5 Must-Watch Films at the Fantasia Film Festival (2024)
Fantasia Film Festival | Despite what you might see in the news, indie film festivals are still alive. That being said, they do need your help. The Fantasia Film Festival has been serving up great indie films for Montrealers since 1996, and they plan to continue doing so for years to come. Last year was their largest festival, and the organization hopes that 2024 can surpass that.
If you’re a Fantasia first-timer, you can expect a range of great indie projects, from documentaries to dramas, comedies, and, most notably, horror (Fantasia’s bread and butter). Beyond the core feature films offered, there are other great films/events to check out, including shorts packages, live script readings, and special screenings.
Below are 5 “Must-Watch” Films from the Fantasia Film Festival This Year.
5. Chainsaws Were Singing
International Premiere
“Monty Python meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets… Les Misérables?” That’s how the makers of CHAINSAWS WERE SINGING describe their zany, gonzo, blood-soaked musical. A true DIY passion project from Estonian filmmaker Sander Maran, the film is about lovers split up by a chainsaw-wielding killer. Over a decade in the making, Maran not only directed but wrote, scored, shot, and edited this colourful murder-fest that is part gory horror movie and part ridiculous musical. While a true underground independent project, CHAINSAWS WERE SINGING more than makes up for its limits. The camerawork is inventive, the editing slapstick, and the tone absurdist. Most importantly, though, the songs are incredibly catchy (the chainsaw solo alone is worth the price of admission), and in the rarefied subgenre of horror-musicals, it’s clear that Sander is deeply indebted to Trey Parker and Matt Stone (especially CANNIBAL THE MUSICAL) and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.
Director: Sander Maran
Starring: Karl-Joosep Ilves, Laura Niils, Janno Puusepp
Thoughts:
“Chainsaws Were Singing” looks so absurd that it is almost destined for cult status. Directed by Estonian filmmaker Sander Maran, it was shot in 2013 and spent 10 years in post-production before finally getting its release this year. It has already won the Audience Choice Award at a previous festival, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it did the same here. Described by the director as Monty Python meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets Les Misérables, it promises to be a wild ride. The film is a musical comedy horror about two lovers separated by a chainsaw-wielding killer. This one will likely end up on a streaming platform like Shudder and be loved by many.
Tickets HERE
4. In Our Blood
World Premiere
“She’s not a bad person. She just made a lot of bad choices. And hurt a lot of people.”
Filmmaker Emily Wyland (Brittany O’Grady, THE WHITE LOTUS, STAR) is making a documentary about reconnecting with her estranged mother, Sam (Alanna Ubach, EUPHORIA) after a long decade of distance. A distance that began at the age of 13, when authorities forcibly removed her from their home due to her mother’s struggles with addiction. Now, Sam has reached out. She’s clean. She terribly wants to be back in Emily’s life. With her cinematographer Danny (E. J. Bonilla, THE OLD MAN, THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER) by her side, Emily heads to her hometown of Las Cruces, New Mexico, braced for anything that might come with the reopening of old wounds. They meet at Sam’s home. She seems to be doing better. She has so much to share. The following day, she disappears without a trace, and Emily and Danny soon learn that Las Cruces has become a place where vulnerable people regularly go missing. They desperately try to piece together a mounting multitude of disturbing clues before it may be too late.
Director: Pedro Kos
Starring: Brittany O’Grady, E. J. Bonilla, Alanna Ubach
Thoughts:
“In Our Blood” comes from Oscar-nominated director Pedro Kos. It stars Brittany O’Grady from “The White Lotus” and Alanna Ubach from “Euphoria.” The film follows Emily, who is trying to reconnect with her estranged mother, Sam, after being taken away from her due to her mother’s addiction. Kos uses his documentary experience within the narrative of this feature film. Early reviews suggest that the film is scary, exploring the real-life horrors of addiction while maintaining an indie feel. It’s a found footage-style horror that blends genuine emotional stakes with horror thrills.
