Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2024 Reviews Act One

Another year and another appearance at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival for us. Even though we did not go to the screenings that we wanted to go. We ended up giving out reviews for some films that you may want to check out while you're there. The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2024 runs from October 17th to October 24th. You can go to https://brooklynhorror2024.eventive.org for information on the festival. Let's start with a couple of films that was on our radar: House Of Ashes and Black Eyed Susan.

House Of Ashes is a horror feature where the attack on the female body is part of the backdrop. Directed by BHFF favorite Izzy Lee and produced by her company Nihil Noctem Films, the film starts with Mia (played by Fayna Sanchez (Creepshow, Tenants) getting a ankle bracelet for house arrest for allegedly murdering her husband and unborn baby. From there a old friend named Marc (Vincent Stalba (Lessons in Chemistry, I Saw the Light) enters her life to help cope with house arrest and being a potential partner. However not long after he moves in, the new couple endures challenges: things go missing and they’re attacked by an unseen foe. Mia is sure that the culprit is a supernatural entity, but Marc’s convinced that humans are the problem. A security expert by trade, he installs a home surveillance system to help keep them safe — but soon finds out that this is an issue he can’t fix. Under all these pressures, Mia must call on her buried strength to move on with her life — or risk death herself. The performances of Sanchez and Stalba is great, they balance each other well and separately. Stalba as Marc gives a great eerie performance as a man who wants what he can't have but willing to work himself up the ladder to get there. His movements were perfect especially in scenes where he tries to get Mia to relax. It seems like the plans he make would be bad but his actions makes it worth it. Sanchez as Mia is great especially when she discusses her reason to build a shrine to her dead husband or when she interacts with her parole officer about her bracelet. The script was well done and definitely relates to today's political climate. Other characters like Lee Boxleitner makes the movie more intriguing because of their interactions with Mia and Marc. The scenery is also beautiful as well. Shot in Los Angeles Izzy Lee gives the audience quite a view and great backdrop throughout the film.

House Of Ashes is a good horror story where not every relationship is a good one and what leads to that relationship is probably standing on a house that's burned down and spirits are looking for their lost ones. If you looking for scare factors then House may not be up there but for the psychological thrillseekers then this one is for you. House of Ashes is produced by Izzy Lee and Steve Johanson of Nihil Noctem Films, and lensed by Director of Photography Sophia Cacciola (The Once and Future Smash). Mario Niccolo Messina and Valentina Cau executive produced. C. Robert Cargill (The Black Phone, Sinister), Jessica Cargill, Megan Duffy (Maniac), Kevin Sluder, and Jennifer Sluder co-produced. Nicholas Peterson and Michael Lenzini are Associate Producers. The film was edited by Anna Rottke (The Conjuring: Last Rites) and composed by Antoine Lamothe of the industrial Montreal band Deadly Apples (their upcoming album features Filter frontman Richard Patrick and former Nine Inch Nails member Danny Lohner).