Father's Day Ban is Bullshit

FATHER'S DAY is banned in Australia two days before it's scheduled screening at Monster Fest. One of the most surprisingly warm hearted, dark gory satires to drop kick it's fucking spectacular ass out of Canada in a long time making fellow Canadians proud that these are our country men and giving film fans a new treat in the realm of fucking awesome.

So what's the big fucking deal, guy? What's the big fucking deal in deed.

"Also frustrated by the decision are fellow Canadian filmmaking twin sisters, Sylvia and Jen Soska, who are currently in the country accompanying their newest horror flick, American Mary, a blood soaked revenge flick with a body modification twist, that’s set to close Monster Fest on a gory high note. The duo can definitely empathise with the situation as the pair’s debut feature, Dead Hooker In A Trunk – a low-budget cracker of a horror flick –was also initially banned in Canada. 

“I’ve noticed that horror has become a scapegoat for people’s frustrations for a long time,” Sylvia comments to Filmink. “But horror is supposed to have some sort of effect on you. And Father’s Day is clearly such a fun satire and it’s so sad that this is happening in Australia... Even the UK said that it’s okay!” 

Fellow Canadian horror buffs, the Soska sisters are big fans of Father’s Day, which they see as helping to usher in a new side to Canadian cinema. “It’s another Canadian doing something different that isn’t a sad movie in the prairies in the snow with a crying family. It’s nice to show that Canada has some diversity."

Read the whole article HERE. 

We're in a very special time right now. A time where we can say, fuck, no. I'm going to watch a film because I want to see it, and guess what, if I don't want to see it, I just won't fucking watch it. I don't need some fickle governing force to tell me what I can and cannot see. 

Talk about this. Voice your opinion. Throw your support behind Astron 6. These guys are the real fucking deal making some of the best original work on the scene today. We're huge fans and fans don't let this shit slide.

-Sylv

FATHER'S DAY Banned Days Before Monsterfest Screening, DEAD HOOKER Makes An Impromptu Screening

You know what's complete and utter bullshit? Censorship of an award-winning Canadian film called FATHER'S DAY. All set to play here at Monster Fest on Sunday, now had to be cancelled because the Australian censors won't allow it. I call bullshit.

"Neil Foley, manager of Monster Pictures, decried the latest decision. "We think it's an appalling decision. The film is a comedy, it's been taken way out of context. We're not really sure what scenes they have a problem with but there's nothing in this film that hasn't been seen before and anything that is in the film has been put there in the name of comedy by very talented, well-received and comic artists." 

Mr Foley noted that the film had been approved for release in Britain, a country that he claims is generally less forgiving in such matters. "It's been taken in the right context everywhere in the world except Australia," he said."

READ MORE HERE!!

For those of you wanting some crazy hijinks, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK will be playing in its place unless this unfair judgement can be overturned in time.

Come meet me and Jen, watch the flick, and bitch with us about what horseshit this ruling is.

-Sylv

Twisted Twins in Rue Morgue Censorship Piece

Rue Morgue is a name that is synonymous with horror. It is a publication exclusively devoted to horror in culture and entertainment and also features cinema, store, archives, events and general information.


We were given the esteemed pleasure recently of speaking with their Aaron Berman in regards to an ugly trend of horror films and the artists behind them being targeted by censors. In 2010, Sitges Film Festival director Ángel Sala was charged with exhibiting child pornography when he showed A SERBIAN FILM at an Adults Only screening. In 2009, Remy Couture, a Montreal based makeup effects artist, was charged with “corruption of morals” after a complaint was made about images found on Couture’s website “Inner Depravity”. Recently THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE 2 has been banned in the United Kingdom by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

This past April, us Twisted Twins and our DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK ran into a little trouble when our film was banned at the Roxy Theatre in Saskatoon (catch up here). It was meant to be our Canadian premiere outside of our hometown of Vancouver, but we came under the attack of censors because of the title of our film alone. The following week, they also banned Canadian Jason Eisener's HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN. The outstanding horror community banded together behind our films and we cannot thank them enough. The Broadway Theatre welcomed both films in and the screenings went off with much enthusiasm. At that time we had spoke with wonderful Rue Morgue writer April Snellings about the controversy (get that one here).