Tickets HERE
3. 4PM
North American Premiere
Jung-in has been working as a professor his whole life, but he decides to take a break from his job and move into the countryside with his wife Hyun-sook. They notice another house in their area, so they leave a note inviting the resident for a visit to their humble abode. As they’re settling into their new home, a man named Yook-nam pays them a visit on the first day. However, they notice he starts stopping by their home every day at 4pm sharp in front of their door. When it’s 6pm, that’s when he decides to leave. Each visit entails two hours of agonizing, awkward and/or unsettling moments, which drives the couple absolutely crazy. They try to get rid of him, as he becomes more and more unbearable to be around. What started out as a peaceful gathering has become a nightmare for the couple.
Director: Jay Song
Starring: Oh Dal-su, Kim Hong-pa, Jang Young-nam
Thoughts:
Directed by Jay Song and starring Oh Dal-su, “4PM” is a tense psychological thriller. The film follows a couple who move to the countryside to escape city life. They are visited every day at 4 PM by a mysterious neighbor who leaves at 6 PM. These daily visits become increasingly unsettling as the couple tries to understand why he comes. The repetitive and eerie visits drive the couple to the brink, adding to the film’s tension.
Tickets HERE
2. Bookworm
World Premiere
Fantasia’s 28th edition is opening with a joyride into the wild. Behold: BOOKWORM. Eleven-year-old Mildred (Nell Fisher, EVIL DEAD RISE) is a super-precocious bookworm, wise beyond her years, with no patience for slackers or the generally uninformed. Despite living in stunning New Zealand, she’s being driven mad by a mundane existence, taking refuge in cherished novels where adventures live without limit. A sudden family crisis rattles Mildred’s world, causing her absentee father, Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood, YELLOWJACKETS), a washed-up American illusionist, to fly into New Zealand in an attempt to be… helpful? Or even the slightest bit present. You see, Strawn has been an absentee father in the most absolute sense, in that he and Mildred have never once met. Now, he’s there, much to his daughter’s unimpressed annoyance. As a bid at bonding, Strawn agrees to take Mildred out into the New Zealand wilderness for a camping adventure in search of a mythological beast that’s long held her fascination: The Canterbury Panther. A string of increasingly absurd and treacherous adventures unfold. Bonding isn’t always easy!
Director: Ant Timpson
Starring: Elijah Wood, Nell Fisher, Michael Smiley
Thoughts:
“Bookworm,” directed by Ant Timpson and starring Elijah Wood and rising star Nell Fisher, is an absurdist comedy. The film follows Wood’s character, a failing magician, who returns to New Zealand to bond with his estranged daughter by taking her on a wilderness adventure in search of a mythical beast. Despite their rocky start, the adventure is filled with absurd and treacherous moments. It is essentially an absurdist comedy that requires a certain kind of buy-in to the humor. With this cast, it is worth watching for those who appreciate its unique style.
Tickets HERE
1. Shelby Oaks
World Premiere
Who took Riley Brennan? That’s the question asked by millions of devoted, even obsessed 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. Conspiracy theories have run rampant over the years, but none are more determined to get to the truth than Riley’s sister, Mia (Camille Sullivan), who has finally agreed to telling Riley’s story to a documentary film crew (Emily Bennett and Rob Grant) in the hopes of finding closure. Closure, however, refuses to be found as a series of shocking events opens the door to a deeper mystery surrounding Riley, one that leads Mia to follow her ghost-hunting sister’s footsteps down a path to confront demons of the past and get answers that can only be found somewhere within the darkness of Shelby Oaks.
Director: Chris Stuckmann
Starring: Michael Beach, Keith David, Sarah Durn
Thoughts:
“Shelby Oaks” is a horror film about missing paranormal investigators, directed by YouTube film reviewer Chris Stuckmann in his feature debut. The story follows a YouTuber whose sister goes missing, leading to a search that uncovers dark and eerie secrets. Stuckmann, known for his passion for cinema, successfully crowdfunded the film and has garnered significant attention. The film’s acquisition by Neon and its intriguing premise make it highly anticipated. I am so excited to watch this film and see Stuckmann’s dream come to life. | Fantasia Film Festival
Tickets HERE
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