88

"88" (2014, April Mullen, WANGO Films) is not really a horror movie. It's more an action movie reminiscent of the likes of "Pulp Fiction" and others.

Whilst yes, it isn't a horror, I still want to mention it here because it's good, it's gory and it stars one of my favourite modern day scream queens; Katharine Isabelle. I love her. I can't help it. Not only because she is super hot and in some of my favourite films, but also because she is downright hilarious and, as proven in this particular film, extremely adaptive as an actress.

Gwen (Katharine Isabelle) walks into a highway diner with an injured hand, a gun, a backpack and no idea what the hell is going on... From there we're taken on her journey between two timelines where we get to know more about who she really is and what has brought her to this diner. As it happens, she's a pretty dangerous lady on the lookout for whoever killed her lover. And, wouldn't you know it, it was probably someone pretty dangerous who did it!

A fun and very violent film with more than one similarity to Tarantino (timeline styling, violence, gang banter....). The characters are all very colourful, very memorable and very disposable. It's stylish, witty and not scared to make you think a bit. The story manages to avoid too much confusion, despite the fractured timeline style, and everything links up nicely by the end.

So, if you're a fan of Katharine Isabelle..., or you like Tarantino-esque films..., or you like action movies.... or gore.... or if you are anyone at all... I recommend giving this movie your time. It's worth it.

[Image: Wango Films]

 

Hani

Ginger Snaps

"Ginger Snaps" (2000, John Fawcett, Motion International) is a teen werewolf movie.

Death obsessed, misfit sisters, Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins) are terrified of growing up, joining in with normal society and of getting their periods. They much prefer to pose as the recently, horrifically deceased for their school art project and rebel against society's norms (and bullies). Their lives are turned upside down, however, when Ginger is bitten by a werewolf on the first night of her first menstruation. Unfortunately for everyone else, this unlikely happenstance results in Ginger beginning to transform into a rather voracious and sex mad werewolf creature. Firstly she begins to find her sex vixen side by going to class looking like she's going to a goth nightclub, then she begins growing a tale and hungering for fresh meat.

Yep, this movie is not very classy but it has all the hallmarks of a great werewolf movie and is a fun film in general. Firstly, it's about two entertainingly misfit teens. These girls are just weird; creative and weird. Their relationship is something different from most siblings (they have a suicide pact for a start!). We also get to enjoy Katharine Isabelle (one of today's most diverse and entertaining horror honeys, in my opinion) doing what she does best; funny dialogue and gore. Thirdly, the effects are admirable and the plot is nice and quick and interesting.

There's little nods to American Werewolf, the Howling and other sub-genre favourites and the soundtrack caters right into my tastes: Hatebreed, Machine Head, Killswitch Engage and yes, I'm even fond of a bit of Cradle of Filth now and again.

The characters are good. I care about them. They're real. Even the whacky mum is adorable.

So while, yes, it's not classy horror fare and it's definitely catered more to the teen gore shelf, "Ginger Snaps" is a gory, violent and sassy lycanthrope film that captures some of the anxieties of the teen girl going through "changes" in a tongue-in-cheek, blood spattered way.

[Image: Motion International]

Hani

Torment

"Torment" (2013, Jordan Barker, Filmmax Intrernational) is about a father, Cory (Robin Dunne), and his son who go up to their holiday cottage with Cory's new, young wife, Sarah (Katharine Isabelle), in an attempt for young Liam to bond with her. So far, it's not going well.

Things are bound to get worse, however, when they discover that people have been squatting in their home... Recently.

Upon checking out their only neighbouring cottage and finding it suspiciously empty, Cory becomes concerned. But soon, a shocking turn changes the family's lives forever when they discover that they have become the latest hunted prey of an insane family of teddybear mask-wearing killers, hellbent on torture.

A fast and well executed affair with a surprisingly low budget and a good amount of gore, violence and actual characters.

Katharine Isabelle is a favourite of mine and she portrays a fantastically believable female character who is both terrified but capable and doesn't spend the whole flick either screaming or inexplicably kicking ass as if she's Buffy Summers.

Dunne creates a good father character, humanised by his desire to both welcome his new wife into his home and desperate for his son to accept her.

The kid is fantastic. He's a little shit, but he's got good reason.

On the whole the action is great. I wasn't too excited about the reasoning behind the masked 'father's' obsession with tormenting people and building his own little death family, but watching the aftermath was fun.

A film that does what it sets out to do without getting too precious about it.

A definite highlight at Glasgow Film4 Fright Fest!

 

[Image: Filmmax International]

Hani