Director Quarxx’s underworld car-crash drama chances little humour as it dolorously teases out morals and metaphysics
This Stygian jolly, in which dumbstruck driver Nathan (Hugo Dillon) finds himself out of the mortal coil after colliding with a motorcycle, has some of the heavy-metal-album-cover energy of Bill and Ted gawping at hell’s gnarly sights. But French director and multimedia artist Quarxx’s metaphysical vista is so unredeemably bleak that you find yourself wishing for San Dimas’s finest’s “You’re dead, dude!” amazement, or at least the odd air-guitar riff.
Pandemonium squeezes out a little angry and disoriented humour at its start as Nathan, confronted with his shattered corpse, finds himself squabbling on a mountain road with Daniel (Arben Bajraktaraj), the motorcyclist he killed instantly. But when two disembodied gateways – a celestial blue forcefield and gigantic red double-doors – appear next to them, it is only the self-righteous Daniel who hears singing.
This Stygian jolly, in which dumbstruck driver Nathan (Hugo Dillon) finds himself out of the mortal coil after colliding with a motorcycle, has some of the heavy-metal-album-cover energy of Bill and Ted gawping at hell’s gnarly sights. But French director and multimedia artist Quarxx’s metaphysical vista is so unredeemably bleak that you find yourself wishing for San Dimas’s finest’s “You’re dead, dude!” amazement, or at least the odd air-guitar riff.
Pandemonium squeezes out a little angry and disoriented humour at its start as Nathan, confronted with his shattered corpse, finds himself squabbling on a mountain road with Daniel (Arben Bajraktaraj), the motorcyclist he killed instantly. But when two disembodied gateways – a celestial blue forcefield and gigantic red double-doors – appear next to them, it is only the self-righteous Daniel who hears singing.
- 5/22/2024
- by Phil Hoad
- The Guardian - Film News
Director Quarxx (All the Gods in the Sky) explores the peculiar, welcoming all those hungry for wonder in Pandemonium, a unique cinematic blend of fantasy, drama, genre, and humor.
Pandemonium will be released on Blu-ray in the UK May 27 and the US & Canada May 28. It will also be streaming on Arrow in the UK/US/CA/Ire from May 27.
Arrow Video previews, “Pandemonium takes the viewer on a chilling journey as three interconnected stories unravel in this macabre exploration of tales depicting fallen souls. From the intricacies of everyday drama to the realms of supernatural intrigue, each narrative weaves a haunting tapestry that blurs the lines between the mortal and the supernatural.”
Nathan (Hugo Dillon) and Daniel (Arben Bajraktaraj) are caught in a road accident that kills them both. As they come to grips with their deaths, Nathan confronts his past and the consequences of his actions. Now trapped in the hellish void of Pandemonium,...
Pandemonium will be released on Blu-ray in the UK May 27 and the US & Canada May 28. It will also be streaming on Arrow in the UK/US/CA/Ire from May 27.
Arrow Video previews, “Pandemonium takes the viewer on a chilling journey as three interconnected stories unravel in this macabre exploration of tales depicting fallen souls. From the intricacies of everyday drama to the realms of supernatural intrigue, each narrative weaves a haunting tapestry that blurs the lines between the mortal and the supernatural.”
Nathan (Hugo Dillon) and Daniel (Arben Bajraktaraj) are caught in a road accident that kills them both. As they come to grips with their deaths, Nathan confronts his past and the consequences of his actions. Now trapped in the hellish void of Pandemonium,...
- 3/13/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Transgressive Production is excited to announce that Screamfest LA will host the 14th October 2023 US Premiere of Pandemonium, the latest feature from filmmaker Quarxx (All the Gods in the Sky). The film made its world premiere at Neuchâtel and went on to screen at Fantasia, Frightfest, Fantasy FilmFest, Sitges, Grimmfest and Trieste.
