Priscilla Kellen’s animated film PAPAYA tells the story of a papaya seed that has to constantly keep moving to avoid growing roots. Because it depicts the dialogue-free journey of a character into the unknown, it immediately brings Gints Zilbalodis’ Flow to mind. It is a coming-of-age story suitable for children and adults of all ages. […]
Never After Dark – Fantasia 2026
Dave Boyle’s Never After Dark starts out as a ghost story before taking some unexpected turns that lead it in a whole new direction. It effectively builds suspense through its inventive script and purposeful editing. Shōgun star Moeka Hoshi gives a convincing performance as Airi, a psychic who guides spirits to the next world. The […]
Blaise – Fantasia 2026
Fans of the awkward moments in Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office will likely get a kick out of Jean-Paul Guigue and Dimitri Planchon’s adult animated film BLAISE. Carole (Léa Drucker), Jacques (Jacques Gamblin), and their teenage son Blaise (Timéo) are all conformists who don’t want to offend anyone and just want to be liked. […]
The Samurai and the Prisoner – Fantasia 2026
2020’s WWII drama The Wife of a Spy was the first traditional period piece Kiyoshi Kurosawa directed. Now we also have The Samurai and the Prisoner, which just screened at the 2026 Fantasia Festival. It is a Shakespearean jidaigeki, set in the 16th century, that brings some of Akira Kurosawa’s films to mind. Some of […]
The Leader – Fantasia 2026
Michael Gallagher’s The Leader is worth watching for the strong performances of Tim Blake Nelson, Vera Farmiga, Jim Parsons, and Simon Rex. They portray members of the UFO cult Heaven’s Gate, 39 of whom committed the largest ever American mass suicide in 1997. Some of the nightmarish imagery in the film won’t leave my head […]
Colony – Fantasia 2026
At this point, a fresh take is necessary for any movie with the undead to be compelling. The zombies in Yeon Sang-ho’s COLONY are athletic and they can share information, learn, and evolve thanks to a Pluribus-like hivemind. Yeon and his writing partner Choi Gyu-seok have interesting ideas and the technical aspects are executed brilliantly. […]
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma – Fantasia 2026
In Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Jane Schoenbrun continues to explore the themes from their previous films by framing them within a slasher this time and adding plenty of humor and romance to the mix. As a result, it is my favorite of their films so far. Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson are […]
Tight Lettuce – Fantasia 2026
Harrison Houde and his co-writer/lead Dakota Daulby based TIGHT LETTUCE on the true story of one of Houde’s friends and the friend’s father, who has battled addiction for most of his life. What sets the film apart from most addiction dramas is its ability to infuse the story with comedy without trivializing the seriousness of […]
Her Private Hell – Fantasia 2026
Nicolas Winding Refn does not offer much in terms of a narrative or conventional thrills in HER PRIVATE HELL, but he delivers atmosphere in spades and a fantastic looking giallo. The constant stream of stunning imagery set to a beautiful orchestral score by legendary composer Pino Donaggio was enough to keep me engaged for its […]
2026 Fantasia International Film Festival Curtain Raiser
The 30th edition of Fantasia International Film Festival kicks off in Montreal on July 16. There will be coverage of films posted here throughout the festival. The festival will open with Nicolas Winding Refn’s Cannes-premiered HER PRIVATE HELL starring Sophie Thatcher, Charles Melton, Havana Rose Liu, Kristine Froseth, and Diego Calva. The World Premiere of […]