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Mark of the Devil

@markslater.bsky.social

960 followers 270 following 2.8K posts

If you see me posting here, remind me I have too many books, BluRays, DVDs, comics & games to get through to be wasting time on socials. Those backlogs aren’t going to clear themselves. Occasional maker of THINGS. @MarkSlater42 on Letterboxd (He/Him)

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 9h

I’ve heard tell of job descriptions being written that deliberately ask about a piece of relevant industry jargon that has multiple meanings to trip up AI, so that AI applications will wang on about the wrong definition of the term and applications can be spotted and binned immediately.

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 17h

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 6 - Dead By Dawn

Polish Giallo homage that throws in references to so many films it becomes a game to spot them, but also has it’s own great imagery and does it with such gusto that it’s hard not to get carried along for the ride.

And … that’s all for this year folks!

Dead by Dawn poster depicting the killer wearing a mask covered in eyeballs.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 17h

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 5 - The Other

This is a concept that has been done way better by other films that have been either deadly serious or seriously bonkers. This film doesn’t really know which way to jump so sadly doesn’t succeed in either direction.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 17h

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 4 - Wormtown

Surprisingly good creature feature with a political angle. Expected this to be fairly hamfisted allegory, but it handled the horror side very well and the political commentary was surprisingly nuanced and on point.

Poster for ‘Wormtown’ depicting an eye with a worm coming out of it.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 17h

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 3 - Kombucha

Fun vaguely cosmic horror comedy taking shots at corporate culture. Think ‘Sorry To Bother You’ with tentacles.

GRIMMFEST
KOMBUCHA - (Northern UK premiere)
Plus Q&A with film makers.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 18h

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 2 - Lily’s Ritual

Now much plot, fairly obvious and serious male gaze issues. The number of feet here would put Tarantino to shame.

GRIMMFEST
LILY'S RITUAL - (World premiere)
Plus Q&A with the cast and crew

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 18h

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 4 - Film 1 - Crawling Chaos Shorts Showcase

Excellent selection but the absolute crowning short was the claymation take on ‘Dagon’ where HP Lovecraft and Arnold Schwarzenegger are besties.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 18h

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 6 - The Driftless

Anthology set in the Driftless region of the USA. The locations, landscapes, music, characters, performances and direction are all just working beautifully together. Has a tightness and vibe reminiscent of Creepshow etc and a great framing device.

GRIMMFEST
THE DRIFTLESS - (World premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Film makers.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 5 - Deviant

Bent rusty nail filled dildos in this comedy horror.

GRIMMFEST
DEVIANT - (Northern UK premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Director.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 4 - Rabbit Trap

One of the films of the festival thus far. Properly spooky folk horror - very smart and well made.

GRIMMFEST
RABBIT TRAP - (Northern UK premiere)
Plus short film LOUD.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 3 - Squealers

Very tight cat and mouser thriller - very much enjoyed.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 2 - Syphon

From the same director as ‘Artik’ which was my least favourite film of my very first Grimmfest.

This one was pretty terrible I have to say. Made not a lick of sense whatsoever and gave a classic example of ‘Hollywood hacking’.

GRIMMFEST
SYPHON - (World premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Film makers.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 1d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 3 - Film 1 - Incomplete Chairs

I’m a whole day behind with these postings.

This one is bonkers and a was a good start to the day.

GRIMMFEST
INCOMPLETE CHAIRS (international premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Director.

Reposted by Mark of the Devil

Jeremy Limb @jlimb.bsky.social · 1d

That really moving Marseillaise scene in Casablanca is now 400% more moving youtu.be/CbWgOpG1988

Casablanca - Marseillaise Scene (extended edition)

YouTube video by Jeremy Limb

youtu.be

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Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 2 - Film 6 - Frankie Maniac Woman

Does what it says on the tin - completely bonkers.

Not a fan of Pierre Tsigardis’s previous efforts (especially the execrable ‘Traumatika’), but this was enjoyable - by far his best film, but probably because of Dina Silva.

FRANKIE MANIAC WOMAN- (World Premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Film makers.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 2 - Film 5 - Tribe

Joel & Ethan were critical of the AI use in this, but I quite enjoyed it overall. Lovecraftian/cosmic horror found footage that I think doesn’t break its own rules and has some very scary moments.

Cinema screen

GRIMMFEST
TRIBE (International premiere)
#GRIMMFEST2025

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 2d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 2 - Film 4 - Don’t Leave The Kids Alone

Can people please not refer to this as ‘Home Alone but with ghosts’. It’s not remotely that vibe *at all*. If you must be reductive, it’s ‘Skinamarink meets The Haunting of Hill House’.

Very good - recommended.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 2 - Film 3 - Landlord

Gritty vampire crime thriller that is very much channelling John Carpenter - and critically making a good job of doing that - which has made it one of my favourites thus far.

GRIMMFEST
LANDLORD - (International premiere)
Plus Q&A with the director.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 2 - Film 2 - I See The Demon

Very much not what you expect it to be. Surprising.

Cinema screen

GRIMMFEST
I SEE THE DEMON (International premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Director and Cast.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Grimmfest 2025 - Day 2 - Screening 1
Itch!

Some decent elements but basically it boils down to a zombie siege film.

Cinema screen

GRIMMFEST
ITCHI - (Internationalpremiere)

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Day 1 - Screening 4 - Grimmfest 2025 - Beast of War

Excellent Australian WW2 shark movie. Best film of the day.

Cinema screen

GRIMMFEST
BEAST OF WAR - (European premiere),

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Day 1 - Screening 3 - Grimmfest - WEEKEND AT THE END OF THE WORLD (International premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Director and Cast.

Comedy horror that was good fun with some genuine laugh out loud moments and some good visuals.

Cinema screen

GRIMMFEST
WEEKEND AT THE END OF THE WORLD (International premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Director and Cast.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Day 1 - Screening 2 - Grimmfest 2025 - Past Life

Bit of a potboiler to be honest, but watchable for Tim McInnerney’s sinister performance. Pixie Lott also very good.

Cinema screen

GRIMMFEST
PAST LIFE - (World premiere)
Plus Q&A with the Cast and Crew.

Tim McInnerney, Anuerin Bernard and director Simeon Halligan with interviewer doing Q&A

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 3d

Daniel Craig’s ‘Scooby Dooby-Doo!’ is worth the price of admission on it’s own though.

Mark of the Devil @markslater.bsky.social · 4d

It begins.
Grimmfest 2025 screening 1.