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Stars: Alba Ribas, Cristian Valencia, Albert Carbó, Bernat Saumell, Belén Fabra, Montserrat Miralles | Written by Hèctor Hernández Vicens, Isaac P. Creus | Directed by Hèctor Hernández Vicens

For those that don’t know already, Shudder is a new online streaming service that is basically Netflix with a catalogue exclusively composed of horror films. If you’re a fan of the genre, then it is well worth checking out. As well as hosting scary films old and new, obscure and well-known, it also has an expanding list of Shudder exclusives, including the Spanish language 2015 feature, The Corpse of Anna Fritz.

When the famous and beautiful actress Anna Fritz (Alba Ribas) dies at a party, her body is taken to a mortuary at a nearby hospital. Pau (Albert Carbó), the mortician, takes a picture of her and sends it to his friends Ivan and Javi (Cristian Valencia and Bernat Saumell) who soon turn...

Nina Forever: Relationships are complicated, and even when you think you’ve moved on past a former lover, you still carry traces of that person’s influence with you for a while. That’s the theme at the heart of Nina Forever, the darkly comedic feature film debut from Ben and Chris Blaine that follows new couple Holly (Abigail Hardingham) and Rob (Cian Barry) as they contend with the return of Nina (Fiona O’Shaughnessy), Rob’s former girlfriend who was killed during a car accident and decides to pop up during their first time having sex. And that’s only the beginning of the awkwardness that continues to build between the trio throughout Nina Forever.

What I really enjoyed about Nina Forever was the approach that the Blaine Brothers take in tackling their complicated ideas; there are no easy answers here and the way the filmmakers handle topics like obsession,...

The Corpse of Anna Fritz

Written by Hèctor Hernández Vicens and Isaac P. Creus

Directed by Hèctor Hernández Vicens

Spain, 2015

The objectification of women and the ravenous consumption of celebrity culture are some of the very clear themes that inform the narrative of The Corpse of Anna Fritz, the debut feature of Spanish director Hèctor Hernández Vicens. It’s a shame then that what begins as a fascinating dialogue with these themes gives way to an unremarkably straight forward thriller plot which has little to no bearing on what came before.

Superstar celebrity actress Anna Fritz (Alba Ribas) has been found dead at a party. Only hours later, when she is wheeled into the morgue, hospital orderly Pau (Albert Carbó) can’t resist taking a picture of the corpse on his phone to send to his friends Ivan (Cristian Valencia) and Javi (Bernat Saumell), who in due course arrive at...

* * * Please Note That This Review Contains Spoilers Throughout * * *

People often turn to movies when a proper escape from reality is needed, but sometimes we’re taken to a place that’s anything but a “safe retreat.” The Corpse Of Anna Fritz is one such film that would rather prod about our moral makeup than offer a cheerful fantasy, but without exploring the darkness, we might never stumble upon the revealing stories that take a little more digging to find.

Now, to be fair, I’m not referring to director Hèctor Hernández Vicens and co-writer Isaac P. Creus’ statements about necrophilia – those are waters never to be traversed. I’m more interested in the dilemma that unfolds after a morgue is turned into a sexual playground, which, while sounding sickly disturbing, offers a horrifying admission of faults only brought upon by guilty convictions.

Vicens’ film follows three friends who start pre-gaming...

The Corpse of Anna Fritz is a Spanish language film, set to release soon. The film deals with a dead actress and her many admirers; Alba Rivas stars. To show at the South-by-Southwest film festival, this title will be part of the Midnighter's section. As well, a disturbing trailer for the film has been released, this week and horrors fan can find it here. The plot is being kept mostly in secret. Though, the trailer, which looks much like a move clip, shows a supernatural element. Perhaps, some people should just be left alone. Also, The Corpse of Anna Fritz will have its release at the SXSW, in Austin, Texas. The film portion of the festival begins March 17th. a more specific release date is coming soon. Director: Hèctor Hernández Vicens. Writers: Isaac P. Creus and Hèctor Hernández Vicens. Cast: Albert Carbó, Albert Carbó, Alba Ribas and Bernat Saumell. A...

Hot projects new to Screenbase include Nicolas Winding Refn feature The Neon Demon, Pope Francis biopic Francisco, Brady Corbet’s directorial debut The Childhood Of A Leader and a new adaptation by Wim Wenders.Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon

Elle Fanning, Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Abbey Lee, Bella Heathcote and Jena Malone have signed on to co-star in Nicolas Winding Refn’s next feature.

“After making Drive and falling madly in love with the electricity of Los Angeles, I knew I had to return to tell the story of The Neon Demon,” Winding Refn said.

Principal photography will begin in Los Angeles on March 30. Gaumont and Wild Bunch are co-selling the title.

