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About Zed Kosnar

Licenciado/Profesor/Doctor en NADA, nomas me gustan los filmes y hago mi opinión sobre ellos, pero lo hago CON BASES.. Siganme bajo esa advertencia.

From Fantasia 2024 : «This Man»

A menace from beyond the realm of the living seems to be behind the grizzly murders that are increasingly taking place in several places in Japan. A couple of detectives trying to stop this apparent epidemic started to note a pattern: most of the victims were under psychological care, and before their demise, they were claiming to have recurring nightmares where a very particular-looking man was trying to kill them.

A happy couple that feels blessed with their daughter and a life free of worries, have their world shaken when close friends of the mother share that they also have recently seen in their dreams “This Man” (as has been described in the media), and fear that their death is approaching. Is this a case of mass hysteria, or is this an omen that humanity itself has its days numbered?

I was very interested in the plot of “This Man”, the new film from Tomojiro Amano that was screened in Fantasia 2024. I was glad that I was not disappointed. While I felt that this production did not have a big budget behind it, the story was very well developed and made very good use of the special effects with the resources available.

The characters were very likable and therefore you worry a lot when you see the misfortune starts to fall on them. (Although at the beginning of the film, I felt I was about to have a diabetic coma due to so much sweetness in the marriage mentioned before). Even when the film is not gory or very graphic, some moments might make you feel uneasy and the film surprises you by showing you that anybody can die in this story. Films like these, are the ones I enjoy the most. Continue reading

Desde Fantasia 2024 : «This Man»

Una amenaza que viene más allá del reino de los vivos parece estar detrás de los brutales asesinatos que están ocurriendo en aumento en varios lugares de Japón. El par de detectives que intenta detener esta bizarra epidemia de muertes notan un patrón: La mayoría de las victimas en algún momento eran atendidas por problemas psicológicos , y poco antes de sus muertes, aseguraban tener pesadillas donde un hombre de aspecto muy particular los trataba de asesinar.

Una pareja de casados que que vienen una aparente vida sin preocupaciones y que se sentían bendecidos por su hija, ven como su mundo se empieza a desmoronar cuando unas amigas de la madre le comparten que ellas también han visto en sus pesadillas a “Este Hombre” (que es como se la ha empezado a llamar por los medios), y ahora temen que sus muertes están cerca. ¿es esto un caso de histeria colectiva, o una advertencia de que la humanidad misma tiene sus días contados?

Desde el principio me atrajo mucho la premisa de “This Man”, el nuevo filme del director Tomojiro Amano, que fue presentado anoche en Fantasia 2024. Me dio gusto ver que no quedé para nada decepcionado, Mientras que sentí que esta producción no tenia mucho presupuesto detrás, la historia estuvo muy bien desarrollada y le sacó muy buen provecho a los efectos especiales y los recursos que tuvieron a la mano.

Los personajes principales me parecieron interesantes y con los que puedes empatizar, por tanto cuando empiezan a ocurrirles desgracias llegas a preocuparte por ellos. (aunque al principio del filme sentí que iba a tener un coma diabético por tanta dulzura de el matrimonio que mencioné antes). Aun y cuando el filme no es tiene mucha violencia gráfica ni hay reguero de entrañas, si hay momentos que pueden hacerte sentir mu incomodo y el filme te sorprende cuando deja muy claro que aquí cualquiera de los personajes se puede morir. Este tipo de filmes son mis favoritos (Venga el Factor Kosnar!!!). Continue reading

From Fantasia 2024 : «Hell Is a Teenage Girl»

I rarely review shorts (I just mostly recommend them). However, this Fantasia 2024, I saw several synopses that got my interest and made me think: “Why the hell not??” The first one to draw blood is “Hell is a Teenage Girl”, written and directed by Stephen Sawchuk.

I want to cut to the chase, so let me copy/paste the official synopsis and jump to the best stuff!

‘HELL IS A TEENAGE GIRL’ OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:
Every Halloween, the small town of Springboro is terrorized by its resident SLASHER – a masked serial killer who targets sinful teenagers that break ‘The Rules of Horror’ – don’t drink, don’t do drugs, and don’t have sex! At the center of it all is Parker Campbell, the Slasher’s estranged biological daughter. In an attempt to clear her name and make things right with the town, Parker sets out on a life-or-death mission in hopes of ending his reign of terror once and for all…

Ok,  

Let’s dig in!

I really liked this short. And I was surprised that it went for a serious route, when I am sure that other directors would take a comedic route, if not plain parody.  This is a straight-up Slasher, and a good one at that!

