#19. I Am Nancy - Review

I Am Nancy 2011 PosterA documentary following Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) actress Heather Langenkamp as she attempts to answer her own question of why Freddy Krueger gets all of the fan love and her character Nancy has been forgotten could have been, should have been, a lot of fun. Instead I Am Nancy is a grating excursion into the mind of a has-been, or perhaps a never-was. Langenkamp and director Arlene Marechal travel around the globe attending horror conventions filming the actress’s interactions with fans of the Elm St. franchise. They spend 2-hours interrogating anyone willing to speak on camera, asking them why Freddy is a more popular character than Nancy, and for the most part these interviews are as banal as you would expect. The brief moments actor Robert Englund spends on screen proves that he has more charisma and charm in a single wink than Langenkamp appears to have in her whole body. If there was a point into this investigation for any reason other than Langenkamp’s own insecurity and neediness then it was lost on me, which is disappointing because the base themes do offer several cultural, cinematic, and feminist notions that deserve to be explored by a more capable filmmaker. 

#18. Absentia - Review

Absentia 2011 PosterThe plot for Absentia is a little involved, so I will allow director Mike Flanagan to explain: “Tricia's husband Daniel has been missing for seven years. Her younger sister Callie comes to live with her as the pressure mounts to finally declare him 'dead in absentia.' As Tricia sifts through the wreckage and tries to move on with her life, Callie finds herself drawn to an ominous tunnel near the house. As she begins to link it to other mysterious disappearances, it becomes clear that Daniel's presumed death might be anything but 'natural.' The ancient force at work in the tunnel might have set its sights on Callie and Tricia ... and Daniel might be suffering a fate far worse than death in its grasp.”

Absentia was one of my absolute favorite films of the festival, and a definite must see for fans of well done, low-budget horror films that bravely investigate subjects and ideas most directors wouldn’t dare. I can’t really talk about what I liked most without spoiling some pretty major sections of the film. I will say the women of the film are fantastic. Katie Parker and Courtney Bell do all of the heavy lifting and don’t even break a sweat. The story they are caught up in could have easily been lost in genre silliness, but both of these actresses do a superb job elevating Absentia above Sci-Fy channel filth. I wish I could say the same for their male support. Dave Levine as Detective Mallory is especially bad, consistently playing to laughable police officer tropes instead of finding a balance of fear, concern, and sincerity.

Thankfully this is Tricia and Callie’s show, and Absentia takes them into some pretty extraordinary situations. Director Flanagan knows his limitations and uses them to his advantage, employing darkness and interesting cinematography and camera design, giving Parker and Bell everything they need to motivate fantastic performances. Great Job.

#17. Skew - Review

Skew 2011 PosterThe opening film for this year’s Big Bear Horror Film Festival was Skew, director Seve Schlenz’s entry into the bustling found footage genre. When three friends take a camcorder along on a cross-country road trip, one of them notices the camera blurs the face of anyone who is about to die. Simple enough, right? All in all this was a fine film to kick things off, but there were better films to be found at the festival. Anyone already getting fatigued from the massive influx of found footage films since Paranormal Activity hit in 2009 would best stay away, since Skew does little to enhance or experiment with the subgenre.That being said, the film was entertaining. The acting was decent and Schlenz efficiently worked around a meager budget.  Although the 3^rd act fumbles the rising action built-up during the first hour or so, the suspense is functional and the suspense is sufficient.

I do not know if it is just because of the voyeuristic nature of found footage films, but I always find an inherent sexuality bubbling beneath the surface of the movies in this particular genre. What do you guys think, is it just me? Let me know.