Centred around Norval (Elijah Wood), an awkward thirty-something Beverly Hills hipster walking around life desperate to discover whatever it is his existence lacks. Recovering from alcoholism and depression, Norval endows himself with a fake glamourous and flashy persona, as put on as the gold-plated-limited-edition Lorde iPhone he clutches onto in the opening sequence.

When Norval receives a letter from his long-lost father, who left him and his mom behind decades ago, he treks out to his dad’s remote cabin in search of the family reunion he has always dreamed of. Noval’s dreams fall apart pretty fast when he meets his brittle and horribly mean, alcoholic father Brian (Canadian acting legend Stephen McHattie).

The interactions between Norval and his long-lost father ins “Come to Daddy” are a horrible car crash you can’t look away from. McHattie chews up, savours and spits out every vicious barb that Timpson and screenwriter Toby Harvard give him. Harvard previously co-wrote “The Greasy Strangler”, funnily enough produced by Elijah Wood’s company Spectrevision! If you’ve seen “The Greasy Strangler” you know how fucked up he can make a father-son dynamic and “Come to Daddy’s” script puts Wood and McHattie to-to-toe in a series of incredibly toxic and problematic interactions that I loved every second of.

“Come to Daddy” isn’t just a win as a shocking horror film ripe with violence and unexpected twists and turns, but for the unique world and character building and resonance beneath it all. Yes, it’s a cunning and zig zagging script that thrills in continuously subverting expectations, and yes – the violence is 100% there – Crowds at Fantasia Fest in Montreal and at the screening I attended at Toronto After Dark ROARED and laughed through all these sequences. But the biggest treat comes when the outrageous reveals somehow make the film even more…sensical.

“Come to Daddy” is one hell of a midnight movie that’s all but guaranteed to entertain and thrill the genre crowd. But those who have the stomach for bloody antics, Timpson also laces in solid character development and some amazing moments between the ultraviolence, letting his actors make a meal of every scene. Funny and screwed up in the head with a cartoonish sense of humor that borders on realism, “Come to Daddy” is a strange but incredible film I cannot recommend enough. Stay tuned to Screamish on any updates for local and digital release!

“BLOOD MACHINES” centres around Vascan (Anders Heinrichsen), his co-pilot Lago (Christian Erickson), and their sentient AI console. The two are scavengers, searching for the ‘Mima’, a renegade ship piloted by it’s own AI which is “trying to free itself.” To the pilots surprise, Mima is actually an ethereal naked woman with a glowing crucifix on her chest who escapes from the disabled ship into space. Along with the mystic Corey (Elisa Lasowski), captured by the greedy Vascan, they travel to an outer-rim graveyard for scrapped vessels in pursuit of the Mima and that’s where the “story” really starts: There’s telepathic dance choreography, glowing hexagonal pathways into the human soul and, of course, body swapping, with the most simultaneous on screen breasts I’ve seen in a non porno film.

Although this film may just be a bunch of influences and style over substance, it’s done right. I saw a screening of BLOOD MACHINES at Toronto After Dark, to a packed crowd who cheered from start and finish. The dialogue of this film may be reminiscent of RPG cutscenes at times, but Ickerman ensures enough visual overload to leave viewers in the psychedelic synthase trip of a lifetime. I don’t think those who are interested in this film are here for connective storytelling or a hidden deep meaning, especially at a runtime of under 60 minutes, which to me is a perfect amount of time for most genre films these days.

You are correct to assume “BLOOD MACHINES” is one massive music video that’s always favouring style over storytelling, and in a totally NSFW way that only offers ‘naked space witch’ roles for women. However, Hernandez and Joly-Gonfard embrace their universe and don’t bother to spell it out with painful exposition that we see in 98% of all modern films, which helps plug the viewer into their unique vision of a cosmic dystopia. Viewers will quickly be able to decide if this short, punchy vision is for them, and if so: get ready for a hyper-speed adventure with hypnotic qualities… an automaton’s editorialized and hyper stylized-daydream without any exit. I wish there was more resolution with the somewhat shallow characters – but who am I kidding, I’ll re-watch this sexually charged space race any day…and probably will watch it at least another 10 times once it hits digital release on Shudder.

Toronto After Dark Film Festival announced 8 more Feature Films plus two fantastic collections of Short Films for fans to enjoy. Highlights include THE MORTUARY COLLECTION a scary fun new horror film from the iconic Clancy Brown, JAMES VS HIS FUTURE SELF a feel good sci-fi time travel comedy, and WEREWOLF the intense new World War II survival horror that’s been picking up awards everywhere it screens.

These final films join the list of 10 exciting features already announced. They will all screen at TAD2019. Festival passes are already on sale and almost SOLD OUT, go grab yours quick! The complete Festival Schedule along with Single Tickets will be available shortly, so sign up over on Toronto After Dark’s website for updates! Keep scrolling for official trailers & more info on the final wave of incredible horror & sci-fi films screening soon at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2019! Here are our SCREAMISH top picks from the final wave of films.

THE MORTUARY COLLECTION (USA)
International Premiere. Director – Ryan Spindell

An absolute delight for horror fans from the opening credits to finish, THE MORTUARY COLLECTIONS sees the creepy mortician Montgomery Dark (played by fan favorite Clancy Brown) recount five terrifying tales of ghosts, monsters, slasher killers and more to a young woman applying for a job as his assistant. Filled with eye-popping practical effects, lots of scares and a good dose of creepy humour, it all adds up to an unmissable cinematic love letter to classic 1980s horror!