We both have very strong feelings about censorship. This month we were given the supreme honor of appearing in Rue Morgue Magazine in an outstanding article about this trend by Aaron Berman.

To appear in a magazine that we have long time adored leaves us speechless. A very special thank you to Aaron Berman, April Snellings, and Rue Morgue Magazine.

It's truly an incredible piece and you can check out the new issue on their site here or at a news stand near you.

Bloody Best!
Jen and Sylv

Subtitled Online Dot Com Talks With The Twins

Canadian sisters, Jen and Sylvia Soksa are making waves in the world of indie horror. With their debut, Dead Hooker In A Trunk, only just reaching its release on DVD in the UK, they are already working on their next project, American Mary. Luckily, the Soska Sisters were able to take some time out of production to talk to subtitledonline.com…

And the wonderful Dave O Butnu of subtitledonline.com was kind enough to take some time to talk to us. It was a very cool chat as we got to speak about the newly released DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK (it was released in the UK and Australia this past May 23rd by Bounty Films - world release is a'coming), the issues of duality that come from being an identical twin and how that is explored in our work, and all sorts of goodies. Here is a tasty morsel --

DOB: Have there been any issues with censors around the world, now that the movie is being released? Did Dead Hooker… get banned or cut anywhere?

Sylvia: We got extremely lucky with this film in the respect that we maintained creative control over the entire project without having to fight for our content. I'm actually surprised it didn't get more backlash. The only banning happened over the title without the film being watched, so I think people don't have a problem with the content. It got an 18+ rating, but it has extreme language, violence and full frontal male nudity, so that was expected.

Jen: The film is available in its entirety and I am so happy about it. I absolutely detest censorship. I feel that not only is it bulls**t to tell someone what they can or cannot watch and remove the opportunity for them to even decide for themselves, but it breeds ignorance. Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. How are we ever supposed to deal with real horror in our lives? If someone is attacked and raped, they can't just cut to the next day. They have to be there. Art imitates life. When violence and horror disappear from reality, then it would be appropriate to remove those aspects from film.

If anyone under 18 is reading this, I'm sorry we couldn't lower our rating so you could grab a copy of DHIAT or see it. I hope you still find a way and I hope it inspires you to go out and make your own films. I sincerely mean that.

Still have a literary appetite and you're hankering for more? Click here for the full interview of rad. A huge humble thank you to Dave for taking the time to talk to us and for getting the word out there about us and our work! Thank you for reading, boys and girls.

~Sylv

Cinema Junkie Makes a Stand Against Bullshit

The Canadian grindhouse homage "Dead Hooker in a Trunk" screened in San Diego last year at Horrible Imaginings but the film has run into controversy trying to get a screening in Saskatchewan for the Dark Bridges Film Festival.

Censorship really ticks me off. The case involving "Dead Hooker in a Trunk" is the kind of censorship that business folks like brush off by saying they are not really "censoring" they are just responding to the marketplace. Only problem with that is sometimes the "marketplace" is just one person or a few complaining people trying to force their narrow boundaries of acceptable fare on others. And to make matters worse, the people who claim to be offended have never bothered to actually see what it is that they are trying to ban from public view. But wait, I get ahead of myself.

-Beth Accomando, Cinema Junkie

There is almost nothing in the world that I love more than a smart feminist. There are so many misconceptions on feminism and every time a 'feminist' speaks out without having all the facts, they make the rest of us look stupid. Like the 'feminist' that anonymously called complaining about the screening of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK who also cowardly ripped down all posters advertising the screening festival in the middle of the night. Thank you for trying to get us bare foot and pregnant, making a delicious dinner in the confines of the kitchen. That said, 'anonymous' probably didn't think that far or farther than her own knee-jerk reaction to something she didn't have all the facts for.


