Is that time again!!
We are gearing up for this year Fantasia international Film festival that will run from July 16 to August 3, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec.
Last year we had the honor to cover the festival remotely, we saw a lot of great films, and this years is looking even better!
The hard part is not covering the festival, the hard part is having to choose WHICH films we want to cover and which we have to let go. (yeah… the downside of sleeping more that 5 hours a day, and having a day job)
Here is a list of the films we will be chasing (and hopefully we can get more!)
All you need is Kill
“An extraterrestrial intruder, a massive plant-like behemoth called Doral, has taken root on Earth and is wreaking havoc. Toiling away at the eradication of this invasive species are teams of young volunteers with advanced-tech gear, including sullen loner Rita. She awakes one seemingly normal morning, and attends to her regular duties—until Doral suddenly spouts forth a torrent of murderous monsters, and Rita’s life is snuffed out in an instant. The very next instant, she awakes on the same seemingly normal morning…”
If you saw tom Cruise’s Film “The Edge of Tomorrow” you probably know that it was loosely based on a Japanese novel called “All you need is Kill” written by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.
I love the film, I love the novel, I love the manga that adapted the novel, I was NOT a big fan of the American comic adapting the novel (although it was decent) so OF COURSE I want to see this animated film.
For the looks of the trailer, this is sort of a prequel of the novel, as it will show the story of Rita, the first soldier that was able to relive her most recent days every time she is killed.
Good Boy
“From the first moment you see him, you know that Indy (playing himself) is a very good boy, as loyal as a dog can be to his human, Todd (Shane Jensen). Todd has uprooted Indy to his late grandfather’s (Larry Fessenden!) remote house upstate, and before he even sets foot in the house, Indy can sense something’s not right. It’s not just that the house is in the middle of nowhere and seriously dilapidated, there’s something there that Indy can sense that Todd cannot. Todd has his own problems—he’s dealing with a mysterious illness and a worried sister (Arielle Friedman) who won’t let him be, and he can’t see what Indy sees. And what Indy sees is a mysterious presence that draws his suspicions while also drawing him in. Indy can only do so much to warn his human (he’s a dog, after all), but he’s going to protect him with all his heart before what’s haunting this house comes for them both. Because Indy is not just a good boy, he may be the bravest and smartest boy of all.”
A horror movie where the dog is the main character? Hey… I am intrigued!
El Llanto (The Wailing)
“In modern-day Madrid, Andrea’s world is being turned violently upside-down, haunted by a terrifying entity that she can neither see, understand, or explain. Twenty years ago, thousands of miles away, in La Plata, Marie is being tormented by the very same presence. A third woman, Camila, has a gut-wrenching understanding of what’s happening, but nobody will believe her. In their darkest moments, each will hear the same, terrible sound. A ghostly wailing will overwhelm their senses.”
This one has been on my radar for some time, as some fellow podcasters from Spain have mentioned several times the plot and got me intrigued. I am a big fan from Spanish horror movies, and Latin American horror in general, so of course I want to see this.
Doll House
A couple that recently lost their child try to get over their grief with a life size doll. After they have a second child, the doll gets neglected and abandoned… but some years later, the new child finds the doll and strange things start to happen.
Japanese horror…. I can’t have enough of it. I am not familiar with the director Shinobu Yaguchi previous works as they dabble more into comedy, but the premise got me hooked. Pump it on my vein!
New Group
This film takes the whole concept of «The nail that sticks out gets hammered down» to the extreme:
For no clear reason, some students start forming a human pyramid in the soccer field, motionless and silent. Little by little more and more students join and the ones that refuse are beaten or worse. Ai and Yu, a pair of students that seem not very happy with the idea, decide to escape, but I imagine, this won’t as simple as playing hooky and skip classes.
The director Yuta Shimotsu’s first film “Best Wishes to All”, was an interesting film, and although I was not 100% sold on the final product, I liked the concept a lot and I recommend you to watch it.
This one also sounds very interesting. Let the nightmares begin!
