Regular readers of The Film Reel will know that I support the Toronto After Dark Film Festival enormously. I patiently wait each year for some of the most mind blowing horror and sci-fi flicks to hit the screens at the festival. Well, the wait will be even shorter now as Toronto After Dark is hosting two nights of movie mayhem in June and July. On June 27, 2012, Juan Of The Dead screens at 7:00 pm followed by The Pact at 9:45 pm. On July 11, 2012, Detention screens at 7:00 pm followed by V/H/S at 9:45 pm. Keep reading for more information and trailers.
First up is Juan Of The Dead, a film that I’ve heard so much about, and have been anticipating seeing. The story features Juan, a slacker stuck in the middle of a zombie outbreak, who comes up with a money making scheme. For a fee, Juan will eliminate your undead loved ones. Unable to do it alone, Juan is forced to hire more people to assist him, but their skills aren’t exactly top notch. This is the first zombie film from Cuba, and is sure to please fans of the undead!
Screening after Juan Of The Dead is The Pact. Annie (Caity Lotz) returns to her childhood home to support her sister during their mother’s funeral. When her sister can’t be found, Annie gets help from a detective and a psychic as they begin to reveal a family secret and connections to the unsolved crimes of a serial killer. Nothing beats a haunted house flick, and I’m hoping I’ll have to sleep with the lights on after watching this one!
In July, Detention will start the evening. Featuring Josh Hutcherson before he turned up in The Hunger Games, the film follows the students of Grizzly Lake High as they try and stop a serial killer. Sounds simple enough until you throw in some time traveling bears and a homicidal prom queen. Looks a lot like The Breakfast Club meets Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil. Sounds like a combo I can enjoy.
After Detention, one of the most anticipated horror flicks around shows up. V/H/S has been generating some serious buzz, and Canada will finally get a chance to find out why. This one is an anthology flick, my favorite kind, that follows a group of thieves hired to break into a house and steal a home video. Realizing that there are piles of videos, the group has to watch them to find the right one. The movie is made up of their story, as well as the videos that they have to watch. Each segment is directed by a different person, including Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Adam Wingard, David Bruckner, Joe Swanberg, and the filmmaking quartet Radio Silence.
Juan Of The Dead and The Pact screen on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 starting at 7:00 pm. Detention and V/H/S screen on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 starting at 7:00 pm. Tickets and information can be found at the Toronto After Dark website.
