AFM '08: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
November 12, 2008
Another year of the American Film Market has come to an end. I've taken in a few films, been c**k-blocked from seeing others due to protective sales reps (it comes with the territory). Still, it was a fruitful market. We had more news stem from this year's event than any other year (see all of our headlines in one convenient spot
here), but that doesn't necessarily mean it was a successful one for the horror biz.
One insider told me there was a glut of genre product this year - none of it very appealing to potential buyers who descend on Santa Monica from all over the world to make distribution deals. I've got to agree, out of the films I attended, only one really astounded me.
A few promo reels grabbed me including
Lesbian Vampire Killers and
Vampire Party (dueling bloodsucker comedies from overseas.
Stan Helsing was more parody than I expected - there are likenesses of Krueger, Pinhead, Voorhees and Myers in the film I suspect will draw some heat from fans and lawyers - but it looked like it could be some fun. I've got a hard-on for
Burning Bright, mostly due to the concept (a sister and her autistic bro versus a tiger - A TIGER!), and I hope they nail it (Lionsgate picked it up for distribution).
Then there were the other announced, and packaged, projects that appeared appealing but it's far too early in the game to get excited. Many of them were carry-overs from the 2007 AFM and have seen little development progress yet are still being pushed in the hopes someone takes an interest.
To wrap up our coverage, here is a handful of promo pieces for various films flaunted at the AFM like street hookers. Again, you'll find much more
here.
Comments
Posted by: Judson on November 12, 2008 at 17:26:22
Are you gonna review any of the movies you watched? I'm interested in hearing which one "astounded" you...
Posted by: Ryan Rotten, Managing Editor on November 12, 2008 at 17:36:17
Such is the way with the AFM, there were some screenings I was allowed into as long as I didn't review them. I will review one and that's the film I really loved. It'll be coming soon. Have a few more feature deadlines I need to meet first.
Posted by: Charley Brewster on November 12, 2008 at 20:05:04
Every single one of those posters look like some ****ty DTV release from LIONSGATE.
The only movies that were screening that I was interested in seeing were BOOK OF BLOOD and the Thai spontaneous combustion flick BURN.
Posted by: Garth on November 13, 2008 at 00:00:10
I like the first poser for Bled (though based on the second one, I have no interest in the movie) and Smash Cut (mainly because I a like a hot girl in a nurse's uniform as much as anyone else) but yeah, most of these look like awful DTV flicks.
Posted by: Steven Millan on November 13, 2008 at 18:10:39
They all look very promising,for with "War Wolves" I'm glad to see that John Saxon is back in the genre(after a lengthy hiatus). 8)8)
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