Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival has already started, so it is high time to decide which movies to watch. Here’s a helping hand from some of the filmmakers who will briefly introduce their films and themselves. The word is given to the uncrowned king of Brazilian B-horror, Rodrigo Aragão; Cameron Macgowan, an auteur of eccentric films from Canada; and surrealism-loving Johannes Nyholm from Sweden.
RODRIGO ARAGÃO
About the movie
Well, my movie The Black Forest is a magical and dark Brazilian fantasy with lots of spells and conjurations of creatures and demons.
About himself
My name is Rodrigo Aragão, I’m a Brazilian filmmaker. The Black Forest is my fifth feature film. All my work is very independent, made with passion, because I’m a really great fan and lover of horror movies. I made these films to show to my country and the people of the world that Brazil and Latin America is so rich for horror stories, our culture is full of magic and mysticism, and we need to put all of that in our art and our movies.
All-time favourite movies
At first, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. This movie made me want to be an effects artist when I was 6 years old.
Braindead by Peter Jackson
Evil Dead by Sam Raimi
La Noche de las Gaviotas by Armando de Ossorio
The last amazing movie experience
Now, with a three-year-old daughter, it is very difficult for me to watch movies in a theatre, so I watch them at home. Anyway, I think that the new Suspiria is a very good movie. That couldn’t be compared with Argento’s movie because they are very different but it is a pretty good film. Of course, I really enjoyed Hereditary and A Quiet Place, two great movies of the last year.
Messige for HÕFF-goers
I do really want you to enjoy The Black Forest. It is a very low budget movie but made with love by a crew of passionate people. So, in the name of all crew, we hope you have a great moment, like we did when we shot the film. And if you have any comments after the session, please tell us by Instagram and Facebook, follow us at @fabulasnegras.
‘The Black Forest’ will be screened on Friday, April 26 at 11.30 pm at the small hall of the Haapsalu Cultural Centre.
CAMERON MACGOWAN
About the movie
Red Letter Day is a socio-political satire about the absurdities of an ‘Us vs. Them’ mentality. We wanted to make a film that acknowledges the timelessness of these themes while embracing the current landscape of digital technology. Dark comedies such as The ‘Burbs and Beetlejuice influenced this film as much as classic horror films such as Shivers and Dead Alive. However serious our themes, Red Letter Day has one goal in mind: to entertain while delivering creative gore set pieces.
About himself
I have been making eccentric films for over 10 years, often with the same close group of friends with topics ranging from depressed drag racers to erotic trolls. Red Letter Day is my first feature film and I approached it in a similar fashion to all of my short work; to create a film that I want to watch. It has been a pleasure seeing audiences all of the world react positively to our whacky film and I hope to continue telling crazy stories on the silver screen.
All-time favourite movies
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Wild Bunch, Miracle Mile, The Last American Virgin, Friday the 13th: Part 4, The Thing, Evil Dead 2, Good Morning, Re-Animator, Videodrome, The Holy Mountain, Mandy, Seven Beauties, Pulp Fiction, For a Few Dollars More, Fantastic Planet, Boogie Nights, The Night of the Hunter, Claire’s Knee, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Cold Fish, American Movie, Dawn of the Dead, Four Flies on Grey Velvet, High and Low.
I could go on forever.
The last amazing movie experience
It will be tough to top watching the 4k transfer of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre at Fantasia 2014 with Tobe Hooper in attendance for an hour long discussion following the film. To make the night even more legendary, programmer Mitch Davis surprised attendees with a double feature and presented his own personal 35mm print of the underrated 80s classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
Messages for HÕFF-goers
I feel honored and privileged to have Red Letter Day shown alongside some truly incredible genre cinema at HÕFF. I created this film with a small group of lovely Canadians and we all hope that you enjoy our hard work.
‘Red Letter Day’ will be sscreened on Sunday, April 28 at 11.45 am at the big hall of the Haapsalu Cultural Centre.
JOHANNES NYHOLM
About the movie
Koko-di Koko-da is a vicious tale of dark woods, an old man in straw hat and a rabbit family shattered to pieces.
About himself
I am a writer director, running my own production company. I make films about life and death, usually with a bit of surrealism and slapstick.
All-time favourite movies
OMG, I can’t. But I can name a few good ones. Modern Times by Chaplin. Lost Highway by Lynch, Even Dwarfs Started Small by Herzog.
The last amazing movie experience
The Heart Is a Drum, documentary about Klaus Dinger from Neu!
Messages for HÕFF-goers
Good luck sleeping and tenting after Koko-di Koko-da.
‘Koko-di Koko-da’ will be screened on Sunday, April 28 at 1 pm at the big hall of the Haapsalu Cultural Centre.
