Domestic violence and black comedy don’t seem a natural match, but to an impressive degree “Bitter Melon” pulls off their shotgun marriage. This third and best directorial feature to date for H.P. Mendoza, best known for writing, composing and starring in 2006’s “Colma: The Musical” (which Richard Wong directed), revolves around an eventful long Christmas weekend for members of a Filipino-American family with a history of abusive fathers. The complex tonal, textural and thematic mix here doesn’t always work, but it’s always interesting and often invigorating.
Christmas in San Francisco may not require winter wear, but there’s a certain amount of frost in the air as the Santos clan convenes for a rare (and nearly full) family reunion. Gay youngest son Declan (Jon Norman Schneider) has flown in from Manhattan, with eldest Moe (Brian Rivera) from Philadelphia, both returning for for the first time in years.
Christmas in San Francisco may not require winter wear, but there’s a certain amount of frost in the air as the Santos clan convenes for a rare (and nearly full) family reunion. Gay youngest son Declan (Jon Norman Schneider) has flown in from Manhattan, with eldest Moe (Brian Rivera) from Philadelphia, both returning for for the first time in years.
- 5/18/2018
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
The Garthim from The Dark Crystal has joined Funko's ReAction figure line and will be available at Toys"R"Us in just a few weeks! We also have details on Splathouse Podcast's discussion of Anna Ishida's I Am a Ghost, the Australian release of The Greasy Strangler, and a trailer for The Hobbyist.
Funko's The Dark Crystal ReAction Figure: From Funko: "Dark Crystal fans, we have one more ReAction surprise for you!
The Garthim is headed to Toys"R"Us in the next couple of weeks!
Available at Toys"R"Us by mid-March!"
---------
Splathouse Podcast Discuss I Am A Ghost: From Splathouse: "This week Team Splathouse welcomes actor Anna Ishida of 2012's I Am a Ghost into the studio!
The movie's writer/director, H.P. Mendoza, joins us for a conversation about the making of the film.
F This Film's editor-in-chief, Patrick Bromley, swings by with a thoughtful appreciation of the work.
Funko's The Dark Crystal ReAction Figure: From Funko: "Dark Crystal fans, we have one more ReAction surprise for you!
The Garthim is headed to Toys"R"Us in the next couple of weeks!
Available at Toys"R"Us by mid-March!"
---------
Splathouse Podcast Discuss I Am A Ghost: From Splathouse: "This week Team Splathouse welcomes actor Anna Ishida of 2012's I Am a Ghost into the studio!
The movie's writer/director, H.P. Mendoza, joins us for a conversation about the making of the film.
F This Film's editor-in-chief, Patrick Bromley, swings by with a thoughtful appreciation of the work.
- 3/6/2017
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
We first told you about Hp Mendoza's indie flick I Am a Ghost (review) well over a year ago, when it was at the time scooping up film festival accolades and rave reviews.
To refresh your memory, now that the theatrical roll-out of the film begins tonight in La, check out the plot crunch and creepy trailer below!
Those in La can purchase tickets to tonight's screening through Brown Paper Tickets.
Written and directed by Hp Mendoza, the film stars Rick Burkhardt, Anna Ishida and Jeannie Barroga.
Synopsis
Emily, a troubled spirit, haunts her own house every day, wondering why she can’t leave. With the help of Sylvia, a clairvoyant hired to rid the house of spirits, Emily is forced into a "patient/therapist" relationship, uncovering disturbing mysteries about her past that may help her move on to "the next place."
For more on the film, visit the official I Am a Ghost website,...
To refresh your memory, now that the theatrical roll-out of the film begins tonight in La, check out the plot crunch and creepy trailer below!
Those in La can purchase tickets to tonight's screening through Brown Paper Tickets.
Written and directed by Hp Mendoza, the film stars Rick Burkhardt, Anna Ishida and Jeannie Barroga.
Synopsis
Emily, a troubled spirit, haunts her own house every day, wondering why she can’t leave. With the help of Sylvia, a clairvoyant hired to rid the house of spirits, Emily is forced into a "patient/therapist" relationship, uncovering disturbing mysteries about her past that may help her move on to "the next place."
For more on the film, visit the official I Am a Ghost website,...
