Strange Factories is a 2013 British experimental horror film written, directed by John Harrigan and produced by the British immersive theatre and production collective FoolishPeople. The film is an example of interactive cinema, featuring a mixture of film and live performance.[1] It centers on a writer, who travels through a mysterious landscape filled with cultists, hallucinatory visions, and a mysterious factory that emanates a strange humming sound.

Strange Factories
Official Strange Factories film poster
Directed byJohn Harrigan
Written byJohn Harrigan
Produced byJohn Harrigan
Lucy Harrigan
Tereza Kamenicka
StarringJohn Harrigan
Annalisa Astarita
Rachael Blyth
CinematographyYiannis Katsaris
Edited byBettina Fung
Music byStephen Baysted
Production
company
Distributed byFoolishPeople
Release date
  • 26 October 2013 (2013-10-26)
Running time
132 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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A tormented writer named Victor journeys through a mysterious, dream-like landscape in search of a group of performers from a theater that mysteriously burned down. As he continues through the landscape, he begins to uncover a bizarre cult under the hallucinatory influence of a nearby factory, and a sinister pact he once made with its owner. All the while he is tormented by visions and a strange humming sound that emanates from the factory.

Cast

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  • John Harrigan as Victor
  • Annalisa Astarita as Hettie
  • Rachael Blyth as Emma
  • Tereza Kamenicka as Lady Thayn
  • David Monard as Sam
  • Claire Louise Oliver as Jessica
  • Lucy Harrigan as Rose
  • Claire Tregellas as Jess
  • Mark Postgate as Arlec
  • Xanadu Xero as Marina

Reception

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Ain't It Cool News gave the film a positive review, writing, "Strange Factories may not be for the more literal-minded of horror fans. But fans of the theatrical side of performances, the technical side of writing, and the appreciators of the surreal and offbeat will find a lot of things to appreciate."[2] Sarah Stewart from The Londonist praised the film's atmosphere, suspense, and innovative blending of celluloid and live-action performance.[3] Rachel Simm from The Latest Brighton gave the film three out of five stars, praising the film's atmosphere, and suspense, calling it "eerie, unsettling and somewhat puzzling".[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Simm, Rachel (12 November 2013). "Strange Factories". TheLatest.co.uk. The Latest Brighton. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  2. ^ "AICN Horror looks at The Last Buck Hunt! Chimeres! The Sacrament! Pieces of Talent!". Aintitcool.com. AICN. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  3. ^ Stewart, Sarah (29 October 2013). "Immersive Theatre And Film At The Cinema Museum". Londonist.com. The Londonist. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
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