Drawing on themes found in Dante’s Inferno and Milton’s Paradise Lost, Pandemonium is a multi-textured existential fantasy, topped with signature notes of visceral horror, disturbing fairy tale, wry comedy, and dark thriller. From the creative mind of Quarxx, comes this aesthetically stunning and relentlessly macabre tale.
Pandemonium was produced by Isabelle Guenezan of Transgressive Production along with executive producer Martine Melloul of Kali Pictures. Film Seekers is handling international sales.
Pandemonium at Screamfest:
Festival & Screening Details
Tcl Chinese Theatre, Screen 6
Saturday, 14th October 2023, 7:30 Pm Pst
Pandemonium follows Nathan (Hugo Dillon), an ordinary man on a journey he never expected.
Drawing on themes found in Dante’s Inferno and Milton’s Paradise Lost, Pandemonium is a multi-textured existential fantasy, topped with signature notes of visceral horror, disturbing fairy tale, wry comedy, and dark thriller. From the creative mind of Quarxx, comes this aesthetically stunning and relentlessly macabre tale.
Pandemonium was produced by Isabelle Guenezan of Transgressive Production along with executive producer Martine Melloul of Kali Pictures. Film Seekers is handling international sales.
Pandemonium at Screamfest:
Festival & Screening Details
Tcl Chinese Theatre, Screen 6
Saturday, 14th October 2023, 7:30 Pm Pst
Pandemonium follows Nathan (Hugo Dillon), an ordinary man on a journey he never expected.
- 10/14/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Stars: Hugo Dillon, Ophelia Kolb, Arben Bajraktaraj, Manon Maindivide | Written and Directed by Quarxx
Nathan and Daniel wake at the scene of a car crash, confused and seemingly unscathed. The two men begin to slowly understand that they did not make it. They are dead. Nathan’s previous acts will now determine his fate, however reprehensible they might have been. He will have to leave this earthly world and enter the depths of Hell that await him for all eternity and be confronted with other tormented souls whose pain he will be forced to experience…
Essentially an anthology, Pandemonium feels heavily inspired by the likes of Dante’s Inferno and it’s seven circles of hell, with Nathan only beginning his descent into hell – viewing the scions and stories of those who have come before him in two very different stories, with Nathan’s own story – a car crash, causing the...
Nathan and Daniel wake at the scene of a car crash, confused and seemingly unscathed. The two men begin to slowly understand that they did not make it. They are dead. Nathan’s previous acts will now determine his fate, however reprehensible they might have been. He will have to leave this earthly world and enter the depths of Hell that await him for all eternity and be confronted with other tormented souls whose pain he will be forced to experience…
Essentially an anthology, Pandemonium feels heavily inspired by the likes of Dante’s Inferno and it’s seven circles of hell, with Nathan only beginning his descent into hell – viewing the scions and stories of those who have come before him in two very different stories, with Nathan’s own story – a car crash, causing the...
- 9/5/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Welcome to Give Me the Fear, a new Frightfest 2023 preview series hosted by screenwriter Stuart Wright.
These brief, spoiler-free interviews will – across the entire series – help you to discover the kind of knowledge and experience about how to make indie horror films that they don’t teach at film school.
After looking back at the blood, sweat and tears that went into their creative successes, I ask them one last question: If you could hand pick one person to be in the audience for your Frightfest screening, who would it be and why? I think you going to love the answers this question elicits.
This episode covers Where the Devil Roams, Pandemonium (feat. Quarxx) & The Sacrifice Game (feat. Jenn Wexler)
For more details about Frightfest see https://www.frightfest.co.uk/2023FrightFestLondon/index.html
Powered by RedCircle...
These brief, spoiler-free interviews will – across the entire series – help you to discover the kind of knowledge and experience about how to make indie horror films that they don’t teach at film school.
After looking back at the blood, sweat and tears that went into their creative successes, I ask them one last question: If you could hand pick one person to be in the audience for your Frightfest screening, who would it be and why? I think you going to love the answers this question elicits.
