The 27th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival is almost here (July 20th to August 9th 2023) and we’ve had a look at the massive line-up and put forth 13 films that you should climb over your best friend to see…
THE SACRIFICE GAME
Jenn Wexler’s follow up to her much-loved film THE RANGER, get ready to play THE SACRIFICE GAME. A 70s set film, filled with dread, gore and the occult, Wexler looks to really etch her name in stone as one to watch. THE RANGER’s Chloë Levine stars along with Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch and Gus Kenworthy. We aren’t going to sacrifice our chance to see this.
RESTORE POINT
In 2041, if someone dies an unnatural death, they are revived. All you need is a restore point – a memory backup, so you can start from the last point you remember. This makes murder basically impossible, well almost. Robert Hloz’s sci-fi feature RESTORE POINT has been called provocative and visually lavish neo-noir. Two tickets please.
SUITABLE FLESH
A psychiatrist falls into a downward spiral of sex, possession, and death when a young patient shows up at her door with symptoms that are of another world. Joe Lynch pays tribute to the late Stuart Gordon by getting Barbara Crampton, Brian Yunza and screenwriter Denis Paoli back together with Heather Graham and Judah Lewis. SUITABLE FLESH is an adaptation of H.P Lovecraft’s The Thing On the Doorstep. So, to recap – Lynch, Crampton, Yunza, Paoli, Graham and Lewis doing a Lovecraft adapation – Hell yes, you can count us in.
IN MY MOTHER’S SKIN
Folk horror from any country is always interesting. Kenneth Dagatan directs this Filipino folk-horror film which takes place in the final days of World War II, where young Tala discovers that there is something otherworldly in the woods. Folk horror at a time of great upheaval – a mix that makes us very keen to see this.
LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL
Undead creators, the Australian Cairnes brothers Colin and Cameron have crafted a horror treat with LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL. A live TV broadcast in 1977 goes very wrong, unleashing evil into the nation’s living rooms. David Dastmalchian gives an amazing performance and Stephen King has already called it brilliant. We don’t need any more convincing.
PERPETRATOR
From Knives And Skin director Jennifer Reeder comes a horror film that is inspired by the shared experience of generations of women. Kiah McKirnan, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Lowell and Ireon Roach star, Reeder’s love for the mythical and surreal combined with real life horrors, always keeps us interested.
WHERE THE DEVIL ROAMS
A new film from your favourite cult film family The Adams Family (Toby Poster, John Adams, Zelda Adams), tells the story of a family of travelling sideshow performers in Depression-era America, searching for eternal life, no matter the blood spilt. THE DEEPER YOU DIG and HELLBENDER filmmakers give us yet another look into family hierarchy… where the devil roams… is a must see.
MAYHEM!
MAYHEM! sees Sam, (Nassim Lyes) a professional boxer recently released from prison, who breaks probation and flees to an island in Thailand and starts a family there. But when he’s blackmailed by a fierce local Godfather (Olivier Gourmet) into becoming a drug smuggler, things get bad, then worse before exploding into a cacophony of violence and bloody revenge. If you’ve ever seen a Xavier Gens film, you’ll know that he doesn’t pull any punches and things are going to get messy. Already in the line-up for this one.
BLACKOUT
Genre legend Larry Fessenden is back! BLACKOUT is his werewolf film and it rounds out his vampire (HABIT) and Frankenstein (DEPRAVED) classic horror monster films. Fessenden always infuses his films with political and social themes twisting it with the horror. I mean, come on – it’s a Larry Fessenden film, you’re going to see it.
SATAN WANTS YOU
In 1980, a book entitled Michelle Remembers rocked pop culture. Written by Michelle Smith and her psychiatrist Larry Pazder, this account reveals Michelle’s suppressed memories of satanic ritual abuse at the hands of her parents. Directors Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams interview key witnesses of Michelle’s ordeal to delve into the reasons why this book is seen as the catalyst for the Satanic Panic phenomenon. A documentary on one of the weirdest and horrendous mass panics created with no real evidence. If Satan does want us, tell him or her that they can find us watching this documentary.
EIGHT EYES
At the breaking point of their dysfunctional marriage, Cass (Emily Sweet) and Gav (Brad Thomas) take a trip through Serbia. After meeting a mysterious local, Saint Peter, who eagerly offers to be their guide, the couple embark on an impromptu sightseeing expedition that soon takes a series of sinister turns. The inaugural production from beloved restoration label Vinegar Syndrome, shot on location in 16mm and directed by Austin Jennings, EIGHT EYES promises shocks inspired by exploitation cinema that have gone before it. A Vinegar Syndrome original? We’re there.
DEVILS
Homicide detective Jae-hwan is hellbent on taking down a dangerous serial killer named Jin-hyuk. During a frenzied chase, Jae-hwan finally captures the perpetrator but a disastrous accident sends him to the hospital. Upon waking, Jae-hwan finds something is terribly off: he now looks and sounds like Jin-hyuk. Kim Jae-hoon debuts with cinematic and gory FACE/OFF inspired thriller. What’s not to like?
Be on the lookout for reviews from the 27th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival!
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