0 [WATCH OR DIE! #4] The STIFF Editon Part 1

Words by Jerry Howard

The Seattle True Independent Film Festival is upon us once again and it's time to go check out some flicks. STIFF provides a nice alternative to SIFF and gives audiences a chance to see some films under the radar. Most films are D.I.Y, made at a fraction of the cost compared to films one might see at SIFF, and display narratives that are outside the lines of convention. You never know what the films have in store keeping audiences on their toes. Don't get me wrong, SIFF is a really cool festival loaded with good movies, but STIFF is a bit more rough around the edges, a little more punk!

The next couple of editions of Watch or Die! will cover a range of shorts, features and events put out by STIFF. This is a temporary change of direction from movies/videos related to music, but STIFF definitely displays the punk rock ethos and deserves some love. Plus, they have STIFF LICKS, which will host a variety of musical acts of the loud kind.

Check out my first round of recommendations:


The Familiar - Directed by Kody Zimmermann

Vampire flicks come at us from all angles these days. Most of the films suck, plagued with cliche story lines and a heavy dose of gothic cheese.

No thanks!

But The Familiar takes the vampire world to another level by bringing an extremely fresh and interesting perspective to the the story: through the eyes of a vampire's assistant. The protagonist loves everything vampire and ends up scoring his dream job. Sounds cool, right? Wrong! Soon, the allure of the job diminishes when the young man becomes stuck doing all the mundane, shit tasks that would make one hate their job no matter what field. He sweeps up, manages bank accounts, pays hookers (the vampire loves hookers), chops up the victims and disposes bodies. Top it off with a dick head for a boss, the vampire verbally abuses his loyal employee throughout the story, and the narrative unfolds.

This film hits home because people can relate to the protag's experiences. Think about a job you have been stoked on and when you show up the boss hands you a broom or asks you to clean out the employee microwave. One's heart shatters as they scrub away that ten month old burrito that has been nuked and nuked and nuked and seems in the midst of evolving into the Toxic Avenger all the while the person asks, "I went to school for this?" Toss in a tosser for a boss and you've been served a classic shit sandwich. Yummy, yummy. It sucks and writer Kody Zimmermann knows it. His attention to this sort of detail helps engage the audience. The vampire symbolizes your asshole boss!

The Familiar is an all around solid flick. It has played several film festivals, winning multiple awards including the much coveted FANG BANGER Stiffy! It's well shot, acted, written, and directed, but what I enjoyed most was the comedy. It's hilarious and truly an original take on a worn out genre. The film engages for a full twenty-two minutes and leaves the audience wanting more. Good thing for us The Familiar sets the story up nicely for future installments. This story is begging to be made into a feature. Let us hope.

For any fan of horror or the vampire genre, The Familiar is a must see and will not disappoint! Get your ass out to STIFF and check it out!

The Familiar plays:

Monday, June 7th with Elusive Man, Judgment, Lords, and Take My Wife at 6pm; Rendezvous/Jewel Box Theater.

And

Friday, June 11th with The Book of Zombie (more coming on this film later) and Blue Moon Day at 9:15 pm; Northwest Film Forum.

An Affair with Dolls - This dark slice of life from Sweden will make you giggle and disturb the hell out of you. It's just plain creepy yet hilarious. Maybe women playing with dolls can be an early indicator to, well, something. Highly recommended for fans of dark humor, horror, and foreign cinema.

Plays Saturday, June 5th with local feature Eyes in the Dark and another short Dinner Date at 7:45pm at the Rendezvous/Jewel Box Theater.

Also plays Friday, June 11th with local filmmaker Clint Berquist's Seattle Komedy Documentary and short Big Day of Fishing at the Northwest Film Forum at 7:20 pm.

Banana Bread - You better watch out who you're callin' a mamma's boy or else you might get a smack down. Assassin tales tend to hook us suckers and this short might be one of the most original to come around in some time.

Plays with local feature Off Camera Tuesday, June 8th at 1:30 pm at the Rendezvous/Jewelbox Theater.

Also, plays Thursday, June 10th with local feature The Taken and Travesty City at 7pm at the Central Cinema.


Day Labor - This satire follows the outsourcing of bike messenger jobs to foreign labor. This film is smart, ballsy, and irreverent. One of the best local shorts I have seen. It's hilarious and skillfully shot around the streets of Seattle. So far, this flick is my favorite of the fest.


Plays Tuesday, June 8th at Central Cinema with Sex, Drugs, and Stu. Also, plays with Left Field, Thursday June 1oth at the Northwest Film Forum at 9:15 pm.

For more information on STIFF, check out their website.