Fantasia International Film Festival 2021 preview.

fantasiafest25

Fantasia International Film Festival’s 25th edition is nearly upon us. Arguably, the most prestigious genre festival in the world, the lineup is jam-packed with many of the must-see movies of the year.

Running from August 5th to 25th, Fantasia remains committed to delivering a high-end festival experience despite the ongoing disruption of Covid.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this amazing celebration of film is both an important springboard for major productions and a priceless spotlight upon less conventional projects.

With 110 features and over 200 shorts, it took 10 months to curate with a final program described by its artistic director as a “supersonic mountain”.

We will, of course, be covering as much of this cinematic nirvana as we can.

Meanwhile, here is a breakdown of some of the most anticipated features to whet your genre appetite and give that proverbial watch list a nudge in the right direction.

       THE SADNESS 

Taiwan has become engulfed in the living hell of a population turned psychotic by a mutated virus.
A sweet young couple struggles to reunite across a city teaming with depravity, sadistic brutality, and indiscriminate rape.
The most physically and verbally violent film in recent memory, The Sadness brings the horrors of the pandemic into sharp focus. Relentless and grueling, this is the must-see horror film of the year for genre junkies.
Fantasia is not known for giving trigger warnings. However, with The Sadness even they have advised caution.
Sat August 21, 2021, 9:30 PM
 

MIDNIGHT

A vulnerable deaf girl becomes the target of a ruthless serial killer in this masterclass in tension from South Korea.

Boasting a bold approach to the cat and mouse thriller and Featuring a groundbreaking sound design this potent seat gripper could well prove to be the natural heir to A Quiet Place.

For those in the know who don’t mind subtitles, South Korea has been the go-to nation for lovers of modern and edgy thrillers for decades now. Midnight could be the movie that brings this richly creative breeding ground into the universal limelight.

Sun August 22, 2021, 9:00 PM
Tue August 24, 2021, 9:00 AM

WHEN I CONSUME YOU

Protective siblings Daphne and Wilson are just about scrambling along life’s journey. To make things worse, a sinister stalker casts a dark shadow over their lives and Wilson must risk everything to confront this creeping menace.

This new film from the team that made the underseen They Look Like People is a product of creative minds on the up. Despite being their darkest work to date, the central message of the film is one of resilience and hope.

Expect carefully crafted slow burn thrills and intimate and personal character building in what will surely be one of the breakout hits of the festival.

Wed August 13, 2021, 9:30 PM
Fri August 20, 2021, 9:00 AM

COMING HOME IN THE DARK

A teacher and his family are cruelly terrorised by a sadistic duo determined to make them pay for a past transgression.

Director James Ashcroft reconfigures the home invasion battle plan with a neo-noir road movie of emotional power and palpable tension. In doing so, he hopes to divide the audience and force self-reflection about societal change in his native New Zealand.

Expect subtle yet damming social commentary, fine performances, and a wallop to the senses that will linger long after the credits roll.

ON DEMAND

MAD GOD

A daring operative descends deep into a Dantean Subterranea of horrifying degradation.

It has taken three decades for near-mythical special effects guru Phil Tippett’s epic feature debut to see the light of day. Revered for his pioneering stop motion work on Star Wars, RoboCop, Jurassic Park, and Starship Troopers this movie has genre junkies salivating worldwide.

Expect lashings of Hieronymus Bosch-type weirdness and cult movie making in its purest guise.

Sat August 22, 2021, 7:30 PM
Tue August 24, 2021, 9:00 AM

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