DIRECTOR: IGUCHI NOBORU

When Sigma, am organization of supercriminals decides to abduct major politicians one after another, the time is ready to call for help from the best kept secret of Japanese police force – the dynamic duo of superheroes of undercover police agent Yukata Daimon and his sidekick with a grip of steel – karate robot Zaborgar! Villains, hold your horses, as Zaborgar inherited from Daimon’s Nobel winning scientist father is not a simple home appliance on wheels. Instead the mighty Zaborgar can crush his opponents with a super triple kick ortransform into a highway speedbike ready in an instant for the hunt of the worst hoodlums on the move.

Together Daimon and Zaborgar must face the treacherous scheme of Sigma to borne a superrobot out of the DNA of Japanese leaders, as well as deflect the lethal attraction of Sigmas sexy super villain Ms. Borg. However, a sudden spark of bodily affection between the hero and his attractive adversary leads to dreadful consequences unforeseen by both, as a big tree attracts the woodsman’s axe for sure.

„Karate Robo Zaborgar“, the latest from super productive Japanese cult helmer Noboru Iguchi, whose „Vampire Girl“ and „Mutant Girl’s Squad“ have had a raving welcome from HOFF’s audiences, is a rocking remake comedy of a similary titled legendary 1970′s Japanese superhero series. Though this time Iguchi distances himself from the horror genre, being the auteur’s trick of trade, „Zaborgar“ has still the whole deal one can expect from Iguchi’s wild imagination: enthralling storyline, over the top sex jokes, buckets of ketchup, grooving 70′s soundtrack with a touch of irony mocking corrput politicians, the „Transformers“, as well as Japanese men with kinky fantasies.

Zaborgar will inject you with hilarious mood and a slap of positive energy and the films catchy theme song „Go Go Zaborgar“ won’t leave you for a long long time…trust me on that.

DIRECTOR: BRIAN YUZNA

Brian Yuzna, the author of legendary 80′s cult classics „Re-Animator“ and „Society“ loves hard to complete challenges. Three years ago Yuzna, whose travel’s have included a highly appreciated retrospective in HOFF, decided to reanimate the Indonesian indigenous horror film tradition that had hibernated in coma-like state for a few decades. What’s said is done, and a year later „Takut“, an omnibus film of short shockers screened at both genre and art-house festivals alike to positive reviews. However, “Takut” was just an appetizer for the main course, that was already being flavored by Yuzna with mouth watering Indonesian spices. Ladies and gentlemen – please meet the savory secret from the Sumatran abyss – “Amphibious 3D”!

„Amphibious 3D“, kicking off this year’s HOFF in perfect 2D widescreen is as chillingly comic, or fantastically horrific cult flick as one should expect from the opening feature three day feast of fright films. Over the top storyline where a marine biologist longing for a daughter lost in the 2004 Thai tsunami, goes on a quest in the Indonesian waters for the samples of prehistoric sea creatures is in perfect alignment with the best clichés of 80′s horror flicks. Instead she discovers herself tangled into the net of smuggling pirates taking advantage of child labor whereas suspense is added by a boy Tamal, cursed by a local witchdoctor, whose identity seems to hide darker secrets than one could expect. And when a sudden storm emerges, the revelation of the boy’s true nature at the mercy of the elements unleashes an ancient creature from the deep longing for for the human blood – a giant amphibious sea scorpion! Together with rogue looking, but good hearted boat captain (hey, one couldn’t expect that twist, right!) Skylar must face the evil before it consumes her and her associates.

Brian Yuzna has never made a secret out of a fact that filmmaking for him is more about fun than serious art. „Amphibous 3D“ has fun and a lot’s of it, but is there any horror…come and see by yourself.

And last but not least, I suggest to take a deep breath and give it bit of thought before taking a swim next time in the bay of Haapsalu Who knows, maybe there’s someone of something waiting in the mud to wake up from it’s ancient dream.

DIRECTOR: HARDI KEERUTAJA

A fun expressionistic horror short about a young man, who has forgotten his princibles. He went to get the medical degree, because he wanted to help people. Now he is focused on his future career in Germany instead. He doesn’t care about the future of his homeland. The selfishness of his own person starts to bother him and he understands that man has to help, even if it doesn’t benefit the person being helped and even if the outcome isn’t positive, it still is the right thing to do.

REŽISSÖÖR: FRANCK RICHARD

Charlotte is alone on a road trip. On an isolated side road, she picks up Max, a hitchhiker, who disappears in the bathroom of a truck-stop restaurant a few miles later. Puzzled, Charlotte comes back at night to look for him but gets caught by La Spack, a singular woman in charge of an odd pack. Charlotte quickly realizes… she’s next on the menu.

