It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year again as we welcome the Fantasia Film Festival back into our lives. So, with the festival for everything a genre film lover can ever wish to enjoy, we thought we would break down a few films we think you should keep an eye out on, from feature films to shorts and even anime episodes, we have got you covered.
Ababouiné
Set in the 1950s, when the Catholic Church ruled over Quebec with an iron fist, a rowdy group of kids goes to war against the church. Their next project incurs the swift and ruthless rath of the church, but are the public ready to revolt?
Let’s start off with the closing night film! This one will be filled with absurdism while still being able to have its audience gasp in shock. Director Forcier rarely misses, so you just know he has something great up his sleeve again here.
Amy and Frog (Capsules Shorts Strand)
With hand drawn style animation, Amy and Frog is something a little different from the rest on this list. It’s a warm fairytale looking film that will be the perfect antidote for those who need something a bit more chill in their viewing schedule. Hopefully there is more than just this film from this team as they have found a perfect watercolour world that we could all happily reside in.
Bookworm
11-year-old Mildred’s world is turned upside down when her estranged father, the washed-up magician Strawn Wise, comes to look after her and agrees to take her camping to find a mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.
As quickly as we have said hello to our closing film, we bounce to the start and take a look at the opening night film! Timpson and Elijah Wood combine again for a film filled with adventure that will be sure to warm your heart. After seeing the trailer for Bookworm, this is surely going to hit all of the right notes for audiences and who doesn’t love a bit of New Zealand scenery at the same time?
Bye Bear (Celluloid Experiments Shorts Strand)
The 80s. A run-down motel. This is where a secret club of robot friends gather regularly to live out their dreams of being something else. They share a desire to be animals. On this night, it’s a goodbye party for one of them. This friend will change and leave for good.
It’s an idea that just grabbed my attention immediately and from the teaser trailer released it increased that level of intrigue. Robots wanting to be more than their mechanical selves is not a new concept, but we always imagine that they want to be human. What happens when they try to be another animal. This is an animation that could be a stand out.
COLÉOPTÈRE (Are You Afraid of Fantasia Shorts Strand)
A free and contemporary interpretation of “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka. Grégoire Samsa is a solitary young man, a building caretaker, always ready to help everyone, in order to exist.
If there is one thing I love in this world is an iteration of The Metamorphosis. One of my favourite short stories ever, it is always a great fable. This looks like it will be repeated here in Martin Gouzou’s short film.
Frankie Freako
Conor accidentally lets loose “a trio of tiny trouble-makers into his home, led by the maniacal rock-n-roll party monster Frankie Freako. It’s a race against time as Conor must defeat the rambunctious ruffians and clean up their trail of destruction before his wife returns from her weekend work trip.
Steven Kostanski returns to our screens with his latest film Frankie Freako. Kostanski brought us the fabulous Psycho Goreman, so in my eyes, he can do no wrong. While Frankie Freako is not a hunky boy, it does seem to have that same love and chaotic energy that PG had. Fantasia themselves have compared this to Ghoulies, so how can you say no to a modern iteration of Ghoulies!? You can’t, that’s what. So sit back, grab a popcorn and enjoy the life out of this one. You are in for a good time.
Hell Hole
An American-led fracking crew that uncovers a living French soldier frozen in time from a Napoleonic campaign, whose body hosts a parasitic monster.
The Adams family are back again to bring some indie horror our way and it looks like they will not be disappointing with their latest effort. With that synopsis as well, there is no way that it is going to disappoint either! With a bit of support from Shudder and FX assistance from Todd Masters, this could very well be their most scaled up picture, but it is sure to still be a cracker.
I’m Not a Robot (Born of Woman Shorts Strand)
What happens when a person continually fails to solve those annoying online captchas?
Everyone hates those captchas with an absolute passion. But what happens when you just can’t get it right? Writer/director Victoria Warmerdam delves into this with her dark and rather unsettling dramedy. This will not be a short film to miss out on.
Katele (Mudskipper) (International Science-Fiction Shorts Strand)
A Torres Strait Islander Martha (Elma Kris) works in a dreary Aussie laundromat is visited by a being though the portal of a laundry machine, evoking memories of an earlier life.
John Harvey’s short has been collecting awards in Australia as if they are going out of fashion. Combining Australia’s First Nation people in with science-fiction and fantasy is an interesting take, yet it is one that works marvellously. Come in for the concept, stay for some fantastic visuals and sound.
Mecha-Ude Episode 1 (Anima No Bento 2024 Strand)
Alien lifeforms resembling high-tech mechanical limbs have long lived in the shadows of our world. Teenager Hikaru Amatsuga has become host to one called Arma, and is dragged into a complex, secret conflict.
With the full series coming out later in the autumn, there has been considerable buzz about this anime. The production story alone for Mecha-Ude is enough to have you wanting to watch it. Years after a pilot was crowdfunded and released, director Okamoto finally gets to have their work presented to the world. If you can catch the pilot to give yourself a little taste of what to expect here.
Rita
Rita, a 13 year old girl, runs away from her abusive father to the big city. She finds solace until she’s placed in a safe house run by the State. Rita and her cellmates plots an escape that ends in a shocking act of violence.
Jayro Bustamante’s follow up to the excellent La Llorona is the eagerly anticipated Rita. A film that is meant to take as many facts about a time period in Guatemala as it does delve into the world of fantasy. With Bustamente on a strong run in his feature film career, it would be likely that we are going to see another emotionally charged film that integrates that deep level of fantasy that we love.
Roger is a Serial Killer (Are You Afraid of Fantasia Shorts Strand)
A podcaster implicates her step-father in a series of unsolved murders, which makes for a compelling show but an awkward family reunion.
A horror comedy that is jammed with horror talent, Sara Paxton, Barbara Crampton and the late Mark Reeb this looks like it will be an absolute blast and be one of those short films that you wish was a feature with that concept.
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
In 1980s Hong Kong, Chinese-Wietnamese man Chan Lok-kwan (Richard Lam) is trying to make an honest life for himself. Conned from his life savings for a passport by the powerful Mr. Big, he flees to the infamous Kowloon Walled City for safety and soon finds himself rising through the ranks of “security” for its leader, Cyclone. As revelations of Lok’s past surface, a showdown in the Walled City is due to commence.
Soi Cheang has the audience in the palm of his hand with gorgeous production design and impressive fight choreography on display throughout his latest film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, making it one you need to watch. Read our four star review here!
Vulcanizadora
Two friends take a trip through a Michigan forest, intent on carrying out a disturbing pact. When their plan fails, one confronts unsettling repercussions at home.
There has been quite the stir about Vulcanizadora that it frankly has become hard to ignore for genre fans. Not only is it a film that looks into some peoples darkest fears it appears to be the step up that has been coming from director Joel Potrykus. Here he has taken audiences on one hell of a ride as his film dives deeper into despair than you thought it could. Fantasia should keep those strong views coming.
There are of course far too many films to keep listing, but also keep an eye out for the following films as well:
Azrael, The Beast Within, Carnage for Christmas, Chainsaws Were Singing, Cuckoo, House of Sayuri, Oddity, The Soul Eater and so, so many more.
Fantasia as always will be in Montreal, Quebec this year from 18th July – 4th August. More information and tickets can be found here.
