Posts by Emmet Duff
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Hodejegerne (Headhunters)’ an astonishingly mature, exhilarating thriller
Headhunters Directed by Morten Tyldum Screenplay by Lars Gudmestad by Ulf Ryberg 2011, Norway Summit Entertainment recently picked up the production rights to Jo Nesbo’s novel “Headhunters”. Clearly, somebody just saw Morten Tyldum’s awesome film adaptation. Headhunters begins dubiously. The … [Read the Rest]
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Comic Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope’ – joyful, inspiring filmmaking
Comic Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope Directed by Morgan Spurlock USA, 2011 The film’s title feels like a desperately out-of-touch ploy to seem relevant in nerd culture, sure. But in all fairness to Mr. Spurlock, it’s also a pretty … [Read the Rest]
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘El infierno’ a sometimes-fun, sometimes-infuriating mob tribute
El Narco (El inferno’) Written and directed by Luis Estrada 2010, Mexico Billed as a gangster movie of the same scope and caliber as Scarface and Goodfellas, but set in Mexico, El Narco (formerly El infierno) cribs the skeletal arc of these … [Read the Rest]
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Derniere Seance (Last Screening)’ – for avid horror fans, it is a modest delight
Derniere Seance (Last Screening) Directed by Laurent Achard Screenplay by Laurent Achard and Frédérique Moreau 2011, France If Last Screening’s greatest flaw is the silliness of its premise, it’s greatest success is director Laurent Achard unflaggingly earnest commitment to that … [Read the Rest]
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Sleep Tight’ demounstrates director Balagueró’s versatility
Sleep Tight Directed by Jaume Balagueró Screenplay by Alberto Marini 2011, Spain It’s no easy task to conduct a captivating, exhilarating film around an absolutely horrendous human being. But in his first follow up to the Rec films, Juame Balagueró … [Read the Rest]
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘A Boy and His Samurai’ has captured the hearts of Fantastic Fest attendees
A Boy And His Samurai (Chonmage purin) Directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura Screenplay by Yoshihiro Nakamura 2010, Japan For three years running, director Yoshihiro Nakamura has captured the hearts of Fantastic Fest attendees. Fish Story (2009) and Golden Slumbers (2010) both … [Read the Rest]
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Carré Blanc’ bleak, yet consistently hilarious
Carré Blanc Written and directed by Jean-Baptiste Leonettie 2011, France The world of Carré Blanc is a desolate expanse of concrete housing complexes. A square emblem, representative of a nameless, faceless state entity, is emblazoned everywhere. Loudspeakers stationed at every … [Read the Rest]
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘Juan de los Muertos (Juan of the Dead)’ – vital, exciting filmmaking
Juan Of The Dead Written and directed by Alejandro Brugués 2011, Cuba / Spain Juan of the Dead is a Cuban horror comedy. For those keeping track, that doesn’t ever happen. In fact, it’s a huge testament to director Alejandro … [Read the Rest]
Fantastic Fest 2011: ‘The Yellow Sea’ a typically expert, bleak Korean thriller
The Yellow Sea (Hwang Hae) Directed by Na Hong-jin Screenplay byNa Hong-jin South Korea, 2011 – The actual Yellow Sea, or the area of the East China Sea between the Chinese mainland and the Korean peninsula, is a mostly symbolic … [Read the Rest]
‘Stake Land’ – absorbing, and sort of moving, and quite scary…
Stake Land Directed by Jim Mickle Screenplay by Nick Damici and Jim Mickle 2010, USA Horror films, despite their divisiveness, are uncannily successful as time capsules. Stake Land, despite its many flaws, quite exhaustively captures the zeitgeist of 2010 America. … [Read the Rest]
SXSW 2011: ‘Wuss’ could have been an excellent dark indie comedy
Wuss Directed by Clay Liford Written by Clay Liford USA – 2011 Wuss may not be director Clay Liford’s first feature, but it certainly feels like it is. Adequately made, and competently acted, Wuss could be, and for a while … [Read the Rest]
SXSW 2011: ‘Little Deaths’ – an anthology for open-minded individuals
Little Deaths Directed by Sean Hogan, Andrew Parkinson, and Simon Rumley UK – 2011 The Fantastic Fest Midnighters sidebar at SXSW is a wonderful idea. Austin’s annual Fantastic Festival is certainly one of the most esteemed and well curated genre … [Read the Rest]
SXSW 2011: ’13 Assassins’
13 Assassin Directed by Takashi Milke Written by Daisuke Tengan Based on a screenplay by Kaneo Ikegami If you’ve seen any of Takashi Miike’s thousand-or-so films, you know that his new samurai flick, 13 Assassins, isn’t like the others. But … [Read the Rest]
SXSW 2011: ‘Kill List’ – a brutal, exhausting shaggy dog tale with a dark as night punchline
Kill List Directed by Ben Wheatley Written by Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump 2011, UK A detailed discussion of Kill List risks spoiling a singular and thrilling adventure. But if you are the type that relishes the feeling of leaving … [Read the Rest]
SXSW 2011: ‘The Innkeepers’ – Ti West Delivers Again
The Innkeepers Directed by Ti West Written by Ti West 2011, USA Ti West’s last film, the reproduction vintage horror flick The House of the Devil, signified his ascent from suspiciously young horror fanboy with a movie crew to clever … [Read the Rest]
Emmet Duff is a small town Ohioan reborn as an Austin, TX based artist and writer. He spent his youth either reading or watching movies, which is probably why he feels compelled to watch movies and then write words about them. In 2009, he graduated from Kenyon College with a double degree in Psychology and Studio Art and has yet to capitalize on that deadly combination. Once a kindly and humble Midwesterner, Emmet now eats a Tex Mex breakfast, sports a ten gallon hat, and refuses to be messed with.
As an artist, Emmet enjoys photographing things, building things, and photographing things that he builds. Though his writing extends beyond cinema and criticism, he started his illustrious film writing career working for his older, very talented, brother in Sydney, Australia. Emmet has a enthusiastic love for all kinds of films and would be hard pressed to name a favorite filmmaker. But one time he spent a few days rewatching all of David Cronenberg’s films in a row. And he didn’t hate it. 
