BITS continues at the Carlton Cinema today, November 30th with a line-up which includes some macabre, psychological thriller-like films.
The following is my recommendation for today.
Black Mountain Side – 4:15pm & 6:45pm
Starring: Shane Twerdun, Michael Dickson, Carl Toftfelt, Marc Anthony Williams,
Andrew Moxham, Timothy Lyle, Steve Bradley
Director Nick Szostakiwskyj‘s Black Mountain Side feels more likie a thriller than a horror, but it works quite well. In the film, a grouup of anthropologists gather at a remote part of Northern Canada, where in winter there is an average of 5hours of sunlight and minus 50C temperatures. They are there to verify if a stone formation dates to Mesoamerican times, which would place it rather off course by thousands of miles.
Soon after their arrival, things begin to change. Even the local Inuit helpers decide to leave the site, altogether. They find themselves isolated with no means of communication. Members of the team also begin to develop an ‘illness’ that no one has any idea of what it could be. Could it be symptoms of their isolation or something more sinister?
Black Mountain Side works well in building up tension and supsense with long exposure shots, as well as, by focusing on the members of the team. For a first feature, with a limited budget, Szostakiwskyj does a good job in creating the aforementioned tension. We watch as the team members lose grasp of their sanity, in some sense. The cold climate and landscape also adds to the chilling tension in the film. The cinematography aids in advancing the plot better than some of the actors, in some instances.
Albeit limitations, Black Mountain Side is worth seeing on the big screen. For those of you who like films like with creepy suspense, this film will appeal to you. One note on the ending though, it leaves you wanting a little more. Some may like it; others may hate it, but I am kind of okay with its unclear message… I won’t say more as not to give away much here.
Black Mountain Side screeens at BITS today at 4:15pm and 6:45pm. A second screening was added due to a high demand of tickets for this film.
There are still other films screening at BITS, as well. Closing the festival is director Greg A. Sager‘s Kingdom Come, also with two screening times. If you have the time, make it a double-feature. You can find more details at bloodinthesnow.ca.
