Midnight Madness has always been a favourite refuge for dorks like me at the Toronto International Film Festival. Free of the stuffy attitude that plagues the rest of the festival, Midnight Madness is just about movies. Awesome movies. Midnight Madness is a showcase for the best in sci-fi, action, horror, animation and dark comedy from around the world. The lineup for this year is great, I can’t wait. Here’s the full list:
Jennifer’s Body – Karyn Kusama, USA (World Premiere)
A Town Called Panic – Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar, Belgium/Luxembourg/France (North American Premiere)
Bitch Slap – Rick Jacobson, USA (World Premiere)
Daybreakers – Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig, Australia/USA (World Premiere)
George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead – George A. Romero, Canada (World Premiere )
The Loved Ones – Sean Byrne, Australia (International Premiere)
Ong Bak 2 – Tony Jaa, Thailand (Canadian Premiere)
[REC] 2 – Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza, Spain (North American Premiere)
Solomon Kane – Michael J. Bassett, United Kingdom(World Premiere)
Symbol – Hitoshi Matsumoto, Japan (International Premiere)
Some great films to look forward to this year. I’m definitely going to be checking out Ong Bak 2, Daybreakers, Solomon Kane, Survival of the Dead and Jennifer’s Body. The directors and stars usually show up too. So we’ll probably have Q & A’s from George Romero, Willem Dafoe, Tony Jaa and Megan Fox to look forward to. I’m eager to hear Megan Fox speak.
The festival sells programme passes, so you can buy a Midnight Madness Pass which gives you tickets for all of the screenings. Even if you don’t end up going to all the movies, it’s still cheaper than individual tickets, and it guarantees you a seat — as long as you arrive on time. It’s the best option if you want to see any of these movies. As much as I don’t want September to be here (since it means the start of Winter in Toronto), I can’t wait!
Read more about the movies and see trailers for them after the jump. And be sure to check out the Official Toronto International Film Festival – Midnight Madness Programme.
Jennifer’s Body – Karyn Kusama, USA (World Premiere)
Jennifer’s Body tells the story of small town high school student Jennifer (Megan Fox) who is possessed by a hungry demon and transitions from being “high school evil”—gorgeous (and doesn’t she know it), stuck up and ultra-attitudinal—to the real deal: evil/evil. The glittering beauty becomes a pale and sickly creature jonesing for a meaty snack, and guys who never stood a chance with the heartless babe, take on new luster in the light of her insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, Jennifer’s best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried), long relegated to living in Jennifer’s shadow, must step-up to protect the town’s young men, including her nerdy boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons). Written and executive produced by Oscar-winning Diablo Cody (Juno).
A Town Called Panic – Stéphane Aubier and Vincent Patar, Belgium/Luxembourg/France (North American Premiere)
An outlandish animation style captures the absurd wit and surreal adventures of plastic toys Cowboy, Indian and Horse.
Bitch Slap – Rick Jacobson, USA (World Premiere)
In this campy action comedy from the creators of Xena and Hercules, three hot blooded women try to uncover some booty in the desert using feminine charms, fists, and machine guns.
Daybreakers – Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig, Australia/USA (World Premiere)
Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill star in this sci-fi horror about a future populated by vampires where humans are the minority.
George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead – George A. Romero, Canada (World Premiere )
Master director George A. Romero returns to his world of the undead, this time pitting two feuding clans in the middle of the fallout of a zombie epidemic.
The Loved Ones – Sean Byrne, Australia (International Premiere)
A troubled teen’s prom dreams are shattered by a series of painful events that take place under the mirrored disco ball, involving syringes, nails, power drills and a secret admirer in this wild mash-up of Pretty in Pink and Misery.
Ong Bak 2 – Tony Jaa, Thailand (Canadian Premiere)
Martial arts superstar Tony Jaa stars in and directs this epic tale of revenge set hundreds of years in the past. Featuring a huge cast and hordes of elephants, this prequel takes Jaa’s skills to the next level, showcasing him as a master of a wide range of martial arts styles – while proving him to be a promising director as well.
[REC] 2 – Jaume Balagueró, Paco Plaza, Spain (North American Premiere)
In the follow-up to the acclaimed [REC], a SWAT team enters the old apartment to control an epidemic with terrifying results.
Solomon Kane – Michael J. Bassett, United Kingdom(World Premiere)
From Robert E. Howard, the legendary creator of Conan, comes this tale of a savage mercenary in 16th Century England who owes the Devil his soul and seeks to redeem himself by fighting evil.
Symbol – Hitoshi Matsumoto, Japan (International Premiere)
Japanese comedy superstar Hitoshi Matsumoto (Dainipponjin) stars in and directs this absurd and outlandish comedy about a man trying to escape a unique dilemma.
