!?! Visually, despite it's low budget, it really delivers the goods—perhaps because you can't really go wrong with an isolated cabin in the snow-covered mountains of Norway. Stark and creepy already, it makes a fabulous blank canvas for uber-gore. Fans who like their horror “serious” probably won't love this—but for horror comedy camp fans, this is top-shelf goods!!!

Friends can only get closer when zombies are involved.

No american made cars in this movie.

Dead Snow never tries to fall under the pretense of being anything new or original, but rather gives a wink, smile, and nod to the forebearers of the horror genre. All of which could be a fault if it wasn't for the comedic blood gushing moments on pure white snow beautifully captured for viewing entertainment. The typical generic set up: 8 medical students on a long weekend of R&R with a little beer, fun, and sex set in a remote cabin. All is fun and good until a stranger comes along to tell a local tale of Nazi torture, gold, and MIA soldiers. After that the real carnage begins. If you didn't find the opening scene of zombies chasing a female victim to the song of Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy funny, then much of the humor will go above your head. There is no obvious hero of the bunch and none are annoying enough to route for their death. Dead Snow is a light entertaining horror movie that delivers some laughs, blood, action, and maybe a couple of scares. Lesson learned: Don't steal gold and if ever in an avalanche spit to find out which way is up. Surviving zombies: Who knows how to survive that one? Dead Snow: Leave your brain at the door and enjoy the rare bloody goodness of a fun horror movie.

This is when they make out.

And they watch.

Very gory, and even entertaining for a movie in Norwegian. Not the greatest zombie movie out there, but enough action to keep you entertained. Great effects, none of those very visible switch to computer graphics you see in so many movies. I found the premise revealed at the end as the cause of the zombie attacks a little dubious, but I guess if I can accept that there a Nazi zombies then it doesnt matter too much.

Let the Right One In (Låt den Rätte Komma In)

UK Poster

Spanish Poster

US Poster Alt.

2008R114 minutes

Cast:

Karin Bergquist, Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl, Peter Carlberg, Ika Nord, Mikael Rahm, Karl-Robert Lindgren, Anders T. Peedu

Director:

Tomas Alfredson

Genres:

Foreign, Foreign Horror, Scandinavia, Swedish Language

Language:

Swedish

This movie is:

Violent, Scary

Twelve-year-old Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), the constant target of bullies, spends his time plotting revenge and collecting news items about the grisly murders plaguing his town. But things change when he meets a new girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson), a misfit vampire who steals his heart. As a serial killer continues to prey on teen boys in their small Swedish village, Eli helps Oskar find the courage to stand up to his tormenters.

A vampire love affair that touches your heart.

I've seen lots and lots of vampire movies. This one shoots right to the top of my list of favorites. Very original, and if you enter into the logic of the vampire mythology, very natural and believable. Most of the horror of this movie comes not from the little vampire girl, but from the Lord of the Flies playground dynamics. This is actually a sweet little coming-of-age, first love story, that captures the real horrors of early adolescence and melds them with the archetypal/mythological horror of the vampire fable, throwing in a good dose of blood, surprise, dread, and dark humor. More for mood-horror than shock-horror fans,and for vampire aficionados always looking for a creative new twist on an old love.

The beginning of a new friendship.

Assuming you're already familiar with the premise, you'd think Let The Right One In would be creepy and uncomfortable to watch; and while it certainly has its share of terrifying scenes, it's really not. In fact, a large portion of this film is innocent and gentle. Yes, little 12-year-old Oskar is viciously targeted by bullies at school, he has no friends, and his mother and estranged father can't even begin to understand what he's going through (all the signs of a budding psychopath); and yes, Eli is a vampire and yes, she's capable of spectacular violence, but it's not just her 12-year-old body that hasn't grown up, it's her mind as well. She's just a little girl deep down inside that isn't quite capable of wholly understanding the hunger that drives her. All she knows is that she feels empty and alone because of what she is. Something that Oskar, despite not sharing her affinity for drinking blood for sustenance, understands as well. It's this bond (that's staged so poetically and beautifully) that brings them close together despite their differences.

Remember that you must let them in.

The disease spreads fast.

Whether it's the gorgeous cinematography, the intriguingly stylized mood and atmosphere, or the aforementioned bond that the protagonists share, this film is truly magnificent and will not disappoint. The best fairy tales always have so much darkness in them. That's why they resonate so deeply. "Let The Right One In" is no exception. It's a touching story about loneliness and falling in love with someone who fills the hole in your heart. I really can't praise this film enough. I was moved beyond my ability to articulate it into words. Please watch this film. Repeatedly. It continues in a long line of cinematic gems that teach us that while we all share disparate exteriors, inside we're not that much different from one another.