#2024horror

[justapillowpetpanda]

My Wishlist

[justapillowpetpanda]

The Vourdalak: A Nightmarish Gothic Tale [Review]

The Vourdalak compels and entrances the viewer with a nightmarish vision of a family and stranger wandering down a road of vampiric horror. The film, written by Adrien Beau (who also directed) and Hadrien Bouvier, stars Ariane Labed, Kacey Mottet-Klein, and Grégoire Colin. It has been released exclusively in US cinemas by Oscilloscope Laboratories. Being a unique horror story, this film isn't for every viewer but for many, this will be a welcomed addition to their list of favorites.

Poster for The Vourdalak

Synopsis for The Vourdalak

When the Marquis d’Urfé, a noble emissary of the King of France, is attacked and abandoned in the remote countryside, he finds refuge in an eerie, isolated manor. The resident family, reluctant to take him in, exhibits strange behavior as they await the imminent return of their father, Gorcha. But what begins simply as strange quickly devolves into a full-fledged nightmare when Gorcha returns, seemingly no longer himself. The film was adapted from a novella that predates Bram Stoker’s Dracula by over half a century. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NIXWgBkJNU The Vourdalak is not only a film, but an experience, that stays with you forever. It hints toward the iconic storytelling of silent films such as Vampyr. The focus, angles, and distance from the faces of the characters evoke the tone of old horror. Right away, the film draws on a unique aesthetic with the eye soaking in the countryside's gorgeous and almost ethereal imagery. Wide shots of the landscape and the central home focused on in the film are spectacular.

The performances are incredible, with each actor bringing a captivating amount of depth and tension to their characters in every scene. Bringing forth the tense family dynamics amidst the mysterious return of the patriarch while welcoming in an aristocratic stranger was excellent. I won't spoil much, but the father's return is a captivating fever dream in the best way. The sickening duty to masculinity and patriarchal structure is so well examined in The Vourdalak. Through the lens of a gothic vampire tale, this film presents a story that will last through the ages of the horror genre.

The colors in this film have a light haze that ensures a dreamlike state for the viewer. The viewing experience is like being in a constant surreal nightmare mixed with the visuals displayed in the mind when reading a haunted story in classic literature. When in a comforting moment in the film, the tone splits with the deeply upsetting foley and sound work. The squelches and sounds emitted from all around Marquis (Mottet-Klein) during the film produce such a distinctive type of discomfort. These sounds work wonders along with the unsettling camera movements and eerie puppetry that follow you throughout The Vourdalak. This story is incredibly poignant while also maintaining a sense of spectacular dread woven throughout. While some moments or scenes may have taken me out of the story for a moment, I was able to find myself fully engrossed when it adjusted. This is certainly not a horror film for everyone, but that's what is so fun about the genre. The nod to classic horror and vampire lore was fantastic and the talent was one of a kind. I'm beyond excited for what is ahead for the cast, director, and crew of The Vourdalak.

'The Vourdalak' Review:

4.5/5

Read the full article

[justapillowpetpanda]

Horror Roundup: Longlegs, Trap, Cuckoo & More Trailers!

Horror is already having a fantastic 2024 with films like Lisa Frankenstein, Abigail, Stopmotion, Late Night with the Devil, and others premiering since January. In this unique edition of Horror Roundup, we're grabbing and looking through a collection of recent trailers, key art, and more released for upcoming films in the genre. The indie horror corner also has some upcoming releases worth checking out (as if they don't have some of the best releases) but I'll be diving into those in a separate article. Let's dive in and freak out like totally normal people about some awesome horror films!

'In A Violent Nature' Trailer - Killer POV

Credit: IFC Films The enigmatic resurrection, rampage, and retribution of an undead monster in a remote wilderness unleashes an iconic new killer after a locket is removed from a collapsed fire tower that entombed its rotting corpse. In a Violent Nature is directed and written by Chris Nash.  The IFC film stars Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, and others. The film arrives in theaters on May 31st. https://youtu.be/WyXuRmXbS7U

'Longlegs' Trailer - Best Horror of 2024??

In Longlegs, FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes unexpected turns, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again. The film is directed and written by Oz Perkins and stars Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe, and Alicia Witt. Longlegs arrives in theaters this summer on July 12th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORe5cAnpTFQ

'Cuckoo' Trailer - Isolation Strikes

Credit: Neon Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. König, her father's boss, who takes an inexplicable interest in Gretchen's mute half-sister Alma. Something doesn't seem right in this tranquil vacation paradise. Gretchen is plagued by strange noises and bloody visions until she discovers a shocking secret that also concerns her own family. https://youtu.be/NuON7HH0UkQ Cuckoo is directed by Tilman Singer and stars Hunter Schafer, Jessica Henwick, Dan Stevens, Marton Csokas, and Mila Lieu. The trailer makes me think of multiple iconic films in the horror genre that surround the fears of not being believed, paranoia, and potential exclusion and isolation. The film is set to release in theaters on August 8th.

Pictured: Hunter Schafer, Credit: Neon

'Trap' Trailer - Killer Concert

In Trap, a father and teen daughter attend a pop concert, where they realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event. Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, “Trap” stars Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills and Allison Pill. The film is produced by Ashwin Rajan, Marc Bienstock and M. Night Shyamalan. The executive producer is Steven Schneider. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auNZNk7quaE

Trap will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theaters only nationwide on August 9, 2024 and internationally beginning on 1 August, 2024.

'I Saw The TV Glow' Trailer - Surreal Horrors

The subdued and crushingly familiar surface of the suburban existence that teenaged Owen (Justice Smith) knows all too well begins to crack the moment he encounters the late-night television program The Pink Opaque. Steeped in mysterious visions of the supernatural, the show becomes a point of bonding between him and a classmate (Brigette Lundy-Paine)—and, years later, when it’s abruptly canceled, the unnerving alternate universe it envisioned begins to seep into the duo’s everyday reality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kymDzCgPwj0

I Saw The TV Glow is directed and written by Jane Schoenbrun, who will appear at a member-only preview of the film on April 26th at the Metrograph Theater in NYC. The film releases in theaters on Friday May 3, 2024 (Limited) and Friday May 17, 2024 (Nationwide). Read the full article

[justapillowpetpanda]

My Wishlist

[justapillowpetpanda]

My Wishlist