Horror comes to the Asheville Film Festival

Posted on by David Forbes

For those who still like horror movies even after Halloween’s gone by, next weekend will bring several horror flicks at the 5th annual Asheville Film Festival. Catch a glimpse of two -— Blood Car and Murder Party — here.

In Alex Orr’s Blood Car, set in the near future, gas prices reach an all-time high, nearing almost $40 a gallon. Archie Andrews, an environmentalist and vegan schoolteacher, is determined to find an alternate fuel source. While experimenting with various wheat-grass concoctions, he accidentally stumbles upon a solution. Blood. Human blood. Archie soon becomes the only person driving a car and attracts the attention of a “sex slut” named Denise. Unable to turn down her advances, Archie becomes attached to her — and the only way to keep her is to keep the car running.

Blood Car, which will see its North Carolina premiere at the festival, has drawn quite a buzz. It was selected as the closing night film at the Atlanta Underground festival, was in the Top 3 on MySpace Movies for some time and was also featured on Ain’t It Cool News. It has won awards at festivals around the country, including Cinequest, Chicago Underground and Atlanta Horror.

Jeremy Saulnier’s Murder Party is set on Halloween night in Brooklyn. A random windblown invitation leads a lonesome stranger into the hands of a deranged artist’s collective intent on murdering him for the sake of their art. What follows is a gonzo night of mishap, mayhem and hilarity.

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Murder Party was touted as “downright f**king hilarious” by Ain’t It Cool News and won the Audience Award at Slamdance and the Best Feature award at the Vail Film Festival.

Seeing its U.S. premiere is Charlotte filmmaker Mark Young’s Southern Gothic. A drama/horror set in the South, Southern Gothic chronicles a man who must atone for a tragic mistake by saving a little girl from a band of ruthless, undead killers.

Tickets for any of these films are available here. More information on the film festival can be found at the official website

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5 thoughts on “Horror comes to the Asheville Film Festival”

  1. Ken Hanke

    You neglected to mention that BLOOD CAR is also one of the most shockingly subversive movies to come along in ages — horror comedy or any other kind. It’s also a wildly inventive film and a terrific example of making something very good on an obviously small budget. Hell, it’s good enough that I’ll overlook the fact that it was endorsed by “Ain’t It Cool News.”

  2. Orbit DVD

    I’ve yet to go to the film festival (always working), but this year I’m taking the time to see these two. Word from the horror circles is that they are great.

    marc

  3. joe blow

    Murder Party is SO awesome-tatious!!! Cannot wait to see it on the big screen. If you have a chance to see it on DVD, listen to the commentary track where they get the call that they have been accepted to the Asheville Film Fest… Not a crap-splosion at all! AND Blood Car, what else need be said! Nada!!! This year is going to be great one for Film Fest. Look forward to all the films I can get my greasy little paws around!

  4. Orbit DVD

    There’s also the documentaries about local horror tv hosts and the schlock filmmaker… forgot the names. Should be a good weekend.

    marc

  5. Ken Hanke

    It’s not horror, but there are some horrific elements in the fantasy YEAR OF THE FISH, which is also very worth your while.

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