#ifc midnight

[brokehorrorfan]

Broke Horror Fan presents Relic on limited edition, fully functional VHS! Our latest tape is on sale now at Witter Entertainment.

The 2020 horror film stars Emily Mortimer (Scream 3), Robyn Nevin (The Matrix Reloaded), and Bella Heathcote (The Neon Demon).

It arrives on VHS in slipcase packaging, limited to 100. Each tape includes exclusive introductions by director/co-writer Natalie Erika James, co-writer Christian White, and cinematographer Charlie Sarroff.

For optimal VHS viewing, the film has been cropped from its original aspect ratio to 4:3 full frame. It is officially licensed from Shout Factory and has been approved by James.

When elderly mother Edna inexplicably vanishes, her daughter Kay and granddaughter Sam rush to the family’s decaying country home, finding clues of her increasing dementia scattered around the house in her absence. After Edna returns just as mysteriously as she disappeared, Kay’s concern that her mother seems unwilling or unable to say where she’s been clashes with Sam’s unabashed enthusiasm to have her grandma back. As Edna’s behavior turns increasingly volatile, both begin to sense that an insidious presence in the house might be taking control of her.

[fearsmagazine]

CONSECRATION - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: IFC Midnight & Shudder

SYNOPSIS: After the suspicious death of her brother who was a priest, Grace, an accomplished ophthalmologist in London, is summoned to the Mount Saviour Convent in Scotland to find out what really happened to him. Refusing to believe the convent’s insistence that he committed ‘suicide,’ and determined to discover what really happened to him, Grace starts her own investigation into her brother’s death as the nuns prepare a consecration ceremony to purify the holy site. By doing so, she uncovers murder, sacrilege and something far more disturbing, which relates to the forgotten years of her own childhood, intertwined with that of the holy order of the convent and the secret it’s charged with protecting.

REVIEW: Christopher Smith’s CONSECRATION is a magnificently crafted tale that combines a genre tale with a mystery thriller. Just like the big reveal of a whodunit, he provides us with all the clues and we still don’t see it coming.

The tale begins by presenting us with Grace, a strong woman of science, who seems gracious and thoughtful, but clearly not religious. Her brother, Michael, is a priest, which offers a nice contrast to her character. Given elements surrounding the investigation into her brother’s death she decides that she needs to do her own investigation. Her brother has not simply committed suicide, but he is accused of murdering a fellow priest. Upon her arrival Grace meets Father Romero, who has been sent by the Vatican to investigate the deaths and re-consecrate the church due to the bloody events. Clearly, there is something that they are not telling her, but while the nuns seem hostile Father Romero appears to be on her side and provides her with a box of her brother’s belongings. As she dives into the mystery Grace begins to have visions, some memories long forgotten. The plot does an excellent job of weaving in complex characters with supernatural elements that are plotted like a well crafted mystery.  As the story draws to its climax the biggest question becomes the true nature of evil given the full scope of what’s transpired. If someone perceives another’s actions as evil are they or is it because of an ignorance on the other’s part? It is an excellent question that has been addressed in literature but I don’t believe as adroitly in a genre film.

The film is spectacular to look at. There is a subtle tone that feels like it pays homage to Ken Russell’s 1971 film “The Devils,” but is a bit more grounded. I loved the costumes, the production designs and the cinematography. It is a tale that draws keenly on the location. The modern church and the ruins added so much to the film. There is a lot of atmosphere that is enhanced by the lighting, angles and framing. There are a lot of shots that employ classic imagery of genre films from the 60’s and 70’s.  Enhancing the performances and visuals is a marvelous score by composer Nathan Halpern. It easily calls to mind the works of Jerry Goldsmith, but with subtler moments that nudge the tension and suspense without being employed for a jump effect.

Veteran actress Jena Malone plays Grace. She presents a vast emotional palette that is grounded in strength and slowly becomes immersed in this surreal nightmare that feels like a contemporary Alice falling down a religious spiral. There is a point where she evolves from victim to hero of her story. Deep down you want to cheer for her. Danny Huston is fantastic as Father Romero. While there is something not to trust about Vatican lawyers, he presents this sincere person who is on Grace’s side among this order of vipers. It is a more restrained performance than some of those we’ve seen before, but certainly not lacking authority and gravitas. Stealing the show is Dame Janet Suzman as mother superior. She brings to life the nightmare of every Catholic schooled child in the world. No matter what is coming out of her mouth, there are times you can see the murder taking place behind her eyes. The rest of this talented cast creates memorable moments, layering the mystery and fostering the tension that make this such a haunting view.

CONSECRATION is another great film by veteran filmmaker Christopher Smith. With co-writer Laurie Cook, he creates a hypnotic tale that blends mystery and supernatural elements into a spellbinding character study. The visuals and performances beguile the viewer into the tale, delivering a crescendo with a stunning ending almost as impactful as “The Sixth Sense.” CONSECRATION is a wickedly delightful supernatural mystery with an ending that leaves you with something to ponder. Christopher Smith is a talented filmmaker, and if you have not seen his other features such as “Creep,” “Severance,” “Black Death,” or “The Banishing,” to name a few, you should seek them out.