„Eschewing the Raimi-inspired, bloody splatter approach originally promised when the film announced, Frank Richard’s THE PACK has instead opted for a much darker and moodier path. Instead of being a movie about shock and adrenaline – though it features both – it is a movie about tone and dread. And my hunch is it’s better off for it.“ – Twitch.com

The screening is supported by French Institute in Tallinn.

DIRECTOR: FERNANDO BARREDA LUNA

In April of 2010, Spanish police reported the discovery of 37 hours of recorded evidence that shed new light on a gruesome murder investigation. The found footage documents a family of five spending their holidays at their summer house, where brother-and-sister Cristian and July Quintanilla pass the time investigating a terrifying local urban legend. As their investigation intensifies, strange occurrences in and around the house escalate rapidly, before culminating in unspeakable atrocities.

Mexican filmmaker Fernando Barreda Luna draws inspiration from past horror classics “The Blair Witch Project” and “Paranormal Activity” for his first feature ATROCIOUS, a worthy, Spanish-language addition to the found footage genre.

ATROCIOUS

DIRECTOR: CÉSAR DUCASSE, MATHIEU PETEUL

A young girl, Johanna, is attacked and seemingly murdered. Her father receives a phone call from the police pronouncing her dead as he sees her walk in the front door of their house. Strange things begin to happen to Johanna, she is disorientated and becomes pale and unresponsive. Similar attacks begin to happen and Johanna’s father takes it on himself to find out the truth. He embarks on a dark thrill ride of lost memories, conspiracy and zombie-like symptoms. Finding the mysterious darkness within is the source of the bizarre world he has uncovered.

MØRKE SJELER

The screening is supported by French Institute in Tallinn.

DIRECTOR: GUILLEM MORALES

Julia returns to Bellevue with her husband to visit her sister Sarah, who is near blind due to a degenerative illness for which she has unsuccessfully undergone surgery. When they arrive, Julia finds that Sarah has taken her own life and none of her mysterious neighbours seem to be at all surprised. Julia has to confront not only the loss of her sister, but also the loss of all hope of halting her own impending blindness, as she suffers from the same illness and would appear to be destined for the same end as her sister.

Guillermo del Toro has an exceptional eye for new talent and his latest film as producer, JULIA’S EYES, directed by Spanish newcomer Guillem Morales, promises to terrify audiences. Morales’s second feature skillfully unites themes of blindness and invisibility in this artful combination of drama and thriller. Impeccably constructed, JULIA’S EYES will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. – Toronto Film Festival

LOS OJOS DE JULIA

DIRECTOR: THOMAS CAPPELEN MALLING

In 1984, a high-ranking Norwegian diplomat named Arne Treholt was arrested for handing over classified state secrets to the KGB. It quickly became the most notorious scandal in Norway’s history, and destroyed Treholt’s reputation as a great patriot. In 2010, Arne Treholt returned to the headlines, this time on screen, when writer/director Thomas Cappelen Malling introduced NORWEGIAN NINJA, a psychedelic-martial arts-Euro-crime story featuring Treholt as the head of a secret force of modern “shadow warriors” entrusted by King Olav to protect Norway.

Touted as a cult-classic in the making, Wall Street Journal describes it as “Hilarious and menacing, absurd and insightful – an accomplished work of genre filmmaking that authoritatively upends the cold-war spy thriller.”

NINJA TROPPEN

DIRECTOR: ANDRÉ ØVREDAL

THE TROLL HUNTER is a sensational documentary which exposes the Norwegian Government’s monumental efforts to hide the sensational news that trolls actually exist in Norway – and has done so over millenniums. Within the corridors of the Government there is a secret department – The Troll Security Service – whose job is to monitor the trolls. They also have the power to call in a Troll Hunter to cover up problems if trolls break out of their reservations.

The film will show actual shots of trolls in their real environment and it also raises the issue of what tragic fate befell the young film team who came across this state secret.

TROLLJEGEREN

DIRECTOR: ADAM GREEN

Victor Crowley returns for HATCHET II, Adam Green’s second blood soaked tribute to the slasher films of the 1980s. How much does Green love those gory classics? Enough that he cast the iconic Kane Hodder – Jason in multiple “Friday the 13th” films – as his own slasher killer Victor Crowley while giving another key role to Tony Todd.
The story is simple enough, as these things always are. The seemingly unkillable Crowley remains deep in the swamp that was the scene of the first film’s bloodletting and survivor Marybeth is determined to hunt him down and kill him. Cue a series of extravagantly bloody and complex kill sequences.

Originally released unrated in US theatres, HATCHET II was unceremoniously pulled from screens after just a few days, reportedly as the result of a dispute with the MPAA and exhibitor AMC over the explicit content in the film. It has since been re-cut to receive an R rating for some markets but no worries – we’ve got the original unrated version here.

HATCHET 2