'The Station'

[hagios]

Looks like my 'cup of tea', like 'The Thing'

[Show spoiler]The crew of a remote weather research station in the German Alps finds that a retreating glacier is turning the local wildlife into ravenous biological monstrosities, in this timely horror thriller from director Marvin Kren (Rammbock).


At a remote weather research station in the German Alps, three scientists and a technician monitor and study the climate and the ramifications of rapid weather changes on our world. On the eve of a visit by an important government minister, they discover that a rapidly retreating glacier has begun to leak a strange red liquid. The mysterious compound seems to be affecting local wildlife at a genetic level, and soon it will be up to reclusive technician Janek (Gerhard Liebmann) to defend the group from the biological monstrosities growing just beyond the walls of their tiny outpost.

Marvin Kren broke into the international horror circuit in 2011 with his debut feature Rammbock, a zombie film that surprised audiences by packing in a lot of heart and humanity amid the gore. Now, he returns with a timely thriller full of startling scares and inventive creature designs, along with a chilling message about the dangers of climate change that may lurk in our not-too-distant future.

The Station wastes no time in delivering its monstrous shocks, and the grumpy, balding Janek is a perfect, if unlikely, hero for this terrifying cautionary tale. As was the case in Rammbock, you won't find any nubile teens or sexy co-eds to add to the body count here; Kren's characters are mature, written with enough emotional depth to engage the audience, and cement a vested interest in their upcoming peril at the teeth and claws of nasty genetic mutations.

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[Show spoiler]

We introduced director Marvin Kren to Bloody Disgusting with the release of our Selects title Rammbock: Berlin Undead, and now he’s back with another genre offering having its World Premiere at the 38th Toronto International Film Festival.

Part of the Midnight Madness program, Kren’s Austrian horror film The Station takes place in the Alps, where environmental changes create the horror.

“At a climate research station in the Alps, the scientists are stunned as the nearby melting glacier is leaking a red liquid. It quickly turns to be very special juice — with unexpected genetic effects on the local wildlife.”

Not only do we have the film’s first ever still, but the festival trailer, both of which can be viewed below.

The 38th Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 5 to 15, 2013.

[TIFF '13] 'Rammbock' Director's 'The Station' Acquired By IFC Midnight

IFC Midnight has landed U.S. rights to horror-thriller The Station, two days after the film’s Midnight Madness world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, Variety reports.

Read Mike Pereira’s review for The Station here.

“The story is set in the German Alps as a trio of scientists and a technician discover that a rapidly retreating glacier has begun to leak a strange red liquid that seems to be affecting local wildlife.”

Marvin Kren directed from a screenplay by Benjamin Hessler. It stars Gerhard Liebmann, Edita Malovcic, Hille Beseler and Peter Knaack and was produced by Helmut Grasser.

Kren broke into horror films in 2011 with his debut feature Rammbock, distributed by Bloody Disgusting Selects.

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[BD Review] 'The Station' Is Decent Enough Horror Fare

To be honest, I was unaware of the existence of Director Marvin Kren’s well-liked debut, Rammbock. So I had no prior knowledge of the man’s talents. His latest, The Station is about a group of scientists in the German Alps who discover a glacier dripping with red liquid, a substance that’s effect on the local wildlife results in monstrous mutations. Just by reading the synopsis; it’s hard not to hastily label the film as the Austrian version of The Thing. The influence is undeniable but as The Station plays out, you realize Kren’s latest firmly stands on its own two feet.

The cast does a fine job at projecting believable characterizations for us to care about. Gerhard Liebmann’s full-bodied performance as our central protagonist Janek is as good as it gets. Another standout is Brigitte Kren as the feisty Minister Bodicek. She steals the show as the unlikeliest of genre heroes.

Kren wisely decides to stick to old school creature effects gags. Whether it was forced upon by lack of funds or not, we see just enough of the creature to send chills up the spine. From what is presented, the designs are fairly cool. There is use of CGI but it’s utilized in a low-key, attention-shy way. There is some gore but more of the blood splattery variety, nothing we haven’t seen before.

The Station is a perfectly decent horror thriller. It’s all pretty text book stuff. There’s really nothing here that we haven’t seen before. The contemporary message dealing with the dangers of climate change works. It’s as realistically portrayed as you’d hope for in what essentially is an old-fashioned creature flick. I was with the film from start to finish, patiently awaiting it to take it to the next level. Unfortunately it never does. When the action breaks out, it’s all fairly generic. There is solid scare or two but that’s about it. Its effectiveness is mostly stemmed from the fact that Kren’s group of actors do such a solid job.

The Station is a commendable effort for a low budgeter. Kren’s abilities as a filmmaker are without question. The movie is skillfully crafted and paced. While this sophomore venture never quite takes off for me, I will anxiously await what he has in store for us next. The Station is ultimately uneventful yet offers just enough goodies to entertain horror fans who like minimalistic genre fare.

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