Being only 15 minutes, it is understandable that a lot of background information could not be explained, but I think Stephen Sawchuk gave us all the information that we needed to understand Parker and her struggles. She is very likable, and it was cool to see that even when her life is a social living hell, she is not bitter at the whole world and nor wants to see it burn. 

If anything, she wants to see only her father burn. 

I think this could be expanded into a full feature, but it would need a lot of caution to not pad the plot with useless fillers or exposition. It would be tricky, but I am sure that we could see some moments of the original massacre that started the whole thing, without stealing the spotlight from Parker’s story.  Continue reading

Desde Fantasia 2024 : «The Beast Within»

Después de mucho tiempo de estar viviendo con su familia en las profundidades de los bosques ingleses en una vivienda fortificada, una joven niña llamada Willow empieza a notar que sus padres empiezan a salir frecuentemente hacia las profundidades de un bosque ancestral poco antes del anochecer.

Viendo que estos viajes se dan en los días que tendrán una noche con luna llena, Willow empieza a preguntarse que secreto podrían estarle escondiendo sus padres. Aparte nota que su madre regresa sola de esos viajes al anochecer, y es hasta el día siguiente cuando trae al padre de Willow de regreso, claramente adolorido y con moretes.

Es en una de esas noches que Willow desobedece las reglas y sigue a sus padres, cuando ve algo dentro de un calabozo que le causa un shock y desde esa noche se vuelve victima de horribles pesadillas, temiendo por su vida y la de su madre.

Esta es la premisa de “The Beast Within” el relato de una familia conviviendo con una maldición pasada de generación a generación, que amenaza constantemente con convertir a un padre amoroso y dedicado en un ser que solo piensa en destrozarlos.

El filme dirigido por Alexander J. Farrell fue presentado anoche en Fantasia 2024, y podremos también verlo en los cines de EUA este viernes 26 de Julio en cines de Estados Unidos.

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From Fantasia 2024: «The Beast Within»

After living with her family for some time in the English wilderness in a fortified house, a young girl called Willow starts noticing that her parents start to take frequent trips into an ancient forest, just before sundown.

Since she notices that these trips are done when the nights will have a full moon, Willow starts to wonder what kind of secret her parents might be hiding. She is more curious even when she sees that only her mother comes back, and is only on the day after, when her father is brought back from the forest, and always looking bruised and in pain.

One of those nights, Willow disobeys the rules and follows her parents into the forest, witnessing something in a dungeon that shocks her. From that night on, the girl is victim of horrible nightmares, now fearing for her life and her mother’s.

This is the premise of “The Beast Within”, the tale of a family coping with a curse that has been passed from one generation to another, constantly threatening to turn a loving, dedicated father into a monster focused only into destroy them.

This film directed by Alexander J. Farrell was presented last night in Fantasia 2024, and will also be released on theaters on Friday July 26th. Continue reading

Desde Fantasia 2024 : Dark Match

Presentada en Fantasia 2024, tuvimos la oportunidad de ver “Dark Match” el nuevo filme de Lowell Dean, el director de “WolfCop” y su secuela “Another WolfCop”. En esta ocasión, Dean deja los pelajes y colmillos para contarnos la historia de una pequeña compañia de Luchas (Norteamericanas) que acepta un trato que promete pagarle rebien en un pueblo dentro de los bosques.

No es hasta que ya empezó el primer encuentro, cuando los luchadores se dan cuenta (algo tarde) que el publico que ha venido a verlos no está ahí solo por un espectáculo, sino también para algo mas siniestro. Algo que requiere de 5 peleas en circunstancias muy especificas, y todos ellos requiriendo algo mas que sudor y lágrimas.

Todo esto empieza a suceder bajo la mirada de un enigmático líder, que al parecer comparte un oscuro pasado con esta particular compañía de luchas, y trae una cuenta para cobrarles.

No soy muy fan de las luchas, pero “Dark Match” me gustó mucho. Aunque algunas personas se pueden quejar de que el filme es muy violento, yo no estoy de acuerdo. Claro, hay sangre y un poco de tripas (y chichis!!) pero el filme nunca se va por el shock fácil, ni intenta ofender a nadie. Solo hace lo que tiene que hacer para contar la historia, y lo hace muy bien. Es muy entretenido, y mejor aun, tiene actuaciones muy buenas, tanto dentro como fuera del cuadrilátero.

