#FANTASIA: “DETENTION”

By Amanda Gilmore Based on the Video Game of the same name, Detention is set in 1962 during Taiwan’s White Terror period. It follows Fang (Gingle Wang) and Wei (Tseng Chin-hua) who have been trapped alone at midnight in their high school. First-time Feature Writer-Director John Hsu has made a striking Fantasy-Horror genre film. As with the Video Game, the real-world horror those experienced during the White Terror period perfectly moulds within fantastical elements of the ... Read more

#FANTASIA: “THE OAK ROOM”

By Amanda Gilmore On a snowy night in a small Canadian town Steve (RJ Mitte) walks into a blue-collar bar owned by Paul (Peter Outerbridge). It’s clear the two know each other but why has Steve returned and what does he want? The Oak Room is a slow-burn Thriller that has characters using the art of storytelling to unwind its central mystery. From beginning to end, Steve and Paul tell two different stories. However, Steve’s will slowly reveal his ... Read more

#FANTASIA: “YOU CANNOT KILL DAVID ARQUETTE”

By Amanda Gilmore This Documentary follows David Arquette’s come back to wrestling after winning the World Championship title 18 years prior. You Cannot Kill David Arquette is an outrageously-funny Documentary that perfectly compliments its zany subject. Directors David Darg and Price James have loaded many eccentric moments, such as wizard-caped horseback riding, spray tanning, magic and more, while never taking the focus off the heartfelt redemption ... Read more

#FANTASIA: JOHN CARPENTER MASTER CLASS AT FANTASIA FEST 2020

Master of Horror John Carpenter was honoured at Fantasia Fest 2020 this year and not only did he accept a Lifetime Achievement Award (the Cheval Noir), he also gifted fans with a Master Class. The genius behind classics like Halloween, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little China, Christine, The Fog, Escape from New York and Starman spoke today, reflecting on his celebrated career. Here are some highlights: ON MONTREAL "Montreal is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been in.". ... Read more

#FANTASIA: “IWEIRDO”

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 ... Read more

#FANTASIA: “THE MORTUARY COLLECTION”

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 ... Read more

#FANTASIA: “PVT CHAT”

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 ... Read more

#FANTASIA: “HUNTED”

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 ... Read more

#FANTASIA: “THE COLUMNIST”

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 ... Read more

#INTERVIEW: DAVID ARQUETTE ON “YOU CANNOT KILL DAVID ARQUETTE”

By Amanda Gilmore Documentary You Cannot Kill David Arquette which follows his comeback to wrestling 18-years after fans were angered by his 2000 WCW World Heavyweight Championship win. Arquette never meant to disrespect the sport or enrage fans and fellow wrestlers. He just wanted to play the sport he loved since childhood. So in 2018, he began his road to redemption in hopes to garner the fans acceptance the way he respects them and the sport. He shows his respect by throwing streamers at ... Read more