When I moved to Denver in June of ’09, I had this grand dream to start a genre film fest to make up for the lack of good horror films screened in the area. After all, why should Telluride have all the fun? As I began preparations, I learned of Tim Schultz and the Mile High Horror Film Fest, which will be kicking off its third year this weekend at the Denver Film Center on Colfax, and as such decided to shelve the idea. After all, I’m not one to step on any toes, especially since Tim and Co. have crafted a solid event filled with some of the best and newest horror films and shorts from around the world.
Here’s the breakdown of the feature films playing this year, including their trailers. A list of special guests (including Corey Feldman and Kane Hodder!), as well as the schedule for the short film programs can be found on the Denver Film Society website.
“Citadel“ – Directed by Ciaran Foy
Tommy Cowley is a young father inflicted with chronic agoraphobia since his wife was brutally attacked by a gang of a twisted feral children. Trapped in the dilapidated suburbia of Edenstown, he finds himself terrorised by the same gang, who now seem intent on taking his baby daughter. Torn between the help of an understanding nurse and a vigilante priest, Tommy sets out to learn the nightmarish truth surrounding these hooded children. He also discovers that to be free of his fears, he must finally face the demons of his past and enter the one place that he fears the most – the abandoned tower block known as the Citadel. – Saturday, 2:20 p.m.
“Community“ – Directed by Jason Ford
The Draymen Estate has become an urban legend. Amongst the sinister stories of strange locals and brutal violence, many people have gone missing there and even the police won’t go near the estate. Two student filmmakers, Isabelle and Will, travel on to the estate in the hope their sympathetic documentary will shed some light on the myths that surround the Estate and land them a career in the movie business. But an arranged interview with a resident, leads them into the fold of a sinister and deranged community. As motivations become blurred, the filmmakers find themselves faced with a danger far worse than any rumour, and a horror, way beyond their imagination. – Friday, 9:40 p.m. and Sunday, 3:00 p.m.
“Eddie – The Sleepwalking Cannibal“ – Directed by Boris Rodriguez
Lars Olafssen, once a young celebrity in the art world is slipping away fast into the land of has-beens. His long-time art dealer, Ronny, is now an ungracefully aging hipster who desperately wants his meal ticket back. But Lars refuses to paint. His creativity comes at too high a cost – his inspiration is carnage – blood, guts and limbs. Not surprisingly, this lead to a dreadful breakdown in the past. Nevertheless, an eager Ronny arranges a teaching job for Lars at an art school in Koda Lake, a small Canadian town in the middle of nowhere. It’s a “therapeutic” measure for Lars – a means to conquer his need to paint in the “safety” of a country retreat… That is, until Eddie comes into his life. – Sunday, 7:20 p.m.
“Excision“ – Directed by Richard Bates, Jr.
A disturbed and delusional high school student with aspirations of a career in medicine goes to extremes to earn the approval of her controlling mother. – Friday, 7:20 p.m. and Sunday, 5:15 p.m.
“Grave Encounters 2“ – Directed by John Poliquin
GRAVE ENCOUNTERS was a found-footage horror phenomenon that many people believed was just a movie. Film student Alex Wright is out to prove them wrong in GRAVE ENCOUNTERS 2. Alex is as obsessed with the first film, as the 20 million people who viewed its viral trailer on YouTube. While he and his friends research the events and visit the real psychiatric hospital depicted in the original film, they find themselves face-to-face with unspeakable evil, banking on the hope that their knowledge of the original film will help them survive the sequel. – Saturday, 11:59 p.m.
“The Human Race” – Directed by Paul Hough
Veronica suddenly finds herself in a surreal and horrifying marathon race. The rules are simple: If you are lapped, you die. If you step off the path, you die. Many will start but only one may cross the finish line alive. – Saturday, 4:00 p.m. DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE!
“Mon Ami“ – Directed by Rob Grant
Cal and Teddy, two former best friends, try to rekindle their friendship by hatching a plan to kidnap their boss’s daughter from where they work, ‘Hal’s Hardware’. But both their plans and their relationship with one another is tested as everything falls apart around them.
It’s Fargo meets Dumb and Dumber in this horror movie disguised as a buddy comedy. – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE
“Nightmare Factory“ – Directed by Donna Davies
In 1989 Greg Nicotero quit medical school and headed for Hollywood to pursue a dream of making monsters. Together with gore masters Howard Berger and Robert Kurtzman, Nicotero went on to create KNB EFX Group, one of the most prolific makeup effects studios in the world.
Nightmare Factory is the story of how one small town Pittsburgh boy’s fascination with monsters drove him to the very top of the Hollywood food chain. After twenty years as the “go to” guy for the world’s most successful horror/sci-fi films, Greg Nicotero is on speed dial for director’s like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriquez.
He currently sits at the top of Hollywood as co-executive producer and special make-up effects designer on AMC’s monster hit, ‘The Walking Dead’. – Friday, 5 p.m. and Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
“Resolution” – Directed by Justin Benson
Michael is committed to getting his best friend Chris to sober up and put his life back on track. But what begins as an attempt to save his friend’s life quickly takes an unexpected turn as the two friends confront personal demons, the consequences of past actions, and forces beyond their control. Expertly balancing dark humor, heart, and thrills, Resolution is an utterly unique cinematic experience that defies genre classification. – Sunday, 12:40 p.m.
“Stitches“ – Directed by Conor McMahon
It was meant to be the perfect 10th birthday party for young Tom (Tommy Knight), a day filled with friends and family and fun. Mum even hired a clown for the occasion, a clown named Stitches (Ross Noble). Stitches may not have been the best clown, but he deserved better than the end he met – a childhood prank played on the entertainer ending with Stitches dead on the kitchen floor before Tom’s terrified eyes.
Now, six years later, it’s Tom’s birthday once again, his mother is out of town, and his childhood friends are aiming for a party to end all parties. But nobody could have accounted for one particular uninvited guest: Stitches is back from the grave and means to have his bloody revenge on the children responsible for his death. – Friday, 11:59 p.m.
