fears of the dark Tagged Articles at Cinematical

'Tis the season for cinematic horrors, but a fright-seeker's options aren't limited to Saw V or High School Musical 3. The Indie Spotlight has the lowdown on a batch of limited-release films opening today that may also terrify or amuse you. Four of the five have gotten almost nothing but great reviews, too.

Here's what's new today: Fear(s) of the Dark, I've Loved You So Long, Let the Right One In, Roadside Romeo, and Stranded: I Have Come from a Plane That Crashed on the Mountains. Those are some great titles, if nothing else. Here's the scoop on each of them.

Let the Right One In
What it is: Twelve-year-old boy develops a crush on a girl who might be a vampire. It's Twilight, but with the genders reversed, and in Swedish.
What they're saying: Raves all around the board, including Cinematical's Scott Weinberg. At Rotten Tomatoes, the acclaim is almost universal. (Owen Gleiberman: Welcome to Contraryville, population 1.) Everybody I know who has seen it says it's something special -- scary, twisted, witty, and even sweet.
Where it's playing: New York City (Angelika Film Center), Los Angeles (Laemmle Sunset 5, Laemmle Playhouse 7, Edwards University Town Center in Irvine).
More info: The official site has a list of upcoming playdates in other cities. Let's make this one a hit, people!

I've Loved You So Long
What it is: A French drama about a woman released from prison after 15 years who must try to reconnect with her sister and her sister's family. (Does the title make anyone else think of Full Metal Jacket? "Me love you long time!")
What they're saying: Cinematical gushed effusively when the film played at Telluride, calling it a "masterpiece." The Rotten Tomatoes score is overwhelmingly positive (90% at the moment), and the buzz is that Kristin Scott Thomas is a lock for an Oscar nomination and a solid bet for a win.
Where it's playing: New York City (Lincoln Plaza, Angelika Film Center), Los Angeles (Laemmle Town Center 5, Laemmle Playhouse 7, Laemmle Royal, Regency South Coast Village in Costa Mesa).
More info: Sony Classics' official site.

Cinematical has just received two exclusive clips from the upcoming French animated horror anthology Fear(s) of the Dark. And if "French animated horror anthology" doesn't snag your attention, then how about news that this puppy is pretty damn good. The film itself consists of a collection of six freaky animated shorts created by six of the world's most renowned graphic artists (Charles Burns, Lorenzo Mattoli, Blutch, Marie Caillou, Pierre Di Sciullo and Richard McGuire) and all are based on the concept of fear.

Cinematical's own renowned horror expert, Scott Weinberg, said this about the flick back when we premiered the poster: "Fear(s) of the Dark is not exactly a Creepshow-style omnibus, but for genre fans who can appreciate a little culture now and again, I'd call it a very cool little treat. And if you're a big fan of graphic arts or the craft of animation, then I suspect you'll devour this French delicacy with a very large spoon. Plus, best of all, it's creepy!"

Fear(s) of the Dark hits theaters (in limited release) and On Demand on October 22. Check out one clip below and the second clip after the jump.

I had a ball describing Fear(s) of the Dark to my fellow movie freaks. After really enjoying the film at last January's Sundance Film Festival (and calling Fantastic Fest Master Chief Tim League to give him the scoop), I made sure to come up with an apt description for the film. "Hmm, what's it about?" my fellow fest-goers would ask, to which I'd reply "Oh, it's your typical French animated ... horror ... anthology. In black & white." The next response was either "Oooh, cool," (my friends) or "Meh, not my speed." (total strangers).

Created by a collection of gifted graphic artists that includes names like Charles Burns, Romain Slocombe, and Marie Caillou, Fear(s) of the Dark is not exactly a Creepshow-style omnibus, but for genre fans who can appreciate a little culture now and again, I'd call it a very cool little treat. And if you're a big fan of graphic arts or the craft of animation, then I suspect you'll devour this French delicacy with a very large spoon. Plus, best of all, it's creepy!

Fear(s) of the Dark opens on in New York City (and On Demand! Like in your living room!) on October 24 before rolling into other towns -- and yep, it's also screening a few times at Austin's Fantastic Fest -- but we're very proud to bring you the first official poster for the film. Trust me when I say the poster fits the movie quite well. Click below for the noir-ness!