Indie
[Review] ‘The Blackcoat’s Daughter’ is a Brooding Horror Masterpiece (‘February’)
Satan’s presence is strong at the Toronto International Film Festival, but only one film has left me worshipping him.
Hyped with an outstanding trailer and shocking clip (both of which I suggest avoiding for spoilers), Osgood Perkins’ February (retitled to The Blackcoat’s Daughter for the release) not only lives up to the expectations, but exceeds them.
While the chilling performances of “American Horror Story’s” Emma Roberts and “Mad Men’s” Kiernan Shipka catapult the film into masterpiece status (yes, I went there), it’s Perkins’ writing and directing that stands out.
February is a brooding horror film that requires a viewer with extreme patience, not that Perkins’ film isn’t brimming with suspenseful sequences. Kat (Shipka) has nightmares/visions of her parents’ death, waking up in a cold sweat. She’s marking down the days to her prep school’s winter break, only her parents fail to show to pick her up. Same for Rose (Lucy Boynton), who tricked her parents into coming later to deal with the fact that she’s become pregnant. All the while, a side story develops with Joan (Roberts), who is being driven to an undisclosed location by “Dexter’s” James Remar and his wife, who are off to visit the grave of their daughter.
It’s pretty clear from the start these stories are going to collide, but it’s insignificant to the experience. February is a master-craft in building tension and suspense through rich characters and stunning frightening imagery.
But what I truly loved about February is that the Devil – so to speak – is presented on such a basic and instinctual level. There’s no real reference to him; there are no characters acting as devices to explain it all, nor is there a nefarious antagonist laughing maniacally when he/she gets the upper hand. What you get is a raw interpretation of what it could be like to become possessed by evil and the feeling of extreme isolation. It all ties together, has deep meaning, and is significant in its ability to connect on an emotional level to so many of us.
February isn’t a game-changer, nor is it going to cause horror fans to erupt in applause (probably why it’s not part of TIFF’s Midnight Madness program), but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s one of the best possession films ever. Fans of slow-burn horror are rewarded for their patience as what thaws out is going to shock the living Hell out of them.
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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