March 18, 2009
SXSW.05
Interesting random thoughts on SXSW, part 2:
People-watching is a great past-time, and SXSW doesn't disappoint. Last night was the Film Festival Closing/Music Opening Party at Maggie Mae's, and there were lots of people from movie companies, press, and music companies there.
I overheard some guys discussing the momentum that Twitter.com received in a large part to last year's SXSW. Even though I've only been twittering for a year now, I feel like one of those kids that got into a cool band before the whole world discovered them. By the way, big, multi-layered events like SXSW are what twitter was made for. You can read up on text messages on your phone from other fest-goers at other locations/gigs, etc.
THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT
This movie was part of the midnight movies of Fantastic Fest, which began with the lights growing dim and the silhouette of a speedo-covered-by-kilt clad viking with a giant, twisted shofar horn gripped firmly in both hands. After a giant thunder clap that reverberated over the large sound system, a cloud of smoke appeared and this guy delivered a long blast. Another guy dressed as a Greek dignatary walks up with a microphone and introduced the night, touting the horn blower, David Story, as "the ambassador for everything that is good in your life..." The Director Peter Cornwell was briefly introduced on stage, who they coerced into a beer chugging contest between Australian filmmakers and American movie buffs.
The movie is "based upon the true story," which begins with a harried mother (Virginia Madsen) taking her sick son to and from their place to a hospital for cancer treatment. The long trips take their toll, so she rents a house nearby and the family sans dad (Martin Donovan), who visits on weekends. Well, turns out the house used to be a funeral home, where they did heinous things with the bodies, running a seance/pyschic/medium service of necromancy. The tormented souls begin to bother the residents and ... well, you can guess the plot from there. The sick son (Kyle Gallner) is so close to death that he sees the spirits and begins to interact with them, trying to help their "situation." A minister experienced in exorcisms, apparently, is brought in to add assistance. He turns out to be very helpful and cast in a positive light.
After the film the Director took the stage again, and the real-life mother from the story came upon the stage. She was quite friendly and astute, as if she had experience in the film business. Turns out she does computer tech stuff. Anyway, it was most interesting that she stood up on stage clutching a rosary. When she watched the World Premiere, she remarked how great Virginia Madsen and Kyle Gallner did. She said, "It was like it was happening again." She fielded as many questions as the Director. Later she concluded that "the message is paramount (and what she wants to stress) that -- You may think you have power when you mess with this stuff ... you don't!"