Excitement is in the air for genre lovers and cinephiles as we are less than two weeks away from this year’s edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival. Running from July 18 to August 4, North-America’s largest genre film festival has plenty to offer regardless if you are craving horror, action, comedies, documentaries, short films, or experimental works.
This year the festival will be bestowing the 2024 Cheval Noir Career Award to filmmaker Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Hush, The Fall of the House of Usher). Other special events at the festival include two Makegeolli Workshops, a live Colours of the Dark podcast recording, and a Her Horror Legacy: A Discussion on Women Directing Horror Movies panel to name a few. Considering the wealth films and events to take in, it can be hard to narrow down what to see. Here are some of the films we think you should consider putting on your radar at Fantasia this year:
Frankie Freako (Dir. Steven Kostanski)
In this tribute to 80’s cinema, a mild-manner man, who is considered a square by his wife and boss, gets more than he bargains for when he calls a 1-900 party hotline. This leads to a creature named Frankie Freako, along with some friends, showing up and trashing his house. Getting rid of these unwanted guests will be a task easier said than done.
4PM (Dir. Jay Song)
Speaking of unwanted guests, Jay Song’s Korean thriller sounds absolutely delicious. When a couple moves to the countryside, they leave a note inviting their nearby neighbour to stop by and say hello. However, when a man repeatedly shows up every day at 4 PM, his presence becomes a nuisance. Inspired by Amélie Nothomb’s novel The Stranger Next Door, this psychological thriller is must-see.
From My Cold Dead Hands (Dir. Javier Horcajada Fontecha)
Shootings! Explosions! Musical numbers! As Calvin Candie famously stated in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, “you had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.” Made from thousands of hours of YouTube videos, Fontecha’s documentary explores America’s fascination with all things guns.
Dark Match (Dir. Lowell Dean)
Wrestling legend Chris Jericho stars and serves as executive producer in this tale about a group of independent wresters participating in a $50K private event. Taking place on a secluded compound, things are not quite as they seem. Featuring both wrestlers and demonic cults, this sound like a lot of fun.
100 Yards (Dir. Xu Haofeng, Xu Junfeng)
Already garnering plenty of buzz on the festival circuit, 100 Yards has been hailed as one of the must-see action films. Set within a martial arts school, a prized student and the master’s son find themselves in battle over who will lead the academy after the master passes. As secrets, politics, and more collide, the pair’s rivalry gets further complicated.
The G (Dir. Karl R. Hearne)
In a year that also brought us the delightful action film Thelma, it appears that septuagenarians are all the rage now. Inspired by the director’s own grandmother, this film follows an elderly woman, with nothing to lose, who decides to turn the tables on the person who put her in legal guardianship. Placing a different spin on the noir genre, this film is bound to leave its mark at the festival.
Adrienne & the Castle (Dir. Shannon Walsh)
Being fortunate enough to see this at Hot Docs, you can read my interview with director Shannon Walsh over at POV Magazine, I can confidently say this is a gem of a film. In documenting how one couple turned their home into an elaborate castle full of artistic expression, Walsh creates a captivating portrait of love, grief, and the power of art.
Collective Delusions (various directors)
One should always try to incorporate a short film collection when attending a festival. Not only is it a great way to discover a filmmaker, but it is an opportunity to see some truly creative works. This collection of shorts showcases works that go against the norm and embrace the strange.
Meanwhile on Earth
Live-action and animation intertwine in this tale about a young woman who is contacted by an unknown life form. The being claims to have the ability to bring the woman’s brother, who disappeared while on a mission in space, back to Earth.
Brave Citizen
High school bullies beware, there is a new form of justice in town! When a high school is terrorized by a bully, a former boxer and part-time teacher dons a mask in order to put an end to the violence once and for all.
