Indie
[SXSW Review] ‘Mayhem’ Takes Killing to the Top Level
Lots of people die in the bloody new film from Joe Lynch.
Lynch, who directed fan favorite Wrong Turn 2, Knights of Badassdom, and the Salma Hayek actioneer Everly, is back with his most violent film yet.
Mayhem, which had its world premiere at the ongoing SXSW Film Festival, stars “The Walking Dead’s” Steven Yeun as an attorney framed by a co-worker and wrongfully fired. Ironically, a mysterious virus is unleashed on his company that forces the entire building under quarantine for an entire workday. This virus is unique, though, affecting people’s primal inhibitions, which cause all employees to erupt into a tirade of vulgarities, sex, and violence. Furthermore, because said virus causes the host to act in a way that’s abnormal, they’re cleared of all murder over the period of infection. In turn, Derek Cho (Yeun) will work his way to the top of the building and make the partners pay for what they did to him.
Mayhem interestingly echoes Orion’s The Belko Experiment (also an homage to Battle Royale), while also mixing in elements from both The Raid and Dredd. What you get is an independent rager that’s pretty fucking hardcore.
[SXSW 2017] Keep up with all of the news and reviews here!
And even though “The Walking Dead” fans will tune in to see Yeun in the middle of more bloodshed, Samara Weaving absolutely steals the show, delivering a wicked performance that will remind many of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. The duo work their way up to the top, literally, by slaying everyone who stands in the way. Lynch has a lot of fun with Mayhem, using hammers and nailguns, while mostly avoiding typical gun play. There’s a lot of playful dialogue mixed with metal references, which hit peak awesome when Cho and his female counterpart kick some ass to Faith No More’s “Motherfucker”.
But I digress, Mayhem is a bit overly ambitious, which is the crux of the film’s problems; there’s a handful of bad extras and some of the set dressing isn’t up to par with bigger films, ultimately hurting it a bit. Still, Lynch grandiose approach is applauded; what the audience still gets is plenty of head-bang for their buck.
Mayhem is a popcorn munching riot that was made with good vibes and positive energy. You and your friends will have a blast watching two people kick the man’s ass in more way than one…
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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