Calgary International Film Fest After Dark

For ten years, The Calgary International Film Festival has brought screen gems from around the world to our fair city, and this year was no exception. Thanks to my sister's savvy, and friend of Worth, Brenda Lieberman (Programmer-World Cinema / Late Nights), who kindly dropped off some tickets at the store, I was able to take in a couple of the "late night" selections, both of which were highly enjoyable. 

First up: Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl, the latest film from Japan's gore/makeup/comedy visionary Yoshihiro Nishimura. Visually, this film is absolutely frenetic in its on-screen energy, which is often soaked to the bone(exposed) with blood, guts, lightning, and cuteness. It's amazing how along with the outdated looking C.G.I. , classic rubber and spirit glue makeup and karaoke quality soundtrack, director Yoshihiro Nishimura is able to offer some interesting commentary on various segments of Japanese culture. If it's been too long since you've had your jar jolted, check this, or any of Yoshihiro's newish films out, but be warned, with mechanism-free digital effects, the blood sprayers pump ad nauseam. 

Next, the equally campy, but far more "traditional" blood-fest "Smash, Cut", which as the director, Lee Demarbre, who was in attendance noted, pays homage to the early works of Herschell Gordon Lewis (also featured in the film), a pioneer of the genre. Carl and I had fun at this one, which wrapped with a Q&A period featuring cast members including horror vets David Hess and Michael Barryman!  

OK, so that concludes the bloodiest Worth Blog Post in history. If gore's not your thing, I can't blame you, and I apologize. This year, late-night is what my viewing schedule permitted.