Here are our capsule reviews for the International Shorts After Dark showcase from the 2023 Toronto After Dark Film Festival.
International Shorts After Dark Showcase
Toad Boy
A school principal tries to help a troubled boy. This is a twisted short that builds up to a very body horror-ish climax.
Butterscotch
Best International Short Film
A boy learns that he shouldn’t steal candy from comatose men in care homes. This is a very freaky yet enjoyable film, filled with many demonic sight gags.
Nap
A group participates in a sleep study, requiring them to sleep until a specific time. However, one of them has significant insomnia. This short runs a little longer than needed, but the ironic final punchline is notable.
Original Skin
A woman struggles to be herself in a world where body-swapping is the norm. This short deals with themes such as body image and sexual orientation, ending with a final moment of catharsis.
The Old Young Crow
Best International Short Film
An Iranian man befriends a grieving Japanese woman in a cemetery. This is a heartwarming ghost story featuring a mix of live-action and animation.
Crushxd
After being hit by a car, a turtle is rebuilt bigger and stronger. There’s not much to this short, but it is cute.
The Heritage
Best International Short Film
A man is reunited with his father, discovering he is a large gelatinous blob. The Heritage is very much a gross-out body-horror short, which is quite reminiscent of Brian Yuzna’s Society. This is not for the weak-stomached.
Apotemnifilia
On opening night, something keeps the lead actress from leaving her dressing room. One only needs to look up the definition of the word Apotemnifilia to get an idea of what happens in this incredibly gory short.
Wayforward Gods
Mecha dragon versus rock’n’roll warrior. This CGI-heavy cyberpunk short is visually impressive, but comes across as little more than a proof of concept tech demo.
FCK'N NUTS
Sandy is afraid to let her boyfriend Dan meet her parents because they are quite literally nuts. From the producers of the equally insane Blood of the Dinosaurs, this short is based around a major pun, but the ultimate payoff is quite awesome.
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