Review: Dundead 2017

This year's Dundead event at Dundee Contemporary Arts was held from 27th-30th of April. This year was their biggest line-up, with 14 films, plus, as always, the film quiz to kick-off the event. As always, the event's line-up was programmed by Chris O'Neil who gave an introduction to each film.

There were two strands running through this year's event, one of new films, the other a retrospective of films based on the work of Stephen King. As always the films covered a variety of subjects from serial killers to vampires, from coming of age stories to haunted hotels, from psychological thrillers to flat out horror films. Not for nothing is it called Dundead!

As always, it was the quiz that kicked it all off. After last year's...erm...shock, I joined up with a team, The Melon Stabbers (named after what was used to make the stabbing sound in films). It was a close run thing, but in the end we won by a point. Woo-hoo! Two years in a row (and also, like last year my immediate retirement from horror quizzes!).

But enough about that, to the important thing, the films!!

So how were they?

The Devil's Candy (2015)

The Devil's Candy on the surface looks like it is going to be a satanic rock and roll type of film. In the end, the rock aspect of the film is more a red herring, as what the film is really about is a man hearing 'satanic' like voices and having to serve candy (actually children) to the devil, or so he believes. At the same time, the new owners of a house in the country get caught up in the events as the father begins hearing voices too, that affect his work as an artist. In the middle of this, is the daughter, who becomes the target of the killer...

Written and directed by Sean Byrne, the film does have some great, unsettling moments, and a couple of effective 'jump' scares. Sadly though some of the plot details don't work, including one near the end. There's also little to no explanation for the 'voices' aspect at all. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the film, but perhaps needed a bit more in the story to be fully effective.

The Mist (2007)

As a mysterious mist descends on a small town, the townspeople discover that there are creatures in the mist. But trapped inside a supermarket, it becomes apparent that the real monsters might just be the people inside...

The Mist is already considered a classic. The writer and director Frank Darabont, is one who just knows how to adapt Stephen King's work brilliantly. After all, he also made The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.  It's well cast, including a stunning performance from Marcia Gay Harden (who got a little cheer at one point...!) and has one THE most devastating endings ever. It's a brilliant film.

What is perhaps less known is that Darabont wanted to release the film in black & white, to make it fit in with the monster films of the 1950's. However, the studio refused, but they did allow Darabont to prepare a black & white version which was giving a release for home viewing. It was the black & white version that was shown at Dundead. I have to say I prefer it in this version. 

Egomaniac (2016)

Catherine Sweeney is determined to make a zombie romantic comedy. However, as she tries to put the finance and film together, she is told she needs a talking dog...

Based on debut writer and director Kate Shenton's own experiences in trying to get films made, Egomaniac is a lot of fun. Despite the obvious low budget and mostly unknown cast, it's often quite funny in the first hour, before the film heads towards a more 'bloody' ending. It's a film that will probably end up creeping out on DVD at some point, but if you get a chance it is worth a watch.

The Void (2016)

At a hospital that is closing down, a sheriff arrives with an injured patient and soon the remaining staff and others find themselves trapped inside by a group of hooded figures and under attack by disturbing creatures...

I tweeted after seeing The Void that it's Assault On Precinct 13 meets HP Lovecraft and set in a hospital. It does some up the film to a degree, but there are also nods to other John Carpenter films as well as other filmmakers too which I won't mention, to avoid giving away too much. The co-writers and directors, Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski clearly know their horror films and have made a terrific film, that is a throwback to the films of the 80's, with the emphasis on practical effects rather than CGI, which fits the film perfectly.

I loved this film a great deal and look forward to seeing it again.

Salem's Lot (1979)

A novelist arrives in the town he grew up in to work on a new book, but begins to suspect that a vampire is living in the mysterious old house in town...

In his introduction to Salem's Lot, Chris O'Neil mentioned that although originally made for TV, the version being shown as a 35mm print of the theatrical version that was assembled at the same time for a cinema release outside the US. As a result, a few scenes were shot twice, one for the TV version the other for the theatrical one. I have seen the TV mini-series, but that was a long time ago, but don't recall seeing this version before.

It's directed by Tobe Hooper (of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre fame) and he does good work, with some really effective, creepy moments, the window scene and one in jail being the standouts. However, in this version, there is a sense of disjointment going on. The opening feels rushed as does the ending. A major character's fate is never revealed, which did bring a moment of humour to the audience with the way it is handled (this character's fate is revealed in the full version).

The cast do well, James Mason being the standout, but despite being enjoyable it never gets away from its TV origins and in truth time hasn't been kind to it. However, while worth a look, I think you might be better with the full mini-series instead.

Firestarter (1984)

A father who took part in a science experiment is on the run with his daughter, who has the power to start fires with her mind...

In the 1980's, a lot of Stephen King adaptations were made and while I'd seen a lot of them, Firestarter was one I'd not caught up with until now.

Directed by Mark L Lester, it's definitely a product of its time. The cast, which is an impressive one, includes Drew Barrymore, David Keith, George C Scott, Martin Sheen and Louise Fletcher to name a few do very well. The story though did drag a bit in middle of the film, before building to an almost Carrie-like ending of destruction, all of which is very well done indeed. There are some strange plot threads, including the motivation of one character that perhaps needed more explanation but I did enjoy the film while watching it.

The Autopsy Of Jane Doe (2016)

At a crime scene a mysterious corpse is found. Brought to the morgue for n autopsy, mysterious events begin to happen as the coroners, who are father and son, begin their work...