- 10/29/2013
- by John Squires
- DreadCentral.com
If you were to combine Groundhog’S Day with The Sixth Sense and add some of HBO’s original series In Treatment, what would you get? Well, it would probably be a big mess, but it could begin to resemble something like H.P. Mendoza’s I Am A Ghost. If there’s one thing we have no shortage of in theaters today, its ghost stories, particularly ones that focus on the unfortunate living who are haunted and terrorized by some rarely-seen, malicious paranormal entity. Not that this is bad, but as with all things… its nice to have a change of pace at times.
Thank you, H.P. Mendoza, writer and director of the low-budget, indie horror film I Am A Ghost. What makes this such a refreshing little flick? Mendoza turns the table. I Am A Ghost doesn’t focus on the living, you know… those mostly oblivious, often illogical...
Thank you, H.P. Mendoza, writer and director of the low-budget, indie horror film I Am A Ghost. What makes this such a refreshing little flick? Mendoza turns the table. I Am A Ghost doesn’t focus on the living, you know… those mostly oblivious, often illogical...
- 11/16/2012
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Receiving killer reviews from such sources as Variety Magazine, The Philadelphia Examiner and Sf Weekly, writer/director Hp Mendoza's indie film I Am A Ghost is definitely drawing interest.
With the majority of the film being shot in San Francisco, I Am A Ghost stars Anna Ishida and Jeannie Barroga. Ishida won the Special Jury Best Actress Award at this year's Mix Mexico Film Festival to go along with Mendoza's Sf Weekly Best New Director Award.
For more on the film, visit the official I Am A Ghost website, like I Am A Ghost on Facebook and follow I Am A Ghost on Twitter (@iamaghostfilm). Thanks to Avery G for the tip on this up and coming indie!
Synopsis
Taking place in a single Victorian house during an indeterminable time period, I Am A Ghost is a supernatural mystery that explores identity mixing experimental non-linear filmmaking with classic haunted house spookiness.
With the majority of the film being shot in San Francisco, I Am A Ghost stars Anna Ishida and Jeannie Barroga. Ishida won the Special Jury Best Actress Award at this year's Mix Mexico Film Festival to go along with Mendoza's Sf Weekly Best New Director Award.
For more on the film, visit the official I Am A Ghost website, like I Am A Ghost on Facebook and follow I Am A Ghost on Twitter (@iamaghostfilm). Thanks to Avery G for the tip on this up and coming indie!
Synopsis
Taking place in a single Victorian house during an indeterminable time period, I Am A Ghost is a supernatural mystery that explores identity mixing experimental non-linear filmmaking with classic haunted house spookiness.
- 7/27/2012
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
By MoreHorror.com
Dawna Lee Heising recently interviewed filmmaker H.P. Mendoza of I Am A Ghost at the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival for MoreHorror in Hollywood.
You can watch the interview below the full details below, as well as the movie trailer. Enjoy.
H.P. Mendoza’s I Am A Ghost tells the story of Sylvia, a seasoned clairvoyant, who is hired to rid a family's home of a spirit named Emily who has been wreaking havoc in the house and on the inhabitants. When Sylvia cannot banish the ghost, she is forced into a patient/therapist relationship with Emily as they work together to try to move Emily on to "the next place". I Am A Ghost was written and directed by H.P. Mendoza and stars Anna Ishida, Jeannie Barroga and Rick Burkhardt.
H. P. Mendoza is a Filipino American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer of features and short films.
Dawna Lee Heising recently interviewed filmmaker H.P. Mendoza of I Am A Ghost at the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival for MoreHorror in Hollywood.
You can watch the interview below the full details below, as well as the movie trailer. Enjoy.
H.P. Mendoza’s I Am A Ghost tells the story of Sylvia, a seasoned clairvoyant, who is hired to rid a family's home of a spirit named Emily who has been wreaking havoc in the house and on the inhabitants. When Sylvia cannot banish the ghost, she is forced into a patient/therapist relationship with Emily as they work together to try to move Emily on to "the next place". I Am A Ghost was written and directed by H.P. Mendoza and stars Anna Ishida, Jeannie Barroga and Rick Burkhardt.
H. P. Mendoza is a Filipino American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer of features and short films.
- 5/16/2012
- by admin
- MoreHorror
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