The Toronto After Dark Film Festival, screening this August 14th - 23rd, has announced the first wave of films festival-attendees can check out. In addition to some much-buzzed festival favs like "Grace" and "Trick 'R' Treat", the fest has a solid lineup of fresh international genre pics.
Franklyn
Divided between the modern-day and a futuristic steampunk world, "Franklyn" is a British sci-fi thriller that, judging by the trailer, looks like a mash-up between "Watchmen", "V for Vendetta" and "Donnie Darko".
Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl
The latest skull-popping gorefest from the makers of "Tokyo Gore Police" and "Robogeisha" takes two classic monsters, turns them into Japanese schoolgirls and has them run around lopping off body parts and setting off arterial sprays. Sounds like a hit to me.
The Forbidden Door
From Indonesia, an Asian country not known for their horror offerings, comes this dark thriller about a sculptor who discovers a secret society that spies on people through hidden cameras. When he tries to intervene after seeing a boy being abused, he finds himself caught up in a mystery that leads back to a secret locked door in his own house.
Coming Soon
In part two of our Toronto After Dark film coverage, everything old is new again with a grindhouse throwback, a modern-day blaxploitation flick and the return of a horror icon.