#ifc midnight

[thefirstthinguc]

IFC Midnight.

Super trailer, 2011.

[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]

[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

[oneofusnet]

Screener Squad: Burial BURIAL MOVIE REVIEW As the Russians advanced on Berlin, Adolf Hitler, hiding in his bunker, shot himself rather than face falling into Russian hands. History indicates he was cremated, and his ashes seized by the Russians, who moved them around, rather than leave them in a permanent space to allow for the creation of a… Read More »Screener Squad: Burial read more on One of Us

[vintage1981]

IFC Midnight Presents Official SHE WILL Trailer

IFC Midnight has released a brand new poster and trailer for SHE WILL, the BIFA nominated psychological horror directed by artist and filmmaker Charlotte Colbert. Make sure you check out the trailer below.

The transfixing film, executive produced by horror legend Dario Argento (Suspiria), won the Golden Leopard for Best First Film at Locarno Film Festival and screened at notable festivals around the world including the London Film Festival, Sitges, Fantastic Fest and Thessaloniki.

SHE WILL is a gothic fairy tale about Veronica Ghent (Alice Krige) who after a double mastectomy, goes to a healing retreat in rural Scotland with her young nurse Desi (Kota Eberhardt). She discovers that the process of such surgery opens up questions about her very existence, leading her to start to question and confront past traumas. The two develop an unlikely bond as mysterious forces give Veronica the power to enact revenge within her dreams.

The film stars Alice Krige (Sleepwalkers, Gretel & Hansel), Kota Eberhardt (Dark Phoenix, The Persian Connection), Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Caligula), and Rupert Everett (An Ideal Husband, My Best Friend’s Wedding).

Charlotte Colbert directs and also co-wrote the screenplay with Kitty Percy.

IFC Midnight will open SHE WILL in select theaters and on demand on Friday, July 15, 2022, with Shudder taking the first streaming window.

[superpoweredfancast]

Check out the First Trailer for 'Flux Gourmet' starring Asa Butterfield and Gwendoline Christie

Check out the First Trailer for ‘Flux Gourmet’ starring Asa Butterfield and Gwendoline Christie

Writer/Director Peter Strickland (In Fabric, The Duke of Burgundy) has a new film from IFC Midnight coming to select theater and On Demand this month. A sonic collective who can’t decide on a name takes up a residency at an institute devoted to culinary and alimentary performance. The members Elle di Elle, Billy Rubin and Lamina Propria are caught up in their own power struggles, only their…

[horrorpatch]

New Horror Film THE INNOCENTS Opens In Theaters & VOD Tomorrow!

New Horror Film THE INNOCENTS Opens In Theaters & VOD Tomorrow!

[extrakoolblu-rays]

[fearsmagazine]

SKINAMARINK - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: IFC Midnight | Shudder

SYNOPSIS:  Two children, Kaylee and Kevin, wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing. All the windows and doors in their home are gone. Trying to cope with this strange situation, they bring pillows and blankets to the living room and settle into a quiet slumber party as they play well worn cartoon videotapes to fill the silence of the house and distract from their frightening and strange situation. They hope and try to have some grown-ups come to rescue them, but to no avail. After a while it becomes clear that someone or something in the house is watching over them.

REVIEW: Filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball makes his feature film directorial debut with SKINAMARINK, a nightmarish paranormal thriller about two siblings trapped in their home by a sinister presence. If the viewer invests themselves in the film, it provides an intense melancholic atmosphere that builds tension with a mind boggling threat.

The plot for SKINAMARINK is simple and exceptionally spellbinding. Two small children are placed in a bizarre situation. There is limited dialogue, we never get to know them yet we perceive their innocence. Some of the dialogue is present as subtitles, some of the lines are present just at the level of perception. So there are times we don’t clearly hear the speaker and our minds are left to make sense out of what we’ve heard. Did we hear it correctly, or is there something else going on? The plot keeps much of what is going on to the viewers imagination. As such, there is nothing more terrifying than what we can conjure in our minds. At times the viewer can feel like Det. David Mills in the film “Seven” who questions, “What’s in the box” as we ponder what the hell is going on here, knowing we’re not going to like the answer.

Likewise, the film is unconventionally shot at odd angles and there are scenes where the encroaching darkness feels like a veil. Again, the viewer’s imagination struggles to fill in the blanks. As we gaze into the darkness we strain our perception to discern if there is something lurking there? Without a score, Ball skillfully manipulates images and the sound design to keep the viewer off balance. He takes the contemporary safety of a home and deconstructs into a nightmarish fairytale landscape that is a psychological minefield as he probes our emotions. There were times the early films of David Lynch came to mind, or black and white films like Robert Wise’s “The Haunting” or Carl Theodor Dreyer’s “Vampyr.” However, I get the impression that Ball has a unique understanding of the psychological elements of film and he skillfully exploits the elements at his disposal to impact the conscious and subconscious.

SKINAMARINK is unquestionably an art house, experimental film. The filmmaker, Kyle Edward Ball, delivers an emotional and psychological thrill ride. The crescendo renders the viewer bewildered, feeling like something has been taken from them. I will admit that as a parent, a father, and a brother the film might have had a bigger impact on me given my circumstances. Still, if you make a commitment to take the ride there is no way to escape even the meagerest emotional and psychological effects of the film. Ball has a red thumb when it comes to planting and harvesting a bountiful garden of nightmares. I’m eager to see what he serves up next.

CAST: Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, and Jaime Hill. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Editor - Kyle Edward Ball; Cinematographer - Jamie Mcrae; Executive Producers - Edmon Rotea, Ava Karvonen, Bonnie Lewis, Alan Lewis, Josh Doke and Jonathan Barkan. OFFICIAL: www.skinamarink.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/IFCMidnight/ TWITTER: twitter.com/ifcmidnight TRAILER: https://youtu.be/cXSUy7oExu8 RELEASE DATE: In Theaters January 13th, 2023.

**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

[oneofusnet]

Screener Squad: Resurrection RESURRECTION MOVIE REVIEW In 1999 an evil Scottish villain named Fat Bastard stared down a mini me and said “Get in my Belly!”. This hilarious timeless quote is most likely not the inspiration for writer/director Andrew Semans film Resurrection but it would certainly explain a lot if it influenced it to some degree. Margaret (Rebecca Hall) is… Read More »Screener Squad: Resurrection read more on One of Us

[cinemastnet]

SEE FOR ME Movie Review

SEE FOR ME Movie Review

SEE FOR ME (R) Released by IFC Midnight Review by Dan Bringhurst SEE FOR ME is a fun enough little film from director Randall Okita, small in its scope, but occasionally bigger in its ambitions. Filmed and staged in a secluded mansion in New York. Sophie, played by Skyler Davenport — who is actually visually challenged in reality — spends her time cat-sitting and making up for the inadequate…

[ramascreen]

Official Poster And Trailer For SEE FOR ME Starring Skyler Davenport and Jessica Parker Kennedy

Official Poster And Trailer For SEE FOR ME Starring Skyler Davenport and Jessica Parker Kennedy

IFC Midnight has released these poster and trailer for SEE FOR ME. Directed by Randall Okita Starring Skyler Davenport, Jessica Parker Kennedy and Kim Coates Opens in Select Theaters, on Digital Platforms and VOD on January 7th Synopsis Sophie, a young blind woman, house-sitting at a secluded mansion, finds herself under invasion by thieves seeking a hidden safe. Her only means of defense: a new…

[horrorpatch]

Psychological Horror Film SHE WILL Acquired By IFC Midnight & Shudder!

Psychological Horror Film SHE WILL Acquired By IFC Midnight & Shudder!