Films directed by Dick Maas, Lucky McKee and Noboru Iguchi in this year’s Horror Festival selection

European, American and Oriental films in the Festival's programme (29 October – 4 November). Here is an advance of some of the most important fantasy and horror films of the year, directed by authors who are already acclaimed within the genre (some of them habituals at San Sebastian, like Lucky McKee or Noboru Iguchi), which can be viewed in San Sebastián.

Juan de los muertos (Spain-Cuba, 2011). Alejandro Brugués

(CLOSING FILM)

Juan is forty years old, he has dedicated the majority of those years to living in Cuba doing absolutely nothing. Always accompanied by his friend Lázaro, they wander around the streets of Havana trying to earn a living without having to work. He has a daughter who he does not want to know anything about. But suddenly something happens: The people transform, they become violent and they infect each other by bites. Vampires? Zombies? Dissidents? Is it another imperial manoeuvre to finish them off? In any case, Juan tries to make the most of the situation. Entertaining, irreverent, full of action and adventures, spattered with uninhibited reflections on the socio-political situation of the island, this Hispanic-Cuban coproduction was directed by the Argentinean (educated at the Film and television School of San Antonio de los Baños) Alejandro Brugués.

 

Hobo With a Shotgun (Canada, 2011). Jason Eisener

Homage to the film genre of the 70s and 80s which comes from a false trailer contest organised by the SXSW Film Festival of Austin (Texas) during the preparation of Grindhouse (Planet Terror + Death Proof) (2007) by Rodríguez and Tarantino. Canadian Jason Eisener and two friends presented the trailer for Hobo With a Shotgun and won the contest, what led the distributor of the film in that country to include it in copies of Grindhouse. Now that trailer has finally become a feature film. Rutger Hauer (converted into an avenging hobo) stars in this absolutely 80s action-packed thriller which shows respect for action films which an entire generation grew up on, with special reference to Charles Bronson and the "vigilante" subgenre.

 

The Orphan Killer (United States, 2011). Matt Farnsworth

One of Internet's favourite films this year. After losing their parents, two siblings end up in a catholic secondary school. While Audrey is a calm and sweet girl, Marcus become aggressive and violent little by little and they place a mask on him so that the other residents won't go near him. He attacks anyone who approaches his sister. Until the day she gets adopted and she leaves. Years later Marcus attempts to explain (in very convincing ways) what the expression "family loyalty" means. Vengeance, blood, murders, religion... Horror in its purest form.

 

Saint (Sint; Holland, 2010). Dick Maas

"Your parents told you he doesn't exist...". Saint Nick is not really the man with the golden heart who leaves presents for children who have been good on Christmas. He was a bloodthirsty bishop who travelled the Dutch landscape centuries ago robbing, raping and murdering whoever crossed his or his men's path. The locals decided to seek vengeance and kill him. Since that day he has usually returns on the anniversary of his death on the full moon (normally every 32 years) to spread panic once again in his native land. Directed by Dick Maas, veteran creator of films of the genre like The Elevator (1983), Amsterdamned (1988) and Do Not Disturb (1999).

 

Tomie Unlimited / Tomie: Anrimiteddo (Japan, 2011). Noboru Iguchi

Noboru Iguchi, one of the most important and unclassifiable Japanese filmmakers of the genre, returns to the Festival twice over. Responsible for films like The Machine Girl (2008) and RoboGeisha (2009) –which closed the Festival two years ago (those who were in the cinema still remember his unforgettable ceremony before the showing)–, always accompanied by his inseparable special effects director Yoshihiro Nishimura, he presents this adaptation of a manga which tells the story of two sisters, one who returns from the dead so that her family does not forget her and to wreak havoc. Equally fun and terrifying, at moments crazy and brilliant. Without a doubt one of the films of the year.

 

Karate-Robo Zaborgar / Denjin Zabôgâ: Gekijô-ban (Japan, 2011). Noboru Iguchi

The second film by Noboru Iguchi which will be shown at the Festival this year is an adaptation of a television series from the 70s and the film with the highest budget. A secret agent who rides a karate motorcycle-robot seeks vengeance on an evil company that assassinated his parents years ago and which, of course, tries to takeover the world. Fights between motorcycles, cartoon villains, martial art master robots, all out fights, action without limits and the characteristic bizarro and shameless touch by Iguchi and Nishimura.

 

Wake Wood (Ireland-United Kingdom, 2011). David Keating

After losing his daughter Alice, a couple moves in an attempt to remake their lives in the remote town of Wake Wood. There they meet the spiritual leader of the local community (the always reliable Timothy Spall), capable of reviving the dead for some days through a pagan ritual. Production of the legendary Hammer, which has reborn in the last few years under several titles, like this one which links directly with the productions in the 60s and 70s. A classic story which takes the audience to the years in which Hammer ruled worldwide horror at the hands of the director of Summer Fling (1996).

 

The Woman (United States, 2011). Lucky McKee

A lawyer comes in contact with a mysterious and wild woman in the forest who seems to live cut off from civilization. Said encounter will place his life and his family's lives in danger because the more he knows about her, the more he realises that sometimes, "the devil wears a handsome face". This latest film is a new classic of the genre, the Californian, Lucky McKee, is responsible for films such as May (2002), "Sick Girl" (2006) –TV movie from the first season of the "Masters of Horror" series– or Red (2008). On this occasion he has collaborated with the prestigious writer of horror novels Jack Ketchum, author of the original novel and co-screenwriter of the film which premiered at the past Sundance Festival.