fantastic fest 2023

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: In F. Javier Gutierrez’s THE WAIT, Redemption Is A Devilishly-Detailed Numbers Game

Rings and Before The Fall helmer F. Javier Gutierrez’s Spanish fantasy horror thriller set in the 1970s is about as dark, cerebral and ghastly as you would hope for if this particular genre is your thing. Such is the case for The Wait, currently making the festival rounds and just recently screening for audiences at Fantastic Fest and at Germany’s 30th Internationales Filmfest Oldenburg. If you’re just learning about this film, know that I don’t want to give away the juicier aspects of this story in my analysis, and so I’ll do my best to produce a more compact summary as you’re reading this. For all that and more, The Wait showcases an engaging lead performance by actor Victor Clavijo who stars as Eladio, an estate keeper working to provide for his wife Marcia (Ruth Diaz), as well as his son Floren (Moises Ruiz) who just turned of age and […]

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: In Kenichi Ugana’s VISITORS: COMPLETE EDITION, A Sitcom Of Demons And Humans, And Dancing

Lee B. Golden III

Fantastic Fest has come to a close and with this, what I thought was my final review contribution to the event now comes in the form of a look at one of the most peculiar indie horror films ever made. It’s bizzare as shit and out of this world, and just as unique as you could expect or hope for from any director in your pursuit of film consumption: Visitors: Complete Edition. The film’s concept stems from Visitors, a 2021 short film by writer/director Kenichi Ugana who swept nearly forty festival audiences off their feet that year. As its been eight years since he began directing and experimenting with conceptually outstanding stories and aspects, Visitors: Complete Edition marks Ugana’s tenth film, taking his craft to new levels in his consistency as a storyteller. Thus, this latest iteration of the celebrated horror comedy delves into an expanded tale of a dystopian […]

Promotional photo from Sri Asih: The Warrior For Fantastic Fest

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: Upi’s SRI ASIH: THE WARRIOR Is A BCU Franchise Force To Be Reckoned With

Lee B. Golden III

Sri Asih was screened and reviewed for Fantastic Fest. The film releases on DVD in the U.S. from Shout! Factory on December 5. Provided that the Bumilangit Cinematic Universe is still very much a thing going forward, director Joko Anwar’s Gundala will hopefully have been worth the big cliffhanger it left for us with actress Pevita Pearce in a live-action cameo appearance as Bumilangit property, Sri Asih. That now brings us the latest move to bring the power-packing, scarf-wielding superheroine into fruition by director Upi, taking notes from late author R.A. Kosasih’s 1954 comic of the same name which launched the Indonesian superhero brand in the first place. The comic’s influence stems even well into Indonesia’s early film industry with the character staking her claim under the stewardship of directors Tan Sing Hwat and Turino Djunaedy. As such, echoes of the character’s prevalence in the 50s are given momentary reference […]

Promotional photo from The Invisible Fight

THE INVISIBLE FIGHT: Kino Lorber Takes Estonian Kung Fu Romp For North America. Check Out The Teaser!

Lee B. Golden III

Director Rainer Sarnet’s Estonian kung fu comedy, The Invisible Fight, is currently enjoying reactions out of Fantastic Fest this week following its previous main competition premiere at Locarno last month. The film is currently set to screen at the next edition of Sitges in October, as well as Latvia for the tenth Riga International Film Festival. USSR-China border, 1973. Rafael, is in the army on guard duty when the border falls under attack from flying Chinese kung fu warriors. Utterly fascinated by the long-haired Chinese hippie black-clad kung fu aces flying around blasting forbidden Black Sabbath music from their portable radio Rafael gets struck by a revelation; he too wants to become a kung fu warrior. Faith leads Rafael to an Orthodox monastery where the black-clad monks do their training but his road to achieving the almighty power of humility required is long, winding and full of kick-ass adventures. The […]

