What are the greatest cult films of fantasy and horror cinema? We asked Michel Hazanavicius, Bérénice Bejo, Gringe, Finnegan Oldfield, Alex Lutz, Pierre Deladonchamps, all members of the main jury of the Gérardmer 2023 International Fantastic Film Festival, the question.
What are the best fantasy or horror movies of all time? Finnegan Oldfied, Alex Lutz, Pierre Deladonchamps, Michel Hazanavicius, Bérénice Bejo, Gringe… The members of the feature film jury of the Gérardmer International Fantastic Film Festival 2023 have their opinion on the matter.
For Finnegan Oldfield: The Blair Witch Projectby Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez (1999)
Three film students go into the forest to make a documentary about a local legend, the Blair Witch. A year later, while they are missing, their videotape is found. The Blair Witch Projectby Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, proves that all it takes is a low-end camcorder and a bit of imagination to spin the willies to all the movie buffs on the planet. This American independent horror film became the second highest-grossing film of all time. With a budget of 60,000 dollars, it brought in almost 250 million dollars. “It’s filmed like a home video, a documentary with no budget, but it’s a great movie”supports Franco-British actor Finnegan Oldfield.
For Gringe: I met the devilby Kim Jee-woon (2010)
It’s a jewel of Korean cinema, carried by brilliant actors. A masterpiece, according to actor and rapper Gringe. I met the devilby Kim Jee-woon tells a story of revenge, that of a secret agent in search of the serial killer who killed his fiancée… The result is brilliant, morbid, of a rare intensity. And for good reason, Kim Jee-woon is one of the greatest current Asian filmmakers (Two Sisters, A Bittersweet Life, The Good, the Bad and the Crazy). “I love this duality between beauty and sadism, it’s a gory film with a very strong poetic power”says Gringe.
For Michel Hazanavicius: shiningby Stanley Kubrick (1980)
This psychological horror film is considered one of the greatest successes of horror cinema. Adapted from Stephen King’s novel, The shining by Stanley Kubrick is a total success, carried by brilliant actors. Jack Nicholson breaks down a bathroom door with an ax and all the scenes are cult. “Obviously Kubrick is one of the greatest directors of all time. With Shining, he plays the card of genre cinema, fantasy film, and everything is successful”insists the director and president of the feature film jury, Michel Hazanavicius.
For Berenice Bejo: Alienby Ridley Scott (1979)
It is surely the most harrowing of futuristic thrillers. The plot pits the crew of a spaceship against an alien, unknown, aggressive and deadly creature. Alien, the eighth passenger, directed by Ridley Scott, is a horror science fiction film. It is part of the saga Alienof which it is the initial opus. “Alien is the first film that scared me very much, I even looked at a book to understand how they made the creature because it impressed me a lot”admits the actress and co-president of the jury for feature films at the Gérardmer Festival, Bérénice Bejo.
For Pierre Deladonchamps: Thesilenceofthelambsby Jonathan Demme (1991)
With Flight over a cuckoo’s nest (Milos Forman, 1975), Thesilenceofthelambs by Jonathan Demme is one of the favorite films of Nancy actor Pierre Deladonchamps. If it is not strictly speaking a “horror” film, this frightening thriller has what it takes to traumatize the public. This adaptation of a novel by Thomas Harris features the fictional character of Hannibal Lecter, a prominent psychopathic and cannibal psychiatrist, played by Anthony Hopkins. “Since the dawn of time, fear, murderers and serial killers have fascinated”explains Pierre Deladonchamps.
For Alex Lutz: Psychosisby Alfred Hitchcock (1960)
Psychosis (in English psychology) by Alfred Hitchcock is an American horror thriller, in black and white, released in 1960. This major film in the filmography of the cult director is considered a masterpiece of suspense and horror. A young woman stops in the middle of the night at a motel run by Norman Bates, a rather nice young man… at first glance. From the brilliant interpretation of Anthony Perkins, to the outstanding direction, to the cult soundtrack: “This film is of exceptional mastery, it is perfect”says Strasbourg actor and director Alex Lutz.
Gérardmer Festival: what are the best horror films of all time?