by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport and Nikk Nelson

The pandemic is NO on a lot of fronts, but there has been one silver lining and that is film friendships. Prior to the pandemic, I knew of this character Nikk Nelson. He had been contributing to this fine movie publication of ours since close to the inception, but I never truly bonded with him. Life got in the way. Then, well, life kinda stopped and spaghetti entered the picture. Endless pasta bowls and flicks became a Saturday routine with Nikk. Fast forward to now, and he has been invited to live in our basement among the movies and spiders as our cinematic crypt keeper of sorts. 

When the opportunity arose to cover Fantastic Fest - the largest genre film fest in the US, it only made sense to call in the cinema freak of nature, Nikk Nelson, to help me dice the latest movies coming to the horror, fantasy, sci-fi and action universe. We may not be able to attend in person this year, but the opportunity to cover from afar has its advantages too and that is: my robe and an in house bar. Here are some of the flicks that Nikk and I are most looking forward to at this year’s 2020 Fantastic Fest - movies that you can watch any damn way you please. But hey, Nikk- when we do finally meet, the first round is on me pal. -Old Sport

Possessor

Possessor is not a movie that one should watch if they are looking for a relaxing time at the cinema. It is a wild, weird, often intense and violent experience that, most likely, will not be for everyone. It tells the story of a covert establishment that utilizes brain-implant technology to inhabit a person’s body in order to carry out assassinations.

Andrea Riseborough (Mandy, Birdman) plays Tasya Vos, the firm’s top agent that is clearly suffering from exhaustion, familial problems and mental health issues. Her boss, Girder (Jennifer Jason Leigh) needs her to perform one more job, an important assignment that would be a game changer for the organization - the killing of a CEO of a data mining company and his daughter. I was fortunate to see this movie at Sundance in January, which now seems like a zillion years ago, yet I am still thinking about this flick. Add this one to your watch list. T

his is an in-theater event at the Alamo Drafthouse on Thursday, 9/24 at 7:40pm, more info here. Coming to select theaters and drive-ins on October 9.

The Stylist

Jill Gevargizian may be new to the genre scene, but I am more than willing to take a chance on her feature debut. The Stylist is based on her short flick from 2016, in which hairdresser Claire decides to take her client’s request for perfection to another level. Jill has now expanded the film and, well, it sounds rather sinister.

Available to watch via Alamo on demand starting Thursday, more info here.

The Wolf of Snow Hollow

I absolutely adored Jim Cummings’s feature debut dramedy Thunder Road and was so excited to hear that he would be throwing his hat into the horror genre. The Wolf of Snow Hollow tells the story of a quiet town that finds itself with a possible werewolf problem. Similar to his feature debut, Jim writes, directs and stars in this feature and I don’t say this often, but this guy truly is a triple threat. It is hard to not find yourself enamored with his personality and charisma. Add in Robert Forster (last on-screen performance) and well, I think this not only sounds like a great time, but quite possibly the exact thing I need right now in this hellscape world we all find ourselves in. 

Making its premiere at Fantastic Fest as an in-theater event at the Alamo Drafthouse on Thursday, 10/8 and widely available to watch on October 9, more info here.

September 27th Secret Screening

I am kicking off my Fantastic Fest coverage with a mystery box. The event summary describes, “A special re-discovery of an explosive, death-defying, bullet-riddled, grenade-launching, flame-broiled, anti-human megattack.” I love all of those adjectives equally. Thrill me.

See here for viewing instructions.

The Boy Behind the Door

The People Under the Stairs (1991) is one of my favorite movies of all time and that was the vibe I got reading the synopsis of this film about two young boys who are kidnapped and taken to a strange house in the middle of nowhere. Bobby manages to escape, but he turns back because he can’t leave his best friend Kevin behind. Younger actors in legitimate horror films seems to be a trend that is finally waking back up after years of dormancy, and I’m here for it. As a kid watching horror,  I think watching kids in horror helped give me confidence, foster imagination and girded me for the real horrors I would encounter throughout my life. I think it’s just as important for younger people to see themselves represented in horror as it is for anyone else.

Available to watch via Alamo on demand starting Thursday, more info here. 

How to Deter a Robber

I can’t help but be drawn to any ‘cabin in the woods’ horror flick. This one follows two teenage amateur detectives who end up investigating the wrong cabin. The thumbnail grabbed me because it included character actor Chris Mulkey who boasts 257 acting credits on IMDB. I remember him most from a small part he played in Runaway (1984), a movie I watched on repeat for weeks when I was a kid. Because of that, over the years, I always recognize him in anything and everything he pops up in, and I’m anxious to see what his talent will lend to this one. 

Available to watch via Alamo on demand starting Thursday, more info here. 

There’s plenty more showing at Fantastic Fest 2020. You can see the full schedule here and make sure to follow our coverage during the fest. Enjoy!