Promotional photo for Enter The Clones Of Bruce

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: In ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE, Among Their Shadows The Legend Lives On

Lee B. Golden III

Kung fu cinema hit one of the worst stalemates it possibly could in 1973 with the death of martial artist and actor Bruce Lee, leaving the fate of the industry in the hands of creators and producers desperate to appease markets and somehow magically bring the dead back to life. Thus, Bruceploitation was born, giving rise to a raft of newcomers all operating under a moniker that would bolster capital in some form or fashion as artificially contrived screen essences of the late film legend. And, it worked. Aplenty. Documentarian David Gregory’s Enter The Clones Of Bruce collates and chronicles just how all of this was possible, produced over several years and featuring interviews with some of the very notable Bruceploitation stars of their time, including Bruce Li, Dragon Lee, Bruce Le and Bruce Liang to name a few. Other featured segments take from current interviews from industry laureates like […]

Promotional photo from I'll Crush Y'all for Fantastic Fest

Fantastic Fest XVIII: I’LL CRUSH Y’ALL, SRI ASIH Among Winners Of The 18th Edition!

Lee B. Golden III

The eighteenth edition of Fantastic Fest is still underway and I’m only doing a few more films among those left at my disposal if possible. In the meantime, the jury went to work this year and has elected its winners for its various categories. Have a read, and click here for my review coverage up to now! Austin, TX – September 26th, 2023 – Fantastic Fest is pleased to announce this year’s Fantastic Fest Award winners. It has been an outstanding year for features and shorts, making the job of honoring a select crop all the more difficult, but our esteemed team of jurors have done the nearly impossible and chosen the best films of the festival. “We were graced with wonderful films from around the world this year,” said Annick Mahnert, Director of Programming for Fantastic Fest. “Curating this diverse showcase of cinema for our esteemed jurors was a […]

Promotional photo from BABY ASSASSINS 2 for Fantastic Fest

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: In BABY ASSASSINS: 2 BABIES, The Work Is Its Own Reward

Lee B. Golden III

Life is still as hard as ever for an assassin trying to make it in today’s economy with a decent part-time job. Such was the case in 2021’s Baby Assassins for endearing killer roomies Chisato (Akari Takaishi) and Mahiro (Saori Izawa) as the two stood toe-to-toe with heavily-armed yakuza gangsters with daily responsibilties to fulfill in between. Two years later, the oddball duo is still “killing it” while trying to get the hang of adulting in writer/director Yugo Sakamoto’s latest sequel, Baby Assassins: 2 Babies. Caught between trying to beat the clock on long-overdue bills while abiding by their assassin guild’s strict policies and dealing with life’s inevitable incidences, Chisato and Mahiro find themselves suspended from the guild and right back at square one, with no choice but to pound the pavement for work. In the interim, little do they know that they have become the targets of Makoto (Tatsuomi […]

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: I’LL CRUSH Y’ALL, Come For The Crushing, Stay For The Vengeance

Lee B. Golden III

Spain has been an interesting location to see action titles emerge from in the last decade or so. Like most countries it’s not typically known for the kinds of productions that get talked about on platforms like this one, so when something like Kike Narcea’s latest Iberian coming-out party, I’ll Crush Y’all! makes an entrance, it’s totally reasonable if heads turn in response. Actor Mario Mayo is the go-to this time around, billed as Spain’s answer to Jason Statham although his size, look and build give off more Vince Vaughn a la Brawl In Cell Block 99 than anything. He plays Gabriel – formerly of the nickname “Nuthead” (or Tarado), an ex-convict and former boxer who, after spending a lengthy period keeping his head down and his hands clean, has finally reached the end of his probationary period and can matriculate back into society as a free man. He lives […]

Promotional photo from Jackdaw for Fantastic Fest

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: Jamie Childs’s JACKDAW Burns The Midnight Oil In A High-Speed Cat-And-Mouse Thriller With An Even Darker Twist

