Fantasia 2014 Curtain Raiser: ScreenAnarchy Picks 15 Can't-Miss Films

The compete Fantasia schedule is available on the festival website, but browse through this gallery and see what has us excited.

THE SNOW WHITE MURDER CASE

The exceptionally versatile Yoshihiro Nakamura, who proved that punk music could save the world in FISH STORY, is trying his hand at the procedural whodunnit genre with this social media-infused murder mystery. An investigative thriller in the hands of Nakamura would be enough evidence alone to confidentially anticipate a smartly wound and wholly absorbing film, but Nakamura working with a script based on a Kanae Minato novel puts this in the running for one of my most anticipated films of the year. The last time Minato spun a twisty mystery it became Tetsuya Nakashima's extraordinarily chilling and critically acclaimed CONFESSIONS. This is a truly exciting team-up. [Peter K.]

July 29 • 10:00 PM - Concordia Hall Theatre

THE RUN

I am eager to see what Malaysia brings to the table when it comes to action cinema. The story may be simple - soldier returns home for father’s funeral to find out a criminal element is taking over - but what Fantasia is promising this film will do is that it will blow my face off! Filmmaker Ahmad Idham sets out to make numerous set pieces, fights and stunts come together as a face smashing whole. I arrive in town earlier on this day. This better be the first film I see! [Mack]

July 23 • 9:15 PM - DB Clarke Theatre

THE MAN IN THE ORANGE JACKET

Taking his cues from Lars Von Trier and the slasher genre (and unlikely combination), Armenian director Aik Karapetian tackles the global economic recession and growing gap between the filthy rich and the desperately poor with a lot of stalking, maiming and handsome cinematography. Call it red-collar horror, I'm excited to see if the Latvian film delivers on its promise of its trailer and concept. [Kurt]

July 27 • 9:50 PM - DB Clarke Theatre

DEMON OF THE LUTE

Ancient Fantasia proverb: watch new movies, but discover the old ones; one is silver, the other is Sierra Madre-style cinematic gold that melts your mind and pulverizes your sides through fits of uncontrollable laughter, incredulity and entertainment! This years retro screening of an obscure Shaw Brothers fantasy wu-xia flick advertises a demonic lute made out of dinosaur flesh wielded by a Chinese Darth Vader who defeats all who oppose him with his rock 'n' roll kung fu lute licks. Oh and it stars Kara Hui (MY YOUNG AUNTIE), Philip Kwok (HARD BOILED) & Chin Siu-Ho (TAI CHI MASTER)!

That I have not seen this film means I have failed at life. Pelicula bless Fantasia for providing me a chance for redemption. [Peter K.]

July 19 • 1:00 PM - J.A. De Seve Theatre
July 26 • 5:20 PM - J.A. De Seve Theatre

YASMIN

If you’re going to pick up on a common thread among my choices it is likely that I take great pleasure in watching people punch each other in the face for the sake of my entertainment. On screen that is. I’m not a sicko. This time we are headed over to Brunai and the martial art Kuntau (Bruani’s form of Silat and we all know who uses that!). I am promised something in the vein of The Karate Kid with action choreography by Chan Man Ching. Chan worked with Jackie Chan on DRUNKEN MASTER II, RUMBLE IN THE BRONX and HELLBOY II. [Mack]

July 25 • 7:50 PM - Concordia Hall Theatre

FROM VEGAS TO MACAU

The world would be a poorer place without the goofy mayhem and amusing WTF of prolific HK filmmaker Wong Jing (GOD OF GAMBLERS, FUTURE COPS, SEVENTH CURSE). Pretty much every major star in the Hong Kong firmament has worked on one of his productions since the 1980s.

Here he goes from gonzo to glossy, with a gambling comedy feature Chow Yun-Fat and Nicholas Tse, and the results somehow managed to out-gross Disney's FROZEN juggernaut on its Chinese commercial release earlier this year. [Kurt]

August 2 • 1:30 PM - Concordia Hall Theatre

I AM KNIFE WITH LEGS

Year after year, I have come to count on Fantasia's programming team to unearth underground treasures I never knew I needed to see, and so its a wonder that the festival is only now inaugurating the Fantasia Underground sidebar. Among the programmes delirious lineup, the exploits of a dryly witty international pop star that becomes the target of toddler assassin-field fatwa after writing the song “All Religion Is Stupid, Especially Yours” is the 84 minutes of movie that I most need ingested into my synapses ASAP.

