by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

This year I was asked to attend the North Bend Film Fest virtually. It was my first time engaging with this particular film festival but I was excited to see that it featured so many female and LGBTQ stories and filmmakers. North Bend (the original shooting location for Twin Peaks) specializes in independent genre film. For more information on the festival lineup, past offerings, and other information check out their website HERE.

After seeing their lineup and watching several of their feature length films and shorts, I am kicking myself for not engaging with the festival sooner. I loved the diverse offerings they had this year and all of the features I was able to see were great. As a genre fan and someone who tries to seek out more independent films I was glad to see such a wonderful curated list.

I was able to check out three of the features that were offered this year. They were all very different and they all moved me in various ways.

Please Baby Please (dir. Amanda Kramer)

Please Baby Please is a moody musical set in the backdrop of 1950s Urban America. The story follows Suse and Arthur, newlyweds, whose lives are changed when they encounter a greaser gang outside of their apartment. Suse begins to explore her dangerous masculine side that craves power and authority that is not typically granted to women. For Arthur, it awakens a sexual desire as he begins to fantisize about the gang leader, played by Karl Glusman (DEVS, Watcher, Lux Æterna). The two are adamant about their love for each other but as they excavate these new and exciting parts of themselves, it becomes clear that it might pull them apart.

This is a great fit for fans of David Lynch’s dreamy picturesque films, which might also be why we get an appearance from Twin Peaks favorite Dana Ashbrook (who plays Bobby on the show). It also has an appearance from Demi Moore as the rich housewife who lives above them. Glusman is someone I have seen in several films now, and always find his acting intriguing, he does a great job playing the tough but sensitive leader and adds a hefty amount of camp and soap opera vibes to his performance. Andrea Riseborough gives another incredible performance as Suse, I am always enamored by her ability to transform herself completely role to role and this was no exception. Please Baby Please is delightful and full of reflections on gender norms and the complexities of relationships. As the two leads change it is unclear if they will even like what the other is changing into, but they simply cannot stop their evolution into their next selves. It is a heartfelt meditation on the complexities of identity and love that is dreamlike and full of beautiful neon lighting that brings you deep into its world.

Next Exit (dir. Mali Elfman)

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Mali Elfman (daughter of Danny Elfman) has joined the world of female filmmakers, and created a complex and gorgeous sci-fi film with Next Exit. Next Exit takes place in a world where humans have found proof of ghosts and the afterlife. In order to gather more information about this discovery Dr. Stevensen (Karen Gillan) and her team are asking interested participants to become a part of an assisted suicide expirement to better connect them to the other side. While the legalities of this are being discussed by politicians in the backdrop of the film, two people make the decision to join the experiment and end their lives. Teddy (Rahul Kohli) is excited about the prospects of playing a vital role in the exploration of the afterlife while Rose (Katie Parker) hides her true desire to die while she engages in numerous self destructive acts. By chance the two decide to make the trip together and the journey forces them to bond in profound ways, making them both question their decision to die.

I thought it was interesting that the film was populated by a variety of actors who are part of the Mike Flanagan world of horror. Kohli (who plays one of the leads in Midnight Mass) gives one of the best performances I have seen this year. He is immediately charming and endearing but we also get to see him work through a variety of emotions on screen making him feel like a relatable and real person. He and Park (The Haunting of Hill House) play off of each other well and have chemistry that pops off the screen. The story is a look at life, death, love, and human nature. It is hard to truly pin down the genre because it does such a great job of moving between drama, comedy, horror, and romance. With great performances, beautiful writing, and compelling philosophical ideas, this is a film that will stick with viewers long after watching.

Swallowed (dir. Carter Smith)

I was surprised by how much the stripped down, queer thriller Swallowed worked for me. Typically things related to drugs and drug running make me uncomfortable but the story is so compelling that I was able to look past some of my discomfort. Benjamin (Cooper Koch) is about to leave his hometown to become a porn star in LA. He will be leaving behind his friend Dom (Jose Colon) who is clearly in love with Benjamin but never had the guts to tell him. As a going away present Dom tries to get him some money to keep him afloat while he makes it big, all Dom has to do is make a quick drug run for Alice (Jenna Malone). However it quickly becomes clear that the drugs they are smuggling are more dangerous than they expect and when they are forced to swallow them, they worry about what they have put in their body. As the journey unfolds the two try to get through the night but a variety of complications put them in danger making it unclear if the two will make it out unscathed.

This was another festival feature that had really great performances. Koch and Colon are both new to me but they had great chemistry and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them act together. I have been a Jenna Malone (Saved!, Donnie Darko, The Neon Demon) fan for sometime and loved how mean she gets to be in this film. There is also an appearance by Mark Patton (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge) who has made a return to acting over the past few years. The story is very simple and has a small cast that makes this a lean thriller and it works extremely well for the film. I haven’t seen much from director Carter Smith since his 2000s horror The Ruins, and I was impressed with how much he was able to do with so little.

With so many incredible offerings, this year's North Bend Film Festival is one that people should keep their eyes out for. Make sure to follow their social media and be on the lookout for releases of these films and others showcased this year.