Toronto After Dark Announces its Lineup - Watch Out For "The Human Centipede"

It goes without saying that the Toronto International Film Festival is one of the big fests of the year. It ranks up there with Cannes, Sundance and Trebecca. It's also big for horror... because, in conjunction with TIFF, we get Toronto After Dark. Toronto After Dark is now in its 5th year and they bring attention to new, innovative, independent and international horror, sci-fi, action and cult films and they JUST released their 2010 lineup. What I like about it is that festivals like this are a good gauge for what's going to be hot over the next year or so. Festivals like this not only break films, but they break new sub-genres and film styles. So, as a writer or emerging filmmaker, it's good to look at what's coming out and it may even give you some ideas. Here's a link to the announcement, but I'm going to look at and discuss a few of the films that are screening.

"The Last Lovecraft" is a monster comedy where a group of social misfits battle an assortment of sea monsters that are trying to take over the earth. Now, I'm bullish on monster and creature films... and if you're a regular reader, you probably know that. It's interesting to see that the formula for zombie films is being taken to monster films, which is a new twist. I mean, there are so many zombie comedies that it's spawned a whole new sub-genre called the zombedy. These days, if it's not a comedy about social misfits fighting zombies, it's against the grain. So, I think this is big for the monster and creature sub-genres. Maybe not this particular film, but the fact that films like this are getting made and getting out there. Watch for more creature features and monster films... I think they're going to be big over the next year or so.

"Doghouse" and "Evil in the Time of Heroes" are both part of Toronto After Dark's Zombie Appreciation Night. Truthfully, how much gas is left in the zombie tank? It's unbelievable. But, people still love them and they still sell... so, guess what that means? They're going to keep making them. I mean, "Zombieland" was a big hit last year and Romero seems to be back on track, making a new dead film every couple years. I wouldn't venture this path, personally, but... it's interesting to see the legs that the genre has. Zombies seem to always sell.

"Human Centipede" and "Rubber" are both, simply, bizarre. I haven't seen "Rubber", but I've heard about it. It's about a killer tire with feelings and it screened at Cannes. "Human Centipede", I have seen and, well... it's about a scientist that wants to create just that - a human centipede. He wants to sew humans together, ass to mouth. You've gotta see it, it doesn't disappoint. The interesting thing is that these bizarre films are getting their due. I mean, the ideas are way out there, but people talk about them, they get a ton of buzz and people watch because they're intrigued. If you wrote a script called "Human Centipede" and submitted it to screenwriting competitions or to agents or managers, you're damn right it's going to get read. Why? Because it's called "Human Centipede". Writing or making bizarre films is a great way to get noticed, just make sure you can deliver when they get past the title.

Anyhow, I suggest you go through their site and check out all the films that are screening. Have a great weekend!

Film Fest Updates: Dark Carnival, Horror Hound, Toronto After Dark and... Watchmen

It's Friday and Brad's really nerding out over "Watchmen", which opens today. I think it's going to be interesting to see how this does. There's been numerous attempts to make this film and there's also been various screenplays roaming around. Most famously, Terry Gilliam was attached to direct and Charles McKeown to write for Warner Bros around a decade ago. In any case, "300"'s Zack Snyder did this version and, as you'd expect, he's apparently very faithful to the original comic. He used the comic as the storyboard, but extended fight scenes and added a subplot about energy resources. Long and short, the fanboys will dig this one... which could be the films downfall, as some are saying that it's a bit too complicated for people who haven't read the comic. Anyhow, it should be awesome... and it should have a big, big opening weekend. Whether or not it gets sticky like "300", is another issue.

Now, on to some news on the festival fronts...

Dark Carnival takes place in Bloomington, Indiana and they try to screen the best indie horror films from all over the world in the best possible venues, including a vintage drive-in and an historical 40's era theater. They're now accepting submissions and the dates have been set for 2009, which are September 28 - October 4. The big, and really cool, news is that they've just added a new screenplay competition and the winner will have their short screenplay (15 mins or less) produced into a movie that will premiere at the 2010 Dark Carnival Film Fest... I also like the fact that they support other festivals, as they're taking their show on the road, visiting horror conventions all over the Midwest. Next, they'll be setting up a booth at...

Horror Hound Weekend is March 27 - 29 at the Indianapolis Marriot East! Brought to you by Bloody-Disgusting and Re-Evolution and they've got a helluva line-up. First up, you get Derek Mears, who's the new Jason. By the way, did you hear they're already planning to make a sequel to the remake? Did I already mention that in another post? Anyhow, you also get Doug "Pinhead" Bradley, Bill "Chop Top" Moseley, Tom Savini and, uh... Corey Haim. Actually, Clint Howard will be there, too, and, God bless that guy. He's the shit, plain and simple... a few years back, he was making some awesome low-budget horror films, like "Ice Cream Man", "Leprechaun 2" and "Infested". I'm a big fan. There's lots of other guys going, too... looks like a good convention.

Lastly, one of the big festivals of the year is now open for entries. The Toronto After Dark Festival, which will be August 14 to 21, 2009, is a critically acclaimed, week-long showcase of "thrilling international cinema". Features After Dark is the core of the festival, which is a collection of exciting new feature-length films. That's not to say that they only accept features, they also accept shorts. Last year, they had sell-out screenings of "Let The Right One In", "Repo! The Genetic Opera" and "Tokyo Gore Police", but they also do tons of indie stuff. It's a good festival, both to attend and to submit to.

Have a good weekend! Go get drunk and check out "Watchmen"