10-5-25 — Christina Critiques (GenreBlast Film Festival (Part 6.5)

NOTE: It’s 6.5 because I can’t count and the last one should have been five but I typed 6… anyway, this is the true 6th review post.

Title: FISTOR

Directed by: Llyr Titus

Country: UK       Run Time: 15 minutes

Themes: Loneliness, grief

Content Warning: sickness, offscreen death

Synopsis: Ioan must navigate life without the love of his life, Gwil, while facing something that’s hunting and haunting him.

Favorite line(s): “There are worse things than ghosts in this world.”

Thoughts: Christ, this was a heavy film. The minimalistic setting in comparison to Ioan’s grief caused the viewer true claustrophobia. Add to the palpable feeling of grief, Titus adds such beauty that it seems to just be unfair in Ioan’s pain. The skull man is truly fascinating because is he death or Ioan’s mind manifesting suicide? The viewer gets to decide that while they struggle with their own morality and of the ones they love.

Title: WEREWOLF WITH A GUN

Directed by: Tyler Council

Country: US       Run Time: 8 minutes

Themes: … um… werewolf with a gun

Content Warning: N/A

Synopsis: From my notes: “What. Is. Happening?”

Favorite line(s): “Suck my big werewolf cock.”

Thoughts: God, I love bizarro and absurdism and let me tell you, this one has plenty of both. From the comical acting (on purpose) to the terrible effects (again, on purpose). But the two standouts for me were 1) the montage song and 2) Neil. Neil is the MVP of this film. I said what I said. Perfectly insane and one to watch when you need a cackle or two.

Title: PILE: BORN AT NIGHT

Directed by: Joshua Echavarria

Country: US       Run Time: 6 minutes

Themes: Prison of one’s own making

Content Warning: N/A

Synopsis: A music video with haunting lyrics in tandem with an even more haunting storyline.

Favorite line(s): “The patch of Earth you’re on has been claimed from you now.”

“There’s no room for cowards now - so who the fuck are you?”

Thoughts: I have to be honest, I’ve never stopped and really watched a music video. There are so many illusions, such depth and beauty in PILE. The viewer gets this powerfully moving song about self-reflection and a need for help along with such heavy imagery. And there are so many questions I have for the director, I mean, that ending!? Stellar.

Title: FR<-O-+GGY STYLE

Directed by: Jonathan Riles

Country: US       Run Time: 5 minutes

Themes: Gender, sexuality

Content Warning: Homophobic … um frog parents, photo sensitivity

Synopsis: What happens when parents must come to terms with their child’s sexuality.

Favorite line(s): “There are chemicals in the water that turn the freaking frogs gay.”

Thoughts: Jesus Christ. That should be the thoughts but I have more. Have you ever watching more than 30 seconds of frog sutra? Yes, you read that correctly. Those little plastic frogs that children get as party favors that when you push down they hop? Well… let me tell you, they can 69, reverse cowgirl, doggy style, anything imagined is probably in this short plastic frogs sex film. BUT! Don’t let that fool you into believing that it’s not a deep and thought-provoking film. What Riles does with the main characters and the question/point that is trying to be asked is so well executed.

Side note: I will never be able to allow my children to have those without going into hysterics and being looked at with a side eye.

Title: PURPLE PATROL

Directed by: Jessie Q. Moore

Country: US       Run Time: 7 minutes

Themes: LGBT+ struggles within own community

Content Warning: drink tampering, transphobia, assumed assault

Synopsis: When the Purple Patrol realizes the world is too much, they must summon THE DYKE.

Favorite line(s): “In the freest place on Earth… a group of people struggle to do daily activities.

Thoughts: Now, this, this was something. The Purple Patrol is a trio of vigilantes that need help. THE DYKE is summoned for help but… then all of a sudden, things change. The Purple Patrol becomes less… engaged. And that’s what I found most provoking about the film, while one can take on the world, does that mean the others aren’t needed? Moore shows the viewer the answer. A possibly polarizing commentary on the state of queer allyship and what it means to stand for the movement.

Title: THE FLY SQUATTER

Directed by: Vincent Vinas

Country: US       Run Time: 14 minutes

Themes: … flies…

Content Warning: Fly mass murder?

Synopsis: How far is one man willing to go to protect his home, friends, and city?

Favorite line(s): “I have to ask and I hope you’re not offended - are you a fly?”

Thoughts: I honestly cackles while typing do not know how to get my thoughts across with this one. From the terrible sound syncing (intended) to the insane acting, this one is hilarious. But also, again, it goes a wee bit deeper. (Or I thought so anyway.) Is this about immigration? Vigilante justice run amok? Only Vincent knows! I do need to point out a phrase I never in a million years believed I would write with my own hand - fly prostitute. A whole lot of absurdism mixed with an underlying social commentary. Stellar.