A colossal achievement in low-budget ingenuity and skill, Lowlife marks the arrival of a major new filmmaking talent in director Ryan Prows. Despite flashes of pop culture eccentricity and extreme violence, Prows breaks free of his Tarantino-esque trappings to deliver a beautifully structured, wonderfully acted and darkly comic thriller tinged with that most rare of…
Fantasia Fest
FANTASIA 2017: Our Very Own Lowlifes Review LOWLIFE, Part 1 – Mondo’s Take
When I first saw the trailer for Lowlife, I was instantly hyped on the outlandish imagery. Seeing a hulking luchador cross cut with gun shots and brutality, it had me liking the flick before I ever saw it. I made sure not to read any press or dive too deep into the synopsis and wanted…
FANTASIA 2017: A Brief Look at Glass Eye’s MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND
There’s no denying that female directors are making a name for themselves as of late, and quite frankly it’s absolutely beautiful to see. If there’s anyone that deserves major credit, it’s Ana Asensio. Not only is Most Beautiful Island a powerhouse of a directorial debut, but Ana also produced, wrote, and starred in this 80…
FANTASIA 2017: Gleeful Chaos of PUNK FU ZOMBIE is Microbudget Cinema BY Quebecers and FOR Quebecers
Everything about Punk Fu Zombie seems designed for a person of my own (delicate) sensibilities, so why did I find it such a chore? It’s a gleefully chaotic, micro budget hodgepodge of half-baked ideas, zombies, ninjas, and French Canadian politics. It’s extremely violent, packed with knowingly crummy digital effects, and has an awesome robot that…
FANTASIA 2017: Waxing Canadian with EXPO 67: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
A quick history lesson. Despite having to be pieced together rapidly after Russia’s initial attempt collapsed, the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal (rebranded Expo 67) was the most successful in history up to that time, with 50,000,000 visitors experiencing over 90 pavilions representing 60 countries over six months. It also put Canada, and more specifically…
FANTASIA 2017: SUPER DARK TIMES is a Super Great Debut
Film debuts can usually be uneven, but exciting films. I love watching a young filmmaker find their voice, while taking big risks that you might not see from a seasoned director. Kevin Philip’s Super Dark Times is one of those debuts that takes a lot of risks, but does it with so much confidence that…
31 Days, Day 30: Tyger Tyger, Burning Bright, I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER, Alright?
Officer: What’s the prognosis, John? John: He’s dead, for sure. From the onset, John (Max Records from Where the Wild Things Are) presents as a young man of little affect. He seems completely unfazed by the presence of death and has a very even temperament. We soon find out that despite being a good kid…