A bunch of very cringe episodes
As is usual with anothologies of this sort, some of the stories work, some of them don't. The difference here is that they are all (largely) based on folk tales, which promised more than what I actually recieved. I expected something darker, something creepier. What I actually got was a collection of weird, largely unmemorable tales. They weren't awful - some were really well done, visually - but the only chill my bones received was from the draft through my windows.
What should have been an awesome showcase of international short films focusing on local folklore turned out to be a tedious mess. There isn't really a standout piece that would make it worthwhile to suffer through the bad ones (give "Cobblers’ Lot" a try though). It overall feels quite long but I still think some of them could have benefited from a bit more runtime (and there was hardly given enough time to read the "book" pages presented on screen). Most of the people involved did some decent work before this so IDK...
Review by FLYVIP 2BlockedParent2018-09-29T15:41:59Z
An anthology of pseudo horror story based on different myths around the world. No link at all between them. All are at least ok, often well done on the directing point of view, often nice visuals, but they are not that interesting. None of them is really good and would justify seeing the whole thing. They are generally too long on the exposition and way too short on the reveal. They all feel too rushed towards the end.
Die Trud
A village with only women. When a young one sins (kissing another girl), it seems to summon the trud, a monster that attacks (and rapes ?) her. The aesthetics and atmosphere are pretty good. It's nothing out of the extraordianry, but it felt like a good start.
Al Karisi
A young pregnant woman taking care of her grandmother seems to do something that summons a jinn that comes to steal her baby. This one has a nice oppressive atmosphere. It uses classical horror tropes in a basic but efficient way.
The Melon Heads
A couple and their sons in holidays in a house in the woods. The kid makes a mysterious new friends. Turns out there's a gang of children with huge heads that kill people. Meh. That's the american segment, so instead of a ancient folklore it's based on a stupid urban legend you would tell around a campfire and it should not take more than 10 minutes. Very disappointing ending. They could have gone for a native story instead.
The Kindler and The Virgin
A gravedigger is inspired by some spirits to gain knowledge and power by digging up recently deceased people and eating their hearts. There's not much of a story but it's visually interesting, very dark and oniric.
What Ever Happened to Panagas the Pagan ?
Really weird. People are partying, discover a goblin and kill him because its blood makes great psychedelic wine. Then it's mostly drug party scenes and I guess there's supposed to be a story and something related to a cave with blue flames, but didn't see it much. Good visuals, but not clear on what's happening and what's the point.
A Nocturnal Breath
A brother and a sister living in a small farm in the mountain. She's possessed by a small mouse that gets out of her body at night to kill. Images are really dark, but in the end, there's not much happening, not much stake, and the ending makes no sense as it's shown as a solution whereas it changes strictly nothing at the whole situation.
Palace of Horrors
I'm trying really hard to remmember what this one was about, but so far, nothing.
The Cobblers' Lot
It's a kind of fairy tale (well Grimm style) with a cobbler's love story with the princess and his jealous brother. No dialog, the styleand costumes, everything is made to look like an older movie. It works visually, but like most of the others the story is the weak part.
In the end only Die Trud has the potential to be something more. Maybe the format was too heavy a constraint. There are 8 stories but none really fit their length. Maybe 6 longer or 12 shorter would have been better.