Movie Box Review

Pre-Festival Coverage
June 15, 2010 - Passes on Sale
July 29, 2010 - Schedule and Line Up Announced!
August 11, 2010 - Short to Creep Us Out!
August 11, 2010 - Filmmakers in Attendance

Daily Coverage
Day 1 - Friday August 13, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 2 - Saturday August 14, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 3 - Sunday August 15, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 4 - Monday August 16, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 5 - Tuesday August 17, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 6 - Wednesday August 18, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 7 - Thursday August 19, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 8 - Friday August 20, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog

Film Reviews - Features
Alien vs Ninja
All About Evil
Black Death
Cargo
Centurion
Doghouse
Evil in The Time of Heroes / To kako - Stin epohi ton iroon
Heartless
High School
Human Centipede (First Sequence), The
I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Last Exorcism, The
Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu, The
Phobia 2 / Ha phraeng
Robogeisha
Rubber

Film Reviews - Shorts
Barcelona Venice
DemiUrge Emesis
Deus Irae
Fireman!
Frank DanCoolo: Paranormal Drug Dealer
Haunt
Inferno of the Dead
Junko's Shamisen
King Chicken
Library, The
Massacrator
Necronomicon, The
Off Season
Primer Contacte / First Contact
They Will Pay in Rivers of Blood
Thomas Beale Cipher, The
United Monster Talent Agency

Previously reviewed shorts:
Chloe & Attie
Pumzi

Videos - Q&As, Introductions, etc.
All About Evil Intro and Q&A with director Joshua Grannell
Cargo Introduction
Game Night Introduction
I Spit on Your Grave (2010) Introduction and Q&A with dirctor Steven R. Monroe
Inferno of Blood introduction
Junko’s Shamisen Introduction
The Last Exorcism Introduction and Q&A with producer Eli Roth and actors Ashley Bell & Patrick Fabian
The Last Lovecraft introduction with Devin McGinn, Henry Saine, Kyle Davis, Edmund Lupinski, Martin Starr and Mike McGinn
Re-Wire introduction with director David-James Fernandes
They Shall Pay with Rivers of Blood Introduction
The Thomas Beale Cipher introduction with filmmaker Andrew Allen
Closing Night - Rubber Interview, Human Centipede reenactment and thanks

Polls
Are You Going to Toronto After Dark?

Post Festival Coverage
Wrap Up
Awards

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Pre-Festival Coverage
June 15, 2010 - Passes on Sale
July 29, 2010 - Schedule and Line Up Announced!
August 11, 2010 - Short to Creep Us Out!
August 11, 2010 - Filmmakers in Attendance

Daily Coverage
Day 1 - Friday August 13, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 2 - Saturday August 14, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 3 - Sunday August 15, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 4 - Monday August 16, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 5 - Tuesday August 17, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 6 - Wednesday August 18, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 7 - Thursday August 19, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog
Day 8 - Friday August 20, 2010 - Write Up, Vlog

Film Reviews - Features
Alien vs Ninja
All About Evil
Black Death
Cargo
Centurion
Doghouse
Evil in The Time of Heroes / To kako - Stin epohi ton iroon
Heartless
High School
Human Centipede (First Sequence), The
I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Last Exorcism, The
Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu, The
Phobia 2 / Ha phraeng
Robogeisha
Rubber

Film Reviews - Shorts
Barcelona Venice
DemiUrge Emesis
Deus Irae
Fireman!
Frank DanCoolo: Paranormal Drug Dealer
Haunt
Inferno of the Dead
Junko's Shamisen
King Chicken
Library, The
Massacrator
Necronomicon, The
Off Season
Primer Contacte / First Contact
They Will Pay in Rivers of Blood
Thomas Beale Cipher, The
United Monster Talent Agency

