Film enthusiasts can prepare to be frightened out of their chairs this Halloween season, as the Toronto After Dark Film Festival has just announced the first 10 movies that are set to play at this year’s edition. The entries, which include new horror, sci-fi, action and cult films, will have their premieres during the 10th annual event, which will run from October 13-23 at the Scotiabank Theater in Downtown Toronto.
Check out the complete list of the newly announced first 10 movies that are set to play at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2015, along with their trailers and posters, below:
The New Zealand horror comedy, ‘Deathgasm,’ which was written and directed by Jason Lei Howden and will have its Toronto premiere at the festival, will serve as one of the event’s Closing Gala film. The movie, which has taken the festival circuit by storm since its debut at SXSW, follows a group of metalhead outcasts unwittingly unleash a horde of vicious demons upon their sleepy suburban neighborhood. Now they’ll have to engage in an epic duel of blood and metal with Satan’s hordes if they’re to win back their town.
The US horror film, ‘Tales of Halloween,’ will also have its Toronto Premiere and serve as one of the Opening Gala movies, comes from such acclaimed filmmakers as Neil Marshall (‘The Descent’), Lucky McKee (‘May’) and Darren Lynn Bousman (‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’), Paul Solet (‘Grace’). The directors teamed up to deliver 10 wickedly entertaining tales of terror all set on the same hellish Halloween night. The huge cast of fan favorites joining into deliver thrills and chills galore include John Landis, Adrienne Barbeau, Joe Dante, Barbara Crampton, Lin Shaye and Barry Bostwick.
The American action sci-fi comedy, ‘Lazer Team,’ which will make its Canadian premiere at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2015, shows web series gods Rooster Teeth as they hit it out of the park with their feature film debut. The movie, which was directed by Matt Hullum, follows Earth as it’s threatened by an advanced alien race. The planet’s only hope lies in four morons, the self-proclaimed “Lazer Team,” and some high tech weaponry that’s never been tested before!
The U.K. romantic horror film, ‘Nina Forever,’ is also set to have its Toronto premiere at the festival. The movie was written and directed by brothers Ben and Chris Blaine, who Shockya interviewed, along with actress Abigail Hardinham, when it had its world premiere at this year’s SXSW. The film follows a young man trying to start a new relationship with a supermarket co-worker while all the time being stalked by his very jealous, very dead, ex-girlfriend.
The Canadian horror film, ‘A Christmas Horror Story,’ which will also have its Toronto premiere at the festival, was directed by Grant Harvey, Steven Hoban and Brett Sullivan. The delightfully creepy, Yule-themed horror tale from the same talented team behind the ‘Ginger Snaps’ movies. William Shatner stars as local radio DJ Dan working the Christmas Eve graveyard shift, when all hell breaks loose around him in the snow-covered town of Bailey Downs. Santa’s having the most terrible night of them all, having to fight off an outbreak of zombie elves heralding the arrival of his evil nemesis, the monstrous Krampus!
The Japanese satirical, horror-action-thriller ‘Tag’ is another entry having its Toronto premiere during the Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2015. From the warped mind of acclaimed Japanese director Sion Sono (‘Suicide Club,’ ‘Love Exposure’ and ‘Why Don’t You Play In Hell’) comes a shocking film about three Japanese schoolgirls in the race of their lives. They’re trying to outrun a mysterious malevolent force that’s brutally killing every girl around them.
The Japanese fantasy/monster movie, ‘Love & Peace,’ is also having its Toronto premiere at the festival. The wildly imaginative mashup follows a down-trodden office worker who aspires to be a rock star and his pet turtle who wants to grow up to be a giant city-destroying creature like Godzilla. The Audience Award-winning film was also directed by Sono.
Another film that’s set to have its Toronto Premiere at the event is the award-winning Canadian thriller, ‘The Demolisher.’ The movie follows the mentally unstable title vigilante, who deals with his personal frustrations by donning a suit of body armor and prowling the streets at night, so that he can deliver brutal justice to those he feels deserve it.
Director Jacob Gentry will also play his film, the US sci-fi thriller, ‘Synchronicity,’ in Toronto for the first time at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2015. The noir-inspired movie follows a brilliant young scientist as he tries to crack the secret of time travel whilst thwarting the advances of a sinister corporate leader. At the same time, he’s falling for a mysterious woman whose suddenly appeared in his life.
The American Frankenstein-themed horror comedy, ‘Patchwork,’ will have its international premiere at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2015. The movie follows a re-animated corpse, which is made from the stitched together body parts of three murdered young women, that decides to go on a bloody quest to find their killer and avenge their deaths.
The complete Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2015 lineup and film schedule, which will comprise 20 screenings including nine additional feature films, as well as around 30 cutting-edge short films, will be announced at the end of this month. As with previous years, the vast majority of screenings will start at 7pm and 9:30pm over the nine nights of the festival, which will be held at the Scotiabank Theatre Toronto.
Beginning early next month, single tickets ranging from $11 (for multi-film purchases) to $13 (for regular single film tickets) will become available for all screenings at the festival’s website, Cineplex website, Cineplex App and in person at the venue. Fans who are interested in seeing numerous movies at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2015 can buy an all-access pass. They give audiences priority entry via the Passholders line to all 20 screenings over the festival’s nine nights, as well as save them over $110 in regular ticket purchases. The passes, retailing at $149, are equivalent to just $7.50 a screening.
Fans can find more information on the festival on its Twitter and Facebook pages.
Written by: Karen Benardello