So…Many….Movies
At the time of this writing, we will be on our way to Toronto for the 51st Toronto International Film Festival. And we’ve watched over 60 festival films so far, a new personal record and an insane number of movies to watch before the fest even starts. All that legwork of one film after another has led us to be your guide through this massive fest. There are so many films to see, and we’ve got some great recommendations that may be off the beaten path of awards-buzzed titles but still worth making some time for nonetheless. Here’s another quick list of films we’re excited for more people to check out!
Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother
It’s good to have Mahershala Ali back on screen again. Long trapped in the MCU Blade fiasco, the Award winning actor returns with an absolute heater in Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. Written and directed by Bassam Tariq, the film is sure to surprise some viewers with its humor and heart, both of which permeate much of this man against the world protecting his family thriller. Expectations are subverted in the best of ways and Ali has never been better. Though it releases in theater very shortly after the fest, this is one of those films that is a must watch if you’re in Toronto. It fits the perfect Venn diagram between most anticipated and hidden gem should certainly be prioritized.
Inherit
Speaking of hidden gems and lowkey bangers, Inherit is a wonderful discovery on the TIFF lineup. Coming through like a lightning rod, this film is easy to overlook and leave lost in the shuffle but should be immediately flagged as a must see. Deeply Midnight Madness adjacent, Davika Hoorne is devilishly delightful, powering this spiritual, cursed family thriller and giving her best performance yet. I adored her in A Useful Ghost, and Inherit lets her spread her wings and have a ball. Strap in, folks. Inherit is gnarly, drawing from some of the best horror/thriller films of the last decade to deliver frights, gasps and intrigue in fresh new ways. You NEED to put Inherit on your list! Just trust me. If there was ever a discovery to be made at the festival, one no one is talking about but won’t stop talking about after they see it, Inherit is the dark horse leader.
Back In Black
I’m a sucker for a good pitch black comedy, and Back in Black wholly embraces its twisted absurdity. Death and murder have never been so tongue in cheek, and blend of dark humor with a killer thriller element works more than you’d expect. Back in Black is just the right amount of good weird, totally in on its own joke and living to entertain. It smartly utilizes its tropes to exaggerate its premise rather than try to ground it in any kind of reality despite taking place in a small, idyllic town. Movies can just be fun sometimes, and Back in Black can serve as a nice little palate cleanser amid the vast amount of heavy dramas and tear jerking Oscar bait pictures. Carve out some time to have a good time with Back in Black.
Midnight Madness
This section of the festival is always packed with genre bending and genre forward films and usually blows the roof off for rowdy crowds looking to hoot and holler at the screen. I’m old, so I can’t do more than one of these at midnight, but it’s never a bad time and you definitely make a commitment to stay up late and catch at least one. A few recs from the slate that we recommend: first up, Half. You had me at martial arts and vampires, a perfect combo for a bordello of blood and mastery of mayhem. You’ll get both in Half, with plenty of brutal kills and well staged fight scenes that really go for broke as they escalate.
River and Kick On are also on the Midnight Madness must watch list. River kicks off the fest as the opening night film, which is always a good sign. Opening night films include The Substance and Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie, so River is in very good company. It also stars Jane Levy, returning to horror and reminding everyone that while she’s very funny and adorable in her TV shows, she’s got Scream Queen in her bones. Kick On is poised to be the big surprise of the Madness lineup. Drugs, mobsters and over the top violence? Ya, go ahead and sign me all the way up for this!
Speed Round
We’d be here all day if I gave very film their own section, so let’s do a quick speed round for some other films I want to highlight. Voices possesses a laundry list of things I love in cinema; chamber piece, single setting, period piece, and it’s also a Motown inspired musical? Ok, you have my attention. An ambitious genre hybrid that may not bring all of its elements together cleanly but deserves your time simply for the attempt of something singular and unlike anything else you’ll see on the lineup. Voices is gonna find its cult audience quickly, and who the film is for will be all in on what it’s doing.
Idda caught me by surprise with its emotional core and gorgeous landscapes. The two lead women are incredible as friends with shared love and betrayal between them over the years. It would make a great double feature with last year’s TIFF film Erupcja, another surprise hit for me and my heart. Atonement hit me like a ton of bricks. An emotional gut-punch of a film that has one of the most riveting opening 30 minutes to any film you’ll see this year. Beautifully crafted, poignant and sporting a career best performance from Boyd Holbrook, Atonement is a special film that will leave you shattered but also filled with hope.
Last Call…For Now
Super speed run: Angh is a quiet ancestral look at the loss of traditions amid the ever expanding colonialism. A little too long for its own narrative (probably more impactful as a long short), but I found this alluring and fascinating and its reconstructions really well crafted. Watcha Want is like Step Up meets Crazy Rich Asians and hit me at the perfect time. Light, breezy, and charming, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the cheesy power of dance and the reclamation of autonomy under traditional patriarchy.
Glaxo may take a while to get going, but once the pieces start falling into place it really sits with you after the credits roll. Adapting complex novels is always challenging, and Glaxo doesn’t quite wrap its around its source material cinematically, but when it hits its stride its quite profound and bittersweet. Endings can really make or break a film, and luckily Glaxo lands the plane and is worth your time. Strong Son and Brace Your Heart show the smaller, indie side of the festival and both examine personal trauma in engaging ways. And Toy Gun Bandit and Salvation both follow two protagonists who just can’t get out of their own way and make every situation worse with their bad decisions.
Many more films on the way! Stay tuned!
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