Previously reviewed shorts:
Chloe & Attie
Pumzi

Videos - Q&As, Introductions, etc.
All About Evil Intro and Q&A with director Joshua Grannell
Cargo Introduction
Game Night Introduction
I Spit on Your Grave (2010) Introduction and Q&A with dirctor Steven R. Monroe
Inferno of Blood introduction
Junko’s Shamisen Introduction
The Last Exorcism Introduction and Q&A with producer Eli Roth and actors Ashley Bell & Patrick Fabian
The Last Lovecraft introduction with Devin McGinn, Henry Saine, Kyle Davis, Edmund Lupinski, Martin Starr and Mike McGinn
Re-Wire introduction with director David-James Fernandes
They Shall Pay with Rivers of Blood Introduction
The Thomas Beale Cipher introduction with filmmaker Andrew Allen
Closing Night - Rubber Interview, Human Centipede reenactment and thanks

Polls
Are You Going to Toronto After Dark?

Post Festival Coverage
Wrap Up
Awards

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Earlier this week I put up my festival faves but now it's time to the how the entire audience felt this year. Votes were made, ballots were tallied and the decisions are in. Here are the 2010 Award Winners for the Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

Audience Awards - Best Feature Film
1. GOLD: The Last Exorcism
2. SILVER: The Human Centipede
3. BRONZE: I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Vision Awards - Best Independent Feature Film
(The Vision Awards are given out by the Festival in recognition of outstanding independent genre feature filmmaking)
1. GOLD: Heartless
2. SILVER: The Last Lovecraft
3. BRONZE: All About Evil

Audience Awards - Best Canadian Short Film
1. GOLD: Junko's Shamisen
2. SILVER: King Chicken
3. BRONZE (tie): Fireman! and Game Night

Audience Awards - Best International Short Film
1. GOLD: Off Season
2. SILVER: Pumzi
3. BRONZE: Deus Irae

Fans' Choice Awards as voted by by over 100 Festival All-Access Pass Buyers
Best Horror Film - The Last Exorcism
Best Sci-Fi Film - Cargo
Best Action Film - Centurion
Best Comedy - High School
Best Director - Steven R. Monroe for I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Best Screenplay - Huck Botko & Andrew Gurland for The Last Exorcism
Best Leading Actor - Patrick Fabian for The Last Exorcism
Best Leading Actress - Sarah Butler for I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Best Ensemble Cast (tie) - Doghouse and High School
Best Special Effects (tie) - Cargo and RoboGeisha
Best Make-Up - Doghouse
Best Soundtrack - High School
Best Fight - Alien vs Ninja
Best Kills - I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Scariest Film - The Last Exorcism
Most Original Film - Rubber
Most Disturbing Film - I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Best Trailer - RoboGeisha
Best Festival Bumper - 5 Year Young

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Earlier this week I put up my festival faves but now it's time to the how the entire audience felt this year. Votes were made, ballots were tallied and the decisions are in. Here are the 2010 Award Winners for the Toronto After Dark Film Festival.

Audience Awards - Best Feature Film
1. GOLD: The Last Exorcism
2. SILVER: The Human Centipede
3. BRONZE: I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Vision Awards - Best Independent Feature Film
(The Vision Awards are given out by the Festival in recognition of outstanding independent genre feature filmmaking)
1. GOLD: Heartless
2. SILVER: The Last Lovecraft
3. BRONZE: All About Evil

Audience Awards - Best Canadian Short Film
1. GOLD: Junko's Shamisen
2. SILVER: King Chicken
3. BRONZE (tie): Fireman! and Game Night

Audience Awards - Best International Short Film
1. GOLD: Off Season
2. SILVER: Pumzi
3. BRONZE: Deus Irae

Fans' Choice Awards as voted by by over 100 Festival All-Access Pass Buyers
Best Horror Film - The Last Exorcism
Best Sci-Fi Film - Cargo
Best Action Film - Centurion
Best Comedy - High School
Best Director - Steven R. Monroe for I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Best Screenplay - Huck Botko & Andrew Gurland for The Last Exorcism
Best Leading Actor - Patrick Fabian for The Last Exorcism
Best Leading Actress - Sarah Butler for I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Best Ensemble Cast (tie) - Doghouse and High School
Best Special Effects (tie) - Cargo and RoboGeisha
Best Make-Up - Doghouse
Best Soundtrack - High School
Best Fight - Alien vs Ninja
Best Kills - I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Scariest Film - The Last Exorcism
Most Original Film - Rubber
Most Disturbing Film - I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Best Trailer - RoboGeisha
Best Festival Bumper - 5 Year Young

