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Toronto After Dark Releases Sneak Peak

Written by Adam A. Donaldson Thursday, 09 July 2009 19:44

The Toronto After Dark genre film festival is gearing up for another year of scares and fun having yesterday announced the first half of their 2009 line-up. Of course the slate isn’t the only thing that’s changed about After Dark this year, the festival has abandoned its October dates for something a little more summery, taking place over the week of August 14th-21st.

Among the eight films announced yesterday are a number of graduates of numerous renowned film festivals including Sundance, Venice and South By Southwest. The biggest film named yesterday was Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘R Treat, which features four intertwining stories that each take place on the same Halloween night. Dougherty was the screenwriter of X2 and Superman Returns, which were directed Bryan Singer who’s also Trick ‘R Treat’s producer. Anna Paquin and Brian Cox star.

In the returning category is Yoshihiro Nishimura, who directed the previous After Dark hit Tokyo Gore Police, and is bring his latest film, Vampire Girl Vs Frankenstein Girl,to the festival after its forthcoming Canadian debut at Fantasia. Also from abroad is José Mojica Marins, who’s bringing After Dark’s first ever Brazilian entry, Embodiment of Evil. Films making their Canadian premiere at the festival include Chad Ferrin’s Someone’s Knocking at the Door and Joko Anwar’s The Forbidden Door, while Gerald McMorrow’s Franklyn starring Ryan Phillipe and Eva Green will be making its North America debut.

Here’s the complete list and details on the announced films:

TRICK ‘R’ TREAT
Michael Dougherty, USA, Toronto Premiere
Four creepy crowd-pleasing stories intersect in this hugely anticipated feature, set on the night of Halloween. From Producer Bryan Singer (X-MEN, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, VALKYRIE) and starring TRUE BLOOD’s Anna Paquin and Brian Cox (MANHUNTER, BOURNE SUPREMACY).

GRACE
Paul Solet, Canada, Toronto Premiere
From Producer Adam Green (HATCHET) comes this creepy and shocking tale of one very desperate woman as she tries to satisfy the needs of her very special newborn baby, that will only eat…. human blood!

VAMPIRE GIRL VS FRANKENSTEIN GIRL
Yoshihiro Nishimura, Japan, Toronto Premiere
Hysterical and bloody, this one of a kind romantic horror comedy about two dueling dead girls at a high school is from the same deliriously warped Japanese minds that gave us last year’s Toronto After Dark Festival hit TOKYO GORE POLICE and the upcoming ROBOGEISHA whose recently released trailer has become a viral video sensation!

FRANKLYN
Gerald McMorrow, UK, North American Premiere
A stunningly original feature that blends three tales of human drama in present day London with another set in a fantastic futuristic steampunk world. Stars Ryan Phillipe (CRUEL INTENTIONS) and Eva Green (CASINO ROYALE).

THE FORBIDDEN DOOR
Joko Anwar, Indonesia, Canadian Premiere
From the genius mind of Joko Anwar (DEAD TIME: KALA) Indonesia’s current master of genre cinema, comes this dark hypnotic thriller about an increasingly mentally unstable artist trying to uncover several dark secrets including what lurks in his new house, behind a mysterious door.

EMBODIMENT OF EVIL
José Mojica Marins, Brazil, Toronto Premiere
After a 40-year hiatus, José Mojica Marins returns to direct and portray the character that has made him a Brazilian horror icon, the notorious Coffin Joe. In this latest tale featuring the psychotic undertaker, Joe is released after many years in prison, only to continue with his eternal, bloody rampage to find the perfect woman to carry his seed.

BLACK
Pierre Laffargue, France, Toronto Premiere
A crowd-pleasing action-packed throwback to cult classic Blaxploitation cinema, BLACK follows one charismatic criminal’s quest to steal a horde of African diamonds against impossible odds that include Russian mercenaries and a supernatural witch doctor! Starring MC Jean Gab (DISTRICT B13).

SOMEONE’S KNOCKING AT THE DOOR
Chad Ferrin, USA, Canadian Premiere
In this hypnotic throwback to psychedelic horror from the 70s, a group of medical students find themselves facing a double-peril on campus: fending off a depraved serial killer while dealing with terrifying hallucinations caused after ingesting experimental drugs. Stars indie genre rising star Noah Segan (BRICK, DEADGIRL)

The rest of the slate will be announced on July 29th, and single show tickets will go on sale the same day. All access passes are currently on sale and are available at the film festival’s website at http://torontoafterdark.com/2009/