Thank God that isn't the situation in all cases. One of the most brilliant and well spoken feminists I have ever had the pleasure of knowing is Beth Accomando. She has heard about this banning bullshit and she decided to look into it with this expertly articulate article and interview with John Allison, the programmer for the Dark Bridges Film Fest. Beth doesn't pull punches and says it like it is with a full knowledge of the entire issue and I love her for it.

Now I'm not saying that these films are inoffensive or that if the complaining folks had seen the films they would change their mind. Quite the contrary. These films are almost designed to be offensive and the the outraged parties might have become even more outraged if they had bothered to see the films or even watch the trailers. But the films serve up a gleeful kind of offense, the kind John Waters would be proud of because it offends as it skewers conventional values and suggests anarchy is better than a tame status quo. Plus there is such a sense of joy in the inventive, do-it-yourself filmmaking that if you love horror or just film in general it's hard not to take some delight in the filmmakers' passion. The real question is, "Are these films not just offensive but obscene, and obscene to the point that audiences should not be allowed the choice to see them?"

In my opinion these films are not obscene, and people who want to see them on the big screen should have the opportunity. A midnight screening with viewers made fully aware of the films' ratings and content seems perfectly reasonable. No one is being forced to watch and the late hour restricts who would be able to see the extreme films. So there has to be a very clear distinction made between merely offensive and obscene. Because as John Cleese once said: "Some people deserve to be offended."

Please take the time to check out the whole, informative article. It explores the whole issue without any sugar-coating which is precisely the way an adult discussion about censorship in today's world should be handled. I would like to thank Beth for looking into these events up North and sharing the story with people. Even if this wasn't our film that had come under attack, I would still be in an uproar that a film was banned from a theater without being viewed based on a satirical title.

I don't think the nay-sayers expected this kind of response from the horror community which has been looked down upon like a group of sadists with no artistic merit in the work they love. In a way, I'm happy that this happened. It gave outsiders an opportunity to find out who really makes up the horror community: intelligent, responsible, and informed individuals interested in an open discussion and exchange of ideas. So many beautifully put together thoughts, while they were probably just expecting us to say 'fuck you' and run away like frightened animals.


It's a great day for horror indeed. Despite the fights we will all be fighting for a very long time to educate those who don't understand us and why we are impassioned about what we are.

~Sylv

Rue Morgue Examines the Dead Hooker Situation in Saskatoon

RUE MORGUE
A publication exclusively devoted to horror in culture and entertainment. Also features cinema, store, archives, events and general information. Rue Morgue is a Canadian magazine dedicated to covering "horror in culture and entertainment," taking its name from Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue."

As a pair of Canadian horror nerds, it's hard to describe the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes from having the opportunity to speak to the folks of this legendary, great publication. This feeling was made even grander when April Snellings approached us with interest on writing about the censorship and banning issue that arose when Tom Hutchinson of The Roxy Theater in Saskatoon decided to remove the previously approved Dark Bridges Film Festival because the title of our film - 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' - was too offensive. Despite the fact that he never bothered to even watch the film.

It’s been said that twice is a coincidence, but three times is a trend. If that’s the case, Rue Morgue readers have probably noticed a disturbing pattern in recent months, with horror films being pulled from theaters (Hatchet II), confiscated and banned (A Serbian Film, L.A. Zombie), and even used as a basis for obscenity charges (the short films of Montreal-based FX artist Remy Couture).

The latest kerfuffle is relatively small-scale, but no less troubling. Earlier this month, a scheduled double feature of indie horror flicks Dead Hooker in a Trunk and The Taint was booted from its Saskatoon venue when an anonymous caller phoned the theatre to complain about the posters that advertised the event (see the offending poster at right). Accusations of misogyny were thrown about, even though one of the films was made by women and features an ass-kicking female protagonist. The caller insisted that it was inappropriate to screen such films in Saskatoon – probably a reference to a string of prostitute murders in and around the city.

