By The Fantasia International Film Festival. A mammoth of a Montreal-based festival that has been the home of great genre films. Touching down here before they are released to the general audience, the legendary festival has been home to recent hits such as Cameron and Colin Cairnes’ “Late Night with the Devil”, Lee Sang-Yong’s “The Roundup: No Way Out” and Xavier Gens’ “Mayhem”. As far as hits and intriguing new releases, this year looks to be no different as the list of films this year range from the grotesque to the action-packed to the devastatingly poignant. You don’t want to miss out on what’s in store this year.
Check out the festival promo video here:
The festival runs from July 18th to August 4th, 2024. To purchase tickets, visit the website here.
And without further ado, here are 10 films coming to Fantasia this year that I cannot wait to check out:
Cuckoo (2024; dir – Tilman Singer); Horror
Synopsis from Fantasia:
The last thing teenager Gretchen (Hunter Schafer, EUPHORIA) wants is to be taken from her divorced mother’s home in the States and dragged halfway around the world by her father and his new wife. Yet she winds up with Luis (Marton Csokas, THE EQUALIZER), Beth (Jessica Henwick, THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS) and Beth’s mute preteen daughter Alma (Mila Lieu, DODGER) in the Bavarian Alps, where her dad and stepmom are redesigning a local resort. They’re working for Herr König (Dan Stevens, ABIGAIL), an odd bird who initially comes across as friendly, and gives Gretchen a desk job at his hotel. From her first night on the job, however, unsettling things begin to happen to and around her, particularly random attacks by a freakish, screaming woman—yet Gretchen has no idea just how bizarre and dangerous things are going to get.
Why I’m excited:
NEON has been carrying the same energy as the Wu-Tang Clan when it comes to their horror films. They are nothing to fuck with. Coming back since his 2018’s critically acclaimed horror film “Luz”, director Tillman Singer has now teamed up with the talented pair of Hunter Schafer and Dan Stevens. I’m excited to see Schafer in a leading role where she can showcase her acting skills as a woman in panic and paranoia. But above all else, I’m really geeked to see Dan Stevens in what looks to be a hilarious and menacing role. I can tell this one is going to make waves on the circuit with its over-the-top zaniness.
Trailer:
Tatsumi (2023; dir – Hiroshi Shoji); Drama, Thriller; Japanese Language
Synopsis from Fantasia:
Tatsumi works as a fisherman in a small coastal town, but he also has a side job—he’s a “cleaner” for a local drug gang, disposing of the bodies of their victims. After the murder of his ex-girlfriend, her young sister, defiant car mechanic Aoi, seeks revenge and asks Tatsumi for his help. He initially refuses, but he then realizes that he has no choice, and that there is no turning back. Dangerous men are now coming after them, so they must fight for their survival and find redemption within themselves.
Why I’m excited:
What can I say? I’m a sucker for gritty thrillers. Add in gangs, action-packed scenes and a strong-willed, tough-as-nails lead and you have a formula for a memorable film. Per Steven Lee (on the Fantasia website), this is gearing up to be “one of the best and most compelling crime thrillers in a very long time” and I will be the first in line to see if the promise rings true.
Wake Up (2023; dir – Whissell Anouk, Simard Francois, Yoann-Karl Whissell); Horror, Action
Synopsis from Fantasia:
After recording a cell-phone-camera message warning, “The world is changing,” a group of young people enter the expansive House Idea store, hiding until it closes for the night. Their goal is to use spray paint and butcher-shop blood to vandalize the place as a protest against its exploitation of the Amazon rainforest’s flora and fauna. The minimal security doesn’t concern them—but they don’t know that Kevin (Turlough Convery) is on duty. He’s a mountain of a man with a fragile, dangerous mental state whose hobby of choice is “primitive hunting.” Once he gets wind of the intruders on his turf, these environmental activists find themselves becoming an endangered species.
Why I’m Excited:
This film gives life to the new age adage of “fuck around and find out”. It’s the perfect blend of “Don’t Breathe” meets “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” but there’s little-to-no jokes in this one. A group of protesting kids versus a murderous security guard – that in itself is a terrific premise. Also, since I’m an admirer of Summer of ‘84”, the directing collective RKSS (François Simard, Anouk Whissell, and Yoann-Karl Whissell) 2018’s hit, I’m more than intrigued to see what they’re going to bring us with this horror feature.
