Kristian A. Söderström’s VIDEOMAN was one of the top top horror movies of FrightFest 2018, a celebration of the golden days of VHS, Italian giallo and the films of Mike Leigh.
Synopsis: A Giallo obsessed VHS collector with a drinking problem finds a valuable video movie that could save him from eviction. When it gets stolen he starts a desperate hunt for the black-gloved perpetrator, meeting an alcoholic woman in love with all things 80s and a victim of work place bullying in the process. Can these two outsiders joined by nostalgia and broken dreams find redemption in each other? Dario Argento meets Mike Leigh in Söderström’s sly and playfully moving celebration of Italian genre cinema and social realities. Fulci, Fenech and Freda fans will find this feature debut an absolute blast.
VIDEOMAN (original title VIDEOMANNEN) - BritFlicks Review
Kristian A Soderstrom’s dark, affectionate tale throws together two functioning alcoholics trapped in past glories. He’s an avid VHS collector facing financial ruin. She’s an eighties obsessed divorcee on the brink of losing her job. When a British buyer offers him ten thousand euros for his prized copy of Lucio Fulci’s ZOMBIE all his prayers are answered until it goes missing. The frantic search around Gothenburg sees him suspect and upset his cabal of VHS buddies while at the same time, an unlikely romance blossoms. Despite there being no seductive, leather gloved prowler, Soderstrom’s debut feature is most definitely a loving ‘giallo’ pastiche, but without gruesome deaths or needless misogyny. In particular, seasoned watchers of the Italian sub-genre will raise a knowing eyebrow at the bottle of J&B whisky our anti-hero guzzles from in most scenes.
The powers that be at Frightfest towers have always thrown curveballs at their audiences from across the genre. Swedish noir comedy, VIDEOMANNEN, is one of those they manage to knock out of the park.
Stuart Wright
@leytonrocks
Britflicks Podcast host Stuart Wright talks VIDEOMAN with writer/director Kristian A Soderstrom.
VIDEOMAN is on DVD & Digital HD 18th February, courtesy of FrightFest Presents. View VIDEOMAN on Amazon
