ADAM’S 10 MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS FROM THE UPCOMING ICONIC GENRE FILM SHOWCASE
Fantasia is one of the most important genre film fests in the world but this isn’t merely a self-proclaimed title. No, some very well-respected storytellers in the industry have been quick to point out just how vital Fantasia Fest is. Said storytellers include Quentin Tarantino, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro just to name a precious few. Fantasia has also been sighted by noteworthy trades like Variety and Premiere as an essential destination for genre film fans.
Through the years, Fantasia–which takes place in beautiful Montreal, Canada – has served as the launching pad for the likes of Darren Aronofsky’s PI, Larry Fessenden’s HABIT, Neil Marshall’s THE DESCENT, Quentin Dupieux’s RUBBER, Jon Watts’s COP CAR, and the Adams Family’s gem, HELLBENDER. Of course, those aforementioned titles barely scratch the surface as this venerable genre film showcase has hosted countless titles from around the world for well over two decades, and the 2023 edition looks to add plenty of new noteworthy films to an already-impressive list of undeniable standouts.
Fantasia Fest 2023 will take place from July 20th thru August 9th at multiple venues throughout Montreal. If you don’t happen to reside in the area, it’s a destination more than worthy of visiting, particularly for this festival. For ticket and venue info, click here
We at Cinemast.net have been covering the fest for a while now and it has quickly become one of our favorite film events to cover. We couldn’t be any more thrilled about the upcoming lineup therefore, you can expect plenty of coverage from us.
What might Fantasia have in store for attendees for the upcoming edition of this 27-years-in-the-running fest?
Here’s a handful of titles to truly get excited about (in alphabetical order);
#MANHOLE
Directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri
This looks to be a claustrophobic, single location-set nailbiter in the grand tradition of movies like BURIED. Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s #MANHOLE follows a well-respected businessman as he unexpectedly slips into a deep and dark concrete manhole the evening before he’s to wed the boss’s daughter. For the majority of its running time, this is a one-character affair but it’s said that Kumakiri wrings a lot of tension out of this premise by way of creative direction and a solid lead performance. I’m a fan of high-concept movies like this and I’m feeling confident that this one will hit the terrifying sweet spot.
A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE
Directed by Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak
Long considered the black sheep of the STAR WARS universe (and that’s saying a lot for those of us who refuse to pray at the altar of ATTACK OF THE CLONES and THE RISE OF SKYWALKER), “The Star Wars Holiday Special” –Which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year–has quite the reputation. Yet, there are plenty out there (myself included) that would still love to have a legit copy of this relic to include in their epic STAR WARS Blu-ray collections. From directors, Jeremy Coon (Producer of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE and RAIDERS! THE STORY OF THE GREATEST FAN FILM EVER MADE) and Steve Kozak comes A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE, an affectionate documentary that chronicles the making of this much-hated t.v. special from the late 70s.
APORIA
Directed by Jared Moshe
In APORIA, the wonderful Judy Greer plays an emotionally distraught nurse looking to pick up the pieces after a tragic occurrence. By way of a most unique invention, however, this stressed woman will be left to make a near-impossible choice in this dramatic sci-fi time-bender from writer/director Jared Moshe (THE BALLAD OF LEFTY BROWN.) Edi Gathegi, Payman Maadi, Faithe Herman, and Whitney Morgan Cox also star in a movie that promises to offer up plenty of unpredictable twists and turns.
BLACKOUT
Directed by Larry Fessenden
Well-respected auteur Larry Fessenden burst onto the scene at Fantasia in the late 90s with a provocative ode to addiction and vampirism called HABIT. In the years since, he’s built quite the fan base through his Glass Eye Pix, a company that, in addition to taking chances on a particular brand of genre films, is also responsible for the increasingly popular Tales From the Pale, a series of radio-style broadcasts that are often presented live at various genre festivals throughout the world. Now, Fessenden is back with BLACKOUT, a film that should do for werewolves what HABIT did for vampires. This is to say that audiences should expect the unexpected because this most creative storyteller is known for subversion and for bringing a human element to his tales of monsters.
LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
Directed by Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes
It’s Halloween night in 1977 and a talk show host with declining viewership looks to increase his ratings by any means necessary in LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL from Aussie filmmakers Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes. This film stars genre fan fave David Dastmalchian (THE SUICIDE SQUAD, THE BOOGEYMAN, THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER) as show host, Jack Delroy; An entertainer at the end of his rope. Taking aim at late 70s satanic panic, this one looks to be wickedly entertaining.