Trailer:
4PM (2024; dir – Jay Song); Thriller; Korean Language
Synopsis from Fantasia:
Jeong-in has been working as a professor his whole life, but he decides to take a break from his job and move into the countryside with his wife Hyun-sook. They notice another house in their area, so they leave a note inviting the resident for a visit to their humble abode. As they’re settling into their new home, a man named Yook-nam pays them a visit on the first day. However, they notice he starts stopping by their home every day at 4pm sharp in front of their door. When it’s 6pm, that’s when he decides to leave. Each visit entails two hours of agonizing, awkward and/or unsettling moments, which drives the couple absolutely crazy. They try to get rid of him, as he becomes more and more unbearable to be around. What started out as a peaceful gathering has become a nightmare for the couple.
Why I’m Excited:
An unwelcome guest in what presents itself as a new foray into social horror make this an anticipating watch. A simple premise paired with the sense that nothing is what it seems gears this up to be a possibly subversive experience. The talent involved – Oh Dal-su (OLDBOY) and Jang Young-nam (PROJECT WOLF HUNTING) – also leaves this as a feature to be much anticipated.
Shelby Oaks (2024; dir – Chris Stuckmann); Horror, Thriller
Synopsis from Fantasia:
Who took Riley Brennan? That’s the question asked by millions of devoted, even obsessed fans of the popular YouTube series Paranormal Paranoids, which ceased production when Brennan and her three co-hosts disappeared near the deserted town of Shelby Oaks, Ohio in 2008. Conspiracy theories have run rampant over the years, but none are more determined to get to the truth than Riley’s sister, Mia (Camille Sullivan), who has finally agreed to telling Riley’s story to a documentary film crew (Emily Bennett and Rob Grant) in the hopes of finding closure. Closure, however, refuses to be found as a series of shocking events opens the door to a deeper mystery surrounding Riley, one that leads Mia to follow her ghost-hunting sister’s footsteps down a path to confront demons of the past and get answers that can only be found somewhere within the darkness of Shelby Oaks.
Why I’m excited:
Well, he’s finally done it. YouTube critic favorite Chris Stuckmann has finally made his directorial debut in “Shelby Oaks”. As an admirer of his past criticism, I’m simply just excited to see Chris get behind the camera and showcase all the tips, tropes and storytelling skills he’s adapted from all the horror films he’s watched and admired over the years. It also doesn’t hurt to have a great Executive Producer credit assist from contemporary horror great Mike Flanagan.
Confession (2024; dir – Nobuhiro Yamashita); Thriller; Japanese/Korean Language
Synopsis from Fantasia:
Two old college pals, Asai (Toma Ikuta of THE MOLE SONG trilogy) and Jiyong (Yang Ik-june, BREATHLESS), make their annual pilgrimage up a mountain in the middle of winter in honour of their friend Sayuri (Nao, MY BROKEN MARIKO) who disappeared there 16 years earlier. However, Jiyong seriously injures his leg in the middle of a violent blizzard. Overcome by cold and pain, he asks Asai to let him die here and save his own life. First, though, he confesses to a horrible secret that has been eating away at him. He was the one who killed Sayuri that fateful day, out of jealousy. The problem, if there is one, is that Asai finds a cabin nearby that they hadn’t seen because of the blinding storm. Once inside, the murderer’s confession takes on a whole new dimension, and let’s just say that the elephant in the room is more of a mammoth. To say that it’s going to be a long night would be an understatement.
Why I’m Excited:
Some of the best storytelling is borne in the closed-set genre. With a pair of talented leads and a huge mystery lingering in the air, great dialogue and great, almost unbearable tension can be borne in a space such as this. “Confession” has this plus an ominous cabin, an unforgiving blizzard and a huge, dark secret. This is going to be a big one.
Brave Citizen (2023; dir – Park Jin-pyo); Drama, Comedy, Action; Korean Language
Synopsis from Fantasia:
Mooyoung High looks like a nice, peaceful secondary school — but it isn’t. The truth is that bullying is a major issue there, as merciless violence takes over the whole institution. So Si-min, a former professional boxer, is now a part-time high school teacher and has witnessed some brutal bullying at her workplace. The most dangerous bully of them all, Han Su-kang has, been harassing and beating up an innocent student non-stop. Taking matters into her own hands, Si-min decides to don a mask and deal with Su-kang herself, to teach him a lesson and deliver proper justice. It’s up to Si-min to put an end to his violent acts once and for all.
