PopHorror Let's Get Scared
As previously stated in my review for Echoes of Fear (read my review here), my favorite feature of The Women in Horror Film Festival in Peachtree, GA., this fest has shown an indisputable knack for selecting the very finest in female-centric horror films. The short films were no exception, as it was a nearly flawless lineup, making choosing a favorite beyond difficult. Izzy Lee’s gorgeous rage-fueled Rites of Vengeance, Kevin Sluder’s colorful re-telling of the Tell-Tale Heart in Heartless (read our review here), Colin Costello’s breathtaking black and white beauty The After Party (read our review here), and Angela Atwood’s super fun Lady Hunters stood as some of the main highlights for me. You can find out the list of award winners from WIHFF 2018 here.
But for the second year in a row, I felt the Comedy Block was the most watertight collection of the fest, captivating and hilarious from start to finish. Among them, there was a story about a woman having second thoughts about a generous organ transplant, the most insanely hilarious film about bestiality you’re likely to see, and a hysterical pair of Lunch Ladies (read our review here). As magnificent as all these films were, however, my absolute favorite short of WIHFF 2018 goes to Laurel Vail’s What Metal Girls Are Into (2017).
The film centers around three girl friends attending a 3-day metal festival in the desert. They arrive at their isolated vacation rental spot to find a creepy landlord and an unexpected severed limb in the freezer. This would derail most people’s plans, but our fearless femmes are no shrinking flowers. This festival lineup is to die for, and they’re not letting a dismembered appendage ruin their vacation. Even when things take a massively downward spiral from there, and creepy Dean and his friends turn violent, surrender is not an option. These metal girls are going down swinging!
What Metal Girls Are Into was directed by Laurel Vail. Previously known for her work as an actress, perhaps best known for playing Brenda in Contracted: Phase II, this was her first time pulling double duty as both director and star. Laurel played the fiery and fiesty Jo, with Chelsea Blechman as Ash and Karina Assad as Mattie rounding out the trio. The character of the creepy landlord, Dean, is handled deftly by horror staple Matt Mercer, who seems to be in virtually everything these days, including at least three different films at this fest alone.
The cinematography here is handled splendidly by director of photography Ellie Ann Fenton, creating a look and feel that suits the aesthetic perfectly. The soundtrack is appropriately heavy, with tracks from metal stalwarts Castrator, Benediction, and Carcass represented. Also noteworthy is the awesome Metal Girls theme song, written and composed by Catherine Capozzi, and with vocals handled by fellow film visionary Sophia Cacciola. Sophia and husband, Michael J. Epstein, both contributed to and appeared in the film, and Laurel happily returned the favor, appearing in Sophia and Michael’s film Clickbait, another one to definitely keep your eyes peeled for. You can catch Catherine’s stellar work on the official What Metal Girls Are Into soundtrack available here.
But what really appeals to me about the film is its feminist angst, taking aim at male privilege and the sense of entitlement douchebaggery that comes with it. Phrases like, “You should smile more,” and the like fall directly into the crosshairs. Laurel doesn’t hold back on the rage, giving us a beautiful depiction of empowered women taking no bullshit, and it ends with the most absolutely perfect, “Fuck yeah!” moment you could ask for.
What Metal Girls Are Into is a bitingly funny yet perfect collision of horror and heavy metal, a match made South of Heaven, and is chock full of everything I love to see in a film: stunning camera work, strong performances, empowered women, and a powerful finish that should have everyone jumping out of their seats in applause!
The film did very well at WIHFF 2018, claiming the Lizzie award for Best Score for Catherine Capozzi’s spectacular work, nothing new for this award-winning masterpiece. As of the one year anniversary of its premiere on Oct 14, 2017, the film had racked up an incredible 96 official selections, visited 13 countries and 29 states across the U.S., and won an impressive 13 awards with 25 more nominations, and that count is still rising. Just this week alone, the film will be hitting The Egyptian Theatre in L.A. for the 14th Annual Focus on Female Directors on January 23rd, Days of the Dead Atlanta for their Shorts Block #2 on January 26th, The South Texas Underground Film Fest in Corpus Christi, also on the 26th, and coming up in February, the Knife Through the Heart of Texas Film Fest in Austin, Texas. What Metal Girls Are Into is still making the rounds and blowing minds everywhere. If this amazing film plays anywhere near you, don’t even think about missing it! Jump into the pit and get wild with the Metal Girls!
If you’re curious, you can read another reviewer’s thoughts on What Metal Girls Are Into from the 2017 Final Girls Berlin Film Festival right here.
