Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films
Images from the Internet
Garden of Souls
Directed by Christopher Milewski
Filmiracle Productions
16:11 minutes, 2019
When I was a
mere wisp of a lad in the days before VHS, I was such a horror movie geek that
I bought an 8mm projector and some 200-400’ reels of silent film delights, such
as Nosferatu (1922), and some starring Lon Chaney, Sr. I still have
them, though the projector is long gone. When VHS came about, being that these
same films were in copywrite underdrive, I was able to get them for cheap, but
this time I could see the full movies. I fell in love with the style and the
manner of acting; but I especially loved the lighting and tinting. Since the
digital era, I can only recall one film that used some of these techniques
successfully (Creep Creepersin’s Frankenstein, 2009), which employed it
more for occasional affects. For Garden of Souls, director Milewski
creates a love letter to those kinds of early films, using some modern
techniques to achieve it. Being created in the present, even with the added
scratches, the picture is quite clear (a good thing) and the tint is just
perfect. What’s also a delight is that he doesn’t overdo it while still being
consistent. In the story, a grieving widow (Karen Lynn) makes a pact with an
elderly witchy woman (Betty Roehm Widdoss) to try and raise her deceased
husband (Eric Bower) from the grave. While I was expecting an extended “The
Monkey’s Paw” result, Milewski takes it in another direction. While silent,
there is some excellent period-style music that is used to enhance the visuals.
This is well written, directed and enjoyable from first to last frame.
Phantoms of the Fog
Directed by CM Lazer (aka Christopher Milewski)
Filmiracle Productions
11:37 minutes, 2018
Milewski
plays mix and match with genres on this one, mashing up three (I will only discuss
two because I don’t want to ruin the ending). An American soldier (Ryan Fargo)
is dropped far behind the enemy lines in Viet Nam (yes, I heard of it), when in
total gonzo Leo Fulci style, he starts being hunted by a mud-plastered zombi
with a scarf! (Karen Lynn), requisite with lots of meal worms on its face. But things
keep shifting from minute to minute on the danger levels. The music is right
out of Goblin style with an annoying synth (just like the Italian cinema of the
‘80s). Will our hero escape the creature’s grasp? Milewski is really good at
keeping a shot long enough to establish what is happening, without quick and
zoomy edits so you can see the action. Adding three mashups rather than two
works for the film. Good framing of the shots, as well.
The Tattooist
Directed by Michael Wong
Michael Wong Productions
1:20 minutes, 2018
vimeo.com/michaelwong
Michael Wong
is an award-winning Malaysian film and commercial director based in Beijing.
His work employs a high level of graphics and editing in his releases (check
out more than just this film, especially “ARC ‘Fantasy Realm’,” available at
the link above), and this works really well for this very short but very
effective film. Full of swirling images, music and editing, there is no dialogue
or context as we are introduced to a tattoo artist who is also a violent serial
killer. In this brief span we see a number of his killings and the action is
brutal and swift. Beautifully done. Now I want to see a full feature of this.
Here is the link to The Tattooist:http://www.vimeo.com/michaelwong/thetattooist/
Here is the link to The Tattooist:http://www.vimeo.com/michaelwong/thetattooist/
No comments:
Post a Comment