New genre festival Cinepocalypse descends on Chicago with its first wave of programming
For the past several years, every summer a suburban Chicago multiplex has played host to the Bruce Campbell Film Festival, a low-key younger sibling to genre film festivals like Fantastic Fest and Fantasia. Well, this year, the festival’s organizers have said, “fuck that,” and expanded it into a full-on, week-long genre film festival at Chicago’s famous (and gorgeous) Music Box Theatre. Re-dubbed Cinepocalypse, the festival will run from November 2-9, with You’re Next and The Guest (yes, and Blair Witch) screenwriter Simon Barrett serving as guest host for the entirety of its run.
The festival will also play host to Joe Carnahan, director of Smokin’ Aces, The Grey, and the upcoming American remake of The Raid, who will program a special collection of 35mm repertory films. The relentlessly prolific Eric Roberts will also be on hand for a special taping of the podcast Eric Roberts Is The Fucking Man, and The A.V. Club will be on hand for all of it as the official media sponsor for the festival.
Today, Cinepocalypse released its first round of programming, featuring the world premiere of Finnish superhero flick Rendel, the U.S. premieres of Lowlife and Mohawk—two of our favorites at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival—new films from Pulse’s Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Baskin’s Can Evrenol, and REC’s Paco Plaza, a special screening of the Chicago Cinema Society’s 35mm print of Suspiria, buzzy horror-comedy Tragedy Girls, and more. You can see the complete first wave lineup below, and stay tuned for more announcements from Cinepocalypse and The A.V. Club!
Rendel – World Premiere
Finland, 2017
Director: Jesse Haaja
Finland’s first superhero film, Rendel is dystopian action/fantasy unlike anything ever witnessed Stateside. When a massive criminal organization takes over his town, a masked vigilante strikes back through a series of brutal attacks that leave blood spilled and cash ablaze. A dark adventure that harkens to the finest in 80s era comics, Rendel is the anti-Marvel crusader: an all-too-human superhero from the streets, driven solely by rage and revenge!
Attack of the Adult Babies – North American Premiere
UK, 2017
Director: Dominic Brunt
High-powered middle-aged men intend to refuel the world’s economy by very sinister, sick, and monstrous means in this British gross-out extravaganza.
$1 of each ticket sale will be donated to the ACLU to assist in continuing their support of defending the world from further adult baby attacks.
Lowlife – U.S. Premiere
USA, 2017
Director: Ryan Prows
The sordid lives of an addict, an ex-con, and a Luchador collide when an organ harvesting caper goes very, very wrong in this wildly clever – and incredibly brutal – modern LA noir.
Mohawk – U.S. Premiere
USA, 2017
Director: Ted Geoghegan
Over one very long day late in The War of 1812, a young Mohawk woman and her two lovers strike back at a squadron of American soldiers responsible for the death of her people. From the writer/director of We Are Still Here.