Indie
[Fantasia ’14 Review] ‘Honeymoon’ Falls Upon Its Own Sword
Reviewed by: Síofra McAllister
A murky, isolated Canadian lakeshore cottage. A fresh-faced, freshly married couple. A mysterious ex-lover. All ingredients for a pretty conventional horror, yet Honeymoon‘s overarching premise is surprisingly original. However, the secret twists and turns that had the potential to distinguish this horror flick from the rest are delivered in such a ham-fisted and predictable manner that any claim to innovation is lost.
Rookie writer and director Leigh Janiak does hold her own, maximising viewers’ empathy for the characters through clever and occasionally touching dynamics. Motifs of newlywed angst and attendant sexual anxiety are unsubtly – but successfully uncomfortably – portrayed. Honeymoon is, however, heavily reliant on its two lead actors, the couple around whom the plot revolves, and this is almost the movie’s undoing.
In a questionable casting decision, two normally strong British actors – Rose Leslie (“Game of Thrones,” “Downtown Abbey”) and Harry Treadaway (Cockneys Vs. Zombies) – play the All-American couple. Hammy and theatrical performances combined with a certain lack of chemistry prompt a few eye rolls within the first twenty minutes, so as the dynamic gets more complicated the distance between the two characters is a marked relief for the viewer – surely not the intended emotional response? Fantastic production values – a darkly atmospheric and authentic setting, a cleverly sparing but provocative score and some well placed and affecting gross-out shocks – can’t quite save Honeymoon from uninspired lead performances and an unsurprising (for horror aficionados, at least) denouement.
Screening at Montréal’s 2014 Fantasia festival, Honeymoon‘s mediocrity is thrown into stark relief as it competes against some extraordinary festival standouts like Faults and The Harvest. Honeymoon provides some gory thrills for viewers who manage to muster up a passing engagement with the sickly sweet couple in the opening scene, but discerning horror fans are more likely to call this movie’s bluff early in the game.
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.
4 New Horror Movies Releasing This Week Including ‘Late Night with the Devil’ at Home
Looking for New Episodes of “Chucky” on Peacock? Here’s What Changed
‘Ready or Not’: Radio Silence Filmmakers Tease the “Absolute Banger” of a Sequel That’s Taking Shape
‘Terrifier 3’: Filming Has Wrapped on Damien Leone’s Christmas Slasher Sequel!
‘Halloween: Illustrated’ Review: Original Novelization of John Carpenter’s Classic Gets an Upgrade
