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[What the Fest !? Review] ‘Blue My Mind’ is a Strange, Exceptional Debut with Elements of Body Horror

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If you think you’ve seen everything the coming-of-age narrative style has to offer, you haven’t seen director Lisa Bruhlmann’s fantastical, surreal debut film, Blue My Mind, which premiered at IFC’s What the Fest!? tonight.

The story follows Mia (Luna Wedler), a 15-year-old late-bloomer who is trying to make an impression on the cool girls at her new school. After a few fruitless attempts, Mia finally catches the attention of Gianna (Zoë Pastelle Holthuizen), the leader of the clique and a lawless party girl with whom Mia is completely fascinated. As she earns her way into Gianna’s good graces, Mia must also come to terms with experiencing puberty and its effects on her rapidly transforming body. With these changes come new urges, desires, and disturbing, unsavory habits. Mia is coming into her own, despite her many efforts to thwart the terrifying process.

Although Blue My Mind doesn’t completely reinvent the wheel, the story can only be described as unique. A mix of Ducournau’s Raw (sans cannibalism) with a healthy dose of Hardwicke’s ever-controversial Thirteen, Bruhlmann manages to weave a harrowing, compelling tale of self-discovery, friendship, and trying desperately to appear average despite glaring, bizarre differences. Relatedly, Mia experiences several rites-of-passage we’ve seen in countless films before, yet Blue My Mind feels as unpredictable as if this were the first story of its kind.

While Blue My Mind is a drama at its core, the film introduces enough body horror elements to keep genre fans satisfied. Beyond that, the terror is not found in the film’s imagery. Instead, it stems from the anxiety the audience shares with Mia as she discovers her body may be taking on unexpected qualities, as well as finding herself in increasingly dangerous situations. We are taken on a gripping ride of teenage alcoholism, drug abuse, risky sex, and excessive partying, and through it all we grow to care for Mia more than she cares for herself.

Not to be overlooked is Luna Wedler as the extraordinary Mia. Wedler succeeds in maintaining a key balance between vulnerability and fearlessness. There are moments when we can see the scared girl behind Mia’s cool facade, and moments, too, where we see the headstrong child beneath the mature exterior. Mia is just trying to live life on her own terms, in spite of nature’s plans for her, and Wedler gets this point across admirably. This role could have been laughable and over-the-top if left to the devices of a less savvy actress, but Wedler takes on Mia’s challenges with no signs of reservations, delivering on all counts. Not only is she believable, but she is engaging and mysterious, keeping viewers tucked snugly in her pocket throughout the film.

Rich cinematography (although a bit too on-the-nose with the use of the color blue) comes together with excellent special effects and makeup to bring us this inspired piece of filmmaking. Visually, Blue My Mind is equal parts beautiful and wonderfully repulsive. Even in scenes where not much is happening, such as a moment when the two girls are passed out on a train platform, the shots are composed with style, care, and attention to detail. The eyes of those who see this film will, undoubtedly, be wandering around the screen, taking in the artistry of each frame.

Blue My Mind is a prime example of a film which transcends genre and succeeds no matter which avenue it explores. Mia’s story is strange, fascinating, and, at times, brutal. Those open to an outlandish twist on a body horror-lite film will be captivated by this stunning debut.

The film is premiering at IFC’s What The Fest!? on March 31, 2018

Warning: Trailer contains a major plot spoiler.

Dog dad, film lover, horror fan, and bookworm. Used to be 5% more punk than he is now. Please follow @DaxEbaben on twitter

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‘Pandemic Sex Party’ Trailer – ‘The Devil’s Rejects’ Producer Slices into Influencers with Grindhouse Throwback

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AI has taken over the job market and most people have become either influencers or online sex workers in Pandemic Sex Party, a new horror film from producer Andy Gould (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, The Lords of Salem). Described as a throwback to the grindhouse exploitation cinema of the past, the official trailer has been unleashed this week.

Bloody Disgusting has learned that production has quietly begun on Pandemic Sex Party, about a masked maniac brutally crashing the titular bash. Writer/director Myles Erfurth says don’t let the title fool you… Pandemic Sex Party is a “balls-to-the-wall gritty horror flick and pure grindhouse terror.” Today, horror fans are being invited to join the party and participate in Pandemic Sex Party’s incentive-laden Indiegogo campaign, which is now live.

“When Myles Erfurth’s screenplay for Pandemic Sex Party came across my desk, I blazed through it in one sitting,” says Gould. “I was hooked from the start by its original mix of twisted horror and great characters, as well as its clever setting and set-up. But what really caught my attention was the blood-chilling character of The Rancher. Having worked with Rob Zombie on his classic horror films, I know a thing or two about memorable villains. The Rancher, Pandemic Sex Party’s savage killer, is a terrifying new slasher icon ready to be embraced by the horror world.”

The filmmakers pledge to recapture thrills of past exploitation gold. “As an homage to the glory day of grindhouse-style films, Pandemic Sex Party will not disappoint,” says Erfurth, whose previous feature film, The Silver Stream, was an interactive live-stream horror film that starred Bill Moseley and Ice Nine Kills.

“Our story takes place in the not-so-distant future. AI has taken over the majority of the job market, and the primary source of income for young people is that of a social media influencer or online model. Being on the verge of another pandemic, Sasha, a young video game streamer, heads off into the desert for the weekend to make ‘content’ with her online model friends: Tanya, Cash, Dream and her younger sister Cherry.”

Trouble awaits at the remote location. “Once arriving at the rental house dubbed ‘The Funny Ranch,’ the group slowly begins to realize things aren’t exactly as they seem,” music video veteran Erfurth continues. “They are soon met by The Rancher, a masked killer who has a vendetta against the newly-changing world, online influencers and online models alike.”

Erfurth further previews, “The majority of modern-day horror films have become sexually watered-down. Pandemic Sex Party is going to be a wild ride.”

Exclusively watch the trailer for Pandemic Sex Party below and head over to the crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo to pitch in and get perks including a walk-on role in the movie.

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