As our final cherry on top of the wonderful sundae of Fantasia 2017 coverage, I was lucky enough to catch up with director Ted Geoghegan, whose follow up to the impressive We are Still Here debuted at Fantasia this year. In addition to debuting Mohawk at the festival, Ted was a vital cog in the…
Fantasia
Fantasia 2017: TRAGEDY GIRLS is Good, but it Makes Blaine Feel Old
Ever since the beginning days of the internet, horror films have been trying to find an opportunity to utilize it in an interesting way. There results have been anywhere from terrible (Hellraiser: Hellworld, Feed) to the not great, but perfectly watchable range (Kairo, Unfriended). I was a little worried after seeing the trailer and started…
Fantasia 2017: KODOKU MEATBALL MACHINE Breaks Down, Leaving a Misshapen Meatwad
If you have ever seen a movie from Japanese filmmaker Yoshihiro Nishimura, then you know what to expect. Films like Tokyo Gore Police and Helldriver are over-the-top gore films that have little, to no concern about plot. This film is no exception and follows his “throw everything at the screen and see what sticks” attitude…
Fantasia 2017: FASHIONISTA is a Gorgeous Film, but Fails to Tell its Story
Revenge and jealousy are common in films about relationships and women being the main character. Fashionista holds no different substance. However, it has added vulnerability, rage, sexual favors, and cloth. You heard that right, cloth. Fashionista is about a woman named April, played with perfection by Amanda Fuller, who runs a vintage clothing store in…
Fantasia 2017: ASSHOLES Shits the Bed
On paper, this should be my favorite movie of the year. A gross out comedy full of shit, demons, and a strong cast of young actors. What could go wrong, right? Wrong! It has been a while since I was so disappointed in a release that seemed to be made specifically for someone like me.…
Fantasia 2017: Hori’s JUNK HEAD is a Beautiful Nightmare of Stop Motion Brilliance
When watching a huge summer blockbuster I can usually divorce myself from the hundreds of people who contributed to the making of the film. For instance, when I watch Transformers, I generally don’t think about the dozens of CG artists who tirelessly work to make Optimus Prime’s feet look just right. I simply take for…
FANTASIA 2017: Our Very Own Lowlifes Review LOWLIFE, Part 2 – Doug’s Take
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 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: Doug Leaves THE FINAL MASTER a Bit Unsatisifed
There’s really no excuse for The Final Master being as unsatisfying as it is. While punctuated with plenty of smoothly choreographed knife fights, the film often threatens to bend under a laborious mix of bland characterizations and confusing motivations, and feels at least a half hour too long at 109 minutes. It’s often gorgeously photographed,…
FANTASIA 2017: Graham Skipper Moves Behind the Camera for Retro Body Horror SEQUENCE BREAK
Following his starring role in Joe Begos’ splattery Scanners riff The Mind’s Eye, Graham Skipper takes the reigns with his own take on Cronenbergian body horror in the trippy retro-arcade tribute Sequence Break. Chase Williamson (John Dies At The End) stars as Oz, a disheveled arcade machine technician who finds his mind (and – eventually…
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…
Fantasia is Back… and it’s Stacked
The first announcement of titles at this year’s upcoming Fantasia Festival hit and it’s got some crazy good stuff… Without further ado, here are the ones that I am, personally, dying to see: and I’m particularly pumped for Mohawk, which doesn’t have a trailer yet, but sounds awesome and is from We Are Still Here…