ALTER suffers from depression and schizophrenia. She consults a healer who practices mystical hypnosis and discovers that her mother is hiding a secret from her. The only breath of fresh air: a strange incandescent encounter…(IMDB)
“What the hell have I just watched?” was what flew through my mind at the end of the screening of Scarlet Blue at the Screams by the Sea festival in Bournemouth last month. Radi Nikolov, festival director introduced the movie as one that will stick with you long after the credits roll but, as I watched it, I wasn’t sure that was going to be for the right reasons. Maybe it was the 09:30 start that meant Scarlet Blue was the punch in the face that is the neon-tinged, dutch-angled, symbolism-laden movie that I emerged blinking into the light from just after 11am on a sunny morning in Bournemouth?
Suicide for Beginners is a daft film. It pushes the envelope of believability to the limit with the characters behaving in ridiculous ways, but that is why it works so well; it doesn’t take itself seriously. At All.
Read the full review at Ginger Nuts of Horror HERE
On the shortest day of the year an overworked farmer must care for her father, who is living with dementia, as he becomes increasingly convinced something is hunting them.(IMDB)
Little Brown Bird is an atmospheric and heartbreaking account of dementia and the impact it has on the individual and their family.
Read the full review at Ginger Nuts of Horror HERE
Supported and sponsored by silentD Pictures, the BFI Film Audience Network, the National Lottery, and TreeHouse Digital, Screams by the Sea is only in its second year, but offers up a plethora of entertainment and opportunities for its delegates. Festival Director Radi Nikolov set out to create an inclusive and friendly festival for lovers of horror and has succeeded massively in pulling together something truly special for lovers of the genre.
In general I am a bit of an idiot. I love writing (most of the time) and have written a number of scripts and short stories over the years, but have always been a bit of a coward when it comes to putting myself (and my work) out there for people to see/enjoy/critique. However, this year, I thought I would change that and, while I haven’t exactly been prolific, I already have a quite exciting development to look forward to…
Screams by the Sea 2025
where I will be pitching my screenplay “DRIVE-IN” as one of the lucky 4 finalists in their Screenplay Competition.
It’s a fantastic chance to pitch an idea in front of industry professionals with the potential for a production deal at the end of it all.
Terrifying, but amazing.
But that’s not all, the Festival is shaping up to be a fantastic day if teh schedule is anything to go by and, with passes at just £24 with some limited single film tickets available at £7, it really is a no brainer, especially if you are in the area two weeks today on 29th March.
It’s only the second year SCREAMS BY THE SEA has taken place but it is already building a reputation among fans and we can only hope that this is just the beginning of what will become a regular helping of horror down south!
There are 5 feature films showing through the day, kicking off with Scarlet Blue and ending with Strange Darling. If you have the stomach, then you can fill that horror sandwich with Suicide for Beginners, The Daemon and Time Travel is Dangerous as well as enjoying a selection of shorts, talks and panels throughout the day. If that isn’t enough to tempt you, then check out the trailer below.
And don’t forget, I am going to be there pitching DRIVE-IN!
“It’s not just tyres getting slashed tonight”
So come along and say ‘Hi’ or just cheer at the end of my pitch!
You can find out more at SCREAMS BY THE SEA where you can read about all the exciting events of the day, the movies, the panels as well as buy tickets and find out more about the Festival Director, Radi Nikolov.
Come along to Pavilion Dance South West in Bournemouth on 29th March, it is shaping up to be one hell of a day!
Dark Mark Writing 