This episode covers Where the Devil Roams, Pandemonium (feat. Quarxx) & The Sacrifice Game (feat. Jenn Wexler)
For more details about Frightfest see https://www.frightfest.co.uk/2023FrightFestLondon/index.html
Powered by RedCircle...
- 8/16/2023
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
The horror festival runs August 24-28 in London
Joe Stephenson’s Doctor Jekyll starring Eddie Izzard will have its world premiere at the UK’s horror and fantasy film festival FrightFest (August 24-28) as the full line-up is unveiled.
Izzard will play Nina Jekyll, the infamous scientist with a dark alter-ego, in a modern adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s book by placing a woman in the titular role.
Doctor Jekyll is one of 25 world premieres screening at the festival, which takes place at Cineworld Leicester Square in London.
Opening FrightFest will be the European premiere of Joe Lynch’s...
Joe Stephenson’s Doctor Jekyll starring Eddie Izzard will have its world premiere at the UK’s horror and fantasy film festival FrightFest (August 24-28) as the full line-up is unveiled.
Izzard will play Nina Jekyll, the infamous scientist with a dark alter-ego, in a modern adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s book by placing a woman in the titular role.
Doctor Jekyll is one of 25 world premieres screening at the festival, which takes place at Cineworld Leicester Square in London.
Opening FrightFest will be the European premiere of Joe Lynch’s...
- 7/13/2023
- by Ellie Calnan
- ScreenDaily
The event runs June 30-July 8.
Die Hard director John McTiernan and leading French actress and writer Josiane Balasko are among those taking part in this year’s Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Nifff), which runs June 30-July 8.
The full programme for the 22nd edition of the Swiss event, again under the artistic direction of Pierre-Yves Walder, includes 124 films from 5 continents and 44 countries. There are eight world premieres, among them Irish director Ian Hunt-Duffy’s horror thriller Double Blind starring The Walking Dead’s Pollyanna McIntosh, alongside Millie Brady and Kate Ashfield, and Quarxx’s new horror Pandemonium, both screening in the festival’s Ultra Section.
Die Hard director John McTiernan and leading French actress and writer Josiane Balasko are among those taking part in this year’s Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Nifff), which runs June 30-July 8.
The full programme for the 22nd edition of the Swiss event, again under the artistic direction of Pierre-Yves Walder, includes 124 films from 5 continents and 44 countries. There are eight world premieres, among them Irish director Ian Hunt-Duffy’s horror thriller Double Blind starring The Walking Dead’s Pollyanna McIntosh, alongside Millie Brady and Kate Ashfield, and Quarxx’s new horror Pandemonium, both screening in the festival’s Ultra Section.
- 6/16/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Home and Film4 have announce the programme for the fourth annual FilmFear season – the biggest programme yet will comprise six days of horror, extreme cinema, cult favourites and special guests coming to Manchester this October.
Kicking off the season on Tuesday 29 October will be a special preview of The Lighthouse, director Robert Eggers’ much-anticipated follow-up to his folk-horror debut The Witch (2015). Starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as lighthouse keepers battling the elements, isolation, inner demons and more on a remote and mysterious Maine island in the 1890s, the eerie period tale will be on general release in January 2020 making Home audiences amongst the first to see the film in the UK. FilmFear and Home will also tour the film to Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds the following evening.
Following in its wake over the course of six nights through to Sunday 3 November come more previews of highly anticipated films,...
Kicking off the season on Tuesday 29 October will be a special preview of The Lighthouse, director Robert Eggers’ much-anticipated follow-up to his folk-horror debut The Witch (2015). Starring Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe as lighthouse keepers battling the elements, isolation, inner demons and more on a remote and mysterious Maine island in the 1890s, the eerie period tale will be on general release in January 2020 making Home audiences amongst the first to see the film in the UK. FilmFear and Home will also tour the film to Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds the following evening.
