For yet another year, Cinema Crazed will be covering the Fantasia International Film Festival, the 23rd edition running from July 11th to August 1st. The festival is famous for featuring some of the most acclaimed and highly anticipated genre films from around the world, and this year is featuring 130 films in its slate. Among them there will be the world premieres of MYSTERY OF THE NIGHT, BLOOD ON HER NAME, STARE, 1BR, THE DEEPER YOU DIG, and HOMEWRECKER; as well there will be events like screenings of classic horror like “The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue” and the rare TV movie “What Ever Happened to Rosemary’s Baby?”
With the site covering Fantasia again, these are five film premiering that we can’t wait to check out.
A Good Woman is Hard to Find
With a Special Advance Screening, the thriller “A Good Woman is Hard to Find” promises to be a truly fucked up thriller. Starring “The Mayans” Sarah Bolger, who was previously seen in the horror genre as the psychotic babysitter in “Emelie,” she stars as a mother doing anything to protect her children in a search to find her husband’s murder. Directed by Abner Pastoll of “Road Games,” will likely pack in some great revenge beats, startling violence, and another stunning turn by Bolger.
The Lodge
An official Selection of Sundance 2019, Karlovy Vary 2019, and the Overlook Film Festival 2019, “The Lodge” has been one of the most anticipated horror films of 2019. Directed by Veronika Franz of “Goodnight Mommy,” the film stars Riley Keough, Richard Armitage, and Alicia Silverstone as a family snowed in their cabin that begins experiencing horrifying circumstances. The less we know about it the better, but at this point all signs have indicated that “The Lodge” is going to be a genuine chiller that will be buzzed about by horror fans for years.
Ready Or Not
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (V/H/S) and Tyler Gillett (DEVIL’S DUE), “Ready or Not” looks like a fun, balls to the wall dark comedy with shades of “The Most Dangerous Game” and “Clue.” With break out genre star Samara Weaving headlining, she plays a young bride who is accepted in to a wealthy clan and becomes the target of a very gore soaked game of hide and seek. With an excellent cast (Adam Brody, Henry Czerny, Andie MacDowell), “Ready or Not” looks like a great spin with a dark premise that promises to be a classic. It will be screened specially from Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Stare
In the tradition of “Pulse” and “Ringu,” director, screenwriter, and author Hirotaka Adachi’s “Stare” promises to be a spooky, and chilling new ghost tale. “Stare” is set as a murder mystery where victims begin appearing at a shocking rate. They’ve apparently died from heart attacks that were brought on by extreme fear. Even worse their eyes have literally exploded from out of their heads. What I’m sure will be filled with memorable terrors and some great Eastern horror, “Stare” has its world premiere at “Fantasia” and introduces new, potentially iconic horror villain Shirai-san, a menacing entity that might give Sadako and Kayako a run for their money.
Vivarium
“Vivarium” looks like the ultimate domestic nightmare film that views a world that’s perfection at first glance, but an absolute bit of terror for the hapless couple involved. Following an acclaimed launch in Critics Week at Cannes, Irish filmmaker Lorcan Finnegan’s “Vivarium” will be making its North American debut at Fantasia 2019. Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg are a young couple seeking a house a picturesque neighborhood. There they find out that not everything is as it seems and they may have to fight to escape their lush suburbia. Compared to a “Twilight Zone” episode in the press release, I look forward to seeing what surprises this has in store.
The full lineup of all Fantasia 2019 films, events, and more can be found at the festival’s official website, www.fantasiafestival.com.
The Fantasia International Film Festival takes place in Montreal July 11 – August 1 2019, once again returning to the mammoth Concordia Hall Cinema as its main base, with additional screens at the Cinémathèque Québécoise, Cinéma du Musée, and the McCord Museum.