Indie
[Stanley ’14 Review] ‘Moebius’ Strange, Violent and Shocking
It’s difficult to write a review of Kim Ki-duk’s disturbing thriller Moebius without giving away the terrible thing that happens within the film’s family trio right at the onset, subsequently kicking the rest of the film into action. This single act of depravity sets into motion a wide variety of terrible things, some of which might be too intense for your average moviegoer to take. Initially banned in the director’s home country of South Korea, this is the type of film that gets stuck in your head for days afterwards.
Those who do take the trip will be rewarded by Kim’s dedication to tight scenes and visually powerful drama, especially in how he quietly builds up to the big pay-offs that confound or horrify the audience. The dark eroticism of Moebius is undoubtedly its defining characteristic, a film that gives and takes away from its characters for better or for worse. They are but loose lonely creatures, some more vulnerable than others, some merely masking their dementia by playing coy.
It’s hard to tell at times throughout the film as Kim shot his picture without a single line of dialogue. That’s over 90 minutes of non-speaking time, for those keeping count. Regardless, his stellar cast does a great job of moving the story forward without lagging on non-essential elements. His film is cut and dry, unlike his characters, whose motivations range from ordinary to psychotic.
What exactly awaits our high school-aged protagonist, played by Seo Young-joo, is hard to predict at first. He’s for the most part ordinary until he falls victim to his malicious mother (Lee Eun-woo), who strikes out against her son in revenge for his father’s (Jo Jae-hyun) infidelity. It’s at that point that the film dramatically veers into strange and uncomfortable territory as the mother is cast out and the father wrestles with suicidal thoughts and how exactly he will help his son going forward.
The promise of a cure is seen through the father’s desperate online searches, which inevitably bear fruit. But whether or not his son is too far gone becomes the film’s central question. The boy, after all, has developed unnerving outlets in which to obtain relief, which play out on the screen repeatedly with gross close-ups and all.
Moebius is a strange and violent exploration of loss and of coping. Kim as a filmmaker has achieved a shocking film that touches upon almost every taboo imaginable and does so with elegance and a unshakable sense of control, making him an Asian horror auteur to watch for.
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.
Looking for New Episodes of “Chucky” on Peacock? Here’s What Changed
‘Mountain Man’ – Joe Manganiello Will Battle Zombies in Upcoming Horror Movie
‘The Blair Witch Project’ – Original Stars Release a Statement Asking Lionsgate for Residuals & Recognition
‘Trap’ – Official Trailer Previews a Wild New Horror Experience from M. Night Shyamalan
‘Longlegs’ – New Teaser Video for NEON Horror Movie Is Soaked in Cryptic Eeriness
