THE CRAZY & THE CREEPY
Fantasia film fest offers us views from the edge
Be afraid. Be very afraid. But also be enthralled, absorbed and thoroughly entertained by the 22nd Fantasia International Film Festival, which opened Thursday and brings 125 features and 220 shorts to the screens of Concordia University through Aug. 2.
To help you wade through the barrage of horror films, thrillers, action flicks, skewed comedies and off-the-wall Asian fare, the Montreal Gazette asked Fantasia programmers to reveal their top picks from this year’s crop.
For tickets and complete program information, visit fantasiafestival.com.
MITCH DAVIS (INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING)
Tigers Are Not Afraid (Monday, July 30, 6:45 p.m., Hall Theatre). A terrific dramatic horror film from Mexico about a pack of street kids struggling to survive against cartel thugs and supernatural forces. Infused with an extraordinary sense of magic realism. Guillermo del Toro is a fan.
Profile (Monday, July 16, 9:15 p.m., Hall Theatre). An entire narrative plays out on a character’s computer screen in this film about a female journalist catfishing an ISIS recruiter online. Harrowing beyond words. Russian director Timur Bekmambetov gives a free master class Tuesday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m. at J.A. de Sève Cinema.
Cam ( Wednesday, July 18 at 9:45 p.m. and Friday, July 20 at 3 p.m., J.A. de Sève Cinema). A webcam model gets locked out of her site and is inexplicably replaced with a different version of herself. A tense, nightmarish thriller, written by a former sex worker.
Mandy (closing film, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 9:30 p.m., Hall Theatre; sold out). Panos Cosmatos’s singular bloodbath of a revenge film, imbued with invention and ferocity and featuring a career-best performance from Nicolas Cage.
ARIEL ESTEBAN CAYER (CAMERA LUCIDA)
LOUDER! Can’t Hear What You’re Singin’, Wimp! (Saturday, July 21, 7:15 p.m., Hall Theatre) Fantasia favourite Satoshi Miki delivers a rock ‘n’ roll rom-com roller-coaster ride chronicling the unlikely encounter between a Marilyn Manson-esque metal superstar and a whisper-quiet busker. Quirky, energetic and completely unique.
Relaxer (Saturday, July 14 at 9:50 p.m. and Monday, July 16 at 1 p.m., J.A. de Sève Cinema). A futile challenge to beat the world record of Pac-Man on the eve of Y2K turns into an absurdist, apocalyptic closed-room farce in which a disgusting gamer is confined to a couch for days. Bring barf bags!
Amiko (Saturday, July 21 at 9:30 p.m. and Tuesday, July 31 at 3:10 p.m., J.A. de Sève Cinema). Yoko Yamanaka dropped out of school to direct this low-budget comingof-age comedy, which has been compared to Lady Bird and Zazie dans le métro and is driven by the spirit of the nouvelle vague.
NICOLAS ARCHAMBAULT (ASIAN FILMS)
Three films by Shinsuke Sato, the No. 1 Japanese director for blockbusters — like Steven Spielberg in his prime.
Bleach (Monday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 28 at 11:45 a.m., Hall Theatre). An amazing live-action adaptation of one of the most popular manga ever published.
Inuyashiki (Monday, July 23, 9:20 p.m., Hall Theatre; Tuesday, July 24, 1 p.m., J.A. de Sève Cinema). Sato reinvents the superhero movie.
I Am a Hero (Sunday, July 22, 9:15 p.m., Hall Theatre; Monday, July 23, 2 p.m., J.A. de Sève Cinema). One of the most innovative horror films of the decade.
True Fiction (Saturday, July 14, 4:45 p.m., Hall Theatre). Introducing Kim Jin-mook, a new writer-director from South Korea who has the potential to become the next Kim Ji-woon or Park Chan-wook. A brilliant mix of black comedy and psychological thriller with ample cynicism toward politicians.
Wilderness, Part 1 - 2 (Sunday, July 22, 4:20 p.m., J.A. de Sève Cinema). A beautiful, heartbreaking boxing tale examining male friendship in a near future where terrorism strikes Japan. Both Yang Ikjune and Masaki Suda won acting awards for this critically acclaimed film.
KING-WEI CHU (ASIAN FILMS)
Big Brother (Wednesday, Aug. 1, 6:30 p.m., Hall Theatre). Hong Kong superstar Donnie Yen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) produces and stars in this exciting mixed martial arts film with an exhilarating scholastic twist.
Five Fingers of Death (Sunday, July 29, 12:15 p.m., J.A. de Sève Cinema). The 1972 masterpiece that kick-started the kung fu craze before Bruce Lee. Fully restored to its former glory, this is a shameless favourite among genre aficionados, including Quentin Tarantino.
Satan’s Slaves (Tuesday, July 17, 9:45 p.m., Hall Theatre). A truly terrifying horror film from Indonesia that will scare the living daylights out of you, especially anyone jaded by horror films overdosed with jump scares.
ÉRIC BOISVERT (ACTION FILMS)
Believer (Wednesday, July 25, 9:10 p.m., Hall Theatre). Six years ago, Johnnie To blew my mind with Drug War. Lee Hae-Young does everything perfectly in this South Korean remake, delivering a strong, intelligent and well-crafted action movie.
Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires (Saturday, July 21, 4:45 p.m., Hall Theatre). The amazing Mike Mort comes to Fantasia with the most incredible movie you will have a chance to watch this year. An amazing throwback to the ‘80s that will have you laughing from beginning to end.
The Blonde Fury (Tuesday, July 17, 9:35 p.m., J.A. de Sève Cinema). As a kid, I watched every martial arts movie I could find at the video store. One day, I discovered a badass blond named Cynthia Rothrock, kicking ass in Hong Kong films. I fell in love with her amazing fight scenes and unbelievable stunts. We will be screening a glorious 35 mm print of this 1989 film, with Cynthia herself in attendance.