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 … Continue reading Fantasia 2026 Wrap-Up
Fantasia 2026: Bowels of Hell
★★★ A horror movie about killer toilets? No, we’re not “shitting you”: Bowels of Hell is the real deal. This very strange movie transforms a facet of life into the source of an elaborately preposterous nightmare. The gross-out nature of the movie should prove to be pure camp, but instead, the filmmakers take this all … Continue reading Fantasia 2026: Bowels of Hell
Fantasia 2026: Nightborn
★★ When it comes to folk horror, we have been flooded as of late with some truly great gems: Midsommar, Apostle, Bring Her Back, The Witch. And then there’s Nightborn. Hopeful that the Finnish countryside setting and a dilapidated homestead would make for compelling genre fun, plus the addition of fan favorite actor Rupert Grint, … Continue reading Fantasia 2026: Nightborn
Fantasia 2026: The Mouths
★★★ Carrying a distinctly J-horror vibe, The Mouths is a welcome return to form for The Grudge franchise curator, Takashi Shimizu. The creeping dread has a careful build to it, leading to multiple sequences of super creepy ghost girls, crawling CGI ants, and bewitched trees. The whole film presents as bafflingly outdated in a cozy, … Continue reading Fantasia 2026: The Mouths
Fantasia 2026: Someone’s Daughter
★★★★ Canadian survival thriller Someone’s Daughter may seem on the surface to be a typical stuck-in-the-wilderness flick. However, in the vein of Sam Raimi’s excellent Send Help, this film has much more on its mind. After a riveting cold open that leaves the kidnapper dead, two unlikely people must work together to make it off … Continue reading Fantasia 2026: Someone’s Daughter
Fantasia 2026: No Rest for the Wicked
★★★★★ A moody, atmospheric gay love story set against the backdrop of a gorgeous fishing town? Count me in! No Rest for the Wicked is akin to Call Me By Your Name in the visuals department, even if the focal point is a love story even more tragic. The couple seems doomed from the moment … Continue reading Fantasia 2026: No Rest for the Wicked
Fantasia 2026: Zsazsa Zaturnnah vs the Amazonistas of Planet X
★★★★ For campy ridiculousness and queer joy, it doesn't get much better than preposterously-named Zsazsa Zaturnnah vs the Amazonistas of Planet X. Based on the Filipino sensation, this gem was a blast from start to finish, supercharged with a specific energy that I’ve only tasted from seasons of Drag Race Philippines. These characters, the super … Continue reading Fantasia 2026: Zsazsa Zaturnnah vs the Amazonistas of Planet X
Fantasia 2026: Blaise
★★★★ French gem Blaise is a joyous, laugh-out-loud funny delight. It's these kind of strange indie films that really mark the medium as all-encompassing. Those who think animation is strictly a cartoon for kids are missing out. A memorable oddity that embraces being different, much like its lovable protagonist, Blaise balances cringe comedy and political … Continue reading Fantasia 2026: Blaise
Five Must-See Films at 2026’s Fantasia International Film Festival
It's 2026, and another exciting year for the annual Fantasia International Film Festival! Check out my five picks for must-see titles after the jump… BLACK ZOMBIE In a bid to recontextualize the modern zombie—and to provide a historically accurate history of its derivation—Black Zombie may appear at first glance as a traditional genre documentary. Instead, this … Continue reading Five Must-See Films at 2026’s Fantasia International Film Festival
FrightFest 2025 Wrap-Up
2025's FrightFest UK tears through the noise to deliver a lineup of strange oddities and violent slashers. This unique genre festival kept me on the edge of my seat—and, in the case of some titles, anxious to turn on all the lights in my home. Don't miss my full coverage for the festival after the … Continue reading FrightFest 2025 Wrap-Up