CAST: Jena Malone, Danny Huston, Ian Pirie, Dame Janet Suzman, Thoren Ferguson, Victoria Donovan, Angela White, Jolade Obasola, & Alexandra Lewis. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Christopher Smith; Screenplay/Producer - Laurie Cook; Producers - Stuart Ford, Casey Herbert, Xavier Marchand & Jason Newmark; Cinematographers - Rob Hart & Shaun Mone; Score - Nathan Halpern; Editor - Arthur Davis; Production Designer - Elizabeth El-Kadhi; Costume Designer - Emily Newby; Makeup Supervisor - Liz Arklie; Prosthetics Artist - Nikoleta Tzani; Special Effects Supervisor - Keith Harding; Visual Effects - AGC Studios/Bigscope Films; Visual Effects Producer - Joe Carhart OFFICIAL: www.ifcfilms.com/films/consecration FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/IFCMidnight/ TWITTER: twitter.com/IFCMidnight TRAILER: https://youtu.be/uDO3CafOomI RELEASE DATE: In Theaters February 10th, 2023, from IFC Films and Shudder

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay),  or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[literarysiren]

Relic is one of my favorite films of 2020, but it is a super difficult watch if you have family members who suffer with dementia...fair warning, but well worth the watch.

[thebutcher-5]

The Offering (2023)

Benvenuti o bentornati sul nostro blog. Nello scorso articolo abbiamo continuato a parlare di animazione e questa volta ci siamo spostati su un’opera particolare che utilizzò per la prima volta una tecnica particolare per un lungometraggio animato, The Polar Express. Il protagonista è un ragazzino del Michigan che ormai non crede più nel Natale e in Babbo Natale. Mentre dorme sente il fischio di…

[thefirstthinguc]

IFC Midnight.

Super trailer, 2011.

[oneofusnet]

Screener Squad: Oddity ODDITY MOVIE REVIEW We’ll never look at a terrifying, lifesize, wooden Golem the same ever again. Damian McCarthy’s second feature film, Oddity, has an incredibly simple and dread inducing setup. Carolyn Bracken plays Dani who’s renovating her home while her husband Dr Timmis, played by Gwilym Lee, works the overnight shift at the local mental institution. As she’s getting ready to wind down for the night, she hears a knock at the front door. As she opens the slotted peephole, Dani finds a scared one-eyed man (Tadhg Murphy) desperately asking her to let him in the house…because there is someone… Read More »Screener Squad: Oddity read more on One of Us

[jessubear]

A Lonely Place to Die, 2011, UK

A group of hikers attempt to rescue the daughter of a Russian mob boss, only to find themselves hunted through the mountains of Scotland by the kidnappers. 

[extrakoolblu-rays]

[flashfuckingflesh]

The Stillness, the Quiet, and the Darkness evokes EVIL to Home In. "Skinamarink" reviewed! (Acorn Media International / Blu-ray)

The Kids Aren’t All Right in “Skinamarink” on Blu-ray! A night of silence is disturbed when a young boy, Kevin, falls down the stairs of his two story home.  Rushed to the hospital to return to the same silence-soaked house, the restless boy and his sister Kaylee search for their dad who has suddenly vanished from his bedroom.  Doors, windows, and even the bathroom toilet has strangely…

[brokehorrorfan]

Don't forget: Broke Horror Fan presents Relic on limited edition, fully functional VHS! Our latest tape goes on sale tomorrow, September 29, at 12pm EST/9am PST via Witter Entertainment.

The 2020 horror film arrives on VHS in slipcase packaging, limited to 100. Each tape includes exclusive introductions by director/co-writer Natalie Erika James, co-writer Christian White, and cinematographer Charlie Sarroff.

For optimal VHS viewing, the film has been cropped from its original aspect ratio to 4:3 full frame. It is officially licensed from Shout Factory and has been approved by James.

[izzy-b-hands]

how bad of an idea is it to be watching skinamarink while v stoned and alone

i mean there's sunlight out rn so it could be worse

and im Intrigued by it thus far, tho i keep expecting jump or audio scares that aren't happening

yet. Delightfully Unsettled too

[thebutcher-5]

The Innocents (2021)

Benvenuti o bentornati sul nostro blog. Nello scorso articolo siamo tornati di nuovo nel mondo dei fumetti e, com’è diventato ormai di consueto, abbiamo portato avanti il progetto dedicato a una serie italiana molto interessante, Kalya, arrivando a recensire il quarto volume. In questo volume Kalya e Tagh, accompagnati da Leena e Aridan, si stanno dirigendo nelle terre di Hobur, ma prima devono…

[dykesynthezoid]

Something about seeing all the weird little gay movies I watched as a teenager on tubi now is so disorienting… not to go all “kids don’t know how good they have it” but yeah kids really don’t know how good they have it

[oneofusnet]

Screener Squad: Birth/Rebirth BIRTH/REBIRTH MOVIE REVIEW Do you like undead children, zombie pigs, and Mini-DV tapes? Well you’re in luck! Birth/Rebirth is Laura Moss’ directorial debut with a chilling and unnerving story about the lengths that a mother would go through for her child. Judy Reyes stars as Celie, an overworked RN, whose daughter Lila, played by A.J. Lister, tragically dies. Once Lila’s body arrives at the morgue, the unsetting technician, played wonderfully creepy by Marin Ireland, takes the body for further experiments in bringing the dead back to life. These two characters band together to not only keep the young girl alive… Read More »Screener Squad: Birth/Rebirth read more on One of Us