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

As the curtain closes on the 2010 Toronto After Dark Film Festival, it's time to take a look back at some of the best and brightest of the 5th instalment of the festival that brings us horror, action, sci-fi and cult, and of course zombie films. I don't usually separate out 'Best' from 'Favourite' films, but this year it's just the plain truth that they aren't the same films so I'm breaking with tradition and having both categories.

Best Film: Heartless

Favourite Film (Tie): Cargo and Rubber

Best Zombie Film: Evil in The Time of Heroes / To kako - Stin epohi ton iroon and this is because it gets +2 for inclusion of Billy Zane

Best Thriller: The Last Exorcism

Best Action: Centurion

Best Comedy: The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu

Best SciFi: Cargo

Scariest Film: Phobia 2 / Ha phraeng

Best Q&A: The Last Exorcism with Eli Roth, Ashley Bell and Patrick Fabian in attendance

Best Shorts: Off Season, Junko's Shamisen, Fireman!, King Chicken, Pleasuredome + previously reviewed shorts Pumzi and Chloe & Attie

Funnest screenings: Rubber had a great audience reaction and was so fun to watch with a crowd

Fullest Screenings: The Last Exorcism, I Spit on Your Grave (2010), Rubber and The Human Centipede (First Sequence)

Icky-ist Imagery: Out of all the crazy things we saw during the 8 days of the festival, I think it's hilarious that the most visceral audience reaction happened during a scene in Centurion that involving eating. But, conceptually you can't get icky-ier than The Human Centipede (First Sequence)

Best Double Bill: A true double nod to film fans: Phobia 2 / Ha phraeng and All About Evil

Happy Surprizes: All About Evil and Black Death really won me over

Still Has Me Thinking: Heartless

Continuing to Win Me Over: The more I think about The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu, the more it wins me over. It might even get me to start reading H.P. Lovecraft.

Wish I hadn't missed: I made it to all the screenings but I wish I made it over to the pub on more nights, sounds like there were lots of fun times.

Best Experience: Getting to meet and interview Eli Roth, Ashley Bell & Patrick Fabian from The Last Exorcism

Themes: demons, geekdom, films about film and/or for film lovers

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

As the curtain closes on the 2010 Toronto After Dark Film Festival, it's time to take a look back at some of the best and brightest of the 5th instalment of the festival that brings us horror, action, sci-fi and cult, and of course zombie films. I don't usually separate out 'Best' from 'Favourite' films, but this year it's just the plain truth that they aren't the same films so I'm breaking with tradition and having both categories.

Best Film: Heartless

Favourite Film (Tie): Cargo and Rubber

Best Zombie Film: Evil in The Time of Heroes / To kako - Stin epohi ton iroon and this is because it gets +2 for inclusion of Billy Zane

Best Thriller: The Last Exorcism

Best Action: Centurion

Best Comedy: The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu

Best SciFi: Cargo

Scariest Film: Phobia 2 / Ha phraeng

Best Q&A: The Last Exorcism with Eli Roth, Ashley Bell and Patrick Fabian in attendance

Best Shorts: Off Season, Junko's Shamisen, Fireman!, King Chicken, Pleasuredome + previously reviewed shorts Pumzi and Chloe & Attie

Funnest screenings: Rubber had a great audience reaction and was so fun to watch with a crowd

Fullest Screenings: The Last Exorcism, I Spit on Your Grave (2010), Rubber and The Human Centipede (First Sequence)

Icky-ist Imagery: Out of all the crazy things we saw during the 8 days of the festival, I think it's hilarious that the most visceral audience reaction happened during a scene in Centurion that involving eating. But, conceptually you can't get icky-ier than The Human Centipede (First Sequence)

Best Double Bill: A true double nod to film fans: Phobia 2 / Ha phraeng and All About Evil

Happy Surprizes: All About Evil and Black Death really won me over

Still Has Me Thinking: Heartless

Continuing to Win Me Over: The more I think about The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu, the more it wins me over. It might even get me to start reading H.P. Lovecraft.

