TromaDance brought it's 15th Annual Film Festival to Williamsburg, Brooklyn this past weekend. Hosted by Lloyd Kaufman (co-founder of Troma Entertainment), the event highlighted feature length and short films of violent and provocative nature. Not only was the audience granted free admission -- we were also awarded the chance to meet the filmmakers, drink and win some awesome prizes. Being just 3 train stops away from my apartment, there's no way I was going to miss this!
My boo and I arrived just in time for 2013's Chimères -- the first full-length film of Swiss director Olivier Beguin. After a terrible car accident, Alex (Yannick Rosset) is given a blood transfusion. What he does not know, is that this seemingly generous gift of fresh blood is very contaminated. He slowly begins changing into a blood thirsty monster... the vampire type. His girlfriend, Livia (Jasna Kohoutova), is frightened, but continues to adapt to her partner's new way of life. It's the age ole' tale of vampire and mortal human love. The plot is not anything dramatically unfamiliar -- but with such a low budget, I'm very impressed with the outcome of this movie and think that vampire lovers will consider it a nice surprise. The imagery is dark and beautiful, as we follow the story of a man's transformation into a monster. I think Chimères sets a good example, that sometimes hard work and commitment can make any low budget film look polished and authentic.
Next, we viewed 6 films in the Short Films Block -- each running roughly 5 to 20 minutes.
Christmas Eve Pet Massacre (Daniel Whidden, Canada) did a lot with very little. Though the art department appeared limited, this movie really lived up to it's name. A clearly insane family is spending a weird Christmas Eve together, when the family pets decide to revolt and vanquish their owners. Carnage ensues -- including a bird flying into an eye socket, a dismembered member and death by fire. Clearly low budget, the one-of-a-kind story and kooky acting made this short film stand out.
My personal favorite of the short films was the impressive Cólera (Aritz Moreno, Spain). The camera follows a group of angry villagers as they march towards a shack in an empty field. They have come to rid their town of a diseased looking creature, who is carrying some unknown infection -- his existence threatens to spread the sickness to the rest of the village. Shot in a single take, the camera sometimes mimics Requiem for a Dream's SnorriCam chest rig shots... and eventually ends in a bird's eyes crane view. Brilliant color correcting, flawless camera work and realistic special effects, makes this short film seem like it was pulled straight out of an episode of Game of Thrones. But with a clear beginning, middle and end, this medieval story couldn't be anymore solid and stands on it's own.
Last, but certainly not least, was the world premiere of post apocalyptic space quest, NightSatan and the Loops of Doom. This short film is a true visual masterpiece. Written and Directed by Christer Lindström, the film follows the unusual journey of the band NightSatan, as they wonder an abandoned desert world looking for adventure and sex. The imagery is graphic, colorful and plain spotless -- you'll really believe you are in a barren, desolate wasteland. But the most outstanding feature turned out to be NightSatan's soundtrack. A killer synth score that pays homage to past 70's and 80's horror/cult films, such as Halloween and Big Trouble in Little China. Hats off to Svart Records -- prepare to be sucker punched by this one.
I had a terribly amazing time at the bizarre TromaDance event. I saw heads explode, hands punch through faces, grisley creatures, and creepy clowns. I truly felt in my element and am looking forward to more disturbing films from the creators of The Toxic Avenger.
You can see more from each film by clicking on the links below:
Chimères Teaser
Christmas Eve Pet Massacre Trailer
Cólera
NightSatan and the Loops of Doom Trailer
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