Lee B. Golden III

Filmmaker Jamie Childs’ recent TV credits on Disney+ series “Willow” and Netflix’s “The Sandman” should be an ample warm-up for those who’ve seen his work, and are keen on what the first-time feature director now offers with his latest debut, Jackdaw. At ninety-six minutes, the film packs in a steadily-paced and cerebral crime thriller that runs the gamut for a story set during the course of one night, trekking England’s Northern rust belt amid a heist gone awry. Par for the course is a harrowing story of redemption, hitting the ground running as ex-soldier and motocross champion Jack Dawson – a.k.a. Jackdaw (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) – sets out to acquire a package in the North Sea for crime boss Silas (Joe Blakemore). Efforting to make some quick cash to leave town with his younger brother, Simon (Leon Harrop), it isn’t long after the parcel’s retrieval that Jackdaw realizes he’s being pursued […]

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: In ONE-PERCENTER, Tak Sakaguchi Demonstrates The Method To The Madness!

Lee B. Golden III

“There are many martial artists in the world. Only one in every hundred master their art. Those are the ‘One-Percenters.’” …That’s a line spoken in the international trailer and newest incumbent feature from writer/director Yudai Yamaguchi, a man imbued with a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to working with actor and genre cinema favorite, Tak Sakaguchi. The pair have done various types of movies together, with Sakaguchi in roles that have seen him merc the undead, partake in explosive baseball battles, and even wipe out henchmen as a bionically-weaponized gangster, among other projects the two have collaborated on with other directors. It would be in 2005 that fans of Sakaguchi would see the actor embark a little more on his own quest into action direction, clearly looking to up his station in the craft following the success he gained from his previous credits. Alas, after more than […]

Fantastic Fest XVIII Review: Francis Galuppi’s THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY Steals With A Crackling Crime Debut

Lee B. Golden III

XYZ Films released the clip above exclusively to Variety on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s Fantastic Fest premiere of Francis Galluppi’s debut movie, The Last Stop In Yuma County. The clip above is a perfect summation of what to expect from the film’s suspenseful tone amid its propulsive and seething development leading up to the big finale. The ending is certainly a stunner, but it’s worth a recap for a better analysis in this review, starting with close-up shots of a devastating wreck mid-credits as the film eases into its dated, desert-set Southwestern atmosphere. It’s a hot day in Yuma County in Arizona, and a bank robbery is all the hullabaloo that anyone can think about as a green pinto approaches a gas station with a nearby hotel and the adjacent diner famous for its distinguished pie. A clean-cut and affable-looking knife salesman (Jim Cummings) decides to venture to the diner […]

Tak Sakaguchi giving a seminar in Austin, Texas in 2018

Hey Austin! Come Take A Seminar With ONE-PERCENTER Star Tak Sakaguchi!

Lee B. Golden III

Actor and action star Tak Sakaguchi is returning to Texas next week to host stunt action and self-defense seminar at Tukong Martial Arts in Austin on September 22. In addition, the seminar will coincide with the promotion of the actor’s latest feat, One-Percenter, which will have its next premiere on Saturday, September 23 at this year’s edition of Fantastic Fest. One-Percenter is written and directed by Yudai Yamaguchi, and centers on an aging stuntman whose dreams of achieving the production of a pure action movie arrives when he finds himself crossing blows with yakuza mobsters looking for a hidden cache of drugs. The film is produced by Takayuki Ota (Crazy Samurai Musashi) and Ryo Uchiyama, and also marks a reunion for both the star and director following previous credits like Battlefield Baseball, Tebana Sankichi: Snot Rocket & Super Detective, Cromartie High: The Movie, Deadball and Yakuza Weapon, as well as […]

Fantastic Fest XVIII: Full Line-Up Includes Studio Selects, Genre Delights, Fantasy, Action, Horror And Docs to Exicite This Year’s Audience

