Iron DoorsRebekah Smith asks what 3D has to offer horror

When it comes to the topic of 3D, I’m really not sure what to make of it - perhaps this is because it’s too early to make a judgement on it. I don’t love it and I don’t hate it. I didn’t enjoy Avatar but I did have fun watching the dire Piranha 3D. An upcoming cinema release of a 3D film never tends to excite me, however Iron Doors in 3D certainly has. We were originally going to screen it in 2D but director Stephen Manuel informed us that a new 3D version was available. I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks of the film and its use of this technology after the screening. !e film is a claustrophobic German film shot in English, which hooks you in from the

moment it begins whilst keeping you constantly guessing. An anonymous banker wakes up one morning in a concrete cell and all that is in the cell with him is a dead rat covered in maggots, a ceiling light and a huge metal vault door. Our hero has no memory of where he is or how he got there; unpredictable twists, turns and red herrings all follow.

For a film which is low on plot and big set-pieces this is compelling stuff as it is instead a much more intimate film, and quite similar to the Cary Elwes portion of Saw (minus Jigsaw). I imagine that the talking point after the screening will be the 3D aspect of the film and conversations such as

‘why was this in 3D?’ will emerge. However, I think the key question to explore will be ‘what did 3D add to Iron Doors?’ !is is, in fact, a question which can be addressed to many other 3D films in addition to this one, as the above question could be useful to dwell upon in the future, as surely for a film to be in 3D there must be a purpose? Perhaps I’ll be convinced and warm more to 3D when it is used in a way to create depth instead of just having things popping out at the camera... let the debates begin at around 5pm!

DAY 2 DYDD

ABERTOIR

Review: Dead Hooker in a TrunkBy Nia Edwards-Behi

I watched Dead Hooker in a Trunk when I

screened it in February at Ghouls on Film, a

one day horror event. A sensation across the

pond, the film lives up to its hype thanks to the

powerhouses Jen and Sylvia Soska. !eir

enthusiasm and dedication seeps through

every inch of the film which they not only star

in, but also wrote, produced and directed it. A

great exploitation throwback, the four lead

roles – !e Badass, !e Geek, !e Junkie and

!e Goody Two-Shoes – drive what is a funny,

riveting and surprisingly touching story. !e

Soska sisters and their collaborators have a

very bright future ahead of them.

Review: The Violent KindBy Nia Edwards-Behi

!e Violent Kind is the sort of film I shouldn’t

really like: it’s messy, has a bonkers ending

and prominently features Tiffany Shepis’ legs.

Somehow, !e Butcher Brothers make it work.

!is film the good kind of bonkers mess (and,

thankfully, Shepis is a very likeable actress). A

nice twist on a gang film, a home-invasion

plotline is mixed with a possession tale, and

its strong cast keeps the film going, hurtling

toward its insane conclusion.

Review: SirenBy Rebekah Smith

!is year at Abertoir we have been very

selective with regard to what we want to

screen to our audience. We are very keen on

showcasing ‘different’ types of horror films.

Different is obviously an incredibly broad word

but in this context we mean with regard to

moving away from screening the limp and dull

same old same old formula. Tonight we have

the world premiere of the tremendous Siren.

!is is a different type of feature because it is

a sexy horror, which is quite similar to Dead

Calm and Wild !ings but feels a lot more

realistic and believable than those Hollywood

films. Directed by Andrew Hull (who art-

directed underrated horror film P2), the film

tells the story of couple Ken and Rachel who,

whilst on a sailing trip in Tunisia, answer an

(apparently) innocent distress call from a

stranded young woman. However, their

relaxing weekend quickly becomes a mind-

blowing orgy of sex, gore and betrayal as the

couple desperately try and escape the ‘siren’

alive. !e film is beautifully shot, nicely paced

and features excellent performances from all

of the cast and crew – oh and lots of naked

flesh.