Following in its wake over the course of six nights through to Sunday 3 November come more previews of highly anticipated films,...
- 9/6/2019
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
With his first feature writer/director Quarxx has literally expanded and built upon his short film A Nearly Perfect Blue Sky, turning it into All The Gods In The Sky. The result is a bold psychological horror film dealing in themes of madness, guilt, mutilation and alien invasion. It's a film which will impress some and madden others, but it won me over perhaps just for its sheer audacity and weirdness. It is probably not a film with which to relax over a nice cup of tea on a Sunday afternoon, but if you do take the plunge you'll be rewarded with one hell of a trip.
The story concerns Simon (Jean-Luc Couchard), a factory worker from the French countryside who, along with his severely disabled sister Estelle (Melanie Gaydos), resides in their now dilapidated family estate. As children th...
The story concerns Simon (Jean-Luc Couchard), a factory worker from the French countryside who, along with his severely disabled sister Estelle (Melanie Gaydos), resides in their now dilapidated family estate. As children th...
- 4/23/2019
- QuietEarth.us
With a stellar line-up of the best in new independent and international horror features and shorts, Scotland's premiere horror film festival - Dead by Dawn - returns to Edinburgh's Film House this April 18th-21st. Our own Simon Read will be in attendance, providing coverage and reviews.
The line-up this year includes the UK premiers of G Patrick Condon's meta-horror Incredible Violence, Rasmus Kloster Bro's claustrophobic Cutterhead and Juuso Laatio & Jukka Vidgren's deadpan metal-head comedy Heavy Trip.
From Germany, Tilman Singer's bizarro demonic chiller Luz will be screening, and from France director Quarxx's ferociously dark Tous Les Dieux du Ciel. Brett Simmons' Summer camp nightmare flick You Might be the Killer - starring Cabin in...
The line-up this year includes the UK premiers of G Patrick Condon's meta-horror Incredible Violence, Rasmus Kloster Bro's claustrophobic Cutterhead and Juuso Laatio & Jukka Vidgren's deadpan metal-head comedy Heavy Trip.
From Germany, Tilman Singer's bizarro demonic chiller Luz will be screening, and from France director Quarxx's ferociously dark Tous Les Dieux du Ciel. Brett Simmons' Summer camp nightmare flick You Might be the Killer - starring Cabin in...
- 4/8/2019
- QuietEarth.us
Stars: Jean-Luc Couchard, Mélanie Gaydos, Thierry Frémont, Zelie Rixhon, Albert Delpy, Loïc Houdré, Xavier Mussel, Adeline Walter | Written and Directed by Quarxx
Expanded from his own short (A Nearly Perfect Blue Sky), this unsettling body horror from self-monikered director Quarxx slots neatly into the New French Extremity movement, popularised by the likes of Martyrs, Frontiere(s) and Haute Tension. By turns queasy, disturbing and unexpectedly moving, it’s an accomplished and divisive debut that marks a strong calling card for its writer-director-editor.
Jean-Luc Couchard plays Simon, a 30 year old factory worker who lives in the remote French countryside with his younger sister Estelle (Melanie Gaydos), who was left severely disabled after a childhood game went horribly wrong. Haunted by guilt and fiercely protective of his sister, Simon goes to extreme lengths to protect her when social services come calling. At the same time, he appears to be losing his grip on reality,...
Expanded from his own short (A Nearly Perfect Blue Sky), this unsettling body horror from self-monikered director Quarxx slots neatly into the New French Extremity movement, popularised by the likes of Martyrs, Frontiere(s) and Haute Tension. By turns queasy, disturbing and unexpectedly moving, it’s an accomplished and divisive debut that marks a strong calling card for its writer-director-editor.
