This is my second year I have been given the honor to have been asked to cover this event for this festival. This year pulls no punches and goes right for the jugular, with "Do No Harm" and in some cases right to the funny bone with "The Honeymoon"
Below is some of the information on the evening , then below that are the reviews for the short films that I was given the pleasure of viewing at the comfort of my own home.
ETHERIA FILM NIGHT
Women Directors Making Scary, Fantastic, Amazing Films
WHO: Etheria Film Night the world’s most respected showcase of genre films (horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, thriller, and comedy) directed by women for an audience including producers, managers, show runners, distributors, and genre fans. Women want to make exciting, provocative, entertaining, fantastic, and terrifying films. Etheria puts the women directors who want to make genre films and TV in front of the people who want to hire them. www.etheriafilmnight.com
WHAT: Etheria Film Night at The Egyptian Theatre Honors Director Stephanie Rothman (“The Velvet Vampire”, “Working Girls”) with the Inspiration Award and screens the Official 2017 Lineup of Short Films followed by a Q and A with Tara Price ("Earworm"), Bridget Savage Cole ("SWELL"), and Thirati Kulyingwattanavit ("Kumal") conducted by Rebekah McKendry (Blumhouse.com) and the awards ceremony. As usual, special red carpet guests from your favorite horror and sci-fi films and TV shows will be helping us celebrate!
WHEN: Saturday, June 3, 2017
Red Carpet Start Time: 5:00 PM
Shorts and Inspiration award Start Time: 7:30 PM
After-party: 10:30 PM - Location TBA
WHERE: Egyptian Theatre: 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028
For details and more info, Visit www.etheriafilmnight.com/etheria-film-night-event/
Reviews:
Do No Harm
Directed by Roseanne Liang (12:00) (Action/Thriller) (New Zealand)
In an aging private hospital, a surgeon is forced to break her physician's oath when violent gangsters storm in to stop a crucial operation.
This is a great little film from the opening frame to the last, great editing, action and dialogue as well. Loved the camera work and the lighting was just right.
These men break into the hospital and come into the operating room where there is a patient on the table being worked on.
Not ones for much introduction they quickly make a point of why they are there. They want the patient and they want him dead, problem is there is a doctor that has plans of her own to keep her patient very much alive.
Einstein-Rosen
Directed by Olga Osorio (13:00) (Science Fiction) (Spain)
Summer of 1982. Teo claims he has found a wormhole. His brother Óscar does not believe him...at least not for now.
This was a fun little story mostly when the boys were younger but some pretty funny parts when the wormhole started spitting things back out later on in the film.
Teo is convinced there is a wormhole and some of the scenes of matter being thrown into it are quite comical. Good all around enjoyable little film.
Earworm
Directed by Tara Price (5:00) (Horror) (USA)
When a reclusive man is repeatedly woken up over the course of a night by severe headaches, accompanied by musical repetition from an unknown source, his sanity begins to swiftly unravel.
Yes the title does explain what the film is about as a child I remember my brothers telling me that earwigs crawl into your ear and eat your brains--terrified me for years.
This poor man is trying figure out what is going on he thinks it's his radio or the neighbors making this noise he keeps hearing.
Not for the squeamish at all, but he does give the earworm it's walking papers.
Swell
Directed by Bridget Savage Cole (10:00) (Science Fiction) (USA)
Swell is an app that allows users to change their mood or emotion through sound. When a young couple try to control each other's settings, their relationship is tested by a cacophony of emotions.
What works here best in this film is not so much the story believe it or not (as I am a big supporter of stories)however what makes it work best is the chemistry between the young actors in the film.
They really have a strong sense of who the people are and ultimately it does come down to the story/script but it also requires great work from the writer-director and team for it to work on screen.
Jules D.
Directed by Norma Vila (14:00) (Horror/Fantasy) (Spain)
Dreams die, blood is eternal.
There is always that one film, the one that stands out for you no matter how much you enjoy the other films , something speaks to you in a different tone or manner.
Here we have Jules or as the title suggests Jules D-you will have to see this masterful short film to find out the relation to the D.
We start out and he is watching Dracula with Bela Lugosi and he becomes fascinated with the origin of Dracula and in turn wants to be one.
The story is dark but so well told , directed, cinematography, editing--oh I could go on.
It is from Spain and has subtitles but please do not let this stop you as you will miss a true gem of a film.
The Honeymoon
Directed by Ruth Pickett (12:30) (Dark Comedy) (UK)
A newlywed Christian couple go on their honeymoon to what they believe to be a quaint B&B in the Welsh countryside. But the cottage turns out to be a sex den, and events go horribly wrong.
The British have always been far more relaxed when it comes to anything to do with sex in relation to the rest of the world. The overt use of the male organ in many of the opening scenes and throughout are done very comically enough to make possibly even the biggest prude to laugh, yea well ok maybe not.
The couple in our story certainly get themselves in an uncomfortable situation one after another and one that really was unplanned and changes all their future plans.
Enjoyable and pokes fun at those that have hang ups on something that is so natural for human beings.
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| Theatrical one-sheet (Red Version) for Real Artists, a Charming Stranger Films Release. Photo courtesy of Charming Stranger Films Releasing. |
Real Artists
Directed by Cameo Wood (12:00) (Science Fiction) (USA)
In the near future, a young animator is offered what should be her dream job, but, when she discovers the truth of the modern 'creative' process, she must make a hard choice about her passion for film.
Some interesting dynamics here in a memory lapse film.
The cinematography in this film is exceptional and the acting is top notch.
The great depth in which both the story and actors work together it is crafted so well and a joy to watch as it all flows together. A story of trust and deception or is it all a dream?
Kumal
Directed by Thirati Kulyingwattanavit (6:45) (Horror) (USA)
An ancient Thai legend says that if an unborn child is sacrificed to the darkness, eternal life can be attained - at the risk of the restless mother’s spirit exacting her revenge.
This one is not for everyone , that is for sure.
When an ancient spirit calls for the revenge of her child two unsuspecting men that break into a home fall victim to something unnatural. Great overall story and the use of visuals really helps bring the terror to life. Also the unique sounds and music that accompany this film helps bring out the film's creepiness
I really enjoyed this one just for it's unique story almost a new It's Alive if you will , condensed version of course.
Thank you for reading this
Sincerely
Anthony Nadeau
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