I've heard the theater make statements saying that they would have preferred this being kept a private matter and that just adds to the absurdity we are coming face to face with. There is a ratings board that agrees upon material then rates a film accordingly. If a viewer is not interested in seeing a particular movie, then they can choose not to see it. But to have someone else make that decision for film goers by their own sense of taste is outrageous. But it didn't stop there, Tom Hutchinson also pulled Canadian-made HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN a few days after the backlash of pulling DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK.

“I’m amazed how far this has gone without any of the concerned parties actually watching or looking into the film,” said Sylvia. “To title a film Dead Hooker in a Trunk and to make that film be a blatant disrespect to the title character would be absurd for any artist – especially for a pair of female filmmakers who started to create their own work because of frustrations with the poor representation of women often seen in film. There is a lot of over-the-top, almost anime-style violence throughout the film, but I didn’t want there to be a single laugh when [the title character] dies. It’s a very humanizing and sad sequence because the fact that this woman’s life was so heartlessly stolen from her was the driving force behind the events that unfold in the film.”

There are so many stories in the news about filmmakers - cast and crew - getting unfair treatment because of their creative work. If we stand by and allow this kind of behavior to go unchecked, then this trend of self-appointed censors making ill-informed decisions on what we can and can not see. Films that are a satire are being judged as if they are not. Artists that create gore and bodies for film are being charged with being 'morally corrupted'. Festival programmers are being charged for showing films about harsh subject matter. These are all reflections of things that actually take place in our world, but it seems it is the artist who wants to get into these matters through their work that is being condemned for the material and the real life issues go swept under the carpet.


This is an extremely important issue today. Whether you are a horror fan or not - that's not the issue - the issue is that self-appointed censors are making uneducated attacks on art and they are getting away with it. This is a masterfully written piece that interviews all parties involved - we: twisted twins, John Allison: the programmer of the Dark Bridges Film Fest, Drew Buldoc: the filmmaker behind THE TAINT, and even Tom Hutchinson: the man from the Roxy Theater with the ban-happy brain waves. Please take the time to read the article and share it with your friends. I would imagine that many people would be shocked to learn about these events taking place in their own backyards.


Today, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK will be playing at the Dark Bridges Film Festival that was given a venue by the wonderful team working at the Broadway Theater in Saskatoon. To add to their free thinking mentality and maybe because they are proud ti be Canadian, they will also be showing HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN at their theater. Seems a little strange that all this actually happened over a title, a poster, and no one watched the films before condemning them, but it did happen. It will continue to happen as long as we as a society allow it to happen.


I want to thank April for taking the time to really get into the nitty gritty of this issue with her extraordinary article. I am saddened by the turn of events by the Roxy Theater, but I am so grateful and honored to have had so many wonderful people from all walks of life stand up against this injustice and do their part in making a stand.

There may be a few people who are very far from 'getting it' or even accepting that something bigger is going on here, but there is an army of educated, free-thinking, eloquent individuals who see an injustice and do something about it. Thank you for turning what could have been very sad into something that has given me a lot of faith in the future.

Now, if you're in the area, head on over to the Broadway Theater and be ready to have some fun. The Dark Bridges Film Fest happens today and I hope everyone in attendance has a wonderful time! This became more than a festival to check out independents and I thank everyone who has supported the films and the festival through these unfortunate circumstances.

~Sylv

Not Just Another Pissed Off Geek reviews Dead Hooker In A Trunk

"I like movies that are totally crazy, that are totally out there and don’t hide the fact. Put it this way, I love movies that are totally bat shit crazy. I think that’s the reason I may have just fell in love with Dead Hooker in a Trunk." ~ Pissed Off Geek

We love the UK.

From the very beginning, the UK has supported us and our DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK. Nia Edwards-Behi was the first person to ever show DHIAT at a festival in 2010's Women In Horror month, February, at her Ghouls on Film Festival. It was a supreme honor and we are forever grateful to everyone in the UK who has believed in this film. We can't begin to tell you how much your support has meant to us.

