Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon
March 8, Wednesday, 5pm, Grand Auditorium

Barely more than a teenager, Jack Fessenden already has two feature films written, directed and premiered on his resume (in which he also dressed as a composer, editor and producer). The biological stamp — which he assumes with pride — of being the son of Larry Fessenden (one of New York’s gurus of independent horror films) would be of no use without a strong personal contribution.

Chosen as one of the “11 indie filmmakers aged 30 or under that you need to know” (Indiewire, 2017), Jack Fessenden regularly attended his father’s studios during his childhood and adolescence and his curiosity allowed him to learn practical skills. various stages of film production. He made several short films before making his debut, aged 17, in the long format with Stray Bullets, about which Chris O’Falt, in the same Indiewire, said that the most impressive thing was not only the security and economy with which the young filmmaker it dealt with the choreography of violence, but how it found subtlety and depth in the film’s quieter moments. More ambitious, Foxhole, his next work, is part of the long tradition of antiwar humanist film, managing to achieve “an almost abstract beauty” (Josh Siegel, MoMA).

“This kid is going to go far,” said Meira Blaustein, co-founder of the Woodstock Film Festival. It’s already on its way, we would say.

Get schedule and tickets here

Fessenden’s DEPRAVED: “A Tough Tale Of Trauma Focuses
On The Grim World That Its Prometheus Awakens In”

From CBR: Larry Fessenden has become a major name in independent horror and 2019’s Depraved is one of his strongest endeavors. Depraved repurposes the Frankenstein myth into an uncomfortable tale of PTSD. Henry, a former army medic, remains haunted by the deaths that he saw in the war. He tries to cope with this through the creation of new life.

Henry’s creation of Adam turns into a successful therapeutic exercise, but Adam’s cognizance becomes a growing concern. Henry worries if it’s right to bring new life into such a broken world. Depraved is a thought-provoking film that teases the idea that living may ultimately be more torture than death.

See Full List HERE

GEP pal and Vermont local Jeremy Holm (THE RANGER) curates SCAREFEST, a spooky celebration, now in its 3rd year. Fessenden’s DEPRAVED unspools at the Vergennes Opera House, followed by a live Q&A with Fessenden, tix available!

Saturday, October 29, starting at 7pm.
Followed by a Q&A with Fessenden,
dance party and costume contest.

“This is our third Scarefest in the Opera House and it’s an honor to partner with them to produce this event, this year’s event is extra special because we get to show off Vergennes to my friend Larry Fessenden, director of hundreds of films, including our featured film “Depraved.” We are looking forward to a robust turnout for both the film and dance party and raising a lot of money for the Vergennes Opera House.” – Jeremy Holm.

GET YOUR TIX HERE!

Depraved: an interview with Larry Fessenden

The name of Larry Fessenden is very well known in the indie horror industry, but not so much outside of it; he seems to be a legend in his own field. So I asked Larry how he sees himself. “I loved Jaws when I was little, so I thought I would be a filmmaker like that. But at the same time, in my generation, I didn’t really know how to ‘break into showbiz’, so my point is you have different levels of ambition, and as you get older, you realize there are many different careers. I also very much like George Romero, he is a role model, and he always felt frustrated that he wasn’t supported by Hollywood; he had a few forays. At some point they attached the word ‘icon’ in front of my name, and it’s a complete mystery but why wouldn’t I take it? Not for the ego: I always say you want good reviews, and words like ‘icon’ in order to gain power in the industry to make good work, or support other people’s work. That’s really the agenda. So it hasn’t worked out terribly well, but it’s still nice to have a voice; in that, I’m privileged. Even in my small section of the world.”

Read Interview HERE

From Slant:

52. Depraved (2019)

What does a Frankenstein figure look like in 2019? According to Larry Fessenden’s Depraved, he’s a guy with war-addled, once-noble intentions set adrift by male ego and shady benefactors. He’s a white man grasping for control in a world coming apart, a cog in a machine who hasn’t broken free so much as changed the machine’s function—from that of war to that of the pharmaceutical industry. The film, Fessenden’s first feature as both writer and director since 2006’s The Last Winter, paints multiple psychological portraits that are sad, angry, and strangely beautiful. It shows us the mind of not just PTSD-afflicted field surgeon Henry (David Call), but also that of his prototypical sewn-together “monster,” Adam (Alex Breaux), and his assistant and Big Pharma bankroller, Polidori (Joshua Leonard). Throughout, the film it remains firmly focused on its thesis of Frankenstein as a lens for examining modern society. Fessenden catalogues what personalities and power dynamics have shifted and what hasn’t changed at all. He diagnoses the rot of our era through these solipsistic men that pour their prejudices and their insecurities into Adam, an open book eventually read back to its authors with a violence they cultivated themselves. 

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Fessenden talks DEPRAVED with the Three Tortured Souls podcast. 
Available on iTunes and Soundcloud

We’re very worried about Matt!! He doesn’t look quite right!

If you missed the Depraved Blu-Ray Release party with Fessenden and the gang, 
Forbidden Planet has a limited amount of signed copies still available.
Order yours now while supplies lasts!