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Snowflake

bloody, irreverent, hilariously fucked up meta narrative

Claiming to be “the most fucked up German fairy tale” since, well, actual German fairy tales is a tall order. But, if nothing else, Snowflake delivers on this promise. Our friends at Artsploitation brought us this bloody, irreverent, hilariously fucked up meta narrative at the tail end of 2018. Sadly, most of you still haven’t seen it yet, but it’s a cult film in the making just waiting for an audience. This creative team could easily position themselves as Germany’s answer to Quentin Tarantino with their grim sense of humor, snappy non-sequiturish dialogue, and over-the-top violence.

Danur: I Can See Ghosts

a classic haunted house film … wrapped in the fashions of contemporary fears

In yet another entry we’ve championed for years, Awi Suryadi’s Danur finally made its way to US audiences this year thanks to Netflix. Meanwhile, Suryadi already finds himself hard at work on the third entry in the series. The fact that there’s going to be a part 3 tells you all you need to know about the quality and success of this initial entry. Luke praised this adaptation of the Indonesian novel of the same name, calling it “a classic haunted house film … wrapped in the fashions of contemporary fears.”

The Cannibal Club

dark humor and blood-soaked sex and butchery

We don’t get it. What part of “cannibalistic erotophonophilic cuckolding” do you not understand? This biting satire of Brazilian politics and social structure features “dark humor and blood-soaked sex and butchery.” Feel free to google those polysyllabic terms if you want to know more about the plot, or don’t and find out for yourself on VOD. Guto Parente delivers grisly subject matter through exquisite cinematography, accentuated by a moody soft jazz score, making for a truly unique experience.

Starfish

hauntingly beautiful

This A.T. White debut combines an intriguing premise, stunning imagery, and a brilliant indie-pop soundtrack. Throw in a powerful performance by Virginia Gardner, and White delivers an impactful film that will be discussed for years to come. These efforts culminate in a hauntingly beautiful tale of grief. While reactions from horror fans may be mixed, the film rewards patient viewers with truly amazing creature design and a cathartic climax.

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