Were in fest fever. SXSW is about to get underway, while Tribeca, Stanley and Cannes approach. And though the annual New York City film celebration has the smallest selection of genre and horror films thus far, new works including Adrian Garcia Boglianos Scherzo Diabolico and the Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring zombie drama, Maggie keep intrigue and anticipation high.
Likely the biggest news out of the Tribeca Film Festival 2015 Midnight and Spotlight announcements is the World Premiere of the John Scott 3-penned, Henry Hobson-directed Maggie, the zombie film which stars Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin and which was initially intended to premiere at last Septemebers Toronto International Film Festival. Lionsgate promptly acquired the picture for distribution, and have just recently set a May 8th release through Roadside Attractions. It seems Tribecas Spotlight section will be its only fest bow.
Also in Spotlight is Backtrack, a supernatural thriller starring Adrien Brody as a psychotherapist suffering from eerie visions, and unexpectedly horror, but apparently stunning Hungry Hearts, starring Adam Driver
Leading Midnight is the latest from Here Comes the Devil and Cold Sweat director Adrian Garcia Bogliano, who last year made his English-language debut with werewolf picture Late Phases. In Scherzo, he returns to Mexico for a warped, twisty little thriller of which I saw a work-in-progress cut this last December. Its devilish, indeed. Accompanying Scherzo is wrestling film, Bodyslam: The Revenge of the Banana!; babysitter horror Emelie; anticipated dark UK crime film Hyena and German killer wasp creature feature, Stung.
Find the full slate of genre and their descriptions, below. The Tribeca Film Festival 2015 runs April 15-26 in New York City. Shock will of course be on hand.
Spotlight
Backtrack, directed and written by Michael Petroni. (USA) World Premiere, Narrative. In this spine-tingling supernatural thriller, troubled psychotherapist Peter Bowers (Adrien Brody) is suffering from nightmares and eerie visions. When he uncovers a horrifying secret that all of his patients share, he is put on a course that takes him back to the small hometown he fled years ago. There he confronts his demons and unravels a mystery 20 years in the making.
Hungry Hearts, directed by Saverio Costanzo. (Italy) U.S. Premiere, Narrative. After a chance meeting and a whirlwind romance in New York City, Jude (Adam Driver) and Mina (Alba Rohrwacher) become pregnant. Convinced their child will be harmed by the pollutions in the outside world, Mina becomes consumed by protecting her baby, forcing Jude to recognize a terrible truth about why his sons life could be in danger. A Sundance Selects Release
Maggie, directed by Henry Hobson, written by John Scott 3. (USA) World Premiere, Narrative. There’s a deadly zombie epidemic threatening humanity, but Wade (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a small-town farmer and family man, refuses to accept defeat even when his daughter Maggie (Abigail Breslin) becomes infected. As Maggie’s condition worsens and the authorities seek to eradicate those with the virus, Wade is pushed to the limits in an effort to protect her. Joely Richardson co-stars in this post-apocalyptic thriller. Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions release.
Midnight
Bodyslam: The Revenge of the Banana!, directed and written by Ryan Harvie and John Paul Horstmann. (USA) World Premiere, Narrative. Ronald McFondle, Eddie Van Glam, and other social outcasts made up the Seattle Semi-Pro (SSP) Wrestlers, an off-kilter family of cabaret fighters that spoofed the pros. When a newcomer Paul, The Banana, fell on the wrong end of the joke, he ran to the government to disband the SSP. Bodyslam: The Revenge of the Banana! captures the wrestlers fight to keep the theatrics alive.
Emelie, directed by Michael Thelin, written by Richard Raymond Harry Herbeck. (USA) World Premiere, Narrative. After their regular babysitter Maggie cant make it, the Thompson family turns to her friend Anna to supervise their children while the parents go out to celebrate their anniversary. At first Anna seems like a dream come true to the kids, allowing them to eat extra cookies and play with things that are usually off-limits, but as her behavior becomes increasingly odd, the kids soon find out that her intentions are dark and twisted, and she is not who she seems to be.
Hyena, directed and written by Gerard Johnson. (UK) U.S. Premiere, Narrative. Michael Logan (Peter Ferdinando) may be a corrupt, coke-addled cop, but hes a bad lieutenant with a conscience. After years of dodging the same laws he was assigned to uphold, Michael suddenly finds himself trying to change while safeguarding a young Albanian woman from the sex trade. Equal parts grit and neon, Hyena blurs the line between cop and criminal and exposes the illicit underworld inhabited by Londons most ruthless policemen. A Tribeca Film release.
Scherzo Diabolico, directed and written by Adrián García Bogliano. (Mexico, USA) World Premiere, Narrative.Armed with a fine-tuned chokehold and penchant for piano sonatas, a wearied accountant breaks his mild-mannered routine when he kidnaps a young woman. What starts as a carefully calculated plan soon crescendos into his worst nightmare. A delightfully twisted black comedy, Scherzo Diaboloco is the latest opus from director Adrián García Bogliano. In Spanish with subtitles
Stung, directed by Benni Diez, written by Adam Aresty. (Germany, USA) World Premiere, Narrative. For catering staffers Paul and Julia, Mrs. Perchs fancy garden party at her remote country villa is nothing out of the ordinary. A mishap with toxic plant fertilizer leads to the most unwelcome of dinner guests: giant killer wasps. Director Benni Diez takes audiences on a thrilling, gory rollercoaster ride from campy to creepy, in this delightful and dreadful creature-feature.
