Introduction
As one of the premiere genre film festivals worldwide, Fantastic Fest 2021 didn’t disappoint. Despite a scaled-back schedule due to Covid concerns, the beloved festival returned home to the flagship Alamo Drafthouse location in Austin, TX with another carefully curated line-up of weirdly inspired films from around the globe. From festival opener and recent Palme d’Or winner Titane to the pitch-black closing-night Keira Knightly starrer Silent Night, Fantastic Fest 2021 was jam-packed with another terrific slate of subversive films.
While even the less-than-well-received films at the fest are still considered top-notch, there are always several that stand out among the crowd as favorites. Cinema Scholars highlights five must-see films from Fantastic Fest 2021.
THE INNOCENTS
2021, DIR. ESKIL VOGT, 117 MIN., NORWAY
Young sisters Anna (Alva Brynsmo Ramstad) and Ida (Rakel Lenora Fløttum) move with their parents to a new apartment community and quickly make friends. Soon Ida discovers that her non-verbal older sister, who has autism, shares special psychic powers with their new cohorts. Though unlocking her newfound abilities helps Anna connect better with the world around her, not all the children have the best of intentions regarding their gift.
Where tales similar to The Innocents usually tend to focus on the obvious glee in superhuman discovery, Norwegian director Eskil Vogt (Thelma, Blind) presents possible origin stories of heroes as well as villains. What begins as average childhood shenanigans soon devolves from merely devious, to downright disturbing. In crafting the fascinating morality tale, Vogt coaxes incredibly captivating performances from a cast of first-time child actors resulting in a jaw-dropping meditation on good and evil.
IFC Midnight will release The Innocents in 2022.
THIS IS GWAR
2021, DIR. SCOTT BARBER, 110 MIN., UNITED STATES
Most purveyors of pop culture have at least heard of Gwar, the grotesquely costumed metal band known for their gory and irreverent stage shows. But did you know that the outrageous shock rockers started as a punk art collective out of Richmond, VA?
In the documentary This Is Gwar, director Scott Barber (The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story, American Clown) tells the surprisingly compelling story of a group of twenty-something performance artists and their decidedly raucous brand of rock-n-roll social commentary. Even if you’re not a fan of the music per se, most anyone can appreciate the DIY attitude and incredible artistry discovered in this inspiring underdog story. With interviews from enthusiasts including Thomas Lennon, Ethan Embry, and Weird Al Yankovic, This Is Gwar is an unexpectedly poignant story about artistic passion, friendship, and barrels of fake blood.
So far there’s been no announcement of a release for This Is Gwar, but stay tuned for this intriguing doc to hit a screen near you.
BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES
2021, DIR. JUNTA YAMAGUCHI, 70 MIN., JAPAN
When a cafe owner discovers that the monitor in his upstairs apartment shows a feed from two minutes into the future broadcast from a monitor in his establishment down below, he naturally investigates. Soon he unwittingly sets into motion a chain of events that leads him and his friends down a hilarious and eventually dangerous path.
Sometimes the most simple premise can produce a surprisingly high-concept story. In first-time feature director Junta Yamaguchi’s new film Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes, he and writer Makoto Ueda turn a supposedly innocent premise into a brilliant mind-bending comedy. Seemingly composed from a single take, Yamaguchi and his theatre-troupe cast hit their choreographed cues perfectly, culminating in a most charming and mind-boggling shift in the time-space continuum.
Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes will be available on DVD and Blu-ray in November courtesy of Third Window Films.
LET THE WRONG ONE IN
2021, DIR. CONOR MCMAHON, 97 MIN., IRELAND
For those who like a little humor with their horror, the new vampire comedy Let The Wrong One In is just the ticket. In the same vein as Shaun Of The Dead or the newer Werewolves Within, this gory giggler is as funny as it is bloody.
In Let The Wrong One In, Matt (Karl Rice) and his exasperated mom (Hilda Fay) are both wary of the shenanigans of Matt’s ne’er-do-well older brother Deco (Eoin Duffy). Though Deco seems well-intentioned, his constant partying and general irresponsibility have his family members at their wit’s end. When Deco shows up at their home after another bender asking for help, they discover that his latest affliction is of the supernatural variety. When a vampire hunter (Anthony Head) shows up to stake Deco in the heart, a hilarious subplot involving a bachelorette party of super-spreaders unfolds as Matt does his best to help his brother and save their community from being overtaken by bloodsuckers.
Director Conor McMahon (From The Dark, Stitches) hits this one out of the park with 1 hour and 36 minutes of maniacal laughs, spectacular splatter, and an unexpectedly touching commentary on addiction and enabling.
Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on distribution for Let The Wrong One In, but the silly splatterfest is sure to be snatched up for a wide release soon.
THE TRIP
2021, DIR. TOMMY WIRKOLA, 113 MIN., NORWAY
Burned-out soap opera director Hans (Aksel Hennie) and his actress wife Lisa (Noomi Rapace) hit his family’s lake cabin for a weekend of relaxation…until they both discover each other’s sinister ulterior motives. Just as the couple’s mutual contempt crescendos, a trio of baddies invade their weekend, forcing them to decide with whom to wage war.
The director of The Trip, Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters), brilliantly walks a fine line between dark humor and pitch-black malevolence. Witty flashbacks of each character help fill in their backstory while also providing some much-needed lighter moments to balance the diabolism. When the film kicks into high gear in the second act, however, brutal violence and questionable intentions dominate right to the bloody end. Bonus: Noomi Rapace gets to be funny while kicking ass in this refreshing turn.
The Trip will be streaming on Netflix beginning October 25, 2021.
