Every once in a while a little movie comes along that makes you stand up and take notice. The most recent of which is a horror import from Italy called ICE SCREAM. This atmospheric and well executed short film winds its way into your amygdala and scares the bejesus out of you with an equal amount of suspense and gore. In the story, a guy named Micky walks into a store to buy a frozen treat for his girlfriend and bumps into two bullies, who kidnap, humiliate and torture him. Once he escapes, revenge isn’t the only thing Micky has in mind… See below for exclusive comments from ICE SCREAM’s creators, pics and the video.

ICE SCREAM is an independent short from the land of Argento, Bava and Fulci, written and directed by two young nerds named Roberto De Feo and Vito Palumbo (Dario Sardelli also shares writing credit). In the space of just one year, ICE SCREAM has won more awards than any other Italian minifeature in history, 15 prestigious international awards and 50 official nominations. As of September 6, 2011, ICE SCREAM was the most-watched video on YouTube in Italy. Not bad, huh? Fango got the “scoop” on this chilly treat and the inspirations of its filmmakers.

FANGORIA: What was the genesis of the story? Was it inspired by anything in particular?

ROBERTO DE FEO: We started from a crime story that took place in our country. In Italy, in 2009, a murder shook public opinion. A 19-year-old boy fell on the ground while he was driving his scooter. While falling, he scratched the door of a car that was parked nearby. Unfortunately, the car belonged to a local thug, a 25 year-old-young man with former criminal charges, who took revenge for the damage. With the help of a friend, he took the poor boy to a land nearby, they tied him to a tree, they stoned him and then they burned him to death.

VITO PALUMBO: We were shocked by this news. I used to tell the true story behind this movie to those who criticize ICE SCREAM for being too violent. People don’t want to admit this, but reality is worse than fiction.

FANG: What are some of your favorite horror films?

ROBERTO DE FEO: Our favorite horror movies? Well, actually there are many. No doubt INSIDIOUS is the best horror movie I’ve watched in the last 10 years. But also [REC] and [REC] 2 are two remarkable movies that have given a new birth to this genre in Spain.

PALUMBO: We also love THE OTHERS, by the great Amenàbar, though it’s a mystery-thriller and not a horror movie, but it’s scary nonetheless! Quite obviously, on our list, there’s also a place for HOSTEL, FRONTIER(S), LA CASA, THE HILLS HAVE EYES, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, THE HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, NIGHTMARE, HALLOWEEN…  

FANG: Directors you emulate?

DE FEO: Vito and I love Quentin Tarantino and the way he presents violence in his movies. We love him to the point that ICE SCREAM is scattered with references to his movies. For example, the character of the inspector takes inspiration from one of the characters Tarantino is mostly fond of, the father inspector [Michael Parks’ Texas Ranger Earl McGraw] in KILL BILL and DEATH PROOF, who was [first featured] in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.

PALUMBO: We dream of shooting a movie starring him. As to horror directors, we think Wes Craven is a myth and James Wan the future; SAW and INSIDIOUS are two masterpieces.

FANG: Who is your favorite horror film writer?

DE FEO: Stephen King, who else? Vito and I have grown up reading his novels, if we can be described as “mental” or “deviant,” it’s King’s fault. IT is our favorite novel and movie and we’re sure that, in 50 years, it will keep on scaring people.

PALUMBO: Well, a movie inspired from a King novel and starring Tarantino would be great for us, wouldn’t it? We think it would be a perfect match. We make a plea through FANGORIA, who knows?!

FANG: What are some of the changes/innovations we can expect in the proposed U.S. remake/feature version of ICE SCREAM?

DE FEO: In the remake you’ll find an increasing horror mood, more suspense and, obviously, more violence!

PALUMBO: We’ll try to make the movie even more gripping, and we want people to have the same reaction they had after seeing the short movie and say, “What the hell… son of a bitch, it’s great!”

DE FEO: On a sad side note, Damiano Russo, ICE SCREAM’s leading actor [Micky], died a few weeks ago after a car accident in Rome. Goodbye, Damiano! We love you.

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