Indie
[Sundance Review] Kevin Smith’s ‘Yoga Hosers’ Is Amblin Good Fun!
Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp ARE Yoga Hosers. It would be criminal if that’s not the poster and trailer. The Canadian convenience store clerks from Tusk are back in their own adventure, a lovely ode to female friendship as an Amblin creature movie.
High school sophomores Colleen Colette (Depp) and Colleen McKenzie (Smith) just want to go to a senior party, but they are forced to work that night. While on duty, the army of little creatures that’s been creeping around town, attacks them.
I guess Smith already revealed the creatures are Bratzis. I would’ve tried to write around it but this saves me. The little Nazi bratwursts are so weird that the obvious CGI works. When their creator explains their mythology it is also a bizarre take on a mad scientist. I wonder if Nazis are a theme in Kevin Smith’s True North trilogy, since the podcast in Tusk was The Not See Party. We’ll find out if there are any Nazis in Moose Jaws.
The main attractions in Yoga Hosers are the girls though. They are adorable, and Smith’s take on social media addiction is perceptive. It’s more universal than the podcasting in Tusk, as everyone uses cell phones and only 50% of people have a podcast. The Colleens are actually singers in a band so they don’t have to sing into hairbrushes. They have real microphones and catchy tunes I want to download. I suppose Smith can sell them on SModCo Internet Radio rather than iTunes.
The Colleens are Yoga Hosers because they practice yoga with an eccentric yogi (Justin Long). His completely fake poses are legit funny. As a practicer of actual yoga, those tickled me, and they give the Colleens their superpowers too. This adventure is somewhat contained, but works as a siege movie. Perhaps they have more epic adventures ahead. There’s something profound about hearing Harley Quinn Smith deliver a famous line from her father’s signature movie. They also talk about girl stuff as openly as Smith’s male characters discuss sex.
Here’s the elephant in the room, and I have good news. Johnny Depp is fairly restrained in this. The fact that he’s credited suggests he’s no longer going method on Guy Lapointe. Here he serves the plot, investigating the Bratzis and delivering just enough self-referential commentary on Tusk and moves on before its self-indulgent.
Seeing Smith find new inspirations speaks to the organic artistic world as a whole. He’d expressed all his personal feelings and I was there when he “retired” from filmmaking, but his other business gave him a new idea. Then minor characters he invented for Tusk inspired him to tell more stories. That’s how art works. Your voice evolves but you never run out of things to say. I really like the Colleens so I’m happy to see more adventures with them, and Franchise Fred approves!
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
Dev Patel’s ‘Monkey Man’ Is Now Available to Watch at Home!
