Human Relations and Other Diversions

Running time: N/A

Always a favorite of those of us a bit on the twisted side, this year's crop of "out-there" films that make up the Mindbenders series will not disappoint. David Munro, creator of the Cinequest favorite Bullethead, has returned with a surreal film about the desolate emotional landscape that trauma can create. First Love, Second Planet is the dysfunctional fantasy of Crystal, who seeks love on the barren, scorched landscape of Venus, named for the goddess of sensual love. Ted Crittenden's kinetic Banzai Boys is a high-energy action film which uses a variety of innovative filmmaking techniques including live action, miniatures, and photo animation. Sex, Lies and Videotape meets American Psycho in Michael Gibson's disturbing Sacrament. A mild-mannered ad writer confesses his nasty habits in his video diary. James Frisa has created an experimental comedy/drama where life imitates art and dream imitates film. Out of Sync follows a man who examines his life out of step with the universe. Simon Pummell's Rose Red is a sci-fi thriller which explores the future of virtual reality. Stephen Brown's The Curious is a macabre tale in which a composer's world is thrown off-balance by his sinister neighbor, optician David Suchet (Hercule Poirot). Fans of horror films will love The Bitch is Back, Tjebbo Penning's satirical homage to the genre. Using all the clichés and style elements we have come to expect of these films, the filmmaker pokes reverent fun at films of the genre. - Matthew Aquino