Two high profile sequels headline the Midnight Madness line-up at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. The selection will kick off with the World Premiere of Shane Black’s The Predator and will accompanied by the World Premiere of David Gordon Green’s Halloween, which arrives 40 years after the John Carpenter original. With The Predator opening on September 14, a mere week after the Midnight Madness screening, and Halloween opening on October 19, I have to admit that I am probably in no rush to see either of these films at the festival, especially since these are the films most likely to sell out their screenings. Thankfully, the rest of the Midnight Madness line-up features some solid selections.
Films that stick out to me throughout the Midnight Madness line-up include the North American premiere of Gaspar Noé‘s Climax, the World Premiere of In Fabric by Peter Strickland (The Duke of Burgundy, Berberian Sound Studio), and the World Premiere of Nekrotronic, Australian filmmaker Kiah Roache-Turner’s follow-up to the very entertaining 2014 zombie film Wyrmwood. A majority curiosity in this year’s Midnight Madness line-up is the Closing Film Diamantino, which a film from avant garde Brazilian filmmakers Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schmidt that doesn’t at all seem like the typical Midnight Madness fare.
Here is the full TIFF 18 Midnight Madness line-up:
Assassination Nation Sam Levinson | USA
International Premiere
Climax Gaspar Noé | France
North American Premiere
*Midnight Madness Closing Film*
Diamantino Gabriel Abrantes, Daniel Schmidt | Portugal/France/Brazil
North American Premiere
Halloween David Gordon Green | USA
World Premiere
In Fabric Peter Strickland | UK
World Premiere
The Man Who Feels No Pain Vasan Bala | India
World Premiere
Nekrotronic Kiah Roache-Turner | Australia
World Premiere
*Midnight Madness Opening Film*
The Predator Shane Black | USA
World Premiere
The Standoff at Sparrow Creek Henry Dunham | USA
World Premiere
The Wind Emma Tammi | USA
World Premiere