ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Fantasia Fest

FantasiaFest ’22: Huesara

by Leave a Comment

Valeria (Natalia Solian) is a vibrant young woman who is excited to have her first child with her boyfriend, Raul (Alfonso Dosal). However, her joy and anticipation begin to dissipate when she begins having terrifying visions that plague her. Believing that she may be cursed with a supernatural entity called La Huesara, Valeria seeks help from other women who may be able to help. As her suffering gets worse, she reconnects with a lost love in Octavia (Mayra Batalla) and prays for the madness to end.

Set in the heart of Mexico, Huesara is a terrifying exploration of the fears of motherhood. Written and directed by Michelle Garca Cervera, the film is bold in its visuals and themes, choosing to draw connections between the darkness of anxiety and the light of love. As Valeria, Solian does a good job walking the tightrope of styles on display, ranging from psychological torment to rediscovering passion.

Ironically though, this willingness to move between styles is where the film struggles.

Part psychological thriller, part demonic horror with a romantic love triangle thrown in the middle, the film veers wildly in tone. Choosing to blend indie romance with spiritual horror, Cervera creates an interesting juxtaposition but the mixture doesn’t always work. Even so, while choosing one style might’ve helped the film feel more focused, one must admit that the three storylines do connect effectively by the film’s finale. 

At its core, Huesara is a film about fear for the future. While mother to be Valeria may be excited about her newborn, her world gradually begins to fall apart. Although the film is willing to lean into its body horror elements as it progresses, much of its terror throughout is in the mind. As her anxiety about taking responsibility for a newborn begins to take hold, this unique exploration of terror is willing to sit in its darkness as Valeria attempts to make sense of her deepest questions. We understand that the questions in actresses heart plague her mind and are blowing the minds blurring the lines between reality and fear. Who am I going to be as a mother? Have I made a mistake in my life decisions? Is my own child even safe in my arms? These painful questions are deeply seated within her and bring terror to her soul. 

By leaning into its more horror-based elements, Huesara gives voice to important issues such as postpartum depression and maternal fear. It is rare for a film to be willing to delve into these issues, even though they also affect countless mothers who need to be represented. Visuals such as a woman leaping from her window reveal the inner pain from which many suffer in silence. In this way, there’s a maturity about the film which is admirable.

In the end, Huesara is a bit of a mixed experience. While the film often feels disjointed in its tone, so too is it a film that carries an edge of importance to it. This is not simply a scare-fest but an opportunity to speak into the feminine experience from multiple angles. 

Huesara is available at FantasiaFest ‘22. For screening information, click here.

Fantasia Fest: Sharp Stick

by Leave a Comment

In Sharp Stick, Sarah Jo (Kristine Froseth) may be 26-years old but her sexual inexperience plagues her mind. Living at home with her mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and her sister, Treina (Taylour Paige), Sarah Jo has been raised in a home that has honest conversations about sexuality that many families are unwilling to have. However, this also leaves Sarah Jo feeling as though she’s missing out. When she begins an intense affair with the father of the child that she cares for (Jon Bernthal), Sarah Jo begins a personal awakening. But when the relationship begins to unravel, she also begins a heart-breaking emotional journey as she attempts to course correct her inexperience in the bedroom.

Led by a brave performance by Froseth, Sharp Stick is an unflinching portrait of modern sexuality and the pressure that we put on ourselves because of it. While the term ‘coming-of-age tale’ feels cliché, it is also an accurate description. Growing up in a family that speaks openly about sexuality, Sarah Jo believes that she has been missing out on an integral part of life. As a result, Sarah Jo attempts to mold herself into what she believes is every man’s desire. From watching pornography to becoming open to all types of sexual activity, Sarah Jo sees these opportunities as research into the male psyche. 

Sharp Stick is incredibly open and honest with its conversations about sexuality yet somehow never feels exploitative. Despite its multiple bedroom scenes, there is no graphic nudity of which to speak of. As a result, despite its openness about sex, the film never becomes exploitative. Written and directed by Lena Dunham (Girls), Stick is willing to address topics that few others are willing to engage in a mature manner. From sexual shame and loneliness to the notion of changing ourselves to impress others, the film unpacks the complexities of relationships and how to deal with toxic sexual ideas. Dunham reminds the viewer that there is mutual trust and humility that is present within the healthiest of romances. Whereas most films choose to glorify the candlelit rooms and rose-covered bedsheets, Stick understands that sexuality is much more than a physical act. 

It’s a connection of souls.

Sharp Stick is currently available at FantasiaFest 2022. For information, click here.

The Prey: Welcome to the Jungle

by Leave a Comment

In The Prey, Chinese cop Xin (newcomer Gu Shangwei) is undercover on a secret mission when a surprise raid overturns his plans. Captured and forced to fight to survive within a remote Cambodian jungle prison, Xin is surprised to find that he and several other prisoners have been released into the wild. However, ruthless warden (Vithaya Pansringarm) has other plans as he operates a secret underground game which involves selling prisoners as human prey for rich hunters looking for thrills in the jungle. Lost and on the run, Xin suddenly finds himself running for his life and must ask to what lengths he’s willing to go to survive.

