By: Trevor Chartrand The beloved and monstrous Addams Family returns to cinemas this Halloween; animated for the first time ever on the big screen, and directed by the duo who brought adults Sausage Party. This new film focuses on a real estate mogul trying to drive monsters out of town (à la Shrek), Pugsley Addams’ bar mitzvah, Wednesday Addams’ teenage rebellion, Lurch endlessly playing pop songs on a piano, and a never-ending slurry of other superfluous subplots…
The Rendezvous With Madness Festival, a unique collective of film screenings and live performances primarily focused on mental health awareness, takes place in various Toronto locations from October 10th – 20th. Wylie Writes’ Shahbaz Khayambashi received a sneak peek of some of the selected films.
Primal Rage is a creature feature, but it’s light on what the film is selling. For a special effects artist making his directorial debut, writer/director Patrick Magee often forgets about his film’s central beast.
Robbery is a solid drama that tells the compelling story of Frank (Art Hindle), a cerebral career criminal suffering from dementia. When his son, Richie (Jeremy Ferdman), finds himself the target of a dangerous organization to whom he owes money, Frank must come out of retirement and use the remnants of his mind to save his son. I talked with writer/director Corey Stanton to see where this surprisingly unique story came from.
Adam Bolt’s Human Nature, a scientific documentary about the advancements in genetic cures, is an accessible and thought-provoking film.
Sometimes Always Never sets out to be quirky, but comes out dorky. It takes pride in its uneven nuances, gushy sentimentality, and jokes about Scrabble. What saves the mild-mannered movie to an extent, however, is how the awkwardness is (sort of) embraced through its humour.
By: Jolie Featherstone Charlie and Hannah’s Grand Night Out is a supremely playful romp that follows two friends as they embark on a madcap night out in Antwerp. Charlie and Hannah, two friends with their own goals for the night ahead, imbibe “magical” candy to amplify their night on the town. As the candy works its “magic”, Charlie and Hannah are whisked into a journey of mystical proportions.
Last Call pitches itself to audiences with an intriguing gimmick. Shot in real time, the film’s story is told from two perspectives – using a split-screen technique to divide the pair of one-take shots. However, Last Call is more than a crafty production with a trick up its sleeve.