Daily TweetsA selection of the weeks’ Tweets

emobadgerWaiting at Birm New Street to pick up my delayed friend from Liverpool, then it's off to #Abertoir2010 for a horrorific time!

DJDellamorteRight, about to venture up to the Abertoir fest - see some of you at the bar! :)

m_hardwickAt #abertoir2010 !!! Wine flowing already :) @abertoirfest

sheffhorrorfest@AbertoirFest Have a great first night Abertoir'ers. We'll be there on Friday... #Abertoir2010

dpm74First film of Abertoir done, many more to go!

curt194Cleaning hasn't really got very far. Still, I'm looking forward to mutant girls squad at midnight #abertoir2010

Hellbound_HeartDream Home was grisly & innovative, and also had a heart. Very impressive #Abertoir2010

Tag your tweets#Abertoir2010

Daily PicksBy Nia Edwards-Behi

Today I think I’m most excited

about introducing more

people to the wonderful Dead

Hooker in a Trunk. It’s fast

becoming an indie classic, so

catch it while it’s hot!

Djinns is the latest in a string

of excellent, original horror

films emerging from France,

and it’s directed by Hugues

and Sandra Martin. I’m really

Looking forward to hearing

Hugues talk about the film, as

he’s going to be chatting with

us via Skype!

!is evening an Abertoir

staple – the mystery

grindhouse film is given a new

twist as we’ve invited

funnymen Nicko and Joe to

host the event: so this year

there’ll be double the laughs!

Yesterday’s Audience Vote

Countess Dracula

We Are What We Are

Dream Home

Mutant Girls Squad

A question for the Soska Sisters (Dead Hooker)

Who is your horror inspiration?

S: My parents were really supportive of our interest in horror. It was through my mom's massive Stephen King collection that we first experienced the horror genre - and it was awesome.

J: I'd have to say Stephen King, in a big way. Being allowed to read his work at an early age really shaped my sense of humor. Despite the often horrific and terrifying content of his novels, his horror always had moments of levity and dark humor. I just accepted that as what horror is supposed to be.

See the full interview in the Abertoir Programme

Today’s Schedule

Dead Hooker in a Trunk 12.45pm

Set in beautiful Vancouver, four friends set out on an everyday errand and end up in a fight for

their lives when they discover a body in their trunk.

Iron Doors 3.00pm

A young man wakes up in a cellar with no windows, an eerie neon light and a huge vault door

made of impenetrable steel. !e race is on to find a way out...

The Violent Kind 5.00pm

Troubled Cody (Cory Knauf), a second-generation member of a violent and notorious biker

gang, rides out with his friends to a party at a farmhouse located deep within the redwood

forest. !eir plans are quickly ruined when another malicious gang turns up. But what they

want is far worse than just picking a fight….

Siren 7.15pmWORLD PREMIERE

Escaping the city for a weekend away, company man Ken and his girlfriend Rachel meet up with

an old friend, the exotic and worldly Marco. !eir plan is simple - tour the local coast for a

relaxing weekend in the wilderness. !ings hit a snag when Marco spots a beautiful young girl,

the sultry and seductive Silka, waving for help off the shore of one of the many secluded

islands. But if anyone needs help now, it’s them...

Djinns 9.30pmPLUS Q&A

Trapped in a sand storm and isolated from their commander, a group of French Foreign Leigion

soldiers run into Algerian rebels. As they seek shelter in an uncharted village another, invisible,

threat comes out from the desert - the Djinns. As their ranks are decimated, they’ll face the

longest night of their lives.

Midnight Mystery Grindhouse 12.00amFREE SCREENING

A long-standing Abertoir tradition our extremely popular Mystery Grindhouse promises to be a

film so terrible and cringe-worthingly bad that we encourage you to shout and laugh. !is year

we welcome comedians Nicko and Joe to provide a live commentary aimed at destroying what

little shreds of credibility this mystery film ever held!

For more details, buy your Festival Programme at the festival reception