Daily Grindhouse is getting back to covering film festivals! We love festivals, where the hard work of curators allows us to get an early look at movies that are often bound to become our favorites. Depending on whether or not the movies get wider distribution, this can sometimes be the best (even only) chance to see great films that are outside the mainstream. And outside the mainstream, of course, is where we at Daily Grindhouse spend most of our spare time.
I’m always struck by the art for the Fantasia Fest posters. This was done by Donald Caron. The Fantasia posters are perfect as mission statements: Expect something different, and something wonderful.
The first wave of titles was released in May, with the second wave to follow in June. The third wave is coming up, and we will add to this list when that arrives. In the meantime, here’s a very short selection of highlights we’re looking forward to. This is just a smattering to get your adrenaline up. Please go check out the full line-up for yourself.
BLACKOUT
It’s the new one from Larry Fessenden! The director, producer, and filmmaking godfather is beloved but maybe even still underrated for his amazing contributions to genre cinema. HABIT, WENDIGO, and THE LAST WINTER alone are enough for the time capsule, but there’s so much more in that filmography to explore. This latest is his werewolf movie (!). The scarcity of brilliant films in the werewolf genre is a cause that I have long bemoaned. Larry Fessenden is someone I trust to do something about it.
EMPIRE V
This is a vampire epic from Russia that has been banned in its native country, where things are not going too well. It sucks to think that in addition to everything else wrong with the world, people are being deprived of movies, but the Fantasia audience at least will get a look at this horror satire.
LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
It’s always rewarding and inspiring when a veteran character actor gets to pop. You will recognize David Dastmalchian by face (from movies like THE DARK KNIGHT) even if not yet by name, but especially in the horror world, he’s becoming an outright star. Here he plays the host of a late-night talk show that goes wrong on Halloween night in 1977. This looks really fun.
#MANHOLE
This is a Japanese thriller about a businessman who falls into a manhole. Sounds funny to you? Imagine it happening to you. As for me, I’m claustrophobic, so this sounds terrifying. (Not sure why I feel the need to reveal my superhero weakness to the general public, but there it is.)
MAYHEM!
Xavier Gens makes movies that are essential (FRONTIER(S)), movies that are okay (HITMAN, with Timothy Olyphant (!)), and movies that are overlooked (COLD SKIN). Which will this one be? Early reports describe it as non-stop action, invoking the holy name of THE RAID even, so I’m there already.
PERPETRATOR
The new one from Jennifer Reeder (KNIVES AND SKIN) is about a teenage girl who lives in a town where teenage girls go missing.
THE PRIMEVALS
David W. Allen (EQUINOX) had a remarkable career in visual effects before his death far too soon in 1999. THE PRIMEVALS was the movie that was his passion project, and with the help of Charles Band, it is finally complete. There is nothing more special in cinema than stop-motion animation, so this vision from one of the art form’s true masters, is cause for celebration.
SACRIFICE GAME
This is the new one from Jenn Wexler (who made THE RANGER), written with Sean Redlitz, and whereas her first film threw it back to the 1980s, SACRIFICE GAME takes inspiration from the 1970s. Let’s keep it going! Ready to travel back through horror history with this filmmaking team.
SHIN KAMEN RIDER
“Shin” means “new” (?), “true” (?), or “God” (?) and in conjunction with a stalwart Japanese pop commodity, it means the work of Hideaki Anno. In the case of SHIN GODZILLA, it meant something incredible. I have not gotten to see SHIN ULTRAMAN yet. I have to admit I don’t know much of anything at all about KAMEN RIDER, but I’m very curious to learn a lot more.
SUITABLE FLESH
If you couldn’t tell from the poster, this movie is a tribute to the late, great Stuart Gordon, from director Joe Lynch teaming up with Gordon collaborators Barbara Crampton, Dennis Paoli, and Brian Yuzna. If that doesn’t sound promising to you, well, back to school.
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
I’m one of those who will watch Nicolas Cage in anything. This is a crime thriller where Cage is paired with Joel Kinnaman. All sounds good, but again, you had me at Nicolas Cage.
TALK TO ME
This one is coming to theaters, courtesy of A24. It’s a tale as old as time: Teenagers mess around with forces they don’t understand, and bad stuff happens. Great trailer!
I cannot possibly stress enough that what has been mentioned so far is only a fraction of what Fantasia 2023 has to offer. Please check out the official festival site and stay tuned to DG for reviews and recommendations!
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Tags: 2023, Alicia Silverstone, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Davison, Canada, Donald Caron, Fantasia, Fantasia Film Festival, Fantasia Film Festival 2023, Film Festivals, Georgina Campbell, H.P. Lovecraft, Heather Graham, Jenn Wexler, joe lynch, Joel Kinnaman, Johnathon Schaech, Kevin Corrigan, Larry Fessenden, Nicolas Cage
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