Comic-Con 2009: Top 10 Movies at the Independent Film Festival

Posted on | August 20, 2009 |

The Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCI:IFF) celebrates independent film with the accent on genre-related entries. Over 60 films were shown! This Top 10 list focuses on the Horror/Suspense and Science Fiction/Fantasy genres.

10. Alice Jacobs Is Dead
Director / Writer: Alex Horwitz
Plot: Dr. Ben Jacobs saved the world. The drug he created allowed mankind to fight back against the Z-virus, which nearly destroyed civilization entirely. Now, in the aftermath of the crisis, he’s trying to cure the last victims of the virus. But what will happen when he brings his mysterious work home?

Unfortunately I was unable to catch Alice Jacobs Is Dead but based on the trailer and winning Best Horror/Suspense Film at CCI:IFF this movie deserved to be on this list.

9. Over the River and Through the Higher Dimensions
Writer / Director / Co-Star: Dillon Markey
Plot: A normal trip to Grandma’s house takes a turn for the extraordinary when Dillon’s Grandma (Ruth Hosty) gives him a teleporter. The mysteries of the universe are revealed as she explains to her favorite grandson how she built a machine to transport him instantly from one place to another. Grandma’s device ultimately gives Dillon the chance to discover the entire universe…but to what end?

Over the River and Through the Higher Dimensions starts with a very well done fast forward shot from the back seat of a Dillon’s car as he drives to his Grandma’s house. I was very impressed with a sequence in which string was manipulated to Dillon’s Grandma explanation of how she built the teleporter. The music created for the string sequence is amazingly synced and steals the show.

8. Schrödinger’s Girl
Director: Huw Bowen
Plot: Rebecca Hunter is a disgraced scientist conducting research into alternate universes. She discovers a way to travel between realities, and finds that her parallel-world counterparts have their own agendas.

Schrödinger’s Girl is a feature length film, while all the rest of the movies I saw at CCI:IFF were short films. I find parallel universes very interesting so I was enjoying this movie right from the beginning. The design of the parallel universes is done beautifully. I noticed in particular the different architecture in each parallel universe. All in all a quality sci-fi flick.

7. GoodSam and Max
Director / Writer: Gil Nevo
Writer: Josh Hersko
Plot: A good-natured young girl named Sam learns the ways of a harsh post-apocalyptic wasteland from her mentor, Max, a grumpy, Uzi-wielding mercenary teddy bear with a drinking problem.

The animated opening sequence immediately won me over. The characters are so unique and hilarious. Max is a teddy bear who just happens to be BAMF. Max is voiced by Director / Write Gil Nevo. Max is teamed up with Sam in this strange world in which they avoid odd creatures which have taken over. I could see this movie being a cult classic as it just has the feel.

6. The Winged Man
Director: Marya Mazor
Writer: Jose Rivera
Plot: The only thing we know for certain in The Winged Man is that Daysi, a Latina high school girl, is pregnant. Is the conception the son of a mystical “Winged Man”, as Daysi insists? Or the result of a one-night stand, as the girl’s mother claims?

The Winged Man is a beautifully shot film. Certain scenes pop out at you and draw you into Daysi’s world. Through out the movie you are 100% on Daysi’s side and believe without a doubt she is correct about her child. The movie ends strong with a awesome scene revealing if Daysi is in fact correct.

5. Turbo
Director / Writer: Jarrett Lee Conaway
Writer: Erika Cervantes
Plot: Turbo is a high-adrenaline short film in the tradition of The Karate Kid and Tron. It tells the story of Hugo Park (Justin Chon, Twilight) a misspent youth whose only outlet for angst is a 4D fighting video game called “Super Turbo Arena”. When Pharaoh King (Jocko Sims, Crash the Series), the Michael Jordan of cybersports, announces a tournament to determine who will join his pro team, Hugo’s sets his eyes on the prize. But Hugo isn’t the only gamer who wants fame and glory. If Hugo wants to win he’s going to have to beat Shamus (David Lehre, Epic Movie), the all time Turbo champ at the local Pandemonium arcade, and Ruse Kapri, a feisty prep girl that knows how to win. Realizing he can’t win on his skill alone, Hugo turns to his brother Tobias, a former kickboxer whose last match left him confined to a wheelchair. Together the two will mend old wounds and see if a washed up street fighter can teach a troubled teen how to become a virtual gladiator!

Turbo peaks into the near future of gaming. The effects used to create the game interface are awesome. I enjoyed hearing the fact each “level” or “domain” was shot at an actual location. The cast was perfect, each person playing their part very well. I especially enjoyed David Lehre as the villain, he really pulled off the typical jerk perfectly. The story tugs at your heart, especially if you have any siblings.

4. Afterglow
Director / Writer: Andres Anglade
Plot: In the aftermath of a failed alien invasion, two members of the newly formed militia are challenged with determining if the threat died with the invasion or if it lies manifest in a once familiar territory.

Afterglow occurs after a major invasion, which is a cool perspective because it leaves you wondering about what exactly happened. We are thrown into a scene with flying saucers sticking out of the ground, which was put together with some excellent special effects. The story delves into some of the repercussions a failed alien invasion would have on society. Trailer

3. Page Turner
Director: Oliver Pearce
Writer: Nicholas Rufca
Plot: Lisa and Jonathan are on a first date when they come upon a nighttime yard sale, where Lisa buys an old photo album. Later, Lisa begins flipping through the album, which somehow has photos of her future with Jonathan! The pictures reveal things to Lisa about Jonathan … terrible things.

Page Turner has a Twilight Zone feel and it works perfectly. With the Twilight Zone feel there is no need to know exactly why this album is showing the future, its just accepted and your along for the ride. The photo album actually took longer to create then the film scenes due to the nature of setting up all the shots. Page Turner is creepy, suspenseful and even funny at times. Trailer

2. Side Effect
Director / Writer: Liz Adams
Plot: Lauren is the over-achieving babysitter for a friendly couple, the Allens. With the trusted Lauren in charge of their adorable children, the couple head out for the night.

Side Effect is an excellent horror/suspense film. The overall look of the film is awesome and certain techniques of fast forwarding through time work perfectly. Side Effect ends in shocking fashion and sticks with you. Liz Adams has written a feature length movie which picks up the next day at Lauren’s high school. Hopefully the script, Blood Level, will be picked up and this feature will be made!

1. Hirsute
Director / Writer: A.J. Bond
Plot: A young time traveler is confronted by an arrogant and hairless future version of himself.

A.J. Bond wrote, directed and stars in Hirsute. A.J. Bond did not credit himself for acting in the end credits, which I thought was interesting. A.J. said he starred in the movie mainly because this was the cheapest and easiest way to make this movie. For instance, having someone shave their arms would not be easy. A.J. thought it was a bit self centered to credit himself for acting and I actually really liked this decision. This film reminded me of Primer. Primer is a time travel movie by Shane Carruth who also wrote, directed and starred in his time travel flick. The tone and scene design of Hirsute suspend disbelief similarly to Primer. Hirsute does not delve into the science as much as I would have liked but that is understandable due to the length of the film. As with any respectable time travel film the audience is left with questions and repeat viewing will be required. Hirsute was awarded the Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Film Prize at the 2009 Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival. Full Movie

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