New Twist on Animation: Spike & Mike’s Festival Hits Toronto
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The First HalfWritten By Rachel Rain Packota
“Sick and Twisted” is a bit of a misnomer as overall there is nothing particularly sick or twisted about the group of short films in this screening. However, Tuesday night was a healthy half-house for the infamous film festival by Craig “Spike” Decker and Mike Gribble, and if there were reservations by the audience over the controversial quality of said shorts, they kept it well to themselves.
There are 26 short films in total. In awards show-style, here’s a quick look at the first thirteen:
ANIMAL INSTINCTS by Cameron Edser
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Yes, it’s cute and colourful.
This is the problem Old McDonald had from the start: Tether a sheep too close to a cow in the pasture and they start picking fights over who gets to eat which daisies. Awesome kung fu roundhouse kicks, Matrix-style dodging, and a very dramatic barn explosion.
Lucid Forge Award – “Best Fight in Plasticine”
EMPTY ROLL by Miles Thompson
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Unsure. She may be suspicious of your attitude towards her cat when she’s not in the room after this.
Ah, the dinner party. Loved by popular people, loathed by newbies at the office and son/daughter-in-laws. You want to make a good impression on everyone. Be witty. Dress snappy. Remember good table manners. REMEMBER GOOD BATHROOM MANNERS.
Lucid Forge Award – “Worst Use of a Family Pet”
PIRATE BABY’S CABANA BATTLE STREET FIGHT by Paul Robertson
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Probably. It falls into that “anime” category which I hear the ladies really enjoy.
Kung Fu Dude and Video Game Man set out to rescue a stunning (for a cartoon) lady from the very dastardly Pirate Baby. Our heroes must make it past the swarm of zombie kids and upset business people on their way through the lobby if they’re to have a chance in hell at succeeding.
Lucid Forge Award – “Mostly Likely Made By A Kid Who Watched Too Much DragonBall Z”
2 IN THE A.M. P.M. by J. G. Quintel
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Absolutely. It’s relatively clean and harmless, and the dudes turn into dolphins at one point. Awww!
Two Joe Schmoes are in the middle of a graveyard shift at the gas station and what’s a better way to pass the time but with some Halloween candy… laced with ACID? Now, usually it’s best to tell your friend first if you’re going to pass him a caramel roofie of sorts, but who’s checking the moral levels anyways?
Lucid Forge Award – “Creator is Definitely A Kevin Smith Fan”
MONS THE CAT by Pjotr Sapegin
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Unless she hates animals, bright colours, or odd humour, then YES.
I would kill to see this played in its original language (creator Sapegin is from Norway), but it’s mostly worth seeing for its intense use of colour and bizarre use of a voracious cat as main character. Mons the cat has a huge appetite and a lively imagination. Don’t mess with him or you will be eaten (like everyone else).
Lucid Forge Award – “Quite Possibly Inspired By A Pot-Head Cat-Owner”
2 MINUTE ITCH by Eric Favala
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Yes. Who doesn’t have a soft spot for a dog in love (with a pillow)?
Best use of minimal time to tell a richly detailed story of one canine’s imaginative, fantasy sex life. He knows he’s not supposed to touch Master’s favourite pillow, the one with the poodle outline on it, but he just can’t help himself. She’s a FOX!
Lucid Forge Award – “Best Couple In A Short Film”
THE MOSQUITO WHO GAVE UP BLOOD by Ross Bollinger
Will My Girlfriend Like It? She may be squeamish about the up-close depictions of (*ahem*) drawing blood.
Like watching a new vegetarian in high school, or maybe an anorexic. Or, a drug addict. Whatever. Protagonist Mosquito is hip and in-the-know that it’s not cool to drink blood anymore. She ties up her proboscis (long mouth tube) and sets off to stay strong and resist temptation.
Lucid Forge Award – “Best ‘Keg’ Chugging Scene”
SLIM PICKINGS by Anthony Lucas
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Yes, because it will make you seem more sensitive to the plight of poverty. And plants.
Ahhh! I had a hard time sitting through this one, not because it was “sick and twisted”, but because I felt the pain of the main character, Green Dude (probably not his real name). He was starving, yet refused to eat his adorable, animate tomato plant. And yet, how long can a Green Dude survive on a single pea? It is a tragedy of misunderstandings. I still haven’t gotten over the ending.
Lucid Forge Award – “Best Romance Between A Man (albeit a green one) And His Plant”
LAPSUS by Juan Pablo Zaramella
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Hell, yeah!
A pint-sized nun is tested by God and tempted by (literally) the dark side with very bizarre and hilarious results.
Lucid Forge Award – “Least Religious (But Cutest) Film About A Religious Figure”
TONGUE TWISTER by Sean Scott
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Hell, NO. Unless she digs gross body humour.
Those of us who have grown up in a cold climate know the golden rule of winter (besides the yellow snow one): NEVER lick a metal pole, or anything else metal for that matter. Our protagonist forgoes that time-tested wisdom and finds himself stuck with no way to escape, and a seemingly inevitable end via vicious snow plow. Unless he can somehow free himself. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Lucid Forge Award – “Most Likely To Make You Appreciate Your Tongue!”
FROG by Christopher Conforti
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Totally. Especially if she likes frogs (there’s a happy ending).
I love frogs. I’ve never understood people who are afraid of these lovely amphibians. Our title character finds himself running into four of these unreasonable homo sapiens, as well as a cat, the pool filter, and a very unpleasant trip through Bowel Town. You have been warned.
Lucid Forge Award – “Best Protagonist EVER!”
GHOST OF STEPHEN FOSTER by Raymond S. Persi
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Does she like black-and-white acid trips a la 1940’s Disney animation?
With a soundtrack by big band/swing group The Squirrel Nut Zippers, “Ghost…” is a madcap honeymoon for two unlucky souls at the Paradise Hotel. I’m not even going to go into details except to say, Read the Lucid Forge Award if received below…
Lucid Forge Award – “Definitely Made By Someone Having A Bad Acid Trip”
THE FURIOUS LITTLE CINNAMON BUN by Breehn Burns and Jason Johnson
Will My Girlfriend Like It? Most likely. It makes absolutely no sense, but is generally harmless fun.
The Furious Little Cinnamon Bun gets upset for no discernable reason, takes an angry walk outside, knocks over a Snowcone, and is eventually punished by the Giant Penis In The Sky. Yes, that’s right. The deux ex machina is a PENIS. I’m not making this up.
Lucid Forge Award – “Best Resolution For A Truly Bizarre Set-up”
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