The 2024 edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival is less than two weeks away. This morning, tickets went on sale for this year’s selection of films. As such, I thought I would list, in chronological order, ten of the films that I am most interested in seeing during the week that I will be in Montreal.
Opening Night Film: Bookworm – Ant Timpson (World Premiere)
New Zealand filmmaker Ant Timpson reunites with his Come to Daddy star Elijah Wood for this adventure/comedy also starring Nell Fisher (Evil Dead Rise).
Shelby Oaks – Chris Stuckmann (World Premiere)
Executive produced by Mike Flanagan (Oculus), recipient of Fantasia’s 2024 Cheval Noir Career Award, this supernatural horror film follows in the footsteps of last year’s audience award-winning Talk to Me, in how it’s a horror film directed by a YouTuber. In this case, Shelby Oaks is the debut feature from Chris Struckman, funded by an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign.
Dark Match – Lowell Dean (World Premiere)
This fourth feature film from writer/director Lowell Dean (Wolfcop, Another Wolfcop, Supergrid) stars professional wrestling superstar Chris Jericho as a cult leader in this film that combines professional wrestling with demonic shenanigans.
The Beast Within – Alexander J. Farrell (World Premiere)
Kit Harington (Game of Thrones, Eternals) stars in this werewolf fable.
Chainsaws Were Singing – Sander Maran (International Premiere)
This Estonian horror musical comedy sold me based purely on the primary image.
Frankie Freako – Steven Kostanski (World Premiere)
This comic fantasy from writer/director Steven Kostanski (Manborg, Psycho Goreman) is described to being his homage to films such as Ghoulies and Puppet Master.
The Soul Eater – Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (North American Premiere)
The New French Extremity pioneers Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (À l’intérieur) comes this very scary-looking supernatural horror film.
The Dead Thing – Elric Kane (World Premiere)
This solo directorial debut from podcaster Elric Kane, produced by Rebekah McKendry (Glorious), is described as being a supernatural horror film about the demons of modern dating.
Witchboard – Chuck Russell (World Premiere)
Chuck Russell (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, 1988’s The Blob) writes and directs this remake of the 1986 cult classic
Párvulos – Isaac Ezban (World Premiere)
A dystopian coming-of-age horror story from Mexican writer/director Isaac Ezban (Evil Eye).
Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival. The festival takes place from July 18 to August 4, 2024, at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. We’ll see you there! Bon Cinéma!