Fantastic Fest

Jojo Rabbit Is Taika Waititi’s Most Emotional Film to Date

After films like What We Do in the Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and even Thor: Ragnarok, we have a pretty good idea of what a Taika Waititi movie is going to be. It’s going to be weird. It’s going to be funny. And it’s going to wear its heart on its sleeve. With his…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 20

The 20 Wildest, Coolest, and Most Unique Films We Can’t Wait to See at Fantastic Fest 2019

It’s that time of year when some of the most insane, original, and glorious genre films in the world descend upon Austin, Texas for Fantastic Fest, one of the world’s foremost genre film festivals. Over the past 15 years, some incredible films have played Fantastic Fest (see some previous coverage at these links) and 2019…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 16

The First Trailer for The Origins of Alien Is Almost as Haunting as Its Inspiration

One of the most interesting film documentarians around is turning his watchful eye to an all-encompassing exploration of how one of sci-horror’s most iconic movies got made. And if that thought doesn’t send a chill down your spine, well…allow the trailer for it to do so. Alexandre O. Philippe is perhaps best known for his…

Trailers James Whitbrook Aug 27

Seeing M. Night Shyamalan’s Split Was One of My Most Memorable Moviegoing Experiences

Imagine sitting down for a movie. You don’t know what that movie is but when it’s over you realize you’ve been watching a secret sequel to one of your favorite movies of all time. That’s what happened to me when I first saw M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, and it was one of the best experiences…

Movies Germain Lussier Jan 17

All of io9’s Fantastic Fest 2018 Coverage in One Handy Place

io9’s Germain Lussier spent the last week in Austin, Texas, feasting his eyeballs on Fantastic Fest’s rich, grisly bounty of genre movies. He didn’t love everything he saw, but he found quite a few winners. Read on for all of his reviews—and then add the best titles to your own “must-watch” list. First, here’s what…

Movies Cheryl Eddy Sep 28

The Wonderful Starfish Gives Grief and Healing an Apocalyptic Spin

In Starfish, a woman wakes up after her friend’s funeral to find the world is ending. She may be able to save it if she can find the mix tapes the dead friend hid for her all across town. It’s a high-concept idea complete with monsters and animation, but really, it’s not about any of…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 28

Terrified Is a Legitimately Scary, Unique, and Surprising Horror Film

Heed this advice: Don’t watch the new horror movie Terrified right before you have to be home alone at night (like I did). It’s one of those movies that makes every creek and pop in the cold silence a potential terror—which, of course, means I absolutely loved it. Coming soon to the streaming service Shudder,…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 27

Even With Nicolas Cage, the New Film Between Worlds Is a Bore

Between Worlds is the latest indie genre film in Nicolas Cage’s mini-renaissance. Previously, films like Mom and Dad and Mandy have utilized Cage to full effect in weird, exciting stories. Unfortunately, Between Worlds doesn’t come close to either of those films, presenting an interesting premise in a flat, made-for-TV-like package. Written and directed by Maria…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 27

Girls With Balls Is a Great Title for a Not-So-Great Movie

A women’s volleyball team gets hunted by a band of evil, woods-dwelling degenerates in Girls With Balls, a super-schlocky French ode to ‘80s horror that’s wildly uneven and a little offensive, but still has some scattered moments of awesome. Directed by Olivier Afonso, the film starts with a heap of excitement and potential—a fourth-wall-breaking narrator…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 26

May the Devil Take You Is an Evil Dead Homage That Can’t Get Its Act Together

Popular Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto has two films at the 2018 Fantastic Fest. One is a thrilling roller coaster ride of violence, action, and excitement. The other is May the Devil Take You. That’s not to say May the Devil Take You is bad, it’s just not as good as his cop action film The…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 26

Open 24 Hours Gives the Stalker Horror Genre a Tense, Personal Spin

If you’ve seen one too many movies with Jason, Freddy, or Michael, may I suggest giving the Rain Ripper a shot? He’s the antagonist in the smart, tense film Open 24 Hours, which gives the classic stalker genre a personal touch. As the title suggests, Open 24 Hours is set largely at an all-night convenience…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 25

Is The Innocent Really a Genre Film? It’s Up to You

The Innocent is the most realistic genre film you’ll ever see, mostly because it leaves it up to each viewer to determine if it’s a genre film or not. Depending on how you look at it, it’s either the story of a woman who’s possessed by a demon—or, she’s just having a super shitty week.…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 25

