Horrible Imaginings FeaturedThe Horrible Imagings Film Festival (HIFF) made a strong debut at its new home in Orange County at our beloved Frida Cinema. The Festival, which had previously been held in San Diego since its founding nearly a decade ago, recently made the decision to migrate north to a theater that, founder and  director of HIFF, Miguel Rodriguez says is a perfect home for them. Always priding themselves on having an intimate festival, the first night certainly felt that way as the crowd that turned out for the official first night. [the festival unofficially opened on Thursday night with an award presentation to director Kevin Tenney and a screening of his 1988 film Night of the Demons – an event I was unable to attend] Festival staff, including Miguel, as well as filmmakers were all very welcoming and accessible to attendees giving off the vibe of if they had simply invited you to there house to check out some movies.

The night kicked off at 5:30pm with HIFF’s first block of short films. Each day of the three day event, starts with a block of shorts. The first block, called Reflections and Madness, showcased nine films from around the world. Included were the following:

Prism – a film a bout a woman and a small glass prism, it had a look style of artsy commercial from the ’90s. I was distracted throughout it however  because it appeared there were two strips on either side of the image to cut it down from widescreen to academy ratio but the strips were smaller that frame so you could see the rest of the image above and below the strips.

Winston – This was my favorite of this block. An animated film about one man’s descent into madness told through the rambling letters he’s writing to his brother. Engaging from start to finish.

Entropia – A cringe-inducing film about a woman attempts to regain her youth through spells and taxidermy. Definitely the film that made me squirm the most.

Ovum – I don’t know for sure if I missed something in the film or if it was purposely vague. A woman goes through a procedure in which she rapidly experiences life as a wife and mother and is told she will have to endure this procedure every day until she makes a decision although I’m not entirely sure what the decision  is she needs to make.

Grey Canyon– Like many short films, this is part of a grander idea that, according to filmmaker  Zeshaan Younus during the Q&A, was cut down because of budget constraints. I would very much like to see this story of a couple encounter with something in the woods expanded.

TiCK – Another favorite of mine, TiCK is smother film ready to burst out of the short film format into a feature or even a series. It’s packed with an incredible amount of world building while still being able to tell a story that can stand on it own.

The Old Woman Who Hid Her Fear Under the Stairs – This was a film that I liked very much until the last part when it lost me. The end of the film seemed completely out of step with what preceded it  and also it seemed like it broke its own rules leading to a conclusion that left me saying “What?”

Echo – A fascinating experimental film designed to showcase a new motion controlled camera, Experiment aside, the film is still an amazing look at the terrifying nature of dreams.

La Quinceanera

We are Going to the Woods – Another one of my favorites, this french language film about a jealous husband and father whose brother witnesses him commit a brutal murder is very well structured and intriguing. Its opening sequence does a masterful job of misdirection. My only gripe is the subtitle translations were a little off.

Following the block was a filmmaker Q&A session with Grey Canyon’s Zeshaan Younus and TiCK’s Ashlea Wessel.

The official opening night film of this year’s festival was HIFF favorite Gigi Saul Guerrero’s La Quinceañera. La Quinceañera  is a seven part series that has been stitched for a feature length presentation. Described by its filmmaker as a sort Mexican Kill Bill, the film takes place during a young girl’s La Quinceañera that is visted by a very unwelcome local drug cartel. I will go more in depth in a full length review coming soon. Along with all the features at HIFF, La Quinceañera was accompanied by a selection shorts. These included:

Nadine – Much like some of the previous shorts, this is a film with bigger aspirations behind. Feeling like the opening to a TV pilot, Nadine‘s tittle character is revealed to be an enhanced human under lock and key looking for a way out.

Lunarcy – I can’t really say this film did much for me. The style was very much a Japanese ghost story with a woman being haunted by a possible twin.

He Likes it Rough – This was a clever, if not predictable, voodoo doll vengeance film.

Ms .45Following the screening of  La Quinceañera, Gigi and one of her actors, Gustavo Gomez participating in a Q&A. The series was produced through Warner Bros but has yet to receive a release date or platform. Gigi teased a season two but season one needs to get out first. Hopefully when you read my upcoming review you will want to see season one too and will find yourself wanting to contact Warner Bros and demand its release.

The final screening of the night was Abel Ferrara‘s 1981 classic Ms .45, a film which I never seen before. Only his second feature film, Ferrara’s film is like a female version of Death Wish with the lead actress Zoë Lund take on the role of both the violated and the vigilante. The film was recently restored by Alamo Drafthouse and looks outstanding.

HIFF continues at The Frida through Sunday Night and tickets are still available here.

About the Author

A lifelong movie fan of all genres, Eric has a special appreciation for the wide and varied genre of horror. In addition to writing for HorrorBuzz.com, Eric is active in the many of the events we put on throughout the year. Most notably our annual Screaming Room Film Festival at the Midsummer Scream convention and our monthly Horror Movie Nights at The Frida Cinema.