Jean-Luc Couchard plays Simon, a 30 year old factory worker who lives in the remote French countryside with his younger sister Estelle (Melanie Gaydos), who was left severely disabled after a childhood game went horribly wrong. Haunted by guilt and fiercely protective of his sister, Simon goes to extreme lengths to protect her when social services come calling. At the same time, he appears to be losing his grip on reality,...
- 10/24/2018
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
Austin-based genre festival Fantastic Fest is accustomed to the big guns of genre cinema — both M. Night Shyamalan and Guillermo del Toro have made appearances — and this year, two iconic women of horror showed up to promote their new films (and old ones). Jamie Lee Curtis flipped off the audience and yucked it up for the Texas premiere of “Halloween,” while Jessica Harper surprised a stunned theater of Dario Argento superfans who anticipated the event’s secret screening would be Luca Guadagnino’s reimagining of “Suspiria.” It was, and god, was it dazzling. While these big-ticket guests and films are always a draw, the best of the fest lay in the scrappy, bizarre pics fighting tooth and nail to find their audiences.
Some of the films have already seen their world premieres at Sundance, Venice, Cannes or Tiff, but they’re no longer competing for audiences against the big mainstream...
Some of the films have already seen their world premieres at Sundance, Venice, Cannes or Tiff, but they’re no longer competing for audiences against the big mainstream...
- 9/28/2018
- by April Wolfe
- Indiewire
On top of the premiere of Overlord, a screening of the new Halloween, and much more that was already announced, Fantastic Fest just revealed its final wave of programming that includes the premiere of Drew Goddard's Bad Times at the El Royale:
Austin, TX — Thursday, September 13, 2018 — Fantastic Fest promises an explosive grand finale with the a Texas Premiere of Drew Goddard’s outrageously entertaining mystery-thriller Bad Times At The El Royale. Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption… before everything goes to hell. Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson and Cynthia Erivo lead an all-star cast in Bad Times At The El Royale.
Karyn Kusama will be in attendance alongside screenwriter/producer Phil Hay to present their...
Austin, TX — Thursday, September 13, 2018 — Fantastic Fest promises an explosive grand finale with the a Texas Premiere of Drew Goddard’s outrageously entertaining mystery-thriller Bad Times At The El Royale. Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption… before everything goes to hell. Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson and Cynthia Erivo lead an all-star cast in Bad Times At The El Royale.
Karyn Kusama will be in attendance alongside screenwriter/producer Phil Hay to present their...
- 9/13/2018
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
The final wave of programming for Fantastic Fest has been unveiled and the lineup features Jonah Hill’s directorial debut MID90S, the U.S. premiere of David Robert Mitchell’s La noir Under the Silver Lake starring Andrew Garfield and the fest’s closing night pic, Drew Goddard’s star-studded Bad Times at the El Royale.
As the bookend to this year’s fest, El Royale stars Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, and Cynthia Erivo in a mystery thriller about seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, that meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption — before everything goes to hell.
Fantastic Fest will also feature Karyn Kusama’s noir thriller Destroyer starring Nicole Kidman and the North American Premiere of Terry Gilliam’s long-awaited...
As the bookend to this year’s fest, El Royale stars Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson, and Cynthia Erivo in a mystery thriller about seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, that meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption — before everything goes to hell.
Fantastic Fest will also feature Karyn Kusama’s noir thriller Destroyer starring Nicole Kidman and the North American Premiere of Terry Gilliam’s long-awaited...