Simply put, The Autopsy Of Jane Doe was my favourite (new) film of Dundead. Creepily directed by Andre Ovredal (who made the excellent Troll Hunter), with brilliant performances from Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch, it's a chilling story, with a terrific premise, leading to a great ending. Story-wise, it does have one very predictable moment, which doesn't spoil the film it should be said, but despite this moment this is a vert effective film, one I really enjoyed.

The Chamber (2016)

Off the coast of North Korea, a small submersible vehicle heads to the ocean floor with a special ops team on a secret mission...

When this film began, with news footage about tensions with North Korea, I thought it was a documentary! Instead this debut film from Ben Parker, who writes and directs is a story of what happens to people trapped in a submersible and who they deal with it. 

The small cast are pretty good, the story moves at a good pace, and by focusing on the one, small location, Parker directs his film well indeed, with some good surprises in the film too. The ending might be seen as predicable, but I did like this film while watching it.

Creepshow (1982)

An anthology film based on the E.C Comics of the 1950's...

Creepshow was written by Stephen King and directed by George A. Romero. The stories vary from a bug obsessed wealthy man in a supposed sealed home, to a jealous husband getting revenge on his wife and her lover, to a mysterious crate under the stairs...

As is often the case, the stories can be a mixed bag, the crate one probably the best in my opinion, the weakes, but still fun was the rather dumb farmer, who falls foul of a mysterious meteorite. The cast including Hal Halbrook, Leslie Nielsen, Adrienne Barbeau, E. G. Marshall, Ted Danson, Ed Harris and King himself all throw themselves into the spirit of the film and are good to watch.

I first saw Creepshow on VHS many years ago and didn't enjoy it in truth. But I have to say, watching it on a cinema screen, it was actually good fun.

The Shining (1980)

A writer and his family move into the Overlook Hotel to look after it over the winter. However, the father becomes influenced by the hotel, while his son, who has an ability called Shining can see things from the past and also from the future...

The Shining is a film that divides Stephen King fans. Those that love the novel, have problems with the many changes director Stanley Kubrick made to the story. King himself is not a fan of the film. In his introduction, Chris O'Neil said that the version being shown was the longer version of the film. He explained that on its release in the US, The Shining actually was a box office failure and so when it came time for its release elsewhere, Kubrick took the film and edited it down by around 25 minutes. It's the shorter version most people have seen, although the longer one is more available these days.

The first time I saw it, I thought it okay, but nothing great. But that was on DVD. I've seen it several times in cinemas and it has to be said this is a terrifying film. The small cast are great, although Nicholson's character Jack, looks disturbed from the moment we see him. Shelley Duvall's performance as Wendy is often considered a weak one, but really she is terrific in the film.

In its extended version I have to say that with a coupld of moments near the end and perhaps some driving scenes at the beginning, I don't really know what was added here.But having said that, it didn't effect the film at all. I love The Shining and to me, it might be the scariest film ever made.

Stand By Me (1986)

Four teens head out on a journey to find the body of someone from school...

Stephen King is best known, of course, as a horror writer. But some of his best writing, I feel is in his non horror work. Stand By Me is one of those films that proves that. Based on King's story The Body (a title that was changed to avoid people thinking it was a horror tale), which I believe is part autobiographical, it's a wonderful film, with four terrific performances from the leads, River Phoenix, Will Wheaton, Corey Feldman and Jerry O'Connell. It's a touching, moving story and easily one of the best Stephen King films made.

The Eyes OF My Mother (2016)

A lonely woman's darkest desires surface after tragedy happens in her life...

I have to be honest, when I came out of the screening of the film, I really hated the film. But having a little time to reflect, I would say my attitude to it has changed a little and am now only disappointed by the film.

It looks great in black & white, the cinematography is good and even the performances aren't that bad. For me the problems in this film stem from the writing. The film makes odd choices (the keeping people in the barn makes no sense really) and you can't help but feel perhaps a re-write of the story might have helped.

In the introduction, The Eyes Of My Mother was described a love it or hate it type of film. After thinking about it, I would say I'm in the middle.

Always Shine (2016)

Two actresses and friends who have become a little estranged after trying to make it in their careers, head off for a weekend together, but gradually tensions come to the fore...

In a way, Always Shine has a similar problem to The Eyes Of My Mother, in that perhaps the story needed a bit of work. It's well directed by Sophia Takal and the two leads, Caitlin FitzGerald and Mackenzie Davis, are both good.

The first half of the film is well done, it's really on the later half of the film that it begins to unravel for me. But it's not a terrible film, just needed a bit of work I feel.

Pet Sematary (1989)

A new family in the area discover a secret beyond the Pet burial ground behind at a path from their home, a power with control of life after death. When tragedy strikes, that power draws in a grieving father...

Based on a novel by Stephen King, with King himself writing the screenplay, Pet Sematary was the final film of the Dundead event. Like Firestarter, it was a King adaptation I hadn't seen before. Had I seen it at the time of its release in 1989, perhaps I may have enjoyed it, but I have to say, seeing it now, it hasn't aged well.

Part of that is down to the effects, but some of the acting isn't great either and perhaps surprisingly considering it's based on his own novel, the film story written by King is actually pretty poor. I don't know if this is a flaw in the novel, or something that occurred in editing but the film never hangs well together. Director Mary Lambert does well for the most part, but it is not a scary film at all and in the end a bit disappointing.

And with that, Dundead was over for 2017. Despite not enjoying all the films, overall, I did enjoy the event. Chris O'Neil was insightful with his introductions, the audience was great and some of the discussions between films were insightful and fun.

I must also say a special thank you to Helen who became my Dundead buddy, who watched most of the films with me. Of course the downside for her, was having to put up with me!

I have no idea what Chris and the DCA team are planning for 2018, but I'm already looking forward to that.