By K. A. Laity
You know it's October when Maureen Dowd quotes Hannibal Lecter and the National Review has a Bush speech writer (fill in your own joke) waxing rhapsodic about anti-prejudice campaigner Rod Serling and his Twilight Zone [children please note, it has nothing to do with Bella and Edward].
The market forces are poised to get your cash, whether it's for ginchy Halloween decorations, naughty costumes or the latest over-hyped horror extravaganza, which would of course be Zombieland. But it's a good time to share the love with some of the hard working indy film makers who find it hard to get a foot into that lucrative Hollywood pipeline.
You can pick up some of these gems on DVD already: Check out Fierro Films' Pickman's Model, a Lovecraftian adaptation that lives up to the spooky author's singular eeriness. Watch the trailer.
For a film that matches both Lovecraft's eldritch horrors and his time period (sort of!) check out the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society's silent film, The Call of Cthulhu. This is an amazingly effective evocation of a period piece with nonetheless modern sensibilities. Watch the trailer.
If you prefer a more modern ambience, I highly recommend Sword & Cloak Productions House of Black Wings. A few years back, I reviewed their first feature, a swashbuckling adventure called Sword of Hearts and was delighted with the professionalism and good humour of the film which had better sword play than most big budget films. Writer/director David Schmidt has once again assembled a talented cast of people and a whole lot of imagination to make a film that shows everything a no-budget film can be, with plenty of creepy chills. The website describes the film as:
"After a tragic act of violence cuts short her music career, Kate Stone is returning to a city full of ex-fans and ex-friends. Taking shelter with her last friend, a struggling artist named Robyn Huck, the two women work to restore the aging courtyard apartment building Robyn has inherited.
"But a terrible secret infests the venerable structure, and soon Kate will be haunted by horrific dreams, sinister apparitions, and the sounds of something moving in the walls. She will be dragged into a confrontation not only with her own dark past, but the unspeakable nightmare that lurks beyond the walls!"
I was totally captivated by the mysteries unfolding around Kate and Robyn, the affecting back story for the tragic musician and the supercool and creepy art that Robyn created while the house began to weave its spell into her consciousness. The inventiveness of the special effects and the superbly effective music (an aspect of the process that too many low-budget films neglect to their peril) help create an experience that mesmerizes the viewer.
House of Black Wings is on the festival circuit, but a DVD is forthcoming soon. If you're interested in screening the film for a public event, contact Sword & Cloak via the website, as they're eager to get the word out.
Support independent filmmakers and bring some spooky surprises to your Halloween season.
Image via Sword & Cloak Productions