Wish I hadn't missed: I made it to all the screenings but I wish I made it over to the pub on more nights, sounds like there were lots of fun times.

Best Experience: Getting to meet and interview Eli Roth, Ashley Bell & Patrick Fabian from The Last Exorcism

Themes: demons, geekdom, films about film and/or for film lovers

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The results are in and the popular vote for if you went to the Toronto After Dark Film Festival was 32% with Yes, It's a Yearly Ritual and followed closely by No I Wish I Was and No both chimed in at 28%. I hope everyone who went to the festival had a great time, and those who missed it - there is always next year!

32% - Yes, it's a year ritual
28% - No, but I wish I was
28% - No
7% - Yes, for the first time
3% - Yes, I go occasionally

Thanks for voting!


The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The results are in and the popular vote for if you went to the Toronto After Dark Film Festival was 32% with Yes, It's a Yearly Ritual and followed closely by No I Wish I Was and No both chimed in at 28%. I hope everyone who went to the festival had a great time, and those who missed it - there is always next year!

32% - Yes, it's a year ritual
28% - No, but I wish I was
28% - No
7% - Yes, for the first time
3% - Yes, I go occasionally

Thanks for voting!


The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Writing about the last day at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival is happy and sad all at the same time. Happy because the films of the evening were fantastic, but sad as it was the last day and now we have to wait a whole year until it's return! Ah, best to remember the good times because there certainly were a lot of them!

Check out my Day 8 Vlog & videos from closing night at the festival including Rubber & The Human Centipede introductions.



Rubber
Writer/Dir: Quentin Dupieux
Cast: Thomas F. Duffy, Roxane Mesquida, Remy Thorne, Wings Hauser,
France

Rubber was easily one of if not the highest buzzed film of the festival this year, and from the concept alone certainly got people intrigued. That concept being a sentient, killer tire. Now that could have gone wrong, or boring, very easily but what sets the film apart is that it really understands film audiences and therefore has the ability to make not only a truly hilarious, but also a rather engaging film. After having the chance to see Rubber, it's no surprize that it's gone over brilliantly on the festival circuit, and in addition to playing at Toronto After Dark it has also played at Cannes, Fantasia, Melbourne and will also be screened at the upcoming Fantastic Fest. Truly a film for film fans of any genre, it's highly accessible (although has it's fair share of gore), smart, original and even exceeded my already high expectations. I can't wait to see it again, and would love to see it get played at regular theatres. If you get a chance to see it, take it - it's worth it.





The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
Writer/Dir: Tom Six
Cast: Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie, Akihiro Kitamura
The Netherlands

Pre-review Warning: the concept along of the film is so gross that you might not want to read this review if surgical horror creeps you out.

Easily the most conceptually revolting film of the festival, The Human Centipede is centred on the medically accurate (shiver) idea of surgically connecting human bodies to create a human centipede. Talk about very literal dehumanization, plus complete grossness and add a lot of terrorizing to boot, this film is not for the faint of heart. It's been interesting to hear peoples reaction to the film, some think it was less gory than they expected, some appreciate that it's mostly conceptual and I think overall it's really the idea itself that completely creeps us all out. My reaction is that I was a little surprized at how it was over the top at times, especially with the performance of the evil doctor played by Dieter Laser, but seeing it with an audience actually made that over the top-ness a highlight. I (oddly) didn't anticipate just how disturbing the idea of someone being able to be detached enough from humanity to be able to perform such awful things would be so affecting, for me that was for me the real horror of it. The dehumanization, the ambivalence, the not seeing humans as humans, those qualities have huge potential for extremely disturbing horror. Although I found some of the acting uneven, I do have to give huge kudos to the Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie and Akihiro Kitamura - I can't even imagine what the filming this film would be like. They are all very brave actors to take on such bizarre and challenge roles.