- 9/13/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
If you attended a genre film festival in 2016, you likely caught a glimpse of Quarxx’s artistic vision in the form of A Nearly Perfect Blue Sky (Un Ciel Bleu Presque Parfait). The 36-minute shocker was celebrated by no less than 80 festivals around the world, including Fantasia, Clermont-Ferrand, Screamfest and even Sundance 2017. The recipient of numerous awards, it has drawn favorable comparisons to Julia Ducournau’s Raw for being "a French genre phenomenon" (Benjamin Leroy, Mad Movies), but also for investing surface level thrills and grisly gore with deeper meaning. The feature film promises to expand on the short’s unique blend of drama, realism, sci-fi, and dark comedy, all centered around a fraught brother-sister relationship: Simon (Jean-Luc Couchard), a 30 year old man, works...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/22/2017
- Screen Anarchy
Those who have been keeping a close eye on the short film programs of international festivals will have seen a select number of titles popping up all over the world in 2016. Particularly noteworthy for the numerous awards they both collected are Tim Egan’s Curve and Quarxx’s A Nearly Perfect Blue Sky (Un Ciel Bleu Presque Parfait). The former is a harrowing edge-of-your seat nightmare about a woman who desperately tries to prevent herself from falling off a reclining surface into a pitch-black abyss. Coincidence or not, its potent combination of visceral thrills and metaphoric exploration of a mental illness is also what makes the latter such a singularly impressive work. Quarxx’s short focuses on Simon (Jean-Luc Clochard), an unstable man who tries his best...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 12/7/2016
- Screen Anarchy
Celebrating its ninth consecutive edition, the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival has revealed a full slate of high-caliber movies. True to its roots as a fantastic film festival while unafraid to cover some new ground, the Flemish fest still takes place in the historic city center of Bruges, in the Cinema Liberty; from 10th – 15th November.
Beginning the festivities on Thursday the 10th of November, Razor Reel looks to Belgium-born Johnny Galecki for inspiration by hosting the national premiere of The Master Cleanse. Following its opening film with another screening at midnight, Razor Reel presents the long-awaited Belgian premiere of The Devil’s Candy, Sean Byrne’s ode to heavy metal Satanism. Closing the festival in style on Tuesday the 15th of November is South-Korea’s zombie-outbreak horror Train to Busan, which has delighted audiences around the world since its Cannes 2016 premiere.
In between these genre fest regulars Razor Reel...
Beginning the festivities on Thursday the 10th of November, Razor Reel looks to Belgium-born Johnny Galecki for inspiration by hosting the national premiere of The Master Cleanse. Following its opening film with another screening at midnight, Razor Reel presents the long-awaited Belgian premiere of The Devil’s Candy, Sean Byrne’s ode to heavy metal Satanism. Closing the festival in style on Tuesday the 15th of November is South-Korea’s zombie-outbreak horror Train to Busan, which has delighted audiences around the world since its Cannes 2016 premiere.
In between these genre fest regulars Razor Reel...
- 10/17/2016
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Taking place in Bruges, Belgium, the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival's complete lineup was recently announced, giving horror fans plenty of good reasons to circle November 10th–15th on their calendars, as the anticipated screenings include The Devil's Candy, I Am Not a Serial Killer, The Barn, Teenage Cocktail, and more.
Press Release: Bruges, Belgium - October 5, 2016 - Celebrating its ninth consecutive edition, the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival has revealed a full slate of high-caliber movies. True to its roots as a fantastic film festival while unafraid to cover some new ground, the Flemish fest still takes place in the historic city center of Bruges, in the Cinema Liberty. Film fans are welcome to attend from 10-15 November.
Beginning the festivities on Thursday the 10th of November, Razor Reel looks to Belgium-born Johnny Galecki for inspiration by hosting the national premiere of The Master Cleanse. Following its opening film with another screening at midnight,...
Press Release: Bruges, Belgium - October 5, 2016 - Celebrating its ninth consecutive edition, the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival has revealed a full slate of high-caliber movies. True to its roots as a fantastic film festival while unafraid to cover some new ground, the Flemish fest still takes place in the historic city center of Bruges, in the Cinema Liberty. Film fans are welcome to attend from 10-15 November.
Beginning the festivities on Thursday the 10th of November, Razor Reel looks to Belgium-born Johnny Galecki for inspiration by hosting the national premiere of The Master Cleanse. Following its opening film with another screening at midnight,...
- 10/6/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
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