2026’s Fantasia International Film Festival was a whirlwind of ooey, gooey, poop-filled horror, densely stuffed with some of the year’s best genre flicks and animation. Check out my full coverage after the jump…
Films
BLAISE
Full review at the link.
BORN IN THE JUNGLE
Born in the Jungle is a colorful family adventure set in 1950s Venezuela that follows a young girl whose search for her missing brother leads her deep into a magical rainforest. Along the way, she discovers the beauty of the natural world while trying to rescue a mystical creature from poachers and return it to its legendary mountain home. The lush animation and sweet environmental message give the film a whimsical charm, though the storytelling remains extremely simplistic and geared toward very young children. While its heart is in the right place, the adventure never develops beyond a surface-level coming-of-age story.
BOWELS OF HELL
Full review at the link.
HOME BODIES
Home Bodies imagines a strange scenario in which two children are caught up in a maelstrom of chaos. Red and Blue are two children that have known nothing but a strange artificial experience, living together in a clinical environment, and watching mysterious videotapes meant to teach them lessons. A disembodied voice named Papa remains the only contact they have outside their own contained existence. When a strange robot ends up infiltrating their established dynamic, their established normalcy completely shifts. The whole thing comes off as an extended episode of Black Mirror, but feels too threadbare to maintain a full length film. There are some undeniable stylistic flourishes and a promising script, however, none of this gels for a satisfying whole.
THE MOUTHS
Full review at the link.
NIGHTBORN
Full review at the link.
NO REST FOR THE WICKED
Full review at the link.
SOMEONE’S DAUGHTER
Full review at the link.
SOUR MINNOWS
Sour Minnows aims for Lynchian surrealism and bizarro horror, but never finds the emotional or narrative foundation needed to make sense of its strange imagery. After they witness a group of men literally licking the pavement, two friends start losing track of all time and meaning. This hook quickly wears out its welcome as the movie blasts full steam ahead into wacky territory. The ambiguity feels frustratingly hollow, and the “yellow thing” that’s apparently responsible for the cosmic curiosities barely gets highlighted. A handful of moments made me uneasy, and some of the visuals are inspiringly gonzo.
UNHOLY NIGHT
Unholy Night is a completely baffling film, one which totally confuses its tone multiple times over. It’s supposed to be a horror comedy, but the comedy doesn’t ever hit the way it should. The initial setup is somewhat decent, focusing on an Italian family getting ready for a major get together. Gino (Marc Bendavid), the family screwup, must step up to the plate when his Nonna returns unexpectedly from the grave and ends up in the kitchen, cooking up something mysterious. What follows is a ridiculous, Evil Dead-inspired bit of nonsense that never comes together in any satisfying way. The effects are abysmal, the acting is spotty, and there is absolutely zero Christmas vibe from any of this. With so many great holiday-themed genre flicks on offer, recommending Unholy Night is a difficult ask.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah vs the Amazonistas of Planet X
Full review at the link.
For more information and to check out the full slate, check out the fest’s official website.