Wim Wenders’ Les Beaux Jours D’Aranjuez

This adaptation of the play by Peter Handke was announced by Alfama’s Paulo Branco during the Efm. It will star Reda Kateb and Sophie Semin. Wenders is expected to shoot in June.

Brady Corbet’s [link...

This year’s South By Southwest Film Conference and Festival (SXSW 2015), which will run from March 13-21 in Austin, Texas, has unveiled the lineup for its beloved Midnighters section, which aims to showcase the best and brightest in genre filmmaking, from thriller to horror to science-fiction. Attendees will witness 11 titles including nine world premieres at Midnighters this year, with filmmakers like Karyn Kusama and Rodney Ascher in the mix.

SXSW’s senior programmer Jarod Neece commented on the Midnighters lineup, stating:

“Creepy, clever, engrossing, and frightening are just a few words that come to mind when I think about this year’s SXSW Midnighters lineup. These nine world premieres and two festival favorites are helmed by five first-time filmmakers and several SXSW alumni.”

Midnighters always introduces some fascinating genre pics, and whether there’s something here that will go on to Oculus-style success remains to be seen, but it’s...

Following the recent announcement of their full film lineup that includes Trainwreck, Get Hard, and Spy, South by Southwest has revealed their lineup of Midnight movies and short films to screen during the festival. Chief among them is the Sundance 2015 hit Turbo Kid (read our review here) and the Sundance ’15 winner of the Short Film Prize World of Tomorrow. SXSW runs from March 13-21. View the full Midnighters and Shorts lineup below via the SXSW website.

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Midnighters

The Corpse of Anna Fritz (Spain)

Director: Hèctor Hernández Vicens, Screenwriters: Hèctor Hernándes Vicens, Isaac P. Creus

Anna Fritz, a famous and beautiful actress, has died recently. Three young men sneak into the morgue to see her naked. Fascinated by her beauty, they decide to become the last people to have sex with her. Cast: Alba Ribas, Cristian Valencia, Bernat Saumell, Albert Carbó. (World Premiere)

Deathgasm (New Zealand)

Director/Screenwriter: Jason Lei Howden...

SXSW’s Midnighters selections often give horror fans the first look at indie horror’s finest releases of the year and their 2015 lineup has just been announced, including nine movies that will be making their world premiere during the festival:

“Scary, funny, sexy, controversial – provocative after-dark features for night owls and the terminally curious.

The Corpse of Anna Fritz (Spain)

Director: Hèctor Hernández Vicens, Screenwriters: Hèctor Hernándes Vicens, Isaac P. Creus

Anna Fritz, a famous and beautiful actress, has died recently. Three young men sneak into the morgue to see her naked. Fascinated by her beauty, they decide to become the last people to have sex with her. Cast: Alba Ribas, Cristian Valencia, Bernat Saumell, Albert Carbó (World Premiere)

Deathgasm (New Zealand)

Director/Screenwriter: Jason Lei Howden

New kid in town Brodie and bad-boy Zakk quickly bond over their mutual admiration of heavy metal. But when these two metal thrashing losers unwittingly summon malevolent forces,...

While Hollywood savors The South by Southwest Film Festival as a testing ground for big comedies, one area of the fest that is definitely edgy, is its Midnighter section. Today, the 22nd annual SXSW announced 11 genre films, nine of which are world premieres, comprised of thrillers, sci-fi, dark comedies and horror as part of its Midnighters section as well as their shorts and music videos.

SXSW’s strength with absurd and Z grade fare is clearly evident in its Midnight short lineup where such kinky titles like Anal Juke (which is billed as the director’s “dream about my ex-boyfriend and the uneasy atmosphere of Japan after the earthquake are remixed”) and Kiss Kiss Fingerbang are receiving play slots. Or how about Crow Hand!!! which reads as a “Caw-tionary tale!”

The 106 shorts selected are from a record 4,935 submissions, a 16% uptick from last year. In talking with Deadline today, SXSW producer and senior programmer Jarod Neece,...

SXSW top brass have unveiled the Midnighters section and the complete short film line-up at the festival, set to run in Texas from March 13-21.

This marks the second year of the section and the 2015 offerings comprise 11 genre films including nine world premieres.

“Creepy, clever, engrossing, and frightening are just a few words that come to mind when I think about this year’s SXSW Midnighters line-up,” said SXSW producer and senior programmer Jarod Neece.

“These nine world premieres and two Festival Favorites are helmed by five, first-time filmmakers and several SXSW alumni. We will be screening four films a night at midnight during all nine days of SXSW, and we can’t wait to unleash them on the SXSW audiences”

The Midnighters line-up appears below including synopses provided by the festival:

The Corpse Of Anna Fritz (Spain)

Director: Hèctor Hernández Vicens

Anna Fritz, a famous and beautiful actress, has died recently. Three young men...