Me gustaron mucho los personajes y sus identidades cuando están haciendo su espectáculo en el ring. Mientras que se puede decir que esta es la historia de Miss Behave, una dama que ha hecho el papel de “Ruda” por muchos años y aún esta buscando su oportunidad para una pelea de campeonato, me pareció que la trama deja que varios de los otros personajes tengan su momento de brillar y eso hizo la historia mas completa para mi, a contrario de que si todo girara solo alrededor de un personaje. Continue reading

From Fantasia 2024: «Dark Match»

Playing at Fantasia 2024, we got to see “Dark Match”, the new film from Lowell Dean, the director and writer of “WolfCop” and its sequel “Another WolfCop”. This time, Dean drops the fur and the fangs to tell the story of a small-time wrestling company that accepts a well-paying gig in a backwoods town.

It is not until the first match has started when the wrestlers realize a little too late that the crowd gathered around the ring are not there just for the show, but for something more sinister. Something that will require 5 fights in very specific scenarios, all of them requiring something more than just sweat and tears.

All this is happening under the watch of a very charismatic leader, who seems to have a past with this particular wrestling company, and a debt to collect.

I am not a big fan of wrestling, but Dark Match was a winner in my book. Although some people might say it is too violent, I’d say it was never too much. There is some blood and some gore (and breasts!) but it never goes for shock value, nor tries to offend. It just does what it needs to tell the story, and does a great job at it. It’s very entertaining and even better, It has great performances, both inside and outside the ring.

I loved the characters and their wrestling personas. While this could be the story of Miss Behave, a lady who has played “the heel” for several years and still waiting for a shot at the championship title, I felt that the plot makes several characters have their moments and thus makes the whole story work a lot better than if it was only focused on one character. Continue reading

Desde Fantasia 2024: «Brave Citizen»

El problema del bullying en las escuelas es algo en lo que los estudiantes de todo el mundo pueden empatizar, así que no es sorpresa para nadie que el tema se ha abordado mucho en libros, filmes y series, y que es genial cuando en las historias las victimas logran un tipo de venganza o justicia.

Lo que separa a “Brave Citizen” de otras obras es que logra presentar la crudeza del bullying escolar (incluso en la calle) balanceado con un poco de comedia sin quitarle la seriedad al problema, y sin caer en extremos de violencia gráfica solo por darnos una sensación de satisfacción pasajera. (como es más común en filmes de terror). Y gracias a Fantasia 2024, tuvimos la oportunidad de verla.

En el nuevo filme del director Park Jin-pyo “Brave Citizen”, que está basado en el Webtoon creado por Kim Junghyun, conocemos a So Su-min, una maestra con contrato temporal en un prestigioso colegio con esperanzas de ganarse una plaza permanente. Por desgracia, la fama de que en ese colegio se goza de un ambiente seguro y respetuoso para todos los alumnos es solo una mentira muy bien escondida y la joven maestra tendrá que decidir entre fingir ignorancia ante los tremendos actos de violencia de un alumno muy sádico llamado Han Su-Kang, o denunciarlo y poner no solo su carrera en riesgo, sino también su vida.

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From Fantasia 2024: “Brave Citizen”

The problem with bullying in schools is something that students in several countries can relate to, so it is no wonder that it has been a theme for a lot of films, series, and books, and is great to see the stories where the victims of the abuse manage to get justice or even revenge from the tormentors.

What makes “Brave Citizen” stand out from other works is that it manages to present the bullying problem in schools (and in the streets, even) in its raw, horrible form while balancing the story with some comedy, but it never takes away the seriousness of the issue. The film also never falls into extreme graphic violence when the tables are turned just to give us some moments of unhealthy satisfaction (which is something more common in horror movies), and thanks to Fantasia 2024, we got a chance to see it!

In the new film from director Park Jin-pyo, “Brave Citizen” based on the Webtoon created by Kim Junghyun, we meet So Su-Min, a temporary teacher who hopes to get a full position in a very prestigious college. Sadly, the safe and respectful environment that the college loves to boast about in the media is nothing but a concealed lie, and the young teacher will soon have to choose between turning a blind eye to the very violent acts committed by Han Su-Kan toward some of the students, or report him to the authorities and put in risk not only her teaching career but also her life.

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The First trailer for «Black Eyed Susan» #Fantasia2024

While we are gearing up for the Fantasia International Film Festival, we got news and a look at the first trailer for Scooter McCrae’s dark sci-fi drama BLACK EYED SUSAN, which will have its World Premiere in Fantasia 2024 on August 2nd.
Let’s tale a look!

Here is the official information we got so far…

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