The Toronto International Film Festival gets going on Thursday! Yesterday we took a quick look at the Galas and Special Presentations. Today we turn our attention to two of our favorite sections: Midnight Madness and Vanguard. This was really hard to pick just 10. Take our advice and just seem them all!
Headshot
Mo Mo Mo! Iko Uwais stars as an amnesiac killer in this third feature from Indonesian duo Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto, known more popularly as The Mo Brothers.
Midnight Madness
Buster's Mal Heart
Anyone who saw the "Mother's Day" segment of this year's horror antho Holidays or her debut feature The Midnight Swim knows that Sarah Adina Smith is one talented up-and-coming director. Her latest stars it-boy Rami Malek (of Mr. Robot fame) alongside Kate Lyn Sheil and DJ Qualls. It's also produced by Screen Anarchist pal Travis Stevens (Cheap Thrills, We Are Still Here, Jodorowsky's Dune and countless others) which is always a good sign.
Vanguard
Colossal
It's Nacho time! Known for his fan-friendly low budget genre hits like Timecrimes and Open Windows, Nacho Vigalondo's latest has a big budget cast that includes Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens, Austin Stowell, and Tim Blake Nelson. Don't worry, it's still about giant monsters.
Vanguard
Blair Witch
Hand it to Lionsgate for rekindling the spirit of the original 1999 The Blair Witch Project nearly 20 years later. This direct sequel was originally marketed as a 'The Woods' until a press event at San Diego Comic Con revealed the film by SA faves Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett (You're Next, The Guest) actually took place in the world of the original. Early reviews have been great and this is sure to be another TIFF Midnight Madness blast.
Midnight Madness
The Bad Batch
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night impressed just about everyone when it premiered at Sundance some two and a half years ago. Ana Lily Amirpour's sophomore feature is described as a "savage dystopian cannibal fairy tale" which sounds awesome to us. It stars Suki Waterhouse, Jason Momoa, Giovanni Ribisi, Yolanda Ross, Jayda Fink, Cory Roberts, Louie Lopez, Keanu Reeves, and Jim Carrey (?!).
Vanguard
Free Fire
While last year's High-Rise left some Ben Wheatley fans scratching their heads, it was a rarity for for the fan fave director of Down Terrace, Kill List, Sightseers, and A Field in England. His fifth feature is about an arms deal gone bad and stars Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Michael Smiley, Sharlto Copley, and Armie Hammer. Unlike High-Rise which played in last year's Platform section, Free Fire is back at home as the opening night film in Midnight Madness.
Midnight Madness
My Entire High School Sinking Into the Sea
This animated feature debut from comic book writer/artist Dash Shaw takes us inside a high school social structure after a disaster rocks the student body – you know, but funny. It stars the voice talents of John Cameron Mitchell, Reggie Watts, Jason Schwartzman, Lena Dunham, Maya Rudolph, Susan Sarandon, and Alex Karpovsky.
Vanguard
A Message form the King
Fantastic Fest vet Fabrice Du Welz (Alleluia, Vinyan) tells this story of a South African man who travels to Los Angeles in search of his missing sister. Knowing Du Welz, what he finds there is sure to be rather unsettling.
Vanguard
Interchange
Dain Iskandar Said impressed with his TIFF 2011 Malaysian action-drama Bunohan: Return to Murder. This new film is about a Malaysian crime scene photographer putting together the pieces on a supernatural crime spree.
Vanguard
Sadako vs Kayako
What happens when the villain from The Ring takes on the ghost from The Grudge? Well, we're about to find out in this cinematic mashup from Foe and Cult director Shiraishi Kōji.
Midnight Madness