by Jacqueline Valencia (Editors note: Both films are part of TIFF’s 2017 Contemporary World Cinema Programme) Miami (2017) dir.: Zaida Bergroth Director Zaida Bergroth’s Miami stars Krista Kosonen as Angela a charming show dancer and Sonja Kuittinen as her small town sister Anna. Anna finds her long lost sister and through admiration and a
by Jacqueline Valencia Tackling relationships in film authentically can be a tricky business, especially if they’re about broken or blended families. There’s nuances and intimacies that get glossed over many times in favour of getting on with the story. Then sometimes there are movies that make entire films about those
by Jacqueline Valencia The appeal of films like the late Tobe Hooper‘s Lifeforce is that I like being entertained. It doesn’t matter if the film is good or bad, I frankly would like to feel like I didn’t waste my time watching it. A good film provokes me to think or it makes
by Kayann Mitchell Happening amazingly for the first time ever with XX we have four female writer directors, Roxanne Benjamin, Karyn Kusama, Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent), and Jovanka Vuckovic coming together to channel their creative ju-ju into four tales of horror and suspense. Let’s see what the Ladies have to
by Kayann Mitchell I have seen ALL the Underworld series. And I am an unabashed fan of each one for exactly what they are. Fun thrill rides. Did Anna Foerster and add to the cannon with Underworld: Blood Wars? We open with Selene (Kate Beckinsale) still on the run from
by Kayann Mitchell I’m a massive fan of Andre Øvredal‘s Trollhunter. It was a fun bit of filmmaking. Highly recommended if you haven’t already seen it. Go forth now and do so. Its required viewing! This however is a different beast. We open on a murder scene that seems inexplicable to
by Jacqueline Valencia (Check out the8fest schedule here: http://the8fest.com/2016%20schedule.html) Toronto is the centre for amazing film and film industry. One of the hidden gems of the city is its great 8Fest, a festival that focuses on small-gauge film such as 8mm, Super 8, and 9.5mm. They also include loops, personal homemade
by Jacqueline Valencia There are staples when it comes to bad film. I mean, flops that were a flop for a reason and they’re fascinating to watch. Not everyone loved Ishtar, Glitter, or Lawnmower Man 2. Yet there are film lovers who also happen to be masochists with the films
by Kayann Mitchell With Bo Mikkelsen‘s feature film debut we take another journey into the Nordic Twilight,Scandinavia’s emerging genre movement. This time instead of werewolves here we parlay with the shambling undead. The film opens in the picturesque suburb of Sorgenfri where we meet Gustav (Benjamin Engell) and his family
by Kayann Mitchell With The Monster we have Bryan Bertino‘s third trip to the director’s chair after his debut The Strangers and his sophomore effort Mockingbird. And here he has brought us his first creature feature. As it opens we see a young Lizzy (Ella Ballentine) fending for herself till
Critical Focus 