FANTASTIC FEST 2023 - "FISHMONGER" MARRIES HORROR, COMEDY, AND TENTACLE SEX IN HILARIOUS MATRIMONY
It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year for genre festival fans, and Macabre Daily is your source for Fantastic Fest 2023 coverage! This year, a ghastly selection of our staff have been invited to participate in a series of virtual screenings premiering at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX. This year’s selection of films ranges from the darkly comic to the dreadfully dire and all things fantastic in between. Check out the review below for “Fishmonger”!
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
In this supernatural dark comedy, a pathetic Irish fishmonger must survive a sex pact with an ancient fish creature in order to save his mother’s soul from burning in hell.
HOW IS IT?
“Heavy metal and tentacle sex” is how Director and Co-Writer Neil Ferron pitched Fishmonger to us via email. While tentacle sex isn’t my thing, the juxtaposition of the two begged my curiosity as both a genre fan and someone who is open to watching almost anything. Needless to say, Fishmonger might be one of the best things I’ve seen in 2023, and is certainly a standout at Fantastic Fest 2023!
Fishmonger is a dark comedy candy-dipped in religious critique, Irish lore, and folk horror. There are random musical numbers next to Troma-style phalluses extracting semen from a seaman, and as many laughs as there are shocks to be had. Fishmonger is what would happen if Tim Burton had John Waters had a cinematic brainchild, and even this comparison doesn’t do the film justice. The story is pretty straightforward, at least for one about a sex pact with an ancient fish creature, but the delivery is where Fishmonger really shines. Director Neil Ferron knows just how absurd this material is, and doesn’t even once pretend like it isn’t, but it also offers up some thoughtful and serious critique on how traditions can disable us and how pressure to conform ultimately leads to self-loathing and sadness. What makes Fishmonger so special is that it can have its sleazy cake and eat it too while addressing very real concerns about the human condition.
What brings all of this to life is really two-fold: the performances and the practical effects. Starting with the former, everyone here is absolutely committed to their role and owning it with pride. Even in the face of ancient fish creatures wearing people suits every single actor is committed to keeping a straight-faced approach to the material elevating the humor while also cherishing the more tender moments the film has to offer. On the practical effects side, Fishmonger looks outstanding! The fish creature and their, uh “appendage” are all extremely well done with the gross-out moments bordering on hilarious and horrifying. The monochromatic choice of aesthetic fits the material and evokes a delightfully fucked-up adult fairytale. Fishmonger is the kind of film that will stick with you long after and beg for you to revisit it. Even at a hair above 25 minutes, there is so much dense imagination packed into each enchanting frame.
LAST RITES
Fishmonger is s sea-soaked story of a forbidden romance in the name of redemption that is unabashedly confident in it’s kookiness, kinkiness, and character. Packed with laughs and drenched in fluids, this is a fine example of innovative and genre-pushing storytelling.
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
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Where can you watch it?
FISHMONGER is currently playing at FANTASTIC FEST 2023.
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