TIFF 2018: ‘7A’
Filmmaker Zack Russell and actor Kayla Lorette team up for another surreal short film with 7A.
Science Fiction
7 Splinters in Time
7 Splinters in Time advances from a