Now, at long last, the release of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK is almost on us. On May 23rd, everyone in the UK will be able to have their very own Dead Hooker. If that isn't a "happily ever after", I don't know what is.

With the release coming up fast, we were so happy to have Pissed Off Geek review the film.

"When you have a chance to see this movie should you? Hell yes you should. When it’s released I will be buying it and it will have pride of place next to Natural Born Killers, a Clockwork Orange and all my other crazy movies that I love." ~ Pissed Off Geek

Check out the FULL REVIEW (including what Pissed off Geek had to say about the DHIAT Saskatoon Controversy) HERE.

And a very special thanks to Pissed Off Geek for giving our Hooker such a warm welcome.

XO,
Jen

Late Night With Hooker Jokes

I hate to beat a dead horse - it's just inappropriate behavior for a lady - but as I watch my Late Night entertainment, I find a final point I'd like to leave the whole 'banning Dead Hooker in a Trunk in from playing at the Roxy Theater in Saskatoon over the film's title without ever watching the film' debacle with.


Letterman and Conan both open their internationally seen late night shows with a monologue - both hosts using a 'hooker' joke tonight on April 14th, 2011. Two different jokes both involving hookers.

No raised eyebrows. No gasps of derogatory language use. Just laughs and applause. Because this is material that while edgy - hence the late night time slot which is the movie equivalent to say an 18+ rating - it is worldwide completely accepted humor for adults to laugh at if they choose to do so.

"At the heart of the First Amendment is the recognition of the fundamental importance of the free flow of ideas. Freedom to speak one's mind is not only an aspect of individual liberty but essential to the quest for truth and the vitality of society as a whole. In the world of debate about public affairs many things done with motives that are less than admirable are nonetheless protected by the First Amendment."

- Alan Isaacman, THE PEOPLE VS LARRY FLYNT

I know this is Canada and the case in the above mentioned film was an American case, but we really aren't that different when it comes to freedom of expression. Thank you to all the people that realized that and stood up for our film.

~Sylv

A Happy Ending

Gore~geous comic strip by our beloved and dear friend Joel "Ratman" Wells. Brilliant and chalk full of cheeky. Just the way we like it.

Rome wasn't built in a day. We are saddened by what happened with the Roxy Theatre, but are quite happy that the people who want to see this film won't be denied it. Thank you, Broadway Theatre. And thank you, Ratty, for your incredible support throughout.

XO,
Jen

DHIAT Censorship Controversy hits The Star Phoenix

Our story has hit the local news. If you haven't heard about all the fuss surrounding a double billing screening of our beloved DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK alongside THE TAINT through Dark Bridges Film Festival's John Allsion being banned and canceled by the Roxy Theatre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, you, my friend, must have spent the weekend under a rock.

But fear not, you can read about it here, as our story hit the local news.

Though the "anonymous" folks who protested the screening decided, in the true nature of anonymity, to not talk to the press, though I imagine they would have been more than free to remain anonymous, both sides of this argument were heard.

Allison believes the backlash is related to the Roxy's location in Riversdale.

"I don't want it to be about Riversdale. I had complaints of How could you put 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' and 'Kill women' in Riversdale when there's so much violence against women in Riversdale.' That's the wrong way to look at this type of stuff for me," Allison said. "Violence is wrong, whether it's in Riversdale or elsewhere. We're perpetuating this myth that Riversdale is a bad area."

Allison said he understands why violence is a sensitive topic and why people might be offended by the poster, but he wants to encourage debate rather than outright censorship.

Though I sympathize with the murders anyone anywhere, regardless of their profession and given labels, I feel this was a mistake on behalf of the theatre and that our film has been used unfairly to voice outrage over how prostitutes and their murders in the area have not been taken seriously by the local law enforcement. This film is so much more than a unconventional title. It is a testament to independent and Canadian film. People should be allowed to choose to see the film or not.

But they should be given the choice.

~ Jen