Fantasia 2013: It’s a dirty world aka: say no to smegma (‘THANATOMORPHOSE’, ‘PINUP DOLLS ON ICE’)

We are always in a position of being forward and looking back. I’m at least 12 films into Fantasia at this point and having to document my musings about past experiences is starting to make me dizzy. Fanciful eye gouging is not for the weak of heart, but I soldier on. Week 1 brought a great list of premieres to Montreal, of which most would agree the following two films are not a part of. For the sake of argument however, I will differ (or defer? Frankly, they both work). Not to worry though, I will serve you more choice cuts down the road; but for now, here are the nasty bits:

Thanatomorphose

(Canada, 2012)

Éric Falardeau’s microbudget head scratcher is not for the impatient, nor the faint of heart. After the Canadian premiere, I’ve heard critics complain that this film should have been a short instead of a feature, and while I agree to a certain extent, sticking with it until the end is still rewarding.

Comparable thematically to the output of such body horror greats like Cronenberg and Buttgereit, Thanatomorphose exposes us to an emotionally neglected woman who is literally rotting from the outside. Fans of drone/sludge music will relate to the bumbling, slow pace of the film as texture is slowly added by way of both emotional and physical disintegration. As the lead seeks satisfaction via physical means to compensate for her emptiness, her rotting corpse putrefies even further, leaving her literally in a mossy, soupy mess.

In terms of low budget films, Thanatomorohose suffers from the expected common symptoms. The sound design and acting seem to have been an afterthought which, from a minimalist perspective, might have been intentional. While not a gore film, the highlight really is the physical transformation brought on by the great special effects team, which includes local fx consultant Remy Couture (newly acquitted), who really seem to have grasped both the concept as well as the budget they were working with. Kudos for the goose bumps.

This is surely not the feel good movie that you have been waiting to share with a loved one. If you are thinking of watching this film with an outsider, I suggest sedating your date beforehand with a horse tranquilizer suppository, followed by a cold shower for yourself.

 

Pinup Dolls on Ice

(Canada, 2013)

You can always tell just how green a filmmaker is by two things 1) how much he or she is willing to talk about the movie, and 2) by how much family is in the audience. And why not? Anyone thick skinned enough to put up with the crap involved with having a film financed, finished, and screened has every right to be proud and to share their accomplishment with the friends and family that supported them through thick and thin…..even if your film is a down and dirty little exploitation flick, with borderline misogynistic undertones. Filmmakers Geoff Klein and Melissa Mira were rightfully unapologetic about the type of film they made: “the audience asked for more tits and violence, so we gave them more tits and violence”. There is something to be said however about screening such a film in front of those who aren’t aware of the universe it is a part of. It’s 2013, and the world has given us many “damsel in distress” type exploitation films such as I Spit on Your Grave and Maniac, which took a stance on real world violence towards women, admittedly through the perspective of a grimy, raw, cracked lens. These films made you feel dirty and damaged. As time moved forward, these types of films became more polished and straightforward Horror fans became desensitized, learning to accept the subgenre as a simple vehicle for storytelling amongst others. Deeper message or not, gratuitous nudity and violence is just a form of titillation, a cheap thrill that shouldn’t be analyzed any further. We all agree.  A lot of us in attendance during Pinup Dolls were in on it, we get it. We laughed at the right moments, we enjoyed the eye candy where appropriate, and we applauded each brutal kill. Entertainment. However, I couldn`t shake the feeling that there were fans in attendance that seemed to enjoy things a little too much. This is not the filmmaker’s problem. They did their job. I’m just curious what this means for the rest of us sharing airspace with these people. When I clap after a woman gets her head kicked in curbside, tits down/ass up, it’s because of the absurdity of the situation, not because I approve…right?

In any event, let’s move on. Once again, we are presented with a remote cabin resort in the woods. Closing up for the end of the season, the owner decides to throw one last hurrah. Nothing says party like “burlesque”, and the titular Pinup Dolls have been hired to provide the nights “entertainment”. But it’s hard to make a dollar these days, as the girls will soon find out. Isolated location? Check. Disrobed female leads? Check. What’s missing here? Oh yeah, the KILLER! Like most survivalist type slasher films, the psycho killer (MOE) is a hulking, sweaty, veiny beast of man who gets off on killing his victims, and then raping them post mortem, once their corpse has been cooled with ice (queue childhood trauma).  The Warm and Spicy girls are natural fodder for MOE and are knocked off in a kill style that obviously reminds me of Jason from the Friday the 13^th Series. There is something about being stalked by a hulking psychopath in the woods that bring back those childhood memories. Surprisingly though, the gore and violence seem subdued when compared to Moe’s intensity. He’s everything you want him to be, following the lead left by Hatchet, rather than the neutered Leatherface of the Texas Chainsaw remakes. Some scenes are cringe worthy due in part to their off-screen implications, but mostly, it’s due to a successfully convincing Moe.

While the film smells of local theatre, it has the shine of a professional’s touch. Slick, smooth camera work keeps things focused and tight while the actresses successfully carry the weight of each scene, disrobing, running, screaming, fighting; essentially, dealing with anything that is thrown at them. Everyone involved in this film did a good job of making me forget that I was watching the equivalent of a modern day 42^nd street roughie and they should be congratulated for that. Apparently, Pinup Dolls on Ice is the second film of a trilogy (starting with Bikini Girls on Ice), so keep your eyes peeled for the next entry in Moe’s saga: shall I suggest “Blow up Dolls on Ice” or “Biker Girls on Ice”?

Well, that’s it for me. Stay tuned for my thoughts on Horror Stories, Across the River, Big Bad Wolves, Willow Creek, Demon’s Rook, Vegetarian Cannibal and more! Remember kids, say no to smegma.

So long sunshine,

I’m out!

Jo Satana