Fantastic Fest XVIII: TRIGGERED, 100 YARDS, And More Titles To Check Out At This Year’s Festival

Lee B. Golden III

I’ve been away from the internet for a while but I haven’t forgotten the excitement of getting to cover Fantastic Fest for a second year in a row. It’ll be virtual, as always, since I can’t make the trip, and as such, I’m still obliged to share in the indulgences of what’s to come, and for that, I now offer you a slew of titles to help raise the curtain ahead of the festival’s start date on September 21… Fifteen titles, in fact, all ranging in the usual assortment of genres that this site covers, a few honorable mentions notwithstanding: Gareth Edwards’ newest ambitious sci-fi adventure The Creator, Joe Lynch’s enticing new horror thriller Suitable Flesh, and Kim Tae-gon’s fifth career entry at the helm, Project Silence; I started with ten in mind at first but there was just too many to consider, obviously, and barring some of the reviews […]

THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY Teases A Fully-Loaded Showdown In The First Poster

Lee B. Golden III

After a bevy of shorts and music videos to get started, Francis Galluppi is finally ready to make headway beginning with his feature debut, The Last Stop In Yuma County. The first poster is currently making the rounds as the film looks toward its upcoming premiere at the 18th edition of Fantastic Fest this month. When a traveling knife salesman is forced to wait for fuel at an isolated rest stop, violence erupts around him when two bank robbers arrive during their getaway from a big heist. Galluppi also penned the film and serves as producer along with Atif Malik, and Matt O’Neill. The cast includes Jim Cummings, Jocelin Donahue, Richard Brake, Nicholas Logan, Faizon Love, Michel Abbott Jr., and Alex Essoe. Per Fantastic Fest programmer Lori Donnelly: Equal parts western and heist thriller, writer/director Francis Galluppi’s debut feature harnesses the energy of the stripped-down action B-movies of the 1970s […]

Fantastic Fest XVIII: Hindi Action Thriller KILL Announced For This Year’s Feature Line-Up

Lee B. Golden III

Fantastic Fest kicks off in a matter of weeks on September 21. In the meantime, the organization announced on Wednesday its newest addition to their feature line-up this year with Kill, the new Hindi action thriller from writer and director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. The film is led by celebrated TV actor Lakshya, who stood out for Best Actor at the Lions Gold Awards for 2018 series, “Porus”. In Kill, the actor plays Amrit, an Army commando who must help fend off fourty armed bandits who’ve stormed a train to New Delhi and save the lives of all the passengers on board, including the woman he loves, Tulika (Tanya Maniktala), ahead of an arranged marriage already set in stone by her father. Also starring are Raghav Juyal and Rupesh Kumar Charanpahari. The film features action sequences by Oh Se-yeong whose career spans multiple regions covering Hollywood (Avengers: Age Of Ultron), and […]

Fantastic Fest XVIII: Full Line-Up Includes Studio Selects, Genre Delights, Fantasy, Action, Horror And Docs to Exicite This Year’s Audience

Lee B. Golden III

I just spent the last ten minutes feeling restless as all hell after getting a quick glimpse of the line-up for this year’s edition of Fantastic Fest. I’m looking at listings for the new martial arts drama 100 Yards, South Korean delights like Cobweb, Concrete Utopia, and the spriteful Killing Romance which also opened this summer for NYAFF, Yudai Yamaguchi’s One Perecenter and the long-awaited Baby Assassins 2 which just screened in Montreal, RKSS’s We Are Zombies, Jamie Childs’ Jackdaw which first took off earlier this year at EFM, Thomas Negovan’s latest presentation of 1980’s Caligula, Soviet-Era action comedy The Invisible Fight which was just picked up by LevelK for world sales out of Locarno, Macon Blair’s Toxic Avenger and Richard Somes’ Triggered (Topakk) which will also have its day in the UK for the 24th edition of FrightFest this month… And these are just some of the selections worth […]