A trio of curiosities for your theatrical viewing pleasure this weekend:
ABIGAIL
In the grand tradition of locked room monster mashes, “Abigail” is a fang-tastic entry from a murder’s row of horror masters. A gore streaked, munch fest; the film, which premiered in New Orleans at the 2024 Overlook Film Festival, follows a team of cuddly criminals who are hoodwinked into babysitting a tweenaged ballerina vampire. From the blood splattered minds of the filmmaking collective known as Radio Silence (“Ready or Not”, “Scream”, “Scream VI”) this horror comedy is a showcase of the finest in modern genre talent; with winning performances from Melissa Barrera (“Scream VI”), Dan Stevens (“The Guest”, “Cuckoo”), William Catlett (“Black Lightning”), Kathryn Newton (“Freaky”, “Lisa Frankenstein”) along with a hellish turn by young Alisha Weir (“Matilda: The Musical”) as the balletic abomination with a penchant for decapitation. With an ensemble filled out with familiar faces in Kevin Durand (The best part of any movie he’s in) and Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul”, “Parish”), a bright star lost too soon in Angus Cloud (“Euphoria”), and a showstopper of cinematography from ‘April Studio Horror MVP’ Aaron Morton (“The First Omen”, “No One Will Save You”); Abigail is the kind of rollicking good time that balances entertainment and entrails in perfect bloody balance.
“Abigail” is showing at Prytania Canal Place and The Broad Theater.
Sasquatch Sunset
A quiet, yet bawdy, contemplation of endangered species in a rapidly industrializing world where natural spaces are vanishing rapidly, “Sasquatch Sunset” follows a family of literal Sasquatches throughout a year in their lives. With full body, no dialogue, all hairy performances from Jesse Eisenberg (“The Social Network”) and Riley Keough (“Daisy Jones & The Six”) as the not so mythical cryptids; this independent film became a quiet sensation when it premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. In a world of soft IP reboots and mindless cash grabs, “Sasquatch Sunset” is the kind of oddball cinema audiences have been craving; singular, earnest, and downright weird. What’s not to love?
“Sasquatch Sunset” is showing at Prytania Canal Place and The Broad Theater.
The People’s Joker
And now for something completely different.
Those of us steeped in film culture no doubt have heard the story of “The People’s Joker”. A controversial selection to the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, this film is an independently produced parody of the Batman Universe told through the lens of a neon drenched LGBTQIA+ coming out allegory featuring a Bat-Boat load of pointed political and commercial provocation. Canceled after its premiere due to “rights issues”, this film, written, directed, and starring Vera Drew, gained cult status overnight amid a deluge of think pieces regarding the legality of the film’s existence and hand wringing over the nature of “fair use” in media.
Now on a barnstorming rollout release across the nation, “The People’s Joker” has ultimately won the day. In the modern media landscape where Warner Bros. can make a film and delete it from existence for no purpose beyond corporate tax breaks and shareholder dividends (“Batgirl”, “Coyote VS. Acme”), “The People’s Joker” is a cinematic success story, representing the disruptive nature of underground art and the effectiveness of new generations reimagining age old stories to tell their own. This isn’t your Daddy’s Joker, it isn’t even your weirdo cousin’s, but for those on the fringes looking to see themselves as powerful in a world that treats their very existence as lesser, “The People’s Joker” might very well be yours.
If you’re curious, come out and see for yourself.
You’ll be glad you did.
“The People’s Joker” is screening at the Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge from April 19 – April 25.
