Austin’s awesome SXSW film festival is just a few weeks away, and tonight they announced the last of their festival lineup. This group of movies fits into a special category, as part of their new midnight programming. They’re calling it Fantastic Fest at Midnight, a slate of challenging, sexy, gory, action-oriented, and flat out fun movies for people who aren’t afraid to go out after dark.
The popularity of late night festival programming at SXSW is actually one of the things that makes the festival so much fun. So often at other festivals, everyone ditches the theaters and hits the bars or retire to shady lounges for douchebag networking and backdoor distribution deals, leaving less than heavily attended crowds at the midnight showings which are, more often than not, the most audience interactive movies of the bunch. That’s no problem in Austin. Forget the bars, they serve alcohol inside most of the movie theaters. The theaters stay packed, and audiences remain out late watching movies and having serious festival fun. There’s no better place in the world to watch a movie after midnight.
Here’s the full slate of Fantastic Fest At Midnight flicks we SXSW attendees will have to choose from this year:
Director: Tony Jaa. Writer: Panna Rittikrai
Martial-arts superstar Tony Jaa is back in an epic prequel to the 2003 action smash Ong Bak. Cast: Tony Jaa, Sorapong Chatree, Sarunyu Wongkrachang, Nirut Sirichanya, Santisuk Promsiri, Primorata Dejudom (International Film Festival Premiere)
Black (France)
Director: Pierre Laffargue. Writer: Pierre Laffargue, Lucio Mad and Gábor Rassov
A nouveau-blacksploitation adventure awash in black magic, African Mysticism, mutant arms dealers, gargantuan machete-wielding mercenary armies and a truckload of knuckle-sandwiches. Cast: MC Jean Gab'1, Carole Karemera, François Levantal, Anton Yakovlev (World Premiere)
The Haunting in Connecticut (U.S.)
Director: Peter Cornwell. Writer: Adam Simon and Tim Metcalfe
In the tradition of such real-life horror movies as The Exorcist and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Haunting in Connecticut tells the astounding true story of one family's supernatural ordeal. Cast: Amanda Crew, Elias Koteas, Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan (International Film Festival Premiere)
The Horseman (Australia)
Director/Writer: Steve Kastrissios
When, Christian Forteski’s (Peter Marshall) drug addicted daughter dies after appearing in an amateur Porn Video, he deals with his grief by burning, kicking, smashing and stabbing his way through those responsible. Cast: Peter Marshall, Caroline Marohasy, Brad McMurray, Jack Henry, Evert McQueen (North American Premiere)
Lesbian Vampire Killers (UK)
Director: Phil Claydon. Writer: Paul Hupfield and Stewart Williams
Matthew Horne and James Corden, the comedy duo behind the award-winning BBC comedy series Gavin and Stacey, are two hapless losers whose idyllic country holiday is shattered by the arrival of an army of thirsty lesbian vampires. Cast: Paul McGann, James Corden, Mathew Horne, MyAnna Buring, Silvia Colloca (World Premiere)
Pontypool (Canada)
Director: Bruce McDonald. Writer: Tony Burgess
A seemingly ordinary day’s work at the radio station for Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie) turns sinister when calls begin to flood the station about violent outbreaks in and around Pontypool. Cast: Stephen McHattie, Lisa Houle, Georgina Reilly, Hrant Alianak, Rick Roberts (U.S. Premiere)
