PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Witchcraft, creepy dolls, royal secrets, and monster bugs. Happenstance Horror Fest’s International block covers plenty of horror territory across six short films, moving from supernatural silliness to darker, more unsettling material. As with most collections, some entries stood out more than others, but the variety keeps things interesting.
Dizzy Spell
Practicing witchcraft comes with certain risks—especially for anyone unfortunate enough to be friends with the person casting the spells. In Dizzy Spell, a woman’s magical pursuits go wrong in a silly entry that lands somewhere on the lighter side of the block.
Happy
A girl treats her doll badly and learns that some toys don’t take abuse lying down. Creepy dolls are familiar territory for horror fans, and Happy follows that tradition with a simple premise built around consequences. Consider it another reminder that if you insist on keeping a potentially evil doll around, the least you can do is be polite.
Marter
The strongest film of the block (although the least horror entry) , Marter follows a peasant who encounters a princess giving birth. When the princess dies, the woman who found her becomes the one blamed, setting up a story involving a royal infant and a dangerous secret.
The cinematography and performances make this one stand out. Well shot and well acted, this was my clear favorite.
Necrosectos
If Marter earns the top spot, Necrosectos takes the prize for the most fun.
Monstrous, locust-like insects invade a home, and the resulting in some Evil Dead II-ish chaos and absurdity. An elderly woman finds herself dealing with a pest problem well beyond anything a can of bug spray could handle, and things only get stranger from there. It’s silly, but that’s the appeal.
Room Tone
Recording room tone should be one of the least eventful jobs on a film production. Naturally, that makes it an invitation for trouble in a horror movie.
A woman capturing background sound begins hearing and seeing things that turn a routine task into a supernatural encounter. The premise eventually gives way to possession and some nasty bodily harm.
When Cooling Off Ends
A man puts on a mask and follows a woman into the snowy woods for a bloody outcome. 25 years later, the search for this killer has resumed. Even the most retired of serial killers must scratch that itch at some point.
The International block offers a varied collection, with Marter standing above the rest for its filmmaking and performances. For viewers who prefer their horror weird and silly, Necrosectos is the one to seek out. Those two films were the highlights for me—but all are entertaining and fun.