THE PRIMEVALS
Directed by David Allen
For lovers of deliciously entertaining Charles Band productions of the 70s and 80s, the name David Allen should ring a bell. He’s the creative stop motion artist behind the effects in schlocky gems like LASEERBLAST and PUPPET MASTER. Back in the 90s, David Allen would set out to direct THE PRIMEVALS, a part live-action/part stop motion animation tale of an expedition in which a group of explorers gets more than they bargained for when on a search for the elusive abominable snowman (aka, the Yeti!), but sadly, this labor of love would go on a lengthy hiatus after the gifted Allen would pass away from a bout with cancer in the late 90s at only 54 years of age. But now, Band and longtime Allen associate, Chris Endicott, have seen things through and completed the film in tribute to the man who initially conceived the project way back in the 1970s. That’s right; THE PRIMEVALS is a movie nearly five decades in the making! Can’t wait to see it!
THE SACRIFICE GAME
Directed by Jenn Wexler
Jenn Wexler made a splash with her 2018 debut, THE RANGER, and now she’s back with THE SACRIFICE GAME, a girls’ Catholic school-set horror show circa the 70s that finds a pair of misfit students and a teacher hunkering down at a near-deserted campus during a much-needed holiday break. Unfortunately for them, a pack of killers with aspirations of unleashing a supernatural force ruins quiet time for these unsuspecting innocents. Leads Madison Baines and Georgia Acken are said to be very good here while Mena Massoud, who played the title character in Disney’s live-action adaption of ALADDIN, does a complete role reversal as the film’s big bad. The plot sounds deliciously dark and as an added bonus, the proceedings take place during the holidays. You gotta love a solid slice of Christmastime horror.
SUITABLE FLESH
Directed by Joe Lynch
Director Joe Lynch (WRONG TURN 2: DEAD END, 2017’s MAYHEM) is back with SUITABLE FLESH, a loving tribute to Stuart Gordon. Screenwriter Denis Paoli and producer Brian Yuzna (who collaborated on FROM BEYOND and RE-ANIMATOR) re-team with the iconic Barbara Crampton in this adaptation of the H.P. Lovecraft story, “The Thing on the Doorstep.” Heather Graham (BOOGIE NIGHTS) stars in this erotic, supernatural horror show about a psychiatrist who becomes obsessed with a patient suffering from multiple personality disorder. They had me at “A loving tribute to Stuart Gordon.”
WHAT YOU WISH FOR
Directed by Nicholas Tomnay
WHAT YOU WISH FOR features the great Nick Stahl (IN THE BEDROOM, SIN CITY) as a chef with a gambling problem. Ultimately, this in-over-his-head individual flees to Latin America where he assumes another man’s identity. This thriller from writer/director Nicholas Tomnay is said to take a Hitchcock approach to the material by way of shades of both “White Lotus” and THE MENU although it should be noted that this movie was written before either of those titles was released. There’s a lot to look forward to in this one, especially with Stahl at the center. This is a gifted actor we don’t see nearly enough of.
WHERE THE DEVIL ROAMS
Directed by John Adams, Zelda Adams, and Toby Poser
The talented, thrifty, and creative filmmaking team that is the Adams Family is back! If you haven’t seen their last film, HELLBENDER, you’re truly missing out on one of the most entertaining horror films of the last few years. That particular movie–which is currently available on Shudder– went on to win plenty of awards on the festival circuit including HorrorFest International. With their latest effort, WHERE THE DEVIL ROMAS, John Adams, Zelda Adams, and Toby Poser weave a tale around a family of murderous sideshow performers who travel the world on a dying carnival circuit. Of a truly impressive Fantasia 2023 lineup, this might be the film I’m most excited about.
There are countless other films worthy of getting excited about as well; IN MY MOTHER’S SKIN and TALK TO ME (both of which I’ve been fortunate enough to see already) are absolutely superb while titles like DEVILS, EIGHT EYES, MAYHEM (aka, FARANG), MOTHER LAND, Pascal Plante’s opening night film RED ROOMS, and SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL (which features Fantasia award-recipient, Nicolas Cage, in what looks to be another vintage Gonzo Cage performance) are sure to stir up plenty of buzz. This is to say nothing of what looks to be a plethora of not-to-be-missed short films including SWEET TOOTH, FORGOTTEN LAKE, MY TRIP TO EARTH, NEZUMIKOZO JIROKICHI, PUMPKIN BOY, MURDER CAMP, BIRD HOSTAGE, and THE SCREAM THAT WOULDN’T END, an affectionate homage to the iconic Wilhelm Scream.
For detailed info on Fantasia, click here!
And be sure to watch for film coverage here at Cinemast.net throughout the festival.
