By Amanda Gilmore

After a chance encounter Chen Po-ching (Austin Lin) and Chen Ching (Nikki Hsieh), who both have OCD, begin a romantic relationship.

I WeirDo is a quirky Rom-Com with beautiful Art Direction and delightful performances. Writer-Director Liao Ming-yi makes this eccentric romance film so much more with a mid-film twist. Midway through, one-character experiences a miracle which shifts the film into dramatic territory. Therefore, creating a Film that examines the dark-side of co-dependency within relationships, and questioning love’s impermanence. Ming-yi has also shot the film on the vertical frame of an iPhone camera. This inventive decision heightens the inner psyche of the delightful characters and perfectly encapsulates the often-claustrophobic feeling of those inflicted with OCD.

I Weirdo will screen live online at Fantasia Fest on Sat. Aug. 22 at 7 PM

Funfetti Cornflake Crunch Cookies. Okay, full disclosure, these are very similar to those amazing cookies you find at Momofuku‘s Milk Bar, but we’ve added a Funfetti twist to it, because if you’re pulling out all the stops already and going over-the-top, you might as well go all the way! As usual, I reduce the sugar because the originals are way sweet and nobody has any business eating that much sugar.

Ingredients:

5 cups Corn Flakes
2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups unsalted butter at room temperature, cut into cubes
36 miniature marshmallows
3/4 cup miniature milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup organic raw sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tbsps sweetened condensed milk
2 tsps sea salt
1 tsp organic vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg
4 tbsps rainbow sprinkles

Instructions:

1. Place Corn Flakes, 3 tbsps sweetened condensed milk, 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 tsp salt and half of brown sugar on a baking tray. Bake at 300°F for 15 minutes. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, use handmixer to cream 1 cup butter and half of brown sugar and all of raw sugar. Mix till creamy for 2 minutes.
3. Add egg and vanilla, cream with handmixer for another 5 minutes.
4. In another bowl, mix flour, 1 1/2 tsps salt, baking powder and baking soda.
5. Slowly add-in flour mixture to butter mixture using handmixer. Mix for 1 minute.
6. Using spatula, fold-in chocolate chips, corn flake mixture and sprinkles. Mix gently till combined evenly.
7. Using hands, form dough into 12 large balls. Stuff each dough ball with 3 marshmallows. Place on parchment paper-lined tray and refrigerate for one hour.
8. Set oven at 370°F. Arrange dough balls about 3-4″ apart from one another on baking sheet. Bake 13-15 minutes till golden. Transfer to cooling rack and store in air-tight container. Makes 1 dozen.

Gallery:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Brace yourself for a lot of Mariah this Fall. In addition to her memoir THE MEANING OF MARIAH hitting stores next month, she releases her THE RARITIES which includes new single SAVE THE DAY in which she samples Roberta Flack/The Fugees’ Killing Me Softly With His Song.

THE MEANING OF MARIAH arrives in-stores September 29, 2020. THE RARITIES is in stores October 2, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music Entertainment)

By Amanda Gilmore

While interviewing for a job at Raven’s End Mortuary, Sam (Caitlin Custer) asks mortician Montgomery (Clancy Brown) to tell her his scariest stories. What Sam and the audience get in return is a delightful concoction of supernatural, comedic, and grim short stories that all weave into the central narrative.

Ryan Spindell’s The Mortuary Collection gives us Goosebumps vibes but with macabre adult themes and lessons. “No evil deed goes unpunished,” is the motif throughout Montgomery’s stories and the linear narrative. Yet, Spindell masters the art of lacing humour in the cruellest aspects of characters and darkest moments of scenes. What we’re left with is an entertaining nostalgic ride through the ’50s-’80s with equal parts fright and delight. More importantly, Spindell makes us think, long after the credits roll, about the ripples effects our actions have. Brown is aces as the mysterious Montgomery and Custer gives a captivating performance as the suspicious Sam. The collection of stories are cast perfectly with memorable performances from Jacob Elordi, Ema Horvath, Barak Hardley, Christine Kilmer, and more.

The Mortuary Collection will be available on-demand for Fantasia Fest Aug 20 – Sept 2.

