[FANTASIA 2018] Preview: The Top Ten Must-See Movies!

This year’s genre festival extraordinaire is just around the corner! Fantasia 2018 runs from July 12th through August 2nd in Montreal, Quebec, and I REALLY wish I was going to be there. Alas, I’m in the wrong part of North America and don’t have the requisite money or time to attend, even if I were in the right locale. Thankfully the fine folks behind the scenes at Fantasia have reached out and offered remote coverage availability!

I have no idea as of now as to what exactly I’ll be able to see that the fest has to offer (and it’s a LOT), but I figured I do a little round up of what looks and sounds like the best of the fest, along with a handful of honorable mentions. Chances are I’ll get to see a few of them! I won’t be including the many wonderful classic and retro screenings scheduled, like Gremlins and The Howling, nor the workshop sessions with Michael Ironside and Timur Bekmambetov that I would love to be at.

10. TALES FROM THE HOOD 2 

Sight unseen, I’m giving this a must-see status. 23 years later we’re finally getting a sequel to the comedic horror anthology that gained a nice cult status over the years. Writers/producers/directors Rusty Cundieff and Darin Scott are returning as will as executive producer Spike Lee to deliver a new set of racially charged, societal-warping tales of terror. For one reason or another, Clarence Williams III isn’t back, replaced by the enigmatic Keith David as our storyteller Mr. Simms! I’m on board for him alone.

9. ONE CUT OF THE DEAD 

In something of an odd twist, writer/director Shin’ichiro Ueda’s zom-com is a look behind the scenes of filming a low budget zombie movie, where the crew encounter actual zombies… captured in a one-take and told three times from different perspectives. To be honest I don’t really care if this is good or not, it looks splattered in gore and humor, and I just have to see how this is pulled off.

8. NIGHTMARE CINEMA

Mick Garris wrangled up some talented buddies; this is an anthology from Joe Dante, David Slade, Ryuhei Kitamura and Alejandro Brugues (and Garris). Our wrap around host is Mickey Rourke. I don’t know what else you need to know, I’m SOLD.

7. PROFILE

Timur Bekmambetov’s take on the one-screen experience (not unlike Unfriended: Dark Web or Searching, both also at Fantasia) is a true story of a journalist in 2014 who wanted to investigate ISIS recruitment of western women, and played a dangerous game by playing the bait herself. Things get intensely out of hand. I’m really looking forward to this, and here’s Bekmambetov talking a bit about the movie.

6. THE DARK

A gorgeously shot, atmospheric entry from Justin P. Lange is a play on the Let the Right One In concept, where a damaged boy becomes unlikely friends with a very dangerous girl and together they discover a little bit of hope in the darkness. These two clips are more than enough to get me excited.

5. THE RANGER

The second I saw this trailer, I was ready to track the movie down. From indie-horror producer Jenn Wexler, making her feature directorial debut! I just love the style, looks like a genuinely retro slasher rather than one playing up to the 80’s. I’m hoping this is as good as it appears, and I’m definitely in favor of more female voices in horror.

4. GONJIAM HAUNTED ASYLUM

This Korean found footage movie rocked their country a few months ago to become their most successful horror film since A Tale of Two Sisters FIFTEEN YEARS AGO! WellGo did a limited release here in the states, though it didn’t reach my neck of the woods. This should be out on video in the near future, but I simply can’t wait! You shouldn’t either. This looks like a terrifying experience set in one of the most infamously haunted places in the world.

3. CHUCK STEEL: NIGHT OF THE TRAMPIRES

I think the trailer really speaks for itself here. The Raging Balls of Steel Justice short film that inspired this is on YouTube and highly worth watching as well.

2. LUZ

Wow. The look of this thing is beautiful, recalling some of the grand, hazy style of some of the  European auteurs from the 70’s. I glanced over the synopsis of this, but decided not to pay much attention as I feel this is the type of film that deserves to unspool the story. The trailer is a nice tease that doesn’t give anything away, really.

1. MANDY

I don’t think I really need to explain this one. It looks bonkers and beautiful.

Other titles of note: AJIN: DEMI-HUMAN, ARIZONA, BELIEVER, BIG BROTHER, BLEACH, BOILED ANGELS: THE TRIALS OF MIKE DIANA, BROTHER’S NEST, BUYBUST, CAM, DETECTIVE DEE: THE FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS, THE FIELD GUIDE TO EVIL, INUYASHIKI, LÔI BÁO, THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT, PIERCING, A ROUGH DRAFT, THE SCYTHIAN, TERRIFIED, THE VANISHED, WHAT KEEPS YOU ALIVE, THE WITCH PART I: THE SUBVERSION, along with a ton of other films on my radar from previous festivals. Fantasia 2018 is massive!

Are you attending this year? Even if not, which of these are you on board with as well? Express yourself in the comments below, and look out for reviews in the next few weeks to come!