It Ends
“As these four college friends get together for one last night out before going their separate ways, they find themselves taking an unexpected turn down an unending road that literally goes nowhere. They keep going and going, with no end or turns in sight, quickly realizing that they’re stuck on an infinite road in a car that now uses up no gas and tracks no miles. They can stop for limited periods of time, but they cannot shut the engine off or venture out without inviting danger.”
The premise reminds me of Isaac Ezban’s “The Incident” (a film that I LOVED), where some characters are trapped on a road that never ends (and some stairs too) and I am very interested in seeing what twisted turns and dangers will be chasing the characters on this story. I am a sucker for this kind of stories.
Soy Frankelda (I am Frankelda)
“Recently orphaned and rebellious by nature, Francisca Imelda finds consolation in her solitary pastime, writing tales of fear and fantasy. The words she scribbles, however, are more than just a balm for her hurting heart. They are the connective tissue linking the real world we recognize around us to another one. Just as day needs night and light needs shadow, the 19th-century Mexico where she resides exists in parallel to a world of fiction, imagination, dreams… and nightmares. Herneval, the young owl-boy prince of that land, is drawn to her voice and seeks to breach the wall between the two worlds, while his parents contend with a festering conspiracy that could spell disaster for both. When the two young ones meet, a bond between them begins, but can they prevent everything, truth and fiction alike, from being torn apart?”
Is a Fantasy stop motion film, made in México.
HOW CAN I NOT BE EXCITED FOR THIS? ‘nuff said!
Redux Redux
“Desperate to avenge her daughter’s murder by any means necessary, Irene Kelly (Michaela McManus) journeys through parallel dimensions to repeatedly track down and annihilate her killer (Jeremy Holm, HOUSE OF CARDS). Deliverance by any kind of weapon. Every kind of weapon. All she can do is stab, shoot, and maim with a rage that’s devouring her, yet gives her singular purpose and meaning. Even as it threatens to corrode her humanity beyond any possible point of return”
Who doesn’t love a good revenge story? And having the chance to repeat your revenge time and time again? Last years at Fantasia we had the chance to review “Penalty loop” and I liked a lot. I am intrigued in what new ideas will be brought to this theme.
Now … I am a fan of the sub genre “The odd ones team up to battle evil” (Kids vs Aliens, Attack The Block, Vampires Vs The Bronx). This year I see 3 films that can scratch that itch:
Hold the Fort
A couple that moved into the suburbs discovers that the neighbors may or may not be opening a portal to hell from where monsters come to visit and create chaos… no biggie.
The creators promise gore and laughs… I’m down.
Holy Night: Demon Hunters
Is Don Lee (Train To Busan) fighting Demons and kicking ass… I don’t need to know more.
Straight Outta Space (Straatcoaches vs alien)
Hood from the Netherlands vs Aliens from Space… Place your Bets!
Now… while there are several anime/manga/manwua live action adaptations in this year’s Fantasia, I have to aim stright for this one!
Ya Boy Kongming! The Movie
I am huge fan of the anime, I was not aware that there was a live action TV show, and I want to see this film… No need to say more… I’m weird and I’m fine with it.
“The legendary military strategist Zhuge Kongmin left his mark on China’s War of the Three Kingdoms by saving the great Liu Bei and his people with the most daring bluff in history. Standing alone in front of the invaders, calmly playing his violin, he raised doubts among the enemy, who eventually retreated, fearing that reinforcements had arrived. Despite this astounding feat, Kongmin has still had to reorient himself. Following his inexplicable reincarnation in the Shibuya district of modern-day Tokyo, he’s now managing the career of a young amateur singer, Eiko, after being bewitched by her voice. Believing that his protégée’s music could bring about universal peace, Kongmin engages in a series of schemes to get Eiko a place in a tournament between the three major record companies. However, he who seeks peace must prepare for war, for the strategist of a rival company, Shin, seems to know many secrets that could compromise Kongmin’s involvement in this boisterous musical celebration.”
And I got more films I’ll be chasing down, but these will be my main targets (FOR NOW)
Let’s hope I can get to see them all!
Which films are YOU interested in seeing?
