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FrightFest · 2007

FrightFest 2007

Unnamed Strand

Programme

15 films · 15 reviews

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1408

Review preview for 1408

In terms of quality, 1408 is neither executive suite nor basement broom cupboard.

Anton Bitel · 3.5 out of 5
A writer of guides to haunted houses finds himself out of his depth in a creepy hotel.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Mikael Håfström; Writer: Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, based on a short story by Stephen King.; Stars: John Cusack, Samuel L Jackson, Mary McCormack, Jasmine Jessica Anthony, Tony Shalhoub, Alexandra Silber, Noah Lee Margetts, Emily Harvey) , Official site

Full review

All The Boys Love Mandy Lane

Review preview for All The Boys Love Mandy Lane

Mandy is the final girl to end all final girls.

Jennie Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
Mandy Lane is the object of everyone's desires at a party in a remote cabin, but is there someone out there who wants her too much?

(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Jonathan Levine; Writer: Jacob Forman; Stars: Amber Heard, Anson Mount, Whitney Able, Michael Welch, Edwin Hodge, Aaron Himelstein, Luke Grimes, Melissa Price) , Official site , Trailer

Full review

Black Water

Review preview for Black Water

In a watertight script, no option available to the characters is left unconsidered, and each has its deadly downside, leaving viewers to wonder what they themselves would have done.

Anton Bitel · 3.5 out of 5
Three young adventurers find themselves stranded in a mangrove swamp with a killer crocodile waiting in the water.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: David Nerlich, Andrew Traucki; Writer: David Nerlich, Andrew Traucki; Stars: Andy Rodoreda, Maeve Dermody, Diana Glen, Ben Oxenbould, Fiona Press) , Official site

Full review

Black Sheep

Review preview for Black Sheep

Black Sheep has a certain charm which enables it to keep its one joke going all the way through.

Jennie Kermode · 3 out of 5
Genetic experiments aimed at producing the perfect sheep go horribly wrong...

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2006; Director: Jonathan King; Writer: Jonathan King; Stars: Nathan Meister, Danielle Mason, Peter Feeney, Tammy Davis, Glenis Levestam, Tandi Wright, Matthew Chamberlain) , Official site , Trailer

Full review

Day Watch (Dnevnoy Dozor, Daywatch)

Review preview for Day Watch

The action sequences are stunning, the special effects impressive.

Andrew Robertson · 4 out of 5
The forces of good and evil battle over a device with the power to save or destroy Moscow.

(Country: Russia; Year: 2006; Director: Timur Bekmambetov; Writer: Timur Bekmambetov, based on the novel by Sergei Lukyanenko.; Stars: Konstantin Khabensky, Mariya Poroshina, Vladimir Menshov, Galina Tyunina, Viktor Verzhbitsky, Zhanna Friske, Dmitry Martynov) , Trailer

Full review

Disturbia

Review preview for Disturbia

Looks terrific and moves with the fluidity and energy of a much classier picture.

The Exile · 3.5 out of 5
A teenager becomes convinced his neighbour is a serial killer.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: D J Caruso; Writer: Christopher B Landon, Carl Ellsworth; Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Morse, Aaron Yoo, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Matt Craven, Viola Davis, Brandon Caruso, Luciano Rauso, Daniel Caruso)

Full review

Joshua

Review preview for Joshua

Move over, Damien.

Moominkat · 3.5 out of 5
Jealous of his baby sister and ignored by his parents, a nine-year-old boy plans a terrible revenge.

(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: George Ratliff; Writer: David Gilbert, George Ratliffe; Stars: Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, Celia Weston, Dallas Roberts, Michael McKean, Jacob Kogan)

Full review

KM 31 (Kilómetro 31, Kilometre 31, KM31)

Review preview for KM 31

In terms of mood, it is masterful, however, the film falls down slightly due to a surfeit of subplots.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
An accident blackspot holds a supernatural secret.

(Country: Mexico, Spain; Year: 2006; Director: Rigoberto Castañeda; Writer: Rigoberto Castañeda; Stars: Iliana Fox, Adrià Collado, Raúl Méndez, Julián Álvarez, Carlos Aragon, Everardo Arzate, Giselle Audirac, Fernando Becerril, Mónica Bejarano, Izmir Gallardo, Cheli Godínez)

Full review See: Rigoberto Castañeda on KM 31

Mr Brooks

Review preview for Mr Brooks

A thoughtful and engaging piece - it might not be as clever as it thinks it is, but at least it tries.

