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[Sundance Review] ‘The Blackout Experiments’ Is Real, Man

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The Blackout Experiments is a documentary about a horror so messed up, they couldn’t have made it up. I watch horror movies because I like to see characters endure unspeakable horror, and sometimes triumph but not necessarily. I have no interest in experiencing it myself, so I would not buy what Blackout is selling, but following the customers who are obsessed with it is the sort of third person horror that fascinates me.

The focus is Russell, an older gentleman who became perhaps dependent on Blackout. The sampling also includes Abel, a younger man, a man named Bob and even a woman, but Russell dominates the narrative of the doc. Filmmakers Rich Fox and Kris Curry were given access to film some of the Blackout experiences.

Blackout certainly pushes the limits of what can be served up as entertainment to a paying customer. They never cross the line, although they make physical contact which is more than the performers in a haunted house maze are allowed to do. Blackouts involve being willingly taken to a dark room and can involve captivity, physical and psychological abuse, and even gunplay (if that wasn’t as carefully orchestrated as it appears, there is now evidence documenting it).

The participants give testimonial interviews in a black void, like an Errol Morris documentary. Subliminal words flash on the screen just long enough for us to read them. At only 80 minutes, we could have spent more time with some of the other participants to give a broader scope. Certainly a woman’s obsession with Blackout raises different questions, but maybe the footage didn’t warrant it.

The first thing that might be shocking about Blackout is that the participants are grateful for it. Even the permanent markings by tattoos are a badge of honor that they survived and endured. You do have to wonder what someone is lacking to welcome this. Most of us go through enough trials and tribulations involuntarily that we don’t need to create more. If we’re a true adrenaline junkie, we go rock climbing or skydiving. The documentary is a study of the personalities who derive validation from Blackout, and become dependent on it.

Blackout knows this and they use it against their customers. Abel compares it to David Fincher’s movie The Game and he’s right. Blackout doesn’t quite have the resources the Hollywood version had, but in its contained setting, they control their customers. Some of it is just gross like sticking your hand in a chicken, or creepy like a woman sawing a doll in the room, which I don’t even know how the customer could see so maybe it was only for the cameras.

As horror documentaries go, The Blackout Experiments conveys the subjects’ experience well. It’s mainly because the filmmakers had access to Blackout so they don’t have to rely on re-enactments. Blackout creators Josh Randall and Kristjan Thor are careful to maintain mystery as they allow the filmmakers to document them. It’s both the best commercial for and PSA against Blackout they could have hoped for.

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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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