Missed it? Need to see this surgical horror again? You are in luck, The Human Centipede opens in Toronto on on Saturday August 28, 2010 at The Toronto Underground.




The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Writing about the last day at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival is happy and sad all at the same time. Happy because the films of the evening were fantastic, but sad as it was the last day and now we have to wait a whole year until it's return! Ah, best to remember the good times because there certainly were a lot of them!

Check out my Day 8 Vlog & videos from closing night at the festival including Rubber & The Human Centipede introductions.



Rubber
Writer/Dir: Quentin Dupieux
Cast: Thomas F. Duffy, Roxane Mesquida, Remy Thorne, Wings Hauser,
France

Rubber was easily one of if not the highest buzzed film of the festival this year, and from the concept alone certainly got people intrigued. That concept being a sentient, killer tire. Now that could have gone wrong, or boring, very easily but what sets the film apart is that it really understands film audiences and therefore has the ability to make not only a truly hilarious, but also a rather engaging film. After having the chance to see Rubber, it's no surprize that it's gone over brilliantly on the festival circuit, and in addition to playing at Toronto After Dark it has also played at Cannes, Fantasia, Melbourne and will also be screened at the upcoming Fantastic Fest. Truly a film for film fans of any genre, it's highly accessible (although has it's fair share of gore), smart, original and even exceeded my already high expectations. I can't wait to see it again, and would love to see it get played at regular theatres. If you get a chance to see it, take it - it's worth it.





The Human Centipede (First Sequence)
Writer/Dir: Tom Six
Cast: Dieter Laser, Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie, Akihiro Kitamura
The Netherlands

Pre-review Warning: the concept along of the film is so gross that you might not want to read this review if surgical horror creeps you out.

Easily the most conceptually revolting film of the festival, The Human Centipede is centred on the medically accurate (shiver) idea of surgically connecting human bodies to create a human centipede. Talk about very literal dehumanization, plus complete grossness and add a lot of terrorizing to boot, this film is not for the faint of heart. It's been interesting to hear peoples reaction to the film, some think it was less gory than they expected, some appreciate that it's mostly conceptual and I think overall it's really the idea itself that completely creeps us all out. My reaction is that I was a little surprized at how it was over the top at times, especially with the performance of the evil doctor played by Dieter Laser, but seeing it with an audience actually made that over the top-ness a highlight. I (oddly) didn't anticipate just how disturbing the idea of someone being able to be detached enough from humanity to be able to perform such awful things would be so affecting, for me that was for me the real horror of it. The dehumanization, the ambivalence, the not seeing humans as humans, those qualities have huge potential for extremely disturbing horror. Although I found some of the acting uneven, I do have to give huge kudos to the Ashley C. Williams, Ashlynn Yennie and Akihiro Kitamura - I can't even imagine what the filming this film would be like. They are all very brave actors to take on such bizarre and challenge roles.

Missed it? Need to see this surgical horror again? You are in luck, The Human Centipede opens in Toronto on on Saturday August 28, 2010 at The Toronto Underground.




The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

On the final night of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival had very fun (and at times participatory) crowds, fantastic films, and some great moments. Here's a look at some of the evenings festivities.

Rubber introduction with Peter Kuplowsky and Robert, the killer tire:

Adam Lopez introduces The Human Centipede (mild spoilers) and 3 very brave volunteers participate in a little demonstration before the film:




Adam Lopez intros final screening of the festival, gives thanks and including heartfelt thanks to esp operations director and programmer Shelagh Rowan-Legg:






The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

On the final night of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival had very fun (and at times participatory) crowds, fantastic films, and some great moments. Here's a look at some of the evenings festivities.

