Fantastic Fest has released the second wave of titles for this year's festival, and it has been ZOMBIFIED! The films that jumped out at me right away:

Smash Cut U.S. Premiere (dir. Lee Demarbre, 2009, Canada) When his latest film is panned for its sub-par effects work, veteran grindhouse filmmaker Able Whitman (David Hess, LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK) is struck with inspiration: the most realistic gore effects will come from actual dismemberment and corpses!

Survival of the Dead U.S. Premiere (dir. George A. Romero, 2009, US/Canada) George Romero returns to the Alamo Drafthouse cinema for the U.S. premiere of his latest zombie opus. The action centers on two warring clans of Plum Island; one wants to kill every zombie on the island, the other tries to protect their undead family members until a cure for "zombieism" is found.

Van Diemen's Land U.S. Premiere (dir. Jonathan Auf Der Heide, 2009, Australia) When their guard is killed en route to prison in 19th-century Tasmania, eight prisoners escape through the dense rain forest. Their poorly-conceived escape plans crumble, food runs out and the gang of prisoners engages in power struggles, psychological games and cannibalism in order to survive. Based on the true-life story of Australian prisoner Alexander Pearce.

Yesterday Regional Premiere (Rob Grant, 2009, Canada) When a strange flulike virus starts killing people and turning them into flesh-eating zombies, an unlikely group of guys band together, grab an SUV and head for the woods to wait out the epidemic. Shot in 16mm on a micro-budget of $25,000, YESTERDAY transcends its resources, filling every scene with great practical effects, car crashes, ballistics and, most importantly, cracklingly sharp dramatic and comedic performances by every single principal cast member.

Zombieland (dir. Ruben Fleischer, 2009, US) Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is a big wuss - but when you're afraid of being eaten by zombies, fear can keep you alive. Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) is an AK-totin', zombie-slayin' badass whose single determination is to get the last Twinkie on earth.

AWESOME!

Thanks for the heads up. I haven't had time to sit down and read about all the movies on the Fantastic Fest site yet. I've just been catching the headlines here and there which have been getting me super pumped. I like the sounds of all these ones you've named though, especially Romero's new one and Zombieland. Been really looking forward to those.

Once I finish up post on the Fantastic Fest bumper I've been working on this week, I'll be able to sit down and start to plan my fantastic attack on Fantastic Fest. I can't wait!!!