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 narrative. Weaved into this fantasy realm is a powerful lesson of the importance of pain and the significance of those who suffer to live to tell the story. Hsu manages to keep this lesson prominent no matter how magical the stunning Visual Effects become. His effects also never take away from the impressive grounded performances from Chin-Hua and Wang. For any fan of Pan’s Labyrinth, Detention is for you.
Detention screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 7 PM.
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 motive for returning home. Writer Peter Genoway has written captivating stories within his narrative. Yet, this unique and brave decision causes long drawn out scenes heavy on dialogue rather than action. That being said, Mitte and Outerbridge do bring much entertainment to their often-sedentary roles. There’s also a congenial supporting performance from Ari Millen as a character within Steve’s story.
The Oak Room will screen live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 9:45 PM and Mon. Aug. 31 at 11:30 PM.
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 story. Darg and James control the narrative to shift the audience’s opinion from beginning to end. As we travel with Arquette through his highs and lows, it becomes impossible not to root for him; turning audiences from sceptics to supporters. It doesn’t matter if you like or dislike wrestling and/or Arquette, because it’s a movie about an underdog aspiring for acceptance in the arena he loves. That’s what makes this a Documentary one not to be missed.
You Cannot Kill David Arquette screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Mon. Aug. 24 at 7:30 PM.
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.”. Carpenter’s first Film to premiere at Fantasia Fest was 1998’s Vampires.
ADVICE TO HIS YOUNGER SELF
“The advice I would give is to relax. It’s a long road
ON COLLABORATING WITH KURT RUSSELL
“There are always projects I want to work with Kurt [Russell] on. … He makes a great Santa Claus.”.
ON BEING INVOLVED IN 2018’s HALLOWEEN
“Jason Blum came and talked to me and he said, ‘Well, they are going to make this Movie whether you’re involved or not. Why don’t you come on board and stop judging these movies from a distance and come in and put your input on it?’. “I don’t know if I made it better. But I did put in my two cents.”.
ON UPCOMING “HALLOWEEN KILLS”
“It is the quintessential Horror film. It is so intense. And oh my god! It even stuns me how incredible it is. David [Gordon Green] just did a great job. I can’t wait to have you see it.”. Like 2018’s Halloween, Carpenter also scores this upcoming installment in the Franchise, coming October 2021.
More on this and other Fantasia Fest events here. The Festival runs digitally through September 2, 2020.
Check back here daily for Amanda Gilmore‘s reviews of the Festival’s hottest titles.
(Photo credit: Fantasia Fest)
By Amanda Gilmore
Undertaker Bernardo (Luís Machín) wife Estella (Celeste Gerez) and stepdaughter Irina (Camila Vaccarini) live disconcertedly amongst spirits in their home, but when a demon takes up residence, they have to fight to stay alive.
Writer-Director Mauro Iván Ojeda takes us early into the family’s distressing life. He gives us mystery and trepidation through steady camerawork and the use of shadows. Yet, he doesn’t root his ghost story in the tropes we have become accustomed to. Instead, he creates a fragmented familial portrait of members past and present. If spirits are always around us, shouldn’t we be sceptical of those who hurt us before? He ends the Film with a unique bittersweet moment, that may not work for all but stays true to the family’s story. The entire cast is pitch-perfect most notably Vaccarini who commands the screen.
The Undertaker’s Home screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Fri. Aug. 21 at 7:30 PM and Wed. Aug. 26 11:30 PM.
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
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.
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.
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