I have been hanging out at Imagine in Amsterdam this weekend. Here are some quick thoughts on the films I saw so far:
Clinger a weak US teen horror comedy in which Ferns clingy boyfriend refuses to leave her alone despite his recent death. not recommended.
The Frame A paramedic and a career thief cross over into each other's worlds when they find they can communicate via a television set (they both watch one another in the TV series that they appear to be characters from). It's time to intervene when one of the shows faces cancellation. this is a really inventive sci-fi thriller which uses its premise to great effect.
Homesick A fantastic Austrian physiological thriller which tackles the mental breakdown of a young cellist as she is terrorised by her retired neighbour. brilliant.
Housebound a film I first saw almost a year ago, but it remains as fresh and funny as the first time I saw it. recommended.
The Answer a distinctly average sci-fi thriller in need of a better script and a better female lead.
Norway a very odd Greek art house horror featuring Abrams Stoker and Hitler. it plays as some bastard hybrid of Lars von Triers Europa, Jim Jarmusch's Only lovers left alive presented through a prism of David Lynch at his least lucid. very difficult to recommend even though I quite liked it.
Ex Machina Finally managed to catch Alex Garlands debut and I really liked it. I haven't seen a film about what it means to be sentient since Bladerunner and, while not basd on any of his work, this captures the ideas of Philip K Dick brilliantly. my favourite film of the weekend.
I managed to miss Uncanny thanks to my friends at KLM, who judging by the past few weeks are struggling to manage their airline. I also walked out of maouri language film The Deadlands as it was too much effort trying to translate the Dutch subs (it was originally advertised as English language). a shame as it looked interesting.
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