Join Fessenden & Makeup men Brian Spears and Peter Gerner
at a signing party for FANGORIA issue #22
Forbidden Planet 832 Broadway NYC

Also in attendance: GEP pals Jenn Wexler, Sean Redlitz, Chloe Levine
and others !!

Monday 29 January 2024 20:00 – 21:48 LantarenVenster
Wednesday 31 January 2024 15:45 – 17:33 Cinerama
Friday 02 February 2024 19:45 – 21:33TR Schouwburg Grote Zaal

graphic by Joe Yanick

Contemporary movie posters are boring
and all look the same — except when they don’t.

by KEITH PHIPPS, The Reveal

Back at The Dissolve, we turned to our friend Sam Smith, poster designer extraordinaire, for thoughts on all things movie poster-related. Here at The Reveal, you’ll have to make do with me, a simple moviegoer who loves to wander up and down the halls of the multiplex looking for signs of life in the world of movie posters. It’s tough sometimes: risk-averse studios favor what’s worked in the past rather than attempting innovative new designs… But posters aren’t all bad these days. In no particular order, here are a few that caught my eye in 2023.

Crumb Catcher
Never heard of Crumb Catcher? Honestly, me neither, though Larry Fessenden’s name as one of the co-writers has me intrigued. Even more intriguing: this shadow-drenched poster featuring adorable/murderous cake decorations. What’s this about? No idea! Do I now want to know? Absolutely. Mission accomplished, movie poster.

See other posters on the list. Long live cool posters

Crumb Catcher poster designed and created by
~ Chris Skotchdopole, Tessa Price, James Siewert ~

One of the best theater experiences of the year!
Writer, director, and VFX supervisor Takashi Yamazaki.
Watch their reaction to the BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Oscar Nomination here.
GO GODZILLA GO!!!!!!!

Martin Scorsese’s KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON nominated for 10 Oscars!
Best Picture; Martin Scorsese for Best Director
Lily Gladstone for Best Actress in a Leading Role; Robert De Niro for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Cinematography (Rodrigo Prieto); Best Costume Design (Jacqueline West)
Best Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker); Best Production Design (Jack Fisk)
Best Original Score  (Robbie Robertson); “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” for Best Original Song

Killers now streaming on AppleTV • 2024 Oscars are doled out Sunday March 10

See all Nominations HERE

Photo by Lauren Desberg
@laurentakespix

Snapshots from Park City Jan 19-21:
(top left) Fessenden with the original Slamdance OGs: Paul Rachman, Peter Baxter, Dan Mirvish
(top right) Fessenden and son (bottom left) James Le Gros & Fessendens at premier of GOOD ONE.
(bottom right) Woodstock Film Fest’s Meira Blaustein and Gigantic Pictures honcho Brian Devine.

By Michael Talbot-Haynes

SLAMDANCE 2024 FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! Heaven is a moving target that drug addicts try to hit with a spike in the gritty noir-tinged drama Bliss, directed by Joe Maggio.

…

Bliss, which Maggio wrote with actors Jordan and Amadeus, is billed as the second film in a trilogy. The first installment is Maggio’s Virgil Bliss from 2001, also starring Jordan as the same character. It is absolutely not necessary to see the 23-year-old’s first film to totally get hooked on Bliss. Maggio strikes the perfect steel guitar chord of the Call of the West. Its tonal landscape has an intravenous Sam Shepherd feel, with people rolling like tumbleweeds off the end of the Earth.

The stark beauty of the desert enshrouds everything, thanks to the cinematography of Harlan Bosmajian. At one point, Amy says this little patch of paradise is heaven on earth right after the dope hit her system. The brilliant location shots build a barren Eden of narcotic isolation. The score composed by Sam Bisbee weaves into the imagery a throbbing field of energy, with each note exactly what is needed—also, a big shout out to Katie Mills dead on target costume design. The authenticity of the wardrobe worn at the world’s edge is awe-inspiring, as real as rust on a fender. You feel like you are slowly fading away with the characters onscreen into the deafening silence. Oh, and the lead singer of Jesus Lizard and Scratch Acid, David Yow, has a cameo as a Pizza Boy. How fun is that?

The big picture for Bliss is that it is crafted as a drama. However, it has the black blood of film noir running through its veins. This keeps things very lively while we make our way to the emotional crescendos. The issues of hiding the corpse are dark enough, but the picture takes a surprisingly deep, dark dive in the middle. Also included are the noir gold standard visuals, such as the Venetian blind shadows. My favorite eerie imagery was the amazingly dark feel of the hazy images of a woman’s silhouette that is put to use. I am also impressed by how seamlessly the noir thriller elements meld with the serious character drama. But that is the future for you. 

At this point noir is not just normal, it is also everywhere. The opioid epidemic ushered in a new era of noir, where thousands were turned into outlaw couples on the run. This feeling of floating desperation is perfectly shown through Jordan’s performance. He does a masterful job of hiding from his demons until they eat him raw, and he makes sure you feel every sore inch of it. I really want to go back to the first movie to see how he started off as Virgil, as he totally breathes through him. Amadeus is a wonder in her dual role as the two sisters. She radiates respect for them when she is inside both, while a lesser actress would have ridiculed along the faults. The performances press the plunger down to the hilt with this film. Bliss guides you to strange emotional haystacks that you would not expect to find hidden in all the needles. 

Read whole review at Filmthreat.com

PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 19: (L-R) Clint Jordan, Joe Maggio, Faryl Amadeus
attend the Slamdance Film Festival at Yarrow Hotel Theater on January 19, 2024 in Park City, Utah.

PARK CITY, UTAH – JANUARY 19: (L-R) Clint Jordan, Joe Maggio, Faryl Amadeus, Paula Killen, and Larry Fessenden attend the Slamdance Film Festival at Yarrow Hotel Theater on January 19, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)

THE DEMONATRIX; written and directed by GEP pal Aurelio Voltaire and Jeff Ferrell.
Cast includes Hannah Fierman (V/H/S, Siren, Creepshow TV series) 
and Fessenden, more to be announced!

A dominatrix unwittingly summons an incubus demon and
joins forces with a priest to defeat it.

Contribute to the project today and be part of the making of THE DEMONATRIX.