Indie
[SXSW ’15 Review] ‘Deathgasm’ Delivers On Its Gory Promise!
The SXSW Film Festival just had a Deathgasm, and the theater is covered in blood.
Deathgasm is a mix between Evil Dead 2 and “Metalocalypse”, and delivers on its promise to be the most metal horror film ever.
Drawing inspiration from Black Roses (1988) and Trick or Treat (1986), Deathgasm is a New Zealand horror comedy from Jason Lei Howden that pushes the film as far as it can go.
In Deathgasm, Brodie (Milo Cawthorne) is new to town. He meets Zakk (James Blake), a fellow heavy metal fan. The duo form a band, and sing lyrics to an ancient Satanic ritual, which unleash a horde of demons onto the town.
Other than some pacing issues, Deathgasm is the horror film a 15-year-old me would have creamed his pants over. The film revs up tons of chainsaws, decapitating dozens of demons; you’ll see giant dildos jammed into demons heads; and there’s plenty of sharp objects used to cut demons in pieces.
A slight flaw is that, in an attempt to push the limits of onscreen gore, the filmmakers ham up what could have been something a bit more impactful. What they do is, after a decapitation of sorts, hang on the shot a bit too long to where the audience can see just how fake the gag is. If it had been edited down a bit tighter, the impact would have been ten fold. Still, I admire the attempt to push the boundaries, even though nobody will ever top Dead Alive.
Frankly, the thing I liked best about Deathgasm, besides the heavy metal plot, was the relationship arc between Brodie and Medina (Kimberley Crossman). It’s rare when a horror film actually connects the romantic dots and creates real sexual tension.
Also, I think it’s important that Deathgasm felt authentic. At no point did I feel as if these kids (or the filmmakers) were posers. Can you imagine a heavy metal horror film in which the characters looked and felt like “Melrose Place” actors wearing dark makeup? Ugh.
Deathgasm isn’t perfect by any means, but it’s satisfying. It’s got spirit, a great heart, and it’s really fun. It’s a record you can spin over and over again with friends. It may just as well work itself into the lore of cult classic fandom.
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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