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[Review] ‘ABCs of Death 2’ Is Sick, Twisted Fun!

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Reviewed by Jay Hawkinson

If you’ve seen the first ABCs of Death (2012) then you know what to expect from ABCs of Death 2 (2014), which had its world premiere at the ongoing Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Applying the same format, a horror-tinged short film for each letter of the alphabet done by a different director, ABCs of Death 2 is a tighter, more consistent follow-up that is less the mixed bag of the first film and a hell of a lot more fun. Sick, twisted fun.

Kicking off with “A for Amateur,” directed by E.L. Katz (Cheap Thrills), the dark humorous tone is established. His short was also an audience favorite, which is saying a lot with the level of quality on display; pulsating music over the glossy, gross underbelly of Los Angeles, Katz maneuvers an assassin in for the kill. However, things don’t go as planned leading to a rather unexpected and hilarious outcome.

The bar is set high from the beginning. Framed within a grim children’s book (the opening credits sequence is a delight, watching animated teachers slice off body parts of their pupils), this loose anthology of sorts follows that lead, in which nearly all the directing teams step up to the task. From killer animals to beheadings gone wrong and home invasion, ABCs of Death 2 covers a lot of ground without ever reducing to the toilet humor found in the first installment (which apparently was one of the ‘new’ mandates thrown down by producer Ant Timpson, “No more fart jokes”).

Clearly, these directors accepted that challenge and rose above it. The contest winner, “M is for Masticate,” directed by Robert Boocheck, was viewable online and yet works even better on the big screen. The letter Y, by VFX artist and first time director Soichi Umezawa, was a late entry after another director dropped out. Older by a few years, this creative short still fit in perfectly with the rest and is another standout.

Other highlights include the segment by Bruno Samper and Kristina Buozyte, the writing and directing team behind Vanishing Waves (2012), a previous festival darling, and Jerome Sable (Stage Fright) turns in a wicked “get what you deserve, Brodude” short for the letter V. The man behind Astron 6, Steven Kostanski, doesn’t disappoint with another audience favorite that’s basically a toy commercial that becomes reality. Directors Jim Hosking and Chris Nash each file comical, yet grotesque segments about becoming someone you’re not. They couldn’t be more different in approach but both are unforgettable.

Like the initial ABCs of Death movie, plenty of festival favorite directors are included, but give a hat tip to producer Tim League & Co. for the international flavor. From Canada to Israel, Lithuania to Spain and more, distinct voices and countries are represented. Not every segment is a knockout but there are easily more hits here than misses. Whether you saw the first movie or not, ABCs of Death 2 brings something new to the table that makes it worth seeing.

Surprising no one, a third film is teased at in the end credits…

ABCs-of-Death2-QA

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

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“Bite Size Short: Her House of Horrors” Announce Short Grant Program!

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Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.

The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.

The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:

“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.

“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.

“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.

“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”

Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.

WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.

To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.

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