Frightfest Diary Day Three: Collingswood Story, Marebito, Red Eye, Nightwatch, Dominion

12.50pm Marebito (Dir. Takashi Shimizu)

A mysterious little movie in which an obsessive cameraman (played by director Shinya Tsukamoto of Tetsuo / Vital fame) decides to document a project in which the aim is to find true fear. Although slightly overlong, this mysterious little movie played well on the senses, as our protagonist descends deeper into the jaws of madness. Although less accessible than the director’s previous Ju-on (The Grudge), this was none the less a creepy and foreboding little tale.

3pm Red Eye (Dir. Wes Craven)

At 3pm, there was an unfortunate change of schedule as the planned BOO had to be changed to Wes Craven’s Red Eye, due to them not being able to obtain the print in time. I decided to stick it out anyway and found it a relatively entertaining, if rather lightweight thriller. Predictable fast food entertainment and intentionally ironic, it’s temporary amusement value was still a definite lowlight considering the anticipation I had for BOO.

6.30pm Nightwatch (Dir. Timur Bekmambetov)

Another movie I was particularly interested in. Nightwatch was a visually impressive, but slightly empty movie and a little too self-consciously cool for my liking. Still, it was interesting enough to make me want to see the sequel and certainly light years ahead of vampire/werewolf flick Underworld. One of the best things about this print was the excellent use of subtitles, as they would move around the scream and seemingly interact with the action on the screen. As a character shouted they got bigger, as a character walked past the screen they wiped them out. When a vampire calls someone the title appears in red, and dissipates into the air (or water). This inspired and excellent use of subtitling, and made me wonder why movies haven’t used such an interesting effect before. Entertaining, although I would have thought more teen orientated.

9pm. Dominion: Prequel To the Exorcist. (Dir. Paul Shrader)

Finally we get to see the original vision, directed by Paul Shrader before the studio sacked and replaced him. I was hoping this would be everything Harlin’s version wasn’t, and yet it failed to deliver. Slower and more thoughtful than Harlin’s, this was still let down by hideously bad CG (what is it with those awful CG hyenas?) and a particularly terrible showdown. The only thing it had going for it was Stellan Skarsgard, a solid actor working with unfortunate material. My suggestion is scrap both these horrendous and cheap cash in attempts, and stick to the original at all costs. Even Exorcist 3 is light years ahead of these travesties. Also why the hell did they cast a boy band member as the possessed?