Bennet Jones' debut miniDV opus looks to occupy the same universe as Neveldine/Taylor's CRANK films and those incredible outsider art YouTube videos that one stumbles upon at 3am and only have 13 views. [Peter K.]

July 25 • 7:00 PM - DB Clarke Theatre

BLOODY KNUCKLES

We’re going to stick close to home this time and keep our stick on the ice with a bit of Canadiana. Matt O’Mahoney’s debut film is about a zombie hand that comes back to its owner and demands retribution for its forced separation from each other. I am promised a splatter horror comedy with Canadian sensibilities! Think EVIL DEAD 2 meets Thing from THE ADDAMS FAMILY. [Mack]

July 27 • 5:00 PM - DB Clarke Theatre

WETLANDS

This German coming-of-age drama has been turning heads on the festival circuit for some time. A bodily fluid–obsessed, skateboarding, teen girl explores her body and her hygiene while she is stuck in the hospital. All the while she is trying to get her parents back together. Leaving no orifice unexplored, WETLANDS has been accused of gimmickry for shock value, but it has also been lauded for showing real heart. I plan on seeing for myself. [Kurt]

August 4 • 9:30 PM - Concordia Hall Theatre

DANCING KARATE KID

Fantasia, you had me when you preceded "Martial Arts" and "Comedy" with the descriptor of "Musical". I'll be there in my gi with tap shoes on. [Peter K.]

July 26 • 2:45 PM - Concordia Hall Theatre

GUARDIAN

Clearly, THE RAID films have opened the doors for a lot of filmmakers in that Indonesia. I often hear about the untapped potential in that country when it comes to fighting talent and projects are starting simply to highlight one particular fighter. Now what we have here is a guy who until now made horror and suspense films taking a shot at action cinema. The work of a certain Welshman has made it possible for filmmaker Helfi Kardit to explore this other genre. I am eager to see what someone else can do with this bevy of talent is this burgeoning hotspot for Asian action.

The film description promises highway car chases under a hail of bullets, knife fights, and motorcycle stunts,There is some spotty CGI in the trailer but I am willing to forgive a potential showcase for new Indonesian talent. [Mack]

July 28 • 7:00 PM - DB Clarke Theatre

WHEN ANIMALS DREAM

In the tradition of THE COMPANY OF WOLVES and GINGER SNAPS where budding female sexuality is addressed through on screen lycanthropy, this Danish werewolf drama looks to keep the batting average at 1.000.

WHEN ANIMALS DREAM aims to mix pathos and scares equal measure and leaven it with dramatic realism. This kind of well rounded filmmaking is exactly the space I like my genre-cinema to reside in; and the generous comparisons to LET THE RIGHT ONE IN certainly do not hurt matters any. [Kurt]

July 31 • 9:45 PM - DB Clarke Theatre
August 5 • 5:30 PM - J.A. De Seve Theatre

THE CREEP BEHIND THE CAMERA

I almost overlooked this title in the Fantasia lineup initially thinking it was a straight documentary on the making of THE CREEPING TERROR, a z-grade 60s monster movie I best remember for the zingers it inspired for the MST3K gang.

As it turns out, Pete Schuermann's film is a full-fledged dramatization of how Vic Savage conned his way into the annals of cinematic history. I'm gearing up for something akin to Burton's ED WOOD, but also Clooney's CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND as the film appears to incorporate actual interviews with those who had the pleasure (but mostly the pain) of knowing the creep behind the camera. [Peter K.]

July 24 • 9:30 PM - J.A. De Seve Theatre

LET US PREY

Moving away from face punching , let us move on to face-ripping savages. On to Ireland and Brian O’Malley’s savage tale of cops and criminals holed up in a police station with a mysterious stranger in their midst stirring up the pot. Fantasia regular Polyanna McIntosh plays a cop on her first night at the job when hell breaks loose. There are even hints that O’Malley is channeling one John Carpenter. Early John Carpenter. Yes. There is a difference. [Mack]

July 26 • 9:00 PM - Concordia Hall Theatre

THOU WAST MILD AND LOVELY and BUTTER ON THE LATCH

Hey Fantasia catalogue, you had me with "lustful glances, desire and sweat in the harsh summer sun." Joe Swanberg stars in Josephine Decker's erotic thriller set in Kentucky and hallucinatory character study. Getting the most bang for your buck, the film is paired with Decker's earlier 63 minute work, BUTTER ON THE LATCH giving you kind of a double feature of an upcoming film talent to keep an eye on. [Kurt]

July 19 • 9:35 PM - J.A. De Seve Theatre
July 21 • 6:00 PM - J.A. De Seve Theatre