Fantastic Fest 2009

In a bar on Mars (no, a different Mars), an unsuspecting gentle outlaw who goes by the name of Stingray Sam has turned to a life of lounge singing as he hides out from the law during the decline of the interplanetary economy. Much to his surprise, he is suddenly greeted -- in a barroom brawl -- by his old friend The Quasar Kid, who has come in the hopes of reuniting with Stingray for one final mission that will wipe their records clean. Their task: To rescue a carpenterís unsuspecting daughter from the clutches of an evil bureaucrat named Fredward, a ruler from a curious planet where men procreate with each other to create children with compound names. Pretty soon, the duo is back on the road in an enthralling adventure, jam packed with hilariously self-aware comedy involving miniature robot suits, olive chugging and plenty of dancing.

 

In 2001, director Corey McAbee pleasantly surprised the independent genre community with his innovative, comedic musical space-western The American Astronaut. After an eight-year hiatus, he now returns with this long-awaited six-part episodic series. If youíve ever had the pleasure of seeing The American Astronaut, you know that McAbeeís style is one of a kind, flawlessly blending a series of familiar genres to create rare hybrid that floods the classic film lover with nostalgia. Similar to Astronaut in genre, Stingray turns to an even more effective use of low budget filmmaking as McAbee mixes gorgeous black and white cinematography with color collage art to create a unique and fascinating world. Each episode comes complete with a song (courtesy of McAbeeís own band, American Astronaut), a cliffhanger and a sponsor advert, reminding us of the early days of film-going where the price of admission got you a little bit of everything. Ironically, McAbee designed Stingray as a series of tiny episodes in attempt to conform to our ever-changing times where more and more media is being mass consumed on small screens. Luckily, it is still beautiful enough to warrant the exciting theatrical experience that awaits you. (Michael Lerman)