The Face of Horror - London Film Festival

Courtesy of Embankment Films

 

As we’ve all been waiting, ever so patiently for the return of Anna Biller and her unique eye to the big screen. It's been 10 years since she gave us The Love Witch, the horror comedy with a 60’s flair and look. While it was announced that a take on the Bluebeard story was to be her next project, this was then released as a novel in 2023. But thankfully, Biller has delivered on the promise of her previous work to give us The Face of Horror, part revenge, part ghost story drenched in blood and tears, there isn’t anything quite like it.

Set in 14th Century, a brutal violent and unfaithful knight, becomes haunted by visions of his deceased wife, resulting in further blood shed and chaos.

Full review will be over at Filmhounds.

Wild Horse Nine - London Film Festival

Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

 

Following his familiar structure and set up, Martin McDonagh’s latest, Wild Horse Nine, takes us to 1973 Chile, where two CIA agents are involved in setting up the political turmoil about to take place in the country. But this story isn’t really about the coup d'état, this is about the two American CIA agents who go on holiday to Easter Island where one has asked the other a really big favour. If this sounds reminiscent of In Bruges, you are not far off.

Chris is dying of cancer. He has been in the CIA for decades and involved in many operations including the assassination of JFK. Lee, Chris’ best friend and protege, has agreed to take Chris to Easter Island as a last request. He has also been tasked with shutting down Chris’ idea to dictate a memoir and find where the rifle is that was involved with JFK’s death. With Chris’ memory fading and his belligerent behaviour causing issues in public spaces, Lee becomes more agitated, especially when his cheating wife and kids are put in danger.

 
A change of scenery, nationality of the leads and add in the backdrop of the political situation looming over everyone, and this could be very much like some of McDonagh’s previous films. Though the writing is razor sharp, humorous with a darker edge, there are some genuinely bizarre laughs and reveals, there is nothing spectacular about the film. The showdown at the end is even played out at a leisurely pace, in keeping with the island aesthetics. Sam Rockwell as Lee and John Malkovich as Chris are entertaining, their chemistry and quick witted dialogue is to be admired, no doubt these performances may earn some awards attention. However, there is a sense of confusion as to why did McDonagh set the story to this political environment, it barely adds much to the overall story, the real story that is. There could have been a different angle brought to this part of the story, but really Chile sits as a backdrop and illustrates the reach of the CIA fuels conspiracies at most. The better part of this affair is between old friends and whether they can trust one another.

Paper Tiger - London Film Festival

courtesy of Neon

 

James Gray returns with an 80s set crime thriller, with family ties that are tested. This may sound very familiar as this seems to be Gray’s comfort zone, family and some kind of criminal conflict. Here we have Adam Driver and Miles Teller as brothers who try to start a legitimate business but become entangled and indebted to the Russian mob. With a side plot involving Scarlett Johansson, playing Teller’s wife who is going through a medical crisis. Unfortunately, the stories told here don’t feel like new and fresh but familiar and predictable. The crime is there but the thrills are missing.

Somehow all of Gray’s stories centre around achieving a dream, whether it is the archetypal ‘American Dream’, the dream of success, or the dream of a happy life. Paper Tiger tries to explore chasing a dream here with the two brothers Gary, the ex-cop turned businessman and Irwin, the family man with moderate business and content life. To begin with, the dream that Gary brings Irwin into seems achievable, starting their own business venture together but as soon as it means working with suspicious people, everything is thrown into chaos. The dream they are chasing quickly becomes unattainable and impossible, their lives implode and far more dramatic than what you would expect from the start.

Both Teller and Driver give us decent performances, particularly Driver who seems in his element as the confident ex-cop Gary. Johansson does what she can with her wife from New Jersey role with her side plot feeling like an add on just giving her something to do. Gray hasn’t taken any risks with the story or the characters, but those who enjoy the slowed down pacing, the thick tension and impending doom laid upon this family will get something out of the film. But overall it doesn’t feel as if much happens though the stakes are high. Save from the impressive ending scenes and shoot in the long grass, there isn’t much to take up from Paper Tiger and it won’t be a film that stays with you for long.

Julian - London Film Festival

 

Cartoon Saloon always creates the most atmospheric and heartwarming stories, even if the story is as simple as a young boy wanting to dress up as a mermaid. The Irish animation studio has transported us to fantastical places through their folktales, the Wild Island in My Father’s Dragon and the stories told by Parvana in The Breadwinner. For the next adventure, we are taken to Brooklyn, New York where Julian stays with his grandmother over a hot summer. There he makes friends with a group of mermaid obsessed girls and learns about the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Fascinated by the ocean, Julian decides that he wants to dress up as a mermaid and take part in the parade.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

I Love Boosters - London Film Festival

 

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

For anyone who saw the science fiction dark comedy Sorry to Bother You (LFF 2018) or the weird and wonderful comedy series, I’m a Virgo (2023), knows a little of what to expect from a Boots Riley story. The filmmaker has very quickly developed a recognisable style with only two films and a TV series under his belt. But if you thought that Sorry to Bother You was a layered political absurdist comedy with a threateningly dark tone, I Love Boosters will absolutely convince you that Riley is all about style and substance, he just delivers it in the most bizarre way possible. I Love Boosters finally makes it to UK shores, with the International Premiere at the London Film Festival and we are ready to embrace what Riley has to throw at us.

Full review over at Filmhounds. 

The Fox - London Film Festival

courtesy of Signature Entertainment

 

Playing out like a dark folktale entwined with a moral tale, except no one really learns any lesson, The Fox’s comedy is found in both the sheer mundane existence of all the characters as well as witnessing the most bizarre situation. Having been on the genre festival circuit, Dario Russo’s directorial debut makes its way to the London Film Festival and when you have British treasure Olivia Colman voicing a devious and quick witted fox who convinces a cuckolded Jai Courtney to push his cheating girlfriend down a hole, you have to sit up and pay attention.

Full review over at Filmhounds.