The lineup for the 27th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival is finally here, and I am completely overwhelmed by the massive feast of films before me. Here is a small taste of the titles I’m looking forward to seeing. You can view the full lineup here!
Talk to Me
This is the most awaited horror movie of the year since its infamous debut at Sundance earlier this year. Australian directors Danny and Michael Philippou will accompany their directorial debut at the screening, which promises to leave audiences terrified and haunted! Sick!
Sympathy for the Devil
Nicholas Cage himself will be joining director Director Yuval Adler at the screening of this “suspenseful neo-noir” about a man trying to survive one night in Las Vegas. That, plus the notoriously rowdy Fantasia audience, will surely make Sympathy for the Devil an unforgettable experience.
Satan Wants You
Focusing on the controversial book Michelle Remembers, directors Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams “received exclusive access to the original tapes of Michelle’s regression sessions”, which makes this documentary a must-watch for anyone fascinated by the satanic panic era of the 80s and its continued repercussions today.
Small Gauge Trauma
Part of what makes this festival so unique is their dedication to showcasing new directors and their short films. It’s not uncommon to see some of these short films turn into features, only to be screened at Fantasia years later. This makes the short film program block (there are several!) mandatory viewing for any film nerd.
Where the Devil Roams
The Adams Family are favorites at Fantasia, having premiered their films Hellbender and The Deeper You Dig at previous festivals. Their charming DIY approach to filmmaking makes watching their work a joyous experience, even if the stories are dark, ominous, and dripping in blood.
Perpetrator
This movie is being pitched as “a mystical queer feminist genre kaleidoscope” and “an otherworldly body-horror vision”… Say less? Director Jennifer Reed will be there to explain her nightmare coming-of-age tale, starring Kiah McKirnan and Alicia Silverstone.
Suitable Flesh
Director Joe Lynch and actress Barbara Crampton – two horror legends – will accompany this lo-fi Lovecraftian thriller, featuring Heather Graham as a psychiatrist who falls down a rabbit hole of obsession, possession, and murder!
Tiger Stripes
When young Zaffan’s body begins to change, the adults in her small town panic, forcing her to make some radical decisions. Malaysian director Amanda Nell Eu has already won over audiences at Cannes with her film, which is being praised as a mix of cult classics Ginger Snaps and Raw with a killer soundtrack.
T Blockers
Director Alice Maio Mackay is only 18, but she’s already made her 3rd feature film. Her sci-fi horror movie promises lots of gore and John Waters’ level of camp as we follow the protagonist Sophie as she tries to fight off “ancient parasites that thrive on hatred”.
Divinity
No lineup at Fantasia would be complete without a truly WTF-was-that screening, and this year that film may be Divinity! Produced by Stephen Sodenberg and hosted by director Eddie Alcazar, the black & white film promises a Faustian journey and a “stunningly stylized, mind-melting head-trip”. Sign me up.
There are so many more titles that I am dying to cover.
What movies are you most looking forward to seeing?
The festival starts officially on Thursday, July 20th, and runs until Wednesday, August 9th, in Montreal, Canada.
See you there!