Why I’m Excited:
Bolstering terrific action sequences and cultural subtext, “Brave Citizen” is not your usual tale of taking revenge on bullies. This proves to be a cathartic tale for those that have ever been bullied or have witnessed traumatic bullying. I’m excited to see how this one meets and subverts our expectations in an action comedy centered around such a taboo subject.
The G (2024; dir – Karl R. Hearne); Thriller
Synopsis from Fantasia:
Neglect, abuse, and devastating fraud are all too frequent fates in store for so many as they pass through the final years of their lives. A callous bureaucracy offers little comfort to the elderly, and all too many opportunities to those who would take advantage of them. Harsh-tongued septuagenarian Ann Hunter is nobody’s fool, but she and her ill husband Chip are nonetheless easy marks for a treacherous legal guardian and his accomplices, plotting to swindle the pair. Soon enough, Ann finds herself with no husband, no money, and no home other than the miserable facility she’s been locked up in. But as her tormentors are about to find out, someone who’s had everything taken away from her is someone with nothing left to lose—and a dark secret of her own.
Why I’m Excited:
I’ve always liked the idea of a badass grandma or granddad taking revenge on someone looking to swindle them. Picture the recent film “Thelma” or the intro premise of Jason Statham’s latest hit “The Beekeeper”, except – with the latter – picture Phylicia Rashad as the one kicking ass and taking names. “The G” has a lot of promise in that regard and I’m more than curious to see what tricks this film has up its sleeve. I’m also excited to see longtime character actor Dale Dickey take it home in the lead role.
Trailer:
Hanu-Man (2024; dir – Prasanth Varma); Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Action, Musical; Telugu Language
Synopsis from Fantasia:
Nobody’s idea of a hero, humble villager Hanumantha is cheerful, charming, highly acrobatic, and an incorrigible petty thief. His pilfering is pretty minor compared to the lovely, resolute Meenakshi, who has stolen his heart, or to town tyrant Gajapathi and his gang of thugs extorting and abusing the inhabitants of Anjanadri. Hanumantha’s one attempt at valour leaves him at death’s door—and in possession of a miraculous gemstone, one that endows superhuman abilities. This is good news for the oppressed villagers, but it also attracts the attention of Mega-Man, Mumbai’s mysterious, high-tech vigilante, who has designs on the sacred gem and a dark secret in his past. Great challenges lie ahead for Hanumantha, as does a divine revelation about his destiny…
Why I’m Excited:
A Telugu-language film with action, romance and comedy. What else could you ask for? This looks like the crowd-pleaser a genre film festival like Fantasia was made for. Described as an “auspicious introduction of Tollywood visionary Prasanth Varma’s new Cinematic Universe” (per Rupert Bottenberg on Fantasia’s site), this is destined to be the two-hour plus action-adventure film we’ve all been waiting for.
Trailer:
Steppenwolf (2024; dir – Adilkhan Yerzhanov); Thriller, Action; Kazakh language
Synopsis from Fantasia:
Brajyuk (Berik Aitzhanov, GOLIATH, THE ASSAULT) was once a detective. Today, he’s an interrogator. Bone-breaker. Mercenary. Above all, Brajyuk is a psychopath. We meet him during an eruption of horrific bloodshed between warring factions at a police station. His path soon crosses with that of a woman so consumed by trauma that she can now barely speak. Her name is Tamara (Anna Starchenko, NARTAI) and she’s desperately searching for her young son, Timka, gone missing in an apocalyptic Kazakh landscape consumed by riots and ultraviolence. Brajyuk has no sympathy for her, but an offer of payment brings him dispassionately onside. Together, they embark on a journey of death and tears.
Why I’m Excited:
This might not be for you. If you don’t mind a dark, apocalyptic landscape with disturbing action, black humor and a morally flawed protagonist….well, then I take back what I said and you can shamelessly step into this dark world with me. Described as “a Kazakh MAD MAX directed by John Ford” (per Mitch Davis on Fantasia’s site), this is the perfect, bleak, dark action film that is sure to leave an impression.
Trailer:
I hope you will join me to take part in this terrific festival and experience these exciting new films.
Check out their full selection of films here.
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