Rafael Motamayor with five films are are excited to see at Fantasia Fest 2018…
We are mere days away from the 22nd Fantasia International Film Festival, and we can’t contain ourselves! The Montreal festival is one of the world’s foremost festivals for genre lovers, shining a light on new and established filmmakers from all around the world for their selection. With over a hundred feature films in their lineup in a variety of genres, it is challenging to narrow them to just one list. Here are just some of the films we are most excited to see as Fantasia 2018 runs from July 12th to August 2nd, in no particular order.
Mandy
The official closing film of the festival is one we have been anticipating since the words “chainsaw fight” first got uttered after Sundance. After conquering both Sundance and Cannes, Panos Cosmatos’ long awaited sophomore feature after the fantastic Beyond the Black Rainbow,is coming to Fantasia! The buzz cannot be overstated, as critics and audiences have been praising Nicolas Cage’s performance as one of the best in his career. Mandyalso features a killer electronic score from the great late Jóhann Jóhannsson helps create an atmosphere that’s straight out of hell for a film that goes from a revenge-tale to a drug-fueled surrealist nightmare.
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot
The title alone sold us on this. If it isn’t obvious enough, this film will follow the story of an American soldier called Calvin Barr (Sam Elliott), who leaves his true love behind to infiltrate enemy lines and kill Adolph Hitler in the heart of World War II. Decades later, Barr is needed again, this time to hunt the legendary Bigfoot, the carrier of a deadly plague hidden deep in the Canadian wilderness. Do we need to say more? Hitler and Bigfoot in the same film? Count us the hell in!
Bodied
This film premiered last yeat at TIFF and it promises to be one of the biggest conversation-starters in years, and also one hell of an intense ride! Directed by cult music video director Joseph Kahn, produced by Eminem, and starring American Vandal star Calum Worthy, Bodied satarizes today’s social and political climate in a way that is sure to offend everyone at least one, but will leave you giving it a standing ovation when it’s over. As Alam Merkin (Worthy) works on his Master’s thesis on the use of the n-word within the rap battling community, he stats infiltrating that world and find out he has quite a liking to it. This film is an outrageously wild comedy that deals with race, cultural appropiation and PC culture that will have you cheer at the power of rap battles as if you are watching two boxers punching the hell out of each other.
Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich
Yes, seriously. Despite what you may remember about the Puppet Master series, the latest installment in the franchise is a fresh take on the concept, with a script by none other than S. Craig Zahler (Brawl in Cell Block 99, Bone Tomahawk). Both a reboot and a standalone sequel, this film promises to expand on the mythology of the original Puppet Master, while delivering one of the craziest and wildest movies of the year that will leave audiences gasping and squirming at the offensive humour and gore. Starring fan-favourite Barbara Crampton who starred in the original film, and with legendary Udo Kier as the villain, you do not want to miss this film.
Anna and the Apocalypse
We sang the praises of this film last year when it made our list of festival movies to look forward to in 2018, and it is almost here! This film promises to be your new favourite Scottish Christmas zombie high school horror musical comedy, and add at least a couple of songs to your annual Christmas playlist. If you need a longer explanation than that, zombies invade the world, and Anna has to get back to her school where her dad is hiding from the zombies with the remaining people of her town. Will she make it? Will she kick ass? More importantly, will you be able to keep the songs out of your head for the rest of the year?
The 22nd Edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival takes place in Montreal July 12th – August 2nd. For the full lineup, head to fantasiafestival.com
Rafael Motamayor