WEREWOLF (POLAND)
Canadian Premiere, Director – Adrian Panek

During the closing days of World War II, a group of children escape form a concentration camp and seek refuge in an abandoned mansion in the forest. But soon they find their new home is being terrorized by a pack of ferocious wolves, as terrifying as their Nazi captors. An official selection of over 20 International Film Festivals including Austin’s Fantastic Fest and winner of over 7 Film Festival Best Picture Awards, WEREWOLF is an unforgettable, stunning and intense survival horror thriller we can’t wait to see at Toronto After Dark!

8 (SOUTH AFRICA)
Toronto Premiere. Director – Harold Holscher

In this creepy new South African ghost story “8”, a young family tries to start a new life on a remote rural farm but they soon encounter the wrath of demonic forces that have existed on their property long since ancient times. Making full use of the stunning South African landscape, and packed with eerie moments, Toronto After Dark fans are in for a unique and haunting treat with 8!

MAKING MONSTERS (CANADA)
Canadian Premier. Director – Justin Harding & Rob Brunner

Former Toronto After Dark Winning short filmmaker Justin Harding (LATCHED) supersizes the fear with his terrifying feature debut, MAKING MONSTERS. What a couple famed for their scare-prank video channel are invited to a friend’s house in the countryside for a weekend getaway, a series of creepy events unfold. Soon the duo find themselves with the tables turned on them, as their lives spiral into a horrifying living nightmare.

Toronto After Dark has unveiled its FIRST WAVE of 10 exciting new genre film announcements for this year’s line-up! Highlights include the critically acclaimed ‘COME TO DADDY’ from Spectrevision (MANDY, Color Out Of Space) and the Sundance hit sci-fi fantasy PARADISE HILLS starring Emma Roberts and Milla Jovovich.

Read below for our top picks & trailers and ticket info!

COME TO DADDY – (NEW ZEALAND, CANADA & IRELAND)

Toronto Premiere. DIR: Ant Timpson

At a remote cabin in the woods, a getaway becomes an increasingly bizarre weekend for a son trying to connect with his estranged father, played by cult icon Stephen McHattie. Unfortunately Dad seems to have gotten himself into all sorts of trouble, and it’s not long before his son is doped into a gory and terrifying ordeal in this horror thriller that also has a good dose of dark comedy. COME TO DADDY is the latest crowdpleaser from the twisted mind of Ant Timpson who previously produced TAD hits DEATHGASM and HOUSEBOUND. Sadly there is no official trailer, but we have a teaser clip to get you in the mood! Stay tuned to Screamish for ticket updates for COME TO DADDY and TORONTO AFTER DARK 2019

THE ASSENT (USA)

World Premiere – DIR: Pearry Teo

THE EXCORCIST gets a terrifying modern-day makeover with THE ASSENT, of the the scariest looking films at Toronto After Dark this year. After a series of disturbing events in his home, Joel a young single dad comes to suspect that his young son may be possessed. Son Joel receives a visit from Father Lambert, a controversial exorcist in town whose last patient died during his treatment. As increasing chilling occurrences begin to unfold, the priest informs a resistant Joel that unless he can successfully perform an exorcism, the devil will take full control of his son. Oh also, there are some BADASS body horror effects in the trailer that have us on the edge of our seats for more! Watch the full trailer below & Stay tuned to Screamish for ticket updates for THE ASSENT and TORONTO AFTER DARK 2019

https://youtu.be/xWWYpf3JgEY

BLOOD MACHINES (FRANCE, USA)

Toronto Premiere. Director – Seth Ickerman

Synthwave & Sci-Fi fans are in for a treat with this stunning new space epic about a bounty hunter on the hunt for a mysterious spaceship ran by AI that has the ability to take on human form. Your eyes and ears are in for a treat with a retro-future, neo Tokyo cyberpunk sensation of BLOOD MACHINES. The film draws. On vintage sci-fi art for incredible visuals. And the sound design and score inspired by John Carpenter amongst others, comes from acclaimed synth wave icon CARPENTER BRUT. So strap in and prepare to blast off for the space journey of a lifetime.

THE WRETCHED (USA)

Toronto Premiere. Director: Brett & Drew Pierce

After a young mom brings a dead deer carcass home from the woods, a ferocious and benevolent force is unleashed that takes possession over her and the entire family. Toronto After Dark’s Gala closing film – THE WRETCHED from Brett & Drew Pierce, who previously dazzled audiences with their zombie comedy hit DEADHEADS looks like an impressive follow up. In the same vein of FRIGHT NIGHT, only the teen boy next door notices something is not quite right with his neighbors and decides to fight back.  Packed with scary fun moments and a throwback aesthetic evoking classic 80s horror, THE WRETCHED is the perfect movie for all genre fans!

In early October, all remaining film titles, festival schedule and single film tickets for sale will be available at torontoafterdark.com

To get notified sign up for TAD19 EMAIL UPDATES

Stay tuned to Screamish all October for 31 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN & Updates on TORONTO AFTER DARK and other spooky events happening this Fall season!