Gary Duncan · 3.5 out of 5
A glimpse into the life of a serial killer who must struggle against his alter ego as he attempts to quit.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Bruce A Evans; Writer: Bruce A Evans, Raynold Gideon; Stars: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, William Hurt, Dane Cook, Danielle Panabaker, Marg Helgenberger, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Aisha Hinds, Lindsay Crouse) , Official site , Trailer

Full review

The Orphanage (El Orfanato)

Review preview for The Orphanage

Sanchez and Bayona never lose sight of the requirements of the genre, providing plenty in the way of seat-gripping tension and finding suitable shocks in the everyday.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Ghost story about a family who live in an orphanage.

(Country: Mexico, Spain; Year: 2007; Director: Juan Antonio Bayona; Writer: Sergio G Sánchez; Stars: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Geraldine Chaplin, Montserrat Carulla, Mabel Rivera, Andrés Gertrúdix, Roger Príncep, Carla Gordillo Alicia, Georgina Avellaneda, Alejandro Campos, Oscar Guillermo Garretón) , Official site

Full review

Postal

Review preview for Postal

Boll should be defended, even admired, for his willingness to swim against the political tide - but that alone, unfortunately, is not enough to make Postal worth watching.

Anton Bitel · 2 out of 5
An adaptation of the computer game about a state employee who snaps and goes on a killing spree.

(Country: US, Canada, Germany; Year: 2007; Director: Uwe Boll; Writer: Uwe Boll; Stars: Zack Ward, Dave Foley, Chris Coppola, Michael Benyear, Jackie Tohn, Erick Avari, Ralf Moeller, Chris Spencer, Seymour Cassel, Verne Toyer, Vince Desiderio, Larry Thomas, Michaella Mann) , Official site

Full review See: Interview with Uwe Boll, part two , Uwe Boll interview

Shrooms

Review preview for Shrooms

I'm questioning a movie that just positively begs someone to watch while consuming a large wad of illegal hallucinogens - I should give up asking for sense.

Scott Macdonald · 2 out of 5
A trip too far...

(Country: Ireland; Year: 2006; Director: Paddy Breathnach; Writer: Pearse Elliott; Stars: Lindsey Haun, Jack Huston, Max Kasch, Maya Hazen, Alice Greczyn, Don Wycherley, Sean McGinley, Robert Hoffman) , Official site

Full review

Skinwalkers (Skin Walkers)

Review preview for Skinwalkers

Skinwalkers had me occasionally howling with laughter, whether it intended to be funny or not.

Darren Amner · 3.5 out of 5
A creepy tale of werewolves living among us.

(Country: US, Germany; Year: 2006; Director: James Isaac; Writer: James DeMonaco, Todd Harthan; Stars: Jason Behr, Matthew Knight, Rhona Mitra, Elias Koteas, Shawn Roberts)

Full review

WAZ

Review preview for WAZ

Shankland dispenses with subplots almost as quickly as bodies, but his debut rattles along at a nice, taut pace.

Richard Mellor · 2.5 out of 5
A detective caught in a battle of wits with a killer is forced to pay for his past failings.

(Country: UK, US; Year: 2007; Director: Tom Shankland; Writer: Clive Bradley; Stars: Stellan Skarsgård, Melissa George, Selma Blair, Ashley Walters, John Sharian) , Official site

Full review

The Zombie Diaries

Review preview for The Zombie Diaries

This is horror well and truly updated for the YouTube/reality TV generation.

Anton Bitel · 3 out of 5
Three pieces of 'found' documentary footage detail a zombie outbreak in Britain.

(Country: UK; Year: 2006; Director: Michael Bartlett, Kevin Gates; Writer: Michael Bartlett, Kevin Gates; Stars: Russell Jones, Craig Stovin, Jonnie Hurn, James Fisher, Anna Blades, Imogen Church, Kyle Sparks, Alison Mollon, Victoria Nalder, Jonathan Ball, Sophia Ellis, Will Tosh, Hiram Bleetman, Ralph Mondi, Leonard Fenton) , Official site

Full review