Indie
[BD Review] ‘Jamie Marks Is Dead’ Is A Generic Existential Drama
Adopting the deliberate, melancholy pace that is a cornerstone of the proud Sundance tradition, Jamie Marks Is Dead wants desperately to be River’s Edge. So bad. In fact, it would probably settle for dinner and drinks with River’s Edge, followed by weepy sex and an in-bed discussion of moody cinematography and teen angst.
Jamie Marks is (spoiler alert) dead, his battered body found on a rocky stream bed. As Jamie wasn’t popular in high school, but rather the frequent target of urinating bullies, the student body isn’t necessarily devastated by the loss. The only two people who seem to care are Adam (Cameron Monaghan), a kind-hearted jock, and Gracie (Morgan Saylor; Dana from Homeland), a vodka-swilling rich girl who collects rocks and flares her nostrils a lot.
Jamie’s ghost appears first to Gracie, and then Adam. When he first appears, director Carter Smith places his corpse––hunched and wet, clad in tighty-whiteys––at a distance, at the far edge of the frame. It’s a haunting use of composition, and at first glance, Jamie Marks Is Dead has the potential to be that rare brand of cerebral, thoughtful horror. Unfortunately, the film ultimately regresses into the sort of generic existential drama that has plagued Sundance since its inception. No horror to be seen here. Move along, people.
Unhappy with his home life, Adam allows Jamie to lead him into a bleak netherworld, where other tortured souls are waiting to return home––occasionally with Jamie’s help. There’s a super deep metaphor lurking somewhere in Jamie Marks Is Dead, but for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what it was. There’s an emphasis on Jamie’s reluctance to leave his earthly life, so in some ways the film seems to be a reflection on the sad inevitability of death. The vaguely homoerotic overtones of Adam and Jamie’s friendship indicate the movie is a celebration of unconditional gay love. At other times, it comes across like at treatise against high school bullying. Frankly, I have no idea what the point of Jamie Marks Is Dead was. Too bad, considering how arduous the journey was.
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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