From July 18th to August 4th, Montreal will host the 28th edition of the Fantasia Film Festival. This year, Contra Zoom Pod is thrilled to be covering the festival for the forth year in a row! Over the last few years, Fantasia’s given us amazing films like Sometimes I Think About Dying, river, and Polaris, and this year’s slate looks no less promising. In fact, the hardest thing about writing this preview was narrowing down the list of films I’m excited for to a readable length!
Directed By: Tilman Singer
Starring: Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, Martin Csokas, Jessica Henwick
Synopsis: American teenager Gretchen is forced to move in with her father and his new wife while they redesign a resort in the Bavarian Alps. Her father’s boss, the initially friendly Herr König, gives her a desk job at the resort, but from her first night on the job, Gretchen experiences a series of unsettling events, and soon becomes embroiled in a sinister plot.
Why I’m Excited: Fresh off her supporting role in the Hunger Games prequel (which I reviewed back in November), Hunter Schafer came out swinging in 2024, securing a role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Cannes-premiere Kinds of Kindness, and a starring role in a little film premiering in Berlin called Cuckoo. From the rave reviews the film has consistently received since its premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in February, Cuckoo looks to be the highlight of Schafer’s current moment. What’s more, Cuckoo teams Schafer up with Dan Stevens, another actor who hit the ground running in 2024, starring in Abigail and Godzilla vs. Kong, as well as a voice role in the localization of last year’s The Boy and the Heron. With a pairing like that, it’s really no surprise that Cuckoo draws huge crowds whenever it hits a festival, and Fantasia will certainly be no different.
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
Directed By: Soi Cheang
Starring: Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Philip Ng
Synopsis: In Hong Kong’s densely populated Kowloon Walled City, criminal gangs filled the void left by the absence of any municipal authority by the 1950s. Points of contention were settled with blades, not ballots, and none could challenge the power of gang lord Mr. Big — until Cyclone arrived. Fast-forward to the 1980s and Cyclone, a brilliant administrator as much as a brutal martial artist, is the de facto mayor of the crumbling concrete labyrinth, while the Mr. Big nurses his resentments from his dockyard fortress. When Chan, a desperate Chinese refugee, becomes a problem for both of them, the feud between gang-lords is reignited.
Why I’m Excited: Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In stars the who’s-who of Hong Kong action stars in a sprawling, loosely historical martial arts epic. Already released in Hong Kong, it’s now the second-highest grossing domestic film there of all time. I was sold as soon as I saw the first image of Sammo Hung as Mr. Big, but every time I hear this film brought up, I just get more excited. From stills and trailers, the film looks beautiful, and clearly features some of the best action we’ll see this year. Twilight had its international premiere at Cannes with a midnight screening, and I can’t imagine a better night than one filled with high-energy action from the best film industry to ever do it.
Directed By: Alexandre De la Patellière, Matthieu Delaporte
Starring: Bastien Bouillon, Anaïs Demoustier, Laurent Lafitte, Pierre Niney, Anamaria Vartolomei
Synopsis: Marseille, 1815: Edmond Dantès has just been promoted to captain, as he prepares to marry his sweet Mercedes. Unfortunately, the treachery of jealous peers leaves him to rot in the dismal dungeon of the Château d’If for 14 years. There he meets Abbé Faria, who schools him in languages, history, sciences, and weaponry so that one day he can even the score for the affront he has suffered. After Dantès escapes, he returns home to orchestrate his ruthless revenge.
Why I’m Excited: Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo has been adapted countless times across all mediums, including well over a dozen films. However, the last film adaptation was in 2002, and the last French film adaptation was in 1968. Alexandre De La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte’s recent adaptation finally brings the story back for a French audience, and fittingly premiered Out of Competition at this year’s Cannes film festival, where it earned an 11-minute standing ovation. The film was released to general audiences in France a few weeks ago on June 28th, and while news about an international release has been scarce, initial reactions indicate critical and commercial acclaim. It looks like Edmond Dantès will finally have his day, and with the film’s premiere at Fantasia, he can do it on this continent, too!
Directed By: Chris Stuckmann
Starring: Camille Sullivan, Emily Bennett, Rob Grant, Keith David
Synopsis: Who took Riley Brennan? That’s the question asked by millions of devoted fans of the popular YouTube series Paranormal Paranoids, which ceased production when Brennan and her three co-hosts disappeared near the deserted town of Shelby Oaks, Ohio in 2008. No one is more determined to get to the truth than Riley’s sister, Mia, who agrees to tell Riley’s story to a documentary film crew in the hopes of finding closure.
Why I’m Excited: Back in 2022, the Kickstarter for Chris Stuckmann’s YouTube-centred horror debut Shelby Oaks netted over 5 times its goal of $250,000, smashing the previous record for the most-funded horror film on the platform. Since then, the film has added major names like Keith David to the cast, and Mike Flanagan as a producer. As is clear from his YouTube channel – which continued regular uploads throughout the production of Shelby Oaks – Stuckmann knows what he’s talking about when it comes to talking about filmmaking, so I’m excited to see how he takes to doing it. The mockumentary format and subject matter surrounding YouTube ghost hunters also happens to be right up my alley
Directed By: Steven Kostanski
Starring: Conor Sweeney, Kristy Wordsworth, Adam Brooks
Synopsis: Conor is a square. He doesn’t swear, thinks holding hands with his gorgeous wife Kristina is a wild night, and goes to bed well before 9pm. When his slimy boss, Mr. Buechler and Kristina call him out on his squareness, Conor is deeply offended. Determined to prove them wrong, he’s lured by a 1-900 ad promising the party of a lifetime with a creature named Frankie Freako.
Why I’m Excited: Fans of Canadian horror movies will be instantly familiar with the name Steven Kostanski. In addition to directing Manborg, The Void, and 2020’s PG: Psycho Goreman, Kostanski’s lent his talent as an effects artist to this year’s breakout horror hit In a Violent Nature and even Star Trek: Discovery. Kostanski’s effects call back to creature features of the 80s and 90s, showing a real love for the genre and a knack for the same kind of humour. Early synopses of Frankie Freako recall Beetlejuice, while early promotional images are reminiscent of Re-Animator and Ghostbusters. And being from the same guy that put out PG, signs point to Kostanski delivering on all that and more.
Honourable Mentions
Kizumonogatari – Koyomi Vamp, 100 Yards, Carnage for Christmas, Darkest Miriam, Oddity
What are you most excited to see at this year’s Fantasia Film Festival? Let us know and be sure to check back for reviews and podcasts from the fest!