Pulpy Epic Shadow Builds to Action That’ll Blow Your Mind

The first thing you notice about Shadow is how accurately descriptive its title is. Save for the skin tones, most of the film is drained of color, giving the whole thing a black-and-white, graphic-novel feel. That, in turn, sets a very specific dark tone—which works quite well, but also makes a slow-building movie feel that…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 24

Border Is a Beautiful Story of Self-Discovery That Brings Fantasy to the Real World

Border is one of those weird films where the discovery of what it’s about is half the adventure. It starts as one thing, becomes another, and then continues to get stranger and more wonderful as it moves along. What you must know, though, is discovering this oddball yet lyrical Swedish mystery is absolutely worth it.…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 24

Suspiria Is a Living, Breathing Work of Art

In Luca Guadagnino’s remake of Suspiria, one of the first things we see on screen is that the film is “six acts and an epilogue set in divided Berlin.” It’s an odd piece of information, but somehow perfectly sets the stage for what’s to come. You know there’s a specific structure. That knowledge helps you…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 24

Level 16 Channels The Handmaid’s Tale in the Best Possible Ways, Which Is Pretty Damn Scary

Have you ever watched The Handmaid’s Tale and wondered what happens to girls born in that society? Girls who never knew the “normal” world? Well, Level 16 may give you an idea. Written and directed by Danishka Esterhazy, Level 16 is an original film, but one that shares more than a little DNA with the…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 24

Apostle Is a Creepy, Tense Thriller From the Director of The Raid

When you think of director Gareth Evans two words come to mind: The Raid. Film fans know and adore the filmmaker because of those two absolutely incredible Indonesian action films, but now, four years after The Raid 2, Evans is back with a film that’s about as far from those movies as possible. The film…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 23

Japanese Zombie Comedy One Cut of the Dead Is Shaun of the Dead-Level Brilliant

There are good movies, there are great movies, and then there are movies that deliver joy to every bone in your body. One Cut of the Dead is all of those and more. While the film is a flat-out hilarious, genius take on the zombie genre that will immediately make you want to watch it…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 22

You Might Be the Killer Turns a Twitter Conversation Into a Meta Horror Film

When authors Sam Sykes (The Mortal Tally, An Affinity for Steel) and Chuck Wendig (Star Wars: Aftermath, Blackbirds) had a detailed Twitter conversation deconstructing the horror genre last year, who could’ve guessed we’d see that conversation brought to the big screen? But that’s exactly what co-writer and director Brett Simmons did with You Might Be…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 22

The Unthinkable Is a Weird Movie Whose Ambition Wildly Outweighs Its Quality

“Unthinkable” is, conveniently, the perfect way to describe The Unthinkable, a brash, bold, film directed by a five-man Swedish film collective called Crazy Pictures. It’s a movie that’s wildly, comically unpredictable in ways that are both very good and very bad. The Unthinkable begins with Alex (Christoffer Nordenrot) and Anna (Lisa Henni), two teenagers flirting…

Movies Germain Lussier Sep 21

Jojo Rabbit Is Taika Waititi’s Most Emotional Film to Date

The 20 Wildest, Coolest, and Most Unique Films We Can’t Wait to See at Fantastic Fest 2019

The First Trailer for The Origins of Alien Is Almost as Haunting as Its Inspiration

Seeing M. Night Shyamalan’s Split Was One of My Most Memorable Moviegoing Experiences

All of io9’s Fantastic Fest 2018 Coverage in One Handy Place

The Wonderful Starfish Gives Grief and Healing an Apocalyptic Spin

Terrified Is a Legitimately Scary, Unique, and Surprising Horror Film

Even With Nicolas Cage, the New Film Between Worlds Is a Bore

Girls With Balls Is a Great Title for a Not-So-Great Movie

May the Devil Take You Is an Evil Dead Homage That Can’t Get Its Act Together

Open 24 Hours Gives the Stalker Horror Genre a Tense, Personal Spin

Is The Innocent Really a Genre Film? It’s Up to You

Pulpy Epic Shadow Builds to Action That’ll Blow Your Mind

Border Is a Beautiful Story of Self-Discovery That Brings Fantasy to the Real World

Suspiria Is a Living, Breathing Work of Art

Level 16 Channels The Handmaid’s Tale in the Best Possible Ways, Which Is Pretty Damn Scary

Apostle Is a Creepy, Tense Thriller From the Director of The Raid

Japanese Zombie Comedy One Cut of the Dead Is Shaun of the Dead-Level Brilliant

You Might Be the Killer Turns a Twitter Conversation Into a Meta Horror Film

The Unthinkable Is a Weird Movie Whose Ambition Wildly Outweighs Its Quality

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Absolute Robin Is a Giant Goddamn Robot

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