Danzig the Director, Tammy and the T-Rex, Joe Bob Briggs and More: A Preview of Cinepocalypse 2019

Chicago’s Cinepocalypse festival has only been around since 2017, and yet it is quickly becoming one of the most essential genre fests in North America. This year’s enticing lineup only proves Cinepocalypse’s mad grandiosity, with a slew of premieres, special guests, repertory screenings, as spiked with movie geek goodies like the world premiere of an R-rated “gore cut” of the infamous “Tammy and the T-Rex,” and two events that will be hosted by the everlasting costumed metal band, GWAR. 

The festival kicks off on Thursday night with the world premiere of “Verotika,” which is written and directed by the legendary punk rocker Glenn Danzig. The film—an anthology project based on “the output of Danzig’s long-running, mature comic book publishing company Verotik"—will see Danzig make his debut as a filmmaker, inherently rendering this particular event a moment in music and film history. 

On Friday night, Cinepocalypse will have its first repertory screening with “Flatliners,” directed by Joel Schumacher. Schumacher was supposed to attend the festival as a judge, but will be fulfilling those duties from afar—still, the Music Box is going to treat viewers to a rare 70mm print of a film that Roger called “an original and intelligent thriller” back in 1990. 

Later that Friday evening, Lucas Heyne’s “Mope” comes to Cinepocalypse to gross out and inevitably polarize viewers with its grimy comedy about two wannabe porn stars. It’s a true story, and that makes its third act even more tough, as curious viewers will find out. Maybe you’ll have more fun with it than I did, (though I laughed a good deal), going into it knowing that. Plus, it has David Arquette in an obscene supporting role you’re not likely to forget. 

Saturday will see the North American premiere of "The Swerve," a slow-burn psychological thriller written and directed by newcomer Dean Kapsalis. While this selection might be one of the festival's quieter picks, the movie casts a spell as it shows a housewife, mother, and teacher (played impeccably by Azura Skye) losing her mind. "The Swerve" is the type of character study that has a rich cinematic quality to it, including its cinematography and spare score, all that takes the film to a shocking climax. Consider it one of the more unsuspecting titles of the fest, but a worthwhile one all the same. 

On Saturday night, Cinepocalypse will have the Midwest premiere of “The Lodge." Brian Tallerico caught the movie during its world premiere at Sundance and called it "a truly unsettling movie, the kind of horror film that rattles you on an almost subconscious level, making you more uncomfortable than going for cheap scares. Don’t ask questions or dissect the believability of the plot. Just check in.” 

Sunday starts off with the world premiere of the animated film “Attack of the Demons,” a cut-paper animation genre dive with a Romero, Bava-inspired vision that speaks for itself. And though this Sunday might also be Father’s Day, it will be unofficially known as Lucky McKee Day at the Music Box:  Cinepocalypse will see the “May” and “The Woman” present the world premiere of his new movie “Kindred Spirits,” starring Thora Birch, Caitlin Stasey, and Macon Blair. After that, Cinepocalypse will host a screening of “Darlin’,” which is a direct sequel to McKee’s “The Woman,” written and directed by its star, Pollyanna McIntosh. Our own Brian Tallerico gave the film a positive review out of SXSW, calling it “a movie that never stops moving and tackles the patriarchy with bloody teeth.”