The Venice Film Fest is known for its hard-hitting and thought-provoking international films that touch the heart. I headed there with my horror hat firmly in place, knowing the horror offerings would be small, but was it ever mighty!
Needless to say, this year’s horror slate for the 80th annual Venice Film Festival stole my heart and ripped it out sideways with incredible work by fantastic directors like Pablo Larraín (Spencer, Jackie, Ema), Ariane Louis-Seize (Wild Skin, Shooting Star), Sébastien Vanicek (Crocs), J. A. Bayona (Penny Dreadful, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) and Yorgos Lanthimos (Killing of the Sacred Deer, The Lobster). The strength in this international roster has something for every horror fan and maybe even a bit more for those who love gore, and we’ve got vampires, evil killer bugs, and a moral compass wavering under deep duress. Oh my!
El Conde (The Count)
Writer: Guillermo Calderó, Pablo Larraín
Director: Pablo Larraín
Excellent take on former President of Chile Augusto Pinochet, who has not only risen from the dead in Larraín’s horror comedy but is a vampire holing up in his dilapidated mansion in the Chilean hills. After 250 years he’s just plain sick of it and intends to die once and for all. With his family hoping for a sizable inheritance after centuries of stockpiling it, the generational bickering throws a wrench in his plans. Vamp lovers will get their gore, lore, and laughs with this one. Featuring a third act you will NOT see coming.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Writer: Ariane Louis-Seize
Director: Christine Doyon, Ariane Louis-Seize
Sasha, the youngest of her vampire clan, has a bit of an issue: she’s got a big heart and zero urge to kill. Her parents aren’t too happy about it, and they’re growing tired of having to help feed her, so they cut off her blood supply, leaving her in dire straits. She then meets suicidal Paul at a meeting for depressed individuals, who is more than willing to help her find the blood she needs.
It’s a lovely and funny teen romance wrapped up in some great comedic timing and bloody kills.
Vermines (Vermin)
Writer: Sébastien Vanicek
Director: Florent Bernard, Sébastien Vanicek
Word to the wise: Leave arachnids alone!
Kaleb has recently lost his mother, is on icy terms with his sister in their childhood home, and had a falling out with his best friend. He’s also a fervent exotic reptile collector who happens upon a venomous spider he accidentally loses track of in a busy apartment complex. Think of this as Arachnophobia times twenty. Luckily for us, this gem was recently acquired by Shudder, which means it will be crawling its way into our homes soon.
La Sociedad de la Nieve (Society of the Snow)
Writer: J.A. Bayona, Nicolás Casariego, Jaime Marques, Bernat Vilaplana
Director: J.A. Bayona
Based on the book by: Pablo Vierci
This gut-wrenching film is based on the horrific 72-day ordeal of the Old Christians Club rugby team after crash landing in the Andes Mountains in 1972. Its brutal, heartbreaking and straight survivalist horror. Only 29 of the 45 passengers survived the crash, leaving the surviving members no choice but to resort to extreme measures to stay alive.
Honorable Mention: Poor Things
Writer: Tony McNamara, Alasdair Gray
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Based on the book by: Alasdair Gray
I’ve placed this film in the horror category for the Frankenstein/Body Horror element. It’s the evolutionary tale of Bella Baxter, brought back to life by scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter by, shall we say, unconventional methods. She’s starting from scratch in a world full of prejudice, saddled by her naivete. Yearning to break out, she runs off with degenerate lawyer Duncan Wedderburn on a cross-continent adventure full of sexual exploration, establishing her own path to discovering the world and a quest for equality.