By Amanda Gilmore

After online gambler Jack’s (Peter Vack) roommate dies, he becomes fixated on San Francisco Camgirl, Scarlet (Julia Fox). One night Jack spots Scarlet walking on an NYC Chinatown street. Is his obsession contorting his reality? Or is she lying about where she lives?

This Erotic Drama is shot with unflinching honesty on what it means to be lonely and craves connection. Writer-Director Ben Hozie has crafted an authentic look at the disconnected technology has created while reminding us of what we truly need: human contact with someone who understands us. Hozie manages to have many erotic scenes that don’t become unduly gratuitous. He achieves this by infusing those scenes with the characters’ longing for emotional connection and a growing desire for each other. The Film is anchored by two mesmerizing performances from Vack and Fox. Whether they are video chatting or in the same room, their chemistry is intoxicating.

PVT Chat screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Fri. Aug. 21 at 9:30 PM and Tue. Aug. 25 at 11 PM.

By Amanda Gilmore

A woman’s innocent and random encounter with a man quickly turns sinister.

The Film follows the same theme we have seen before in survival horror films. A woman gets captured by a man, or men, and has to find ways to survive. However, Hunted takes a unique turn on this survival genre. Director-Writer Vincent Paronnaud and Co-Writer Léa Pernollet have incorporated a third character, the woods. More specifically nature and animal as a survival force for a woman. It’s this aspect, along with captivating performances from Lucie Debay and Arieh Worthalter, that turn this dark and timely Horror to the next level.

Hunted screens live online at Fantasia Fest Fri. Aug. 21 at 9:45 PM and Wed. Aug. 26 at 5 PM.

THE EIGHT HUNDRED has the distinction of being the first Asian film ever to be shot entirely in IMAX! It will be in theatres in cities across Canada soon!

Synopsis:
The film is based on true stories taking place during Sino-Japanese war in Shanghai, China, in 1937, the battle and protection of the Si Hang Warehouse. There are around 400 soldiers (so called Eight Hundred Heroes in history), holding out against numerous waves of Japanese forces for 4 days and 4 nights.

Cast: OU Hao, JIANG Wu, ZHANG Yi, WANG Qianyuan, DU Chun, LI Chen

See the Trailer:

CMC Pictures release THE EIGHT HUNDRED Friday, August 28, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: CMC Pictures)

Rachel Leigh Cook and Damon Wayans Jr. star in LOVE, GUARANTEED, pairing-up as a lawyer and her client, who was failed by a dating website.

Synopsis:

Earnest, hard-working lawyer Susan (Rachael Leigh Cook) has taken one too many pro bono cases. To save her small law firm, Susan begrudgingly takes a high-paying, high-profile case from Nick (Damon Wayans Jr.), a charming new client who wants to sue a dating website that guarantees users will find love. But Susan and Nick soon find themselves in the middle of a media storm, and as the case heats up, so do their feelings for each other — which could jeopardize everything.

See the Trailer:

LOVE, GUARANTEED arrives on Netflix Friday, September 3, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Kevin Costner and Diane Lane star in LET HIM GO, out in theatres this November! See the new Trailer.

Story:

Following the loss of their son, retired sheriff George Blackledge (Kevin Costner) and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane) leave their Montana ranch to rescue their young grandson from the clutches of a dangerous family living off the grid in the Dakotas, headed by matriarch Blanche Weboy. When they discover the Weboys have no intention of letting the child go, George and Margaret are left with no choice but to fight for their family.

See the Trailer:

Focus Features release LET HIM GO in theatres Friday, November 6, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

By Amanda Gilmore

Columnist Femke Boot (Katja Herbers) has had enough of internet trolls and has devised a plan to get her revenge.

This tightly-written film has an anti-heroine to root for. As a Columnist, Femke believes everyone is entitled to their own opinion, however, this belief changes once she begins receiving death threats and retched comments on Social Media. From there, we are taken on an entertaining satirical journey with the right amounts of Comedy and gore splashed throughout. Along the way the Filmmakers dangle important queries about freedom of speech, only giving ambiguous answers. Thus, prompting viewers to project their own convictions onto the narrative. And these convictions will repeatedly be challenged by the powerhouse performance from Herbers. What Femke’s doing is criminal, however, Herbers often persuades us onto her side.

The Columnist will be available on-demand through Fantasia Fest Aug 20 – Sept 2.