FrightFest - Hostel Day

The FrightFest drunks ™ (photo by Ian Rattray)

Saturday saw me back in London again for FrightFest's 'Hostel Day', a one-day appetiser for August's main event. The day began bright and early with Ian leading some of us forum regulars to a nearby greasy spoon for a much needed fry up – and the opportunity to chat and finally put some faces to some familiar names. With our bellies full we trooped back to the Prince Charles for the first film of the day, Death Trance, from the action director of Versus – and it showed. Far too many repetitive fight scenes and not enough plot to make it a classic, but it certainly had its moments (the bizarre stop-motion dolls, the pulsating sword that suspiciously resembled a dildo) and happily it didn’t overstay its welcome with its brief ninety minute running time.

As much as I love The Wicker Man, I was planning to have a day socialising as much as I was watching films, so I skipped that screening in favour of a couple of pints in the nearest pub with Steve and the rest of the Eat My Brains guys. I then returned to the PCC where I chatted to Kim Newman (and complimented him on his review of Evil Aliens in Empire) and then dashed off with Ian and the FrightFest drunks ™ for another quick pint before Mortuary began. I’d decided to pass on Tobe Hooper’s latest effort having been unimpressed with the footage we’d been shown last year, so made a swift circuit around Chinatown and then headed back to the cinema where I was greeted with the rather peculiar sight of ex-Eastender Anna Wing sat at the bar, until I realised she was in David McGillivary’s short which had just screened before the film. I’d already warned the FrightFest drunks ™ about the dubious quality of Mortuary and had to smile when they walked out half way through! It was really good catching up with Ian and he was telling me all about Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon, the first film to be confirmed for August, and it seems like they're also keen to secure Art Of The Devil 2 on my recommendation, even though my screener copy is yet to turn up. With Ian, Steve, the drunks, James and a few others filling up the bar area - I even bumped into one of the journalists I'd sat next to at the Oliver Stone Q&A in Bangkok! - there was a very convivial atmosphere in which to discuss movies… and of course, drink more alcohol.

This wasn’t a problem until I took my seat up in the circle to see Reeker. As soon as I’d watched the excellent Silent Hill trailer I could feel the effects of half a dozen beers kicking in, and it wasn’t long before I was drifting in and out of sleep. Which was a real pity as what I saw of Reeker I really liked – a simple idea, well executed and I particularly loved the shimmering effect as the Reeker went about his business. It was only after the film finished and we were discussing its merits outside that I realised just how much I’d missed… String? What string? Who died? When did that happen? [Note to self: Lots of booze followed by a movie is not a good idea… unless it’s a Tobe Hooper film]

Thankfully there was enough time to grab some food in the break, so by the time Hostel began I’d sobered up and was wide awake again. Eli Roth’s film was a real FrightFest pleaser with plenty of gross-out moments to entertain us. Was I the only person shouting “just stick it back in the socket… don’t cut it… oh, too late” during that eyeball scene? And the kids with the rocks, well, that was just hardcore! A suitably nasty film to end the day with – as I had to miss Theatre Of Blood in order to get back to Brighton – and the culmination of yet another enjoyable FrightFest event for me. I'm looking forward to August already!