The 13th annual Toronto After Dark Film Festival kicks off this evening. Spanning 9 nights, After Dark brings horror, sci-fi and action films from Canada and around the world to Toronto. Expect late nights and a deluge of fake blood. Here are five films to catch this year:
Tigers Are Not Afraid (Mexico)
The latest from director Issa López follows a group of orphaned children through the streets of Mexico. Told from the point of view of the children, Tigers Are Not Afraid mixes in magic-realism to create a dark fairy tale that has been compared to the work of Guillermo del Toro. Tigers Are Not Afraid garnered the Best Horror Picture Director award at its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in September 2017.
Tigers Are Not Afraid is the Opening Gala Film of the festival and screens on Thursday October 11 at 7PM.
Canadian Shorts After Dark Showcase
This year’s shorts program includes 7 films that span a wide range of horror, sci-fi and fantasy from the animated retelling of the Slavic folk tales in Bone Mother to the dark intersection of VR and real life in Gemini. The program also highlights local talent including Roney’s Glitter’s Wild Women which follows two sisters who harvest and smoke glitter on their isolated farm.
The Canadian Shorts After Dark Showcase screens on Sunday October 14 at 4PM. Select directors will be in attendance.
The Ranger (USA)
Punk rock and a pristine, isolated setting AND the unhinged park ranger who patrols that area come head to head in The Ranger. Jenn Wexler’s directorial debut follows a bunch of punks who head out into nature and right into an 80s style slasher film.
The Ranger screens on Wednesday October 17 at 7PM. Director Jenn Wexler will be in attendance.
The Dark (Austria/Canada)
This directorial debut from Justin P. Lange follows two young outcasts; Mina, who survives off of human flesh and Alex, a blind boy who she finds in the woods and decides to protect rather than hunt. Mina must protect Alex from the adults that are after him and carnage ensues.
The Dark screens on Wednesday October 17 at 9:30PM. Director Justin P. Lange and crew will be in attendance.
You Might Be the Killer (USA)
Inspired by a twitter thread, You Might Be The Killer is a romp through the dangerous world of summer camps that according to horror films are notoriously overrun with mass murderers. Camp counsellor Sam (Franz Kranz, Cabin in the Woods) calls up his best friend Chuck (Alyson Hannigan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) for advice regarding an axe-wielding killer who has been devastating his camp. While talking through Sam’s predicament, the two try to figure out who the killer may be.
You Might Be the Killer screens on Friday October 19 at 9:45PM and 11:59PM as the Gala Film. Director Brett Simmons and some cast and crew will be in attendance at the 9:45PM screening.
