Fringe Fest 2024: Day 1
Reviews from the first full day of Edmonton's 43rd International Fringe Festival, plus an Alien: Romulus bonus review.
I’m starting off day one of my 2024 Fringe Fest reviews with a shout-out to Brother Love. The man himself got in touch to inform me that this year’s show, Brother Love’s Good Time Gospel Hour, is an entirely different show compared to the (already amazing) version I saw two years ago. Consider me sold.
I’m going to church on the 22nd at noon, and you should too! To recap from the Fringe site: “You're invited to grab a tambourine as they sing and preach about the sexiness of Jesus, the spiritual power of narcotics, and the importance of Christian porn.”
Day 1 Reviews
Microwave Coven
The fellas at Guys in Disguise delivered a devilishly delicious good time with Microwave Coven. I am a big fan of their last Fringe show, Puck Bunnies, and Microwave Coven was even more dynamic. Three elderly suburban hags invite the new neighbour over for tea, but something isn’t quite right... You’ll have to see this hilarious (and possibly sold-out) show to learn more.
God is a Scottish Drag Queen
I had never seen nor really heard anything about God is a Scottish Drag Queen before today. Believe it or not, you’ll just have to take it on faith. I mean sure, I’d heard it was good, but that’s it. And good it was! Turns out God is not just a Scottish drag queen, they’re also quite progressive and very funny. If I have any notes to give, it’s that I wanted more edge. Some of the jokes definitely ride the line (such as making fun of idiot creationists who think the earth is 6,000 years old) but this is Fringe—I don’t want to ride the line, I want it redrawn and to jump the distance on a flying motorcycle. God is a Scottish Drag Queen is definitely a crowd pleaser, but it is precisely because it plays to a more mainstream crowd that I cannot give it perfect Fringe marks. Still, see it!
Escape From Edmonton
Did someone say jumping the distance on a flying motorcycle? Escape from Edmonton was on my most-anticipated list this year, and it did not disappoint. Promising “puppets, snake tattoos, fight scenes, and dance offs,” this John Carpenter parody brings the future of 1997 back to you all wrapped up in masculine, action-hero glory. I have never heard a crowd at La Cité Francophone laugh like they did at Escape from Edmonton. The team spared no expense when it came to plot, makeup, cinematography, choreography, and set design. Let’s do a blood test if you don’t trust me.
Bonus Round
Alien: Romulus
I love the Alien movies, even the bad ones. I love them so much that I saw Romulus on opening night instead of seeing something at the first night of Fringe. Crucify me.
Alien: Romulus is everything I wanted and more. I was immersed in seconds. For the first time in a long time, a movie reminded me just how good a proper film can look and sound in a theatre. The visuals are incredible, the sound choices inspired, and the scares are plentiful.
Romulus does so much right that is makes what it does wrong so heartbreaking. There is one choice in particular that would have completely ruined a lesser film, in my opinion.
These Hollywood bastards brought Ian Holm back from the dead for a horribly rendered plot-long cameo. Death was supposed to be Holm’s final grand adventure, as another of his many characters might say, but producer Ridley Scott and director Fede Álverez just could not help themselves. I do not care how ‘respectfully’ they say they went about it, including a badly CGI’d likeness of Holm is a stupid, pointless, ridiculous black mark on the film.
All they would have to do to win me back is release a definitive-edition Blu-Ray with a completely different and real actor. (They could also cut “Get away from her… you bitch,” which was a distracting and out-of-place callback.)
It may sound like a hated this movie, but I assure you, I did not. Aside from those previous points, about which I obviously feel very strongly, Alien: Romulus is basically a perfect movie. The last act was especially fresh, exciting, and grotesque. This is far and away the best Alien movie since 1986, and the best horror film I’ve seen since Evil Dead: Rise. Take that praise as you will.