“A surprisingly invigorating horror film.” The Last Exorcism Directed by Daniel Stamm Thanks to its wicked humor and unexpected smarts, The Last Exorcism sets itself apart from many recent attempts at faux-documentaries. In the film, documentary filmmakers follow a disillusioned preacher who hopes to expose the danger exorcism poses in the modern age. He attempts …
Fantastic Fest will host a Gala Screening of Buried at The Paramount Theatre on Thursday, September 23, with Ryan Reynolds and director Rodrigo Cortés in attendance, as part of their opening night programming of the festival. Buried, which Lionsgate will release in select theaters on September 24th and wide on October 8th, stars Reynolds as …
“Outrageous, and hysterical, All About Evil is as much an ode to no-budget indie horror as it is a celebration of independent movie theatres; surely, a veteran horror fan can ask for nothing more.” All About Evil Dir. Joshua Grannell (2010, USA, 98 mins.) Freaks everywhere, rejoice. Director Joshua Grannell, better known as cult film …
Jaws Directed by Steven Spielberg Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw star in this terrifying thriller about an enormous man-eating Great White Shark that terrorizes the fictional coastal summer resort town of Amity, Long Island on the Fourth of July weekend. Based on the trashy best-selling novel by Peter Benchley (who also provides the …
“A charming film that will appeal to those with patience or tender souls…” Fausta: La Teta Asustada / The Milk of Sorrow Director: Claudia Llosa Fausta is a young woman afflicted with a rare disease. The milk of Sorrow, passed on to her through her mother’s breast milk, affects the children born to women tortured …
The first review of David Fincher’s The Social Network is up and it is a douzy. Scott Foundas, former Village Voice film critic, now a film programmer, has seen the film and loves what he has seen. The review/essay will be published in the next issue of Film Comment, in which The Social Network, will …
“Rubber is this century’s Attack of the Killer Tomatoes…” Rubber Directed by Quentin Dupieux Director/writer Quentin Dupieux’s horror-comedy Rubber opens with the narrator asking the questions that have long baffled humanity: “Why is ET brown? In the movie JFK, why does that president get assassinated? And why do some people like sausages and other people …
“Horror fans finally have a remake worthy of the original…” I Spit on Your Grave Dir. Steven R. Monroe (2010, USA, 107 mins.) Though the horror remake is fairly ubiquitous at today’s cinema, and though most horror remakes have been terrible, fans of Meir Zarchi’s 1978 controversial film can breath a sigh of relief. Director …
Anyone expecting a conventional horror or comedy film will be disappointed. Rubber Dir. Quentin Dupieux (2010, France, 85 mins.) Quentin Dupieux has brought us one of the year’s most interesting, intelligent, and worthwhile films. To say that Rubber is about a sentient, psychokinetic, murderous tire would be accurate, but would also miss the point. This …
Love is Colder Than Death (1969) Rainer Werner Fassbinder The style of this film is unlike any that came before or after. R.W. Fassbinder openly embraced his love of Noir and French New Wave to make a shadowy burst of a film that takes a bumpy boat ride full of moments of manic ferocity and …
“The Last Exorcism offers ample scares and twists; horror fans will be rejoicing in theatre aisles…” The Last Exorcism Directed by Daniel Stamm After 5 years, the Toronto After Dark Film Festival held its very first red carpet, premiering Eli Roth’s production of The Last Exorcism – a highly engaging, tension-filled horror film that is …
“Essential viewing and one of the best films of the year so far.” Rampage Directed by Uwe Boll Rampage is the latest film from the infamous writer/producer/director Uwe Boll, the critically and publicly chided creator of such hilariously bad movies as House of the Dead, Alone in the Dark, Bloodrayne, and In the Name of …
The Last Airbender Directed by M. Night Shyamalan M. Night Shyamalan has had a tough time of it. Since his breakthrough classic The Sixth Sense in 1999, he hasn’t been able to find the right balance to please both critics and the public alike. Signs was his last film to be shown some respect, but …
…Cargo is a profound achievement that successfully merges story with spectacle…
“Stonewall Uprising turns out to be an emotionally satisfying experience…” Stonewall Uprising Directed by Kate Davis & David Heilbroner Stonewall Uprising is not the first documentary to directly address what has been referred to as the “Rosa Parks” moment in Gay Liberation. Even if one hasn’t seen either Before Stonewall, After Stonewall, or even Gay …
“Doghouse is proof positive that the Brits are cornering the market of entertaining horror-comedies…” Doghouse Directed by Jake West Director Jake West’s British horror-comedy Doghouse is an absolutely exhilarating gore-fest. Two parts Shaun of the Dead and one part Hangover, Doghouse is a recipe that horror fans should devour. When Vince’s (Snatch’s Stephen Graham) marriage …
Full disclosure: I have not seen this movie. That being said, I grew out of the stage of being a 23-year old person mere days ago and feel confident in my ability to return to that mental state. Also, I enjoy the prospect, nay, the challenge of imagining the placement of each song within the …
The Last Lovecraft Directed by Henry Saine Last night, the 2010 Toronto After Dark Film Festival kicked off, and much to the delight of horror fans, this year’s selection offers a healthy dose of aliens, ninjas, mad scientists, zombies and. of course, castrations. Needless to say, conservative movie goers will stay clear of the Bloor …
The Devil (1972) Andrzej Zulawski What is that paranoia we often feel in a room full of strangers? Some of us do our best not to be noticed, some of us make our best effort to be noticed; either way, there is a steady stream of doubt circulating through our veins in that moment. Now, …
Animal Kingdom Directed by David Michôd Sleek cinematography and a tremendous cast do little to hide the flaws of Animal Kingdom, a mostly by-the-numbers crime thriller that offers a few pleasant surprises and a lot of dead space. After the death of his mother, seventeen-year-old Josh moves into his grandmother’s home where he is introduced …
“Castaway On The Moon is a masterful piece of filmmaking – compelling, smart, and truly original …” Castaway On The Moon Directed by Hae-jun Lee Being as it is a deserted island picture, you would think Castaway On The Moon would seem derivative of previous work – and while picking up on some influences from …
Joann Sfar’s Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) could well lay claim to being one of the longest cigarette commercials in movie history. In this smoke-filled take on the life of singer, songwriter and French icon, Serge Gainsbourg, even the fish in the animated opening credits sequence are puffing away.
Black Narcissus Directed by Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell UK – 100 minutes. Color Criterion Spine # 93 Black Narcissus is one of the seminal works in British film history. Transplanting Anglican nuns to a strange and corrupting land, their identity and peace of mind is threatened by the exotic setting. The altitude and ever …