Jeff Lieberman (born in New York, 1947) is one of the most idiosyncratic and innovative American genre directors of the 70s. His three best-known films, all cult classics, range from bizarre to completely bonkers – "Squirm" (1976), "Blue Sunshine" (1978) and "Just Before Dawn" (1981). They combine low-budget ingenuity (similar to that of Roger Corman) with a unique vision, inventive and unusual storylines, eccentric humour and a cynical world view. "It all comes down to a good story," says Lieberman. His films are indeed built around tight plotting that doesn’t fall back on the supernatural as a root cause of the horror, but acribes the perversion of nature and society to the inherently corrupt nature of people themselves. Jeff Lieberman is the festival’s Guest of Honour.
In Person Tribute: Jeff Lieberman
Articles in this section
Jeff Lieberman, 1981, US, DCP, ov ang, 90’
Young urban folk visit a cabin in the backwoods of Oregon, but their jaunt goes horribly wrong. This superior "Deliverance"-style hillbilly slasher pic benefits from spectacular scenery, the iconic presence of George Kennedy as a forest ranger uttering ineffectual warnings, and an extraordinary Final Girl moment.
Jeff Lieberman, 1976, US, 35mm, ov ang, 92’
The killer worms in this Nature Bites Back classic aren’t even giant ones; they’re common earthworms that begin to devour the inhabitants of a small Georgia town after getting a shot of electricity from a fallen power line. From then on it’s worms a-go-go, oozing out of taps, burrowing into faces…
Jeff Lieberman, 1988, US, 35mm, ov ang, 88’
"Why did they pick home videos to destroy mankind?" Kevin Dillon ("The Blob") plays a video store clerk who stumbles across an alien plot to distribute a hokey old 50s SF film that brainwashes viewers into killing each other. The 80s-tastic action also features aerobics, futuristic lamé costumes, and disco carnage!
Jeff Lieberman, 1977, US, DCP, ov ang, 102’
Californians lose their hair and turn into psychokillers in this 70s horror classic. Could it be connected to the politician now running for Congress? Zalman King (later to direct softcore cheese like "Wild Orchid") plays the hapless hero, caught at so many murder scenes the cops naturally assume he’s the killer.
+ short film by Jeff Lieberman: "The Ringer" (HD, 1972, 20’)
lang: en
id_rubrique: 2440
prog: 2438
pos: aval
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