Written and directed by Jimmy Henderson, The Prey takes a familiar tale and entertains through its commitment to the action. To its credit, while the film is far from subtle, it knows exactly what it wants to be and executes its story with enthusiasm. Loosely based on Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game, The Prey builds the intensity well through its jungle locations, making the most of the claustrophobic nature of the area. Though the surroundings may be vast, Henderson does a solid job of keeping the set pieces tight and imposing. Moreover, in his first feature role, Gu Shangwei shows tremendous potential as an action star, playing to the role of Xin with severity (and some sincerity). In doing so, though it may lack in some areas, The Prey mostly earns its thrills through the vigour of its execution.

Doubling down on the action, The Prey may not be the type of film that wants to focus on heavy introspection. Even so, it does attempt to spark conversations about the limits of humanity and what separates us from our animal instincts. While we understand that the hunters are the villains in this piece, the hunted are not without their own demons to face as well. Running for their lives in the hot humidity of the jungle, Xin and the other prisoners who are released into the wild are forced to grapple with their own inner nature. Regardless of their previous crimes, each man must decide whether or not they are willing to kill their hunters in an effort to survive. (“I’m a thief, not a killer,” Xin’s friend recognizes.) Can one remain the hero if they’re willing to take on the role of the villain? As they attempt to justify their increasingly brutal acts of violence, Xin and his ‘friends’ must look into their souls to determine what it means to be human and, as a result, the very essence of true survival as well. 

Energetic from start to finish, fans of the genre should be pleased with The Prey. Though the film could use more nuance and subtlety to bring it to the next level, the film certainly has enough action to entertain viewers who are looking for something with grit and teeth.

The Prey premieres on VOD on August 25th, 2020

You Can’t Kill David Arquette: Wrestling for Redemption

by Leave a Comment

Who knew that this summer’s greatest superhero story would be David Arquette?

Seriously, I didn’t see it coming.

The new doc, You Can’t Kill David Arquette, reintroduces Arquette himself as a man burdened by the past. Back in 2000, with his wrestling comedy Ready to Rumble about to come out, Arquette was invited to participate in a brief storyline on WCW (World Championship Wrestling) to help promote the film. As a long-time fan of industry, he was thrilled to be a part of the world. However, when the company decided to briefly crown him champion, Arquette was quickly branded the most hated man in wrestling by fans who felt he was an outsider. With You Can’t Kill, Arquette attempts a rocky return to the world of sports entertainment, determined to redeem himself to others and reclaim his self-respect.

Directed by David Darg and Price James, You Can’t Kill David Arquette is both a love letter to professional wrestling and a redemption of sorts for Arquette. Darg and James follow Arquette from the local backyard to the underground wrestling circuit of Tijuana in an effort to shine a spotlight on the earnestness of an industry that is considered a joke by man. Though they’ll likely never perform in front of 20, 000 fans, these warriors are no less committed than their big-league counterparts, fighting every night for love of the show. Without question, however, the most endearing aspect of the film is Arquette himself who understands his place as an outsider yet passionately pursues his dream as a pro wrestler. 

Of course, every great hero story needs a villain and, in You Can’t Kill, this is personified by an obsessive fan culture that seemed to crush his spirit outside of the ring. In some ways, the film feels like an apology to diehard fans for his involvement in the highly controversial decision to crown him WCW Champion nearly 20 years ago. As a long-time fan of pro wrestling, Arquette has always held the athletes that put their bodies on the line for the sake of sports entertainment in the highest of esteem. However, after being crowned champion, fans turned on him personally. Viewed as an outsider who was mocking their passion for the sake of promoting his film, Arquette himself became demonized by the very community that he was attempting to celebrate. Like other pop culture icons, wrestling fans can be vicious when they feel that they’ve been crossed and their misplaced loathing at Arquette took a toll on him emotionally. 

With You Can’t Kill, Arquette seems to want to offer an apology for the past while also bravely standing up to those who felt he wasn’t taking things seriously enough. (Interestingly, even the title of the film itself suggests not only the physical punishment of the ring but also serves as notice to those who vilified him emotionally.) Yet, there is much more to this story than simply attempting to make amends. More than anything, Arquette wants to honour and respect the industry and prove to others that his love of the wrestling world is undisputable. While some moments of the doc may feel like pageantry, Arquette’s earnestness and commitment to the process is genuine. Wearing a hat that proclaims that ‘Wrestling’s Not Fake’, Arquette fully recognizes that, while the storylines and outcomes may be scripted, the sacrifices that the men and women make with their bodies for the sake of body slams are very real and take their toll over time. In this way, there’s an authenticity that shines through each performer, despite the wild spectacle of the show. 

Though he calls himself the ‘Magic Man’, Arquette’s credibility stems not from his costume but by his willingness to learn, grow and, most of all, take the hits. His heart and honesty make him a hero. Arquette knows he will never be the best in the business. That’s not his goal. Instead of personal glory, Arquette simply wants to be invited to the table so he can be a part of a world that has meant so much to him over the years. As such, his determination and commitment may redeem him to the public but, more importantly, they also are a testament to the human spirit.

You Can’t Kill David Arquette is an honest look at a man who knows his limitations but wants to stand with his idols. Despite the unjust hate that he’s received over the years because of a poorly conceived publicity stunt, the man behind the championship belt is determined to show the world that he deserves to be there.

After all, in You Can’t Kill David Arquette proves that real heroes may get slammed but they can’t be put down.

You Can’t Kill David Arquette premieres at Fantasia Fest on August 24th, 2020 and on VOD on August 28th, 2020.