The second announcement from The Toronto After Dark Film Festival has us seeing stars - and not from kicks to the head! The remaining 8 films have many familiar names gracing the screen including Ron Perlman, Thomas Jane, Adrian Pasdar (Nathan Petrelli on "Heroes"), Anna Walton, Devon Aoki, Dominic Monaghan, John Malkovich, Dave Foley, Judd Nelson, Jason Mewes, Robert Wagner and Shea Whigham. All of the actors listed are in one (or more if it's Ron Perlman) of the six US titles that have been announced. International titles make up the final two films including the UK film where partying goes to the extreme in Donkey Punch and Thai thriller 4bia.
Speaking of 4bia (or phonetically: Phobia), out of the new bunch this is one of the films that got me jumping with glee, a thriller from Thailand that is 4 segments all exploring fears. Duo directors Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom who brought us one of the scariest movies of them all, Alone / Faet (Feature Film winner from Toronto After Dark 2007) are going solo and each directing a segment making up 2 of the 4 parts of this film. Looking for more thrills and chills? Home Movie might be your slice of pie with its unnerving tone as it tells the tale of two uncanny kids.
Another films that really piqued my interest is Mutant Chronicles, which has gone on and off the radar for ages which makes it all the more thrilling to have the opportunity to see this fantastical futurist film starring genre favourites Thomas Jane, Ron Perlman, Devon Aoki and Anna Walton.
Zombie fans can rejoice with the addition of Kevin Tenney's Brain Dead, which not only brings zombies but also one line wonders which could very well be the best lines of the festival. Only time will tell! Nothing is like taking a stab at the unknown, which is my impression of South of Heaven listed as a crime comedy but appears beyond description. It's highly yet simply stylized bizarre looking film almost like a comic turned into a play turned into a film, which in it of itself makes me curious and if that isn't enough it stars Shea Whigham from All the Real Girls. Sign me up!
If you are looking for a laugh there are not one but two comedy-centric films including Netherbeast Incorporated, which brings the underworld in tune with your everyday office setting. Or you can check out ZomCom I Sell the Dead, the Closing Night Gala that is sure to close of the festival in stitches.
The fun doesn't stop with the feature films! Canada After Dark will show Canadian shorts throughout the festival in front of feature films. Shorts from around the world get their own spotlight with Shorts After Dark - international shorts with have something for everyone.
Find all the box office and ticketing information here. More happiness for zombies with zombie prices for the zombie night screenings of Trailer Park of Terror and Kevin Tenney's Brain Dead - get a discount ticket price when you show up as a zombie for these screenings. New for 2008 is the 6-pack deal of 6 tickets for $54 - sweet! Want to have it all? You can! VIP passes are still available (as of Sept 28/08) for $119 which gets you into all the screenings and all the parties.
Now, more about the films! Details for the 8 titles are below, including links to trailers (with spoiler warnings), links to their TADFF site pages, IMDb pages and official film sites if available.
4bia / Phobia / See prang
Writers/Directors: Banjong Pisanthanakun (Alone / Faet, Shutter <2004>), Paween Purikitpanya (Body #19), Youngyooth Thongkonthun (Maid / Jaew) and Parkpoom Wongpoom (Alone / Faet, Shutter <2004>)
Thailand
TADFF Page, Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Has some mild spoilers throughout
Donkey Punch
Dir: Oliver Blackburn
Cast: Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian Morris
UK
TADFF Page, Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer spoiler free until the halfway point
Home Movie
Dir: Christopher Denham
Cast: Adrian Pasdar, Cady McClain, Amber Joy Williams, Austin Williams
USA
TADFF Page, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer spoiler free until the halfway point, disturbing images throughout
I Sell the Dead
Writer/Dir: Glenn McQuaid
Cast: Ron Perlman, Dominic Monaghan, Brenda Cooney, Larry Fessenden, Angus Scrimm, John Speredakos, Eileen Colgan
USA
TADFF Page, Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer spoiler free for the first two thirds, although even after watching it a few times I can barely tell what it's about so maybe it's really all spoiler free
Kevin Tenney's Brain Dead
Dir: Kevin Tenney (Witchboard, Night of the Demons)
Cast: Joshua Benton, Sarah Grant Brendecke, David Crane, Andy Forrest, Elizabeth Lambert
USA
TADFF Page, Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer spoiler free but is pretty gory! Best one-lines for sure.
Mutant Chronicles
Dir: Simon Hunter (Lighthouse / Dead of Night)
Cast: Thomas Jane, Ron Perlman, Devon Aoki, Anna Walton, John Malkovich
USA
TADFF Page, Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer spoiler free
Netherbeast Incorporated
Dir: Dean Matthew Ronalds
Cast: Darrell Hammond, Dave Foley, Judd Nelson, Jason Mewes, Robert Wagner, Amy Davidson, Steve Burns
USA
TADFF Page, Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer spoiler free
South of Heaven
Writer/Dir: J.L. Vara
Cast: Shea Whigham, Aaron Nee, Diora Baird, Lena Gwendolyn Hill
USA
TADFF Page, Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free
The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008 runs from October 17-24/08 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
