Saturday 26th August - Day Two
Morning, and the massed black-clad ranks of the weekend pass holders huddled outside the Odeon West End cinema suddenly recoil in horror. There are cries of alarm and screams as many scramble to pick up pitchforks and torches to defend themselves against the alien creature that has appeared amongst their ranks...What is this man-shaped monster? Erm, it's me actually. Yes - I've shaved. Yes - I'm actually wearing an ironed shirt. No - I'm not on a promise. It's the first ever Frightfest filmmakers' networking lunch today (after the "Isolation" Q&A), so I thought I'd make the effort to scrub up and present a professional front. I've also come armed with some swanky new business cards, emblazoned with the Sick Puppy Films logo. But before that: some Irish horror.
I know nothing about "Isolation", before director Billy O'Brien steps onto the stage to introduce his film, so I'm able to sit back and watch the film with no preconceptions.
"Isolation" (2005) dir. Billy O'Brien
[some spoilers]
Old Dan Reilly had a farm...ee-aye, ee-aye, ee-aye-oh...and on that farm he had some cows...
Something strange is happening on Dan Reilly's (John Lynch) farm. On the advice of old-flame and local vet Orla (Essie Davis), he has allowed scientist John (Marcel Iures) to genetically experiment with some of his cows. When one of these cows gives birth to a calf already pregnant with six hideously mutated babies, it's clear that this experiment has gone badly wrong. One of the mutants survives to feed on the other livestock, growing at an alarming rate. Soon the humans on the farm, including young couple on the run Jamie (Sean Harris) and Mary (Ruth Negga), find themselves in mortal danger. Not only from the mutant, but from one of their own who will do anything to prevent the spread of this contagion.
How do you make cows scary? Cows: vacant-eyed, cud-chewing, bovine milk machines on legs. Not scary. Mutant cows? Still not naturally scary; funny maybe, but not scary. You could have taken the same story as "Isolation" and treated it the way Jonathan King's "Black Sheep" (which has a similar - how do you make sheep scary? - problem) does. You could make a horror/comedy out of it. The fact that writer/director Billy O'Brien eschews this easier option and actually plays the material straight, deserves respect. That he actually succeeds in making cows scary deserves praise.
"Isolation" was a very pleasant surprise and a testament to Alan, Paul and Ian's willingness to programme all kinds of different horror films. It stood out from the Frightfest crowd because it was doing something different and doing it well. A lot of horror films have actors giving heightened or stylised performances. This isn't always a bad thing and suits the tone of many horrors, but "Isolation" has a quiet, compelling naturalism to its actors' performances. John Lynch leads the cast well and seems completely at home in the rural setting. The rest of the ensemble give equally assured performances. The naturalism of the acting is complemented by Robbie Ryan's moody cinematography and the verisimilitude of the farm setting.
From the opening cow foetus shock, through a slow assured build up of tension to the final nerve-shredding climax, this film gripped me. The decision to go down the "Jaws" route, and show very little of Bob Keen's nasty bone and gristle creation was an inspired one. The writer/director clearly believes that what you don't see is scarier than what you do see. The influences of "Alien" and the gynaecological body horror of David Cronenberg are clearly felt, but never get in the way of the story. This art-house horror film is a real find and I hope the fact that it maybe difficult to market doesn't stop it getting the audience it so richly deserves.
Good to see the film went down well with the majority of Frightfest audience. Billy O'Brien does his Q&A thing, then most of the weekend pass holders queue up for their goody-bags as I go looking for Amanda who is organising the filmmaker's lunch. She introduces me to "Gasoline Blood" director David Pope and we chat outside while the stragglers are rounded up. Soon we're all here, including Sick Puppy Steve, who arrives looking flushed after a morning of wedding related stress. Our rag tag band winds its way through the streets to the site of our lunch, a garishly decorated club/restaurant allegedly owned by actor Neil Morrissey (of "I Bought A Vampire Motorcycle" infamy).
Sadly, this establishment didn't have a daytime liquor license, so it was soft drinks all round. This didn't dampen spirits though and it was great to chat to Billy O'Brien, Adam Green and Jordan Barker about their films. I also got to meet David McGillivray, the legendary Brit horror writer turned producer, and his director Keith Claxton and talk about our short films. Thanks to Amanda and Frightfest for organising this little get-together, and special thanks to Billy O'Brien for the UK funding tips. Incidentally, while I was enthusing about "Isolation" he let slip that one of his friends had suggested a new tagline for his film: "Isolation" - It's scary in the dairy. Despite it having completely the wrong tone for the film, this tagline has stuck in my brain...but then, isn't that what a good tagline is supposed to do?
Next: Meeting up with a friend and sinking into "The Marsh".
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