Rubber introduction with Peter Kuplowsky and Robert, the killer tire:

Adam Lopez introduces The Human Centipede (mild spoilers) and 3 very brave volunteers participate in a little demonstration before the film:




Adam Lopez intros final screening of the festival, gives thanks and including heartfelt thanks to esp operations director and programmer Shelagh Rowan-Legg:






The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the introduction to Re-wire at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 on Friday August 20, with director David-James Fernandes in attendance:

Adam Lopez introduces Re-wire director David-James Fernandes:

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the introduction to Re-wire at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 on Friday August 20, with director David-James Fernandes in attendance:

Adam Lopez introduces Re-wire director David-James Fernandes:

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All about the 8th and final day of Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 including the sentient killer tire film Rubber and the very literal The Human Centipede (which opens at The Toronto Underground on Saturday August 28, 2010)

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

All about the 8th and final day of Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 including the sentient killer tire film Rubber and the very literal The Human Centipede (which opens at The Toronto Underground on Saturday August 28, 2010)

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 ran from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Day 7 of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival and it means we are getting closer ad closer to the festival coming to a close, which is so sad! But before we shed tears let's look at the sheer terror of the Thursday night selections of medieval set Black Death and rape/revenge remake I Spit On Your Grave (2010).

Also check out my Day 7 Vlog!


Toronto After Dark operations director and programmer Shelagh Rowan-Legg introduces Black Death

Black Death
Dir: Christopher Smith (Severance)
Cast: Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Carice van Houten, Tim McInnerny, Kimberley Nixon, Johnny Harris
UK

I was a little leery going into Black Death, as films set during times like the Plague and have anything to do with the Church and witchcraft tend to be extremely brutal, but a period piece with Sean Bean is something that I couldn't resist and I'm glad I didn't. The film is dark and brutal but the story and characters are compelling and complex, and keeps the viewer engaged throughout. It was actually very refreshing to see such a strong story driven period piece that although had action, it wasn't the focus so it certainly wasn't just bits of story to get us from action to action. It was a great story all the way through that was dark and heartbreaking but also rich and oddly inviting. It also had an astonishing atmosphere that was ripe with desperation and brutality. At the centre of the fantastic cast was Eddie Redmayne (Savage Grace) as Friar Osmund a young man of faith during the troubling times and he meets up with Ulric (Sean Bean) and his group of men who are also working under the directive of doing 'God's work' in regards to the plague. The film also features a fantastic performance by Carice van Houten (Repo Men) as Langiva, and it was awesome to see such a strong female character in the film and is likely one of the reasons I ended up liking it so much. It wasn't an easy watch and certainly had it's fair share of brutality and torture, but it was much more contained than I would have expected and honestly I think that made it very effective. Overall, a happy dark surprize of the festival.





I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Dir: Steven R. Monroe
Cast: Sarah Butler, Chad Lindberg, Jeff Branson, Daniel Franzese, Rodney Eastman, Andrew Howard, Tracey Walter
USA

I Spit on Your Grave (2010) was going to be the one film I was going to skip this year, as I don't enjoy films with rape or revenge, let alone both with are the focus of this remake of the 1978 film of the same name. But when I heard that the director would be in attendance, my curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to be there to hear the Q&A. In terms of the film, I'll give it that it's very clear what you are getting into and the festival was very clear about the intensity of it as well, it features a lot of sexual violence, torture and terror and I think it is important to know that going in. In terms of the film, it's well made, extremely well paced and every single thing in it contributes to making it tense and terrifying from concept to execution. I still don't understand the appeal of or interest in this kind of film though, or who the audience is and why they like it. But it was received well and there was lots of cheering throughout the gory revenge.

Warnings: sexual violence, torture, gore, disturbing imagery & ideas

See selections from the introduction and Q&A to I Spit on Your Grave (2010) with director Steven R. Monroe here.


Rue Morgue's Dave Alexander with I Spit on Your Grave (2010) director Steven R. Munroe

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 runs from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Day 7 of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival and it means we are getting closer ad closer to the festival coming to a close, which is so sad! But before we shed tears let's look at the sheer terror of the Thursday night selections of medieval set Black Death and rape/revenge remake I Spit On Your Grave (2010).

Also check out my Day 7 Vlog!


Toronto After Dark operations director and programmer Shelagh Rowan-Legg introduces Black Death

Black Death
Dir: Christopher Smith (Severance)
Cast: Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, Carice van Houten, Tim McInnerny, Kimberley Nixon, Johnny Harris
UK

I was a little leery going into Black Death, as films set during times like the Plague and have anything to do with the Church and witchcraft tend to be extremely brutal, but a period piece with Sean Bean is something that I couldn't resist and I'm glad I didn't. The film is dark and brutal but the story and characters are compelling and complex, and keeps the viewer engaged throughout. It was actually very refreshing to see such a strong story driven period piece that although had action, it wasn't the focus so it certainly wasn't just bits of story to get us from action to action. It was a great story all the way through that was dark and heartbreaking but also rich and oddly inviting. It also had an astonishing atmosphere that was ripe with desperation and brutality. At the centre of the fantastic cast was Eddie Redmayne (Savage Grace) as Friar Osmund a young man of faith during the troubling times and he meets up with Ulric (Sean Bean) and his group of men who are also working under the directive of doing 'God's work' in regards to the plague. The film also features a fantastic performance by Carice van Houten (Repo Men) as Langiva, and it was awesome to see such a strong female character in the film and is likely one of the reasons I ended up liking it so much. It wasn't an easy watch and certainly had it's fair share of brutality and torture, but it was much more contained than I would have expected and honestly I think that made it very effective. Overall, a happy dark surprize of the festival.





I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Dir: Steven R. Monroe
Cast: Sarah Butler, Chad Lindberg, Jeff Branson, Daniel Franzese, Rodney Eastman, Andrew Howard, Tracey Walter
USA

I Spit on Your Grave (2010) was going to be the one film I was going to skip this year, as I don't enjoy films with rape or revenge, let alone both with are the focus of this remake of the 1978 film of the same name. But when I heard that the director would be in attendance, my curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to be there to hear the Q&A. In terms of the film, I'll give it that it's very clear what you are getting into and the festival was very clear about the intensity of it as well, it features a lot of sexual violence, torture and terror and I think it is important to know that going in. In terms of the film, it's well made, extremely well paced and every single thing in it contributes to making it tense and terrifying from concept to execution. I still don't understand the appeal of or interest in this kind of film though, or who the audience is and why they like it. But it was received well and there was lots of cheering throughout the gory revenge.

Warnings: sexual violence, torture, gore, disturbing imagery & ideas

See selections from the introduction and Q&A to I Spit on Your Grave (2010) with director Steven R. Monroe here.


Rue Morgue's Dave Alexander with I Spit on Your Grave (2010) director Steven R. Munroe

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 runs from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the introduction and Q&A of I Spit on Your Grave (2010) at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival on Thursday August 19, 2010 with director Steven R. Munroe.

Dave Alexander introduces director Steven R. Monroe & asked how got job doing the film:

Steven R. Monroe responds to question on what he thinks people should take away from the film:




Steven R. Monroe responds to question on what was most challenging during filming (spoilers):




Steven R. Monroe responds to question on if anything was left unused that will be on the DVD(spoilers):




Steven R. Monroe responds to audience question about Roger Ebert's response to the original film and the anticipated in response to the remake (spoilers):




Steven R. Monroe responds to audience question on what he did to prepare the actors:



Steven R. Monroe responds to audience question regarding the ending (spoilers):




The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 runs from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the introduction and Q&A of I Spit on Your Grave (2010) at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival on Thursday August 19, 2010 with director Steven R. Munroe.

Dave Alexander introduces director Steven R. Monroe & asked how got job doing the film:

Steven R. Monroe responds to question on what he thinks people should take away from the film:




Steven R. Monroe responds to question on what was most challenging during filming (spoilers):




Steven R. Monroe responds to question on if anything was left unused that will be on the DVD(spoilers):




Steven R. Monroe responds to audience question about Roger Ebert's response to the original film and the anticipated in response to the remake (spoilers):




Steven R. Monroe responds to audience question on what he did to prepare the actors:



Steven R. Monroe responds to audience question regarding the ending (spoilers):




The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010 runs from August 13 - 20, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.