by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

Hey everyone I am back with more of my coverage on the 2021 Salem Horror Fest. So far I have watched a variety of films that are diverse in their subject matter, place of origin, and their characters. Its focus on feminist and queer films has really won me over and all of the films I have watched so remind me how important diversity in horror is. 

Dawn Breaks Behind the Eyes (dir. Kevin Kopacka)

This has been one of the biggest joys of the festival so far. I loved this film. This was a German film directed by Kevin Kopacka who wrote it with Lili Villányi. The film is about a couple who are unable to leave an old castle, reality and stories converge in this fascinating genre flick. One of the things I loved the most about it was the 70s and 80s horror aesthetics it gave off. From the posters to its music, to the title cards it oozes retro horror vibes. It reminded me a lot of Mother! In the way, it centers its story around toxic men and specifically those male creators. It feels like it takes a dig at Polanski and other male creatives who manage to create toxic characters well because they are themselves, toxic men. Whether they realize it or not they portray themselves on the screen. I did not expect this film to take the turns it did but I really loved it all.

I do not want to give much away but its themes around feminism, storytelling, and religion were fascinating. I loved the two lead actresses in the film; Anna Platen and Luisa Taraz both command the screen in very different ways and bring much to the characters they play. The film also has a lot of fun effects, there is one scene in particular that is honestly breathtaking. The filmmaking is great. I love the way the film looks, especially its lighting. For a film that mainly takes place in one space, it does a great job of making it look interesting. 

Seeds (dir. Skip Shea)

Seeds is part of the “Local Mass Hysteria” portion of the program which features filmmakers from the Massachusetts area. As someone from the area, it is fun to watch what is going on in my hometown on the horror front. The film is about two grieving parents and how they handle the loss of their daughter in different ways. The mother is plagued by dreams, visions, and voices so she and those around her think she is losing her grip on reality. This includes her husband who insists she takes her medication while he researches an old cult from the area. Eventually, their paths cross as they uncover information about the cult and the darkness around them. Unfortunately, this was not my favorite film from the festival, although it does have some interesting elements. 

The film had a lot of similarities with the 70s horror film Don’t Look Now starring Donald Sutherland. I love that film and so I really enjoyed how the couple dealt with their grief in different ways and how it shook their core beliefs. It also deals with women’s intuition vs. man’s logic which is something I always find very interesting in films. It also introduces a Matriarchal religious system that I was very intrigued by. The one stand-out performance is from its lead Emma MacKenzie who brings depth and understanding to her character. While it was not a stand-out film for me it does have plenty of interesting elements and themes that I enjoyed.

So Vam (dir. Alice Maio Mackay)

So Vam is a Transgender and Queer film by director Alice Maio Mackay. This Australian film centers around Kurt a high schooler who is consistently bullied for being gay. His dream is to leave his small town and become a drag queen. After Kurt becomes a vampire he is exposed to a group of vampires who make abusers and homophobes their meals. This is another film that has a great 80s aesthetic. From the neon lighting to the synth soundtrack, to the fun practical effects this is a labor of love for queer genre fans. While this is a campy horror story it also has some good moving moments where families and friends are able to connect and love. The whole project feels so much about how important it is to love each other, and if you continue to hate you might just become a meal.

This was a pretty fun B-movie and I am very happy it exists out in the world. Horror is the best genre to delve into diverse stories. There is clearly so much love in this production that it practically beams at you through the screen. The filmmakers create a bit of a fantasy world, and with how rough things have been the past few years we could all use a bit more fantasy to escape into. This also delves into some of the origins of vampire lore and the racist and homophobic themes that can be found in the history of vampires. They clearly did their homework and wanted to create something for fans of vampire horror to enjoy. This was the feel-good horror film of the festival for sure.