The Toronto After Dark Film Festival has officially announced its complete lineup of new horror, sci-fi, action and cult films that will have their local premieres at our 5th Annual event this August 13-20, 2010 at the city’s legendary Bloor Cinema.
The 16 amazing feature films at the core of the festival include a number that have created a ton of buzz on the genre festival circuit. The festival kicks off with the opening film, a creature feature comedy The Last Lovecraft directed by Henry Saine. The film which is described as a story about a group of social misfits battling an assortment of sea monsters trying to take over the earth will make its international premiere. Also on the list is a double dose of fun zombie starting with Doghouse, the riotous zombie comedy that took Britain by storm, and the deranged zombie action flick Evil In The Time Of Heroes, which features none other than Billy Zane as an immortal Greek zombie killer!
Fans of outrageous Japanese genre cinema will also be delighted with a double dose of cinematic mayhem starting with the sci-fi horror action mashup Robogeisha and Alien vs. Ninja. The festival will also showcase three new films from some of Britain’s most talented genre filmmakers: Neil Marshall’s action piece Centurion, Philip Ridley’s demonic thriller Heartless, and Christopher Smith’s medieval witchcraft tale Black Death.
While all of the films make a great line up, we have decided to come up a list of five must see films for fans of the fest who can’t take time off their busy schedules to see everything. So if you had to choose, here are the five we highly recommend.
5- Rubber
While the runtime is undoubtedly going to divide people considering it would have made a better short film, Rubber is destined to be an enormous cult hit. The simple story about a tire that can control its own path is simply its own beast and a must see on the big screen for its dazzling cinematography.
4- The Last Exorcism
The Last Exorcism is a surprisingly invigorating horror film. Not only is it funny and scary, but it is blessed by the unique ability to get under your skin. Not a film to be quickly forgotten, it makes a good case for the potential in the “first person” horror and proves once again that a genre film with a brain will always be more effective than a mindless gore-fest.
3- Phobia 2
Thai horror continues to successfully grow each year. Phobia 2, sequel to the popular 2008 anthology piece, offers not four but five short tales of terror. Producer Yongyoot Thongkongtoon pulls together an impressive line up of top directors in the returning Paween Purijitpunya (Body), and Parkpoom Wongpoom and Banjong Pisonthanakun (co-helmers of the blockbusters Shutter and Alone). Also directing segments are newcomers Songyos Sugmakanan (Dorm) and Wisoot Poolworraluck. Although horror anthologies can be notoriously hit and miss, the film was a massive commercial success, breaking box office records during its domestic release and becoming the country’s top grossing genre production of all time. More importantly it deserves those records because Phobia 2 is an all out blast from start to finish.
2- I Spit On Your Grave
This is a well-made film, impeccably shot, well-acted, and will palpably impact those who dare to watch. It is what it is – a rape/revenge thriller with an unusually intense emphasis on the suffering of both the men and the woman. It doesn’t eroticize the rape, doesn’t soften the rape and doesn’t glorify the violence. In this day of gutless remakes and reboots Monroe stays shockingly true to Zarchi’s vision and delivers a product for better or for worse is worth the effort.
1- High School
The words “stoner comedy” give rise to odious associations, making one expect a haphazard, loosely plotted, and unfunny mess – and, in almost all cases, rightfully so. John Stahlberg’s riotous and very funny High School elides such easy dismissal through a combination of inspired casting, tireless comic energy and an irresistibly simple narrative hook.
High School succeeds in doing for pot what Superbad did for booze, successfully mounting a madcap and expertly paced teen comedy that is relentlessly crowd-pleasing without feeling compromised
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Fans can scan all the films screening at Toronto After Dark 2010 in date order at the FESTIVAL SCHEDULE and buy tickets and passes to the festival at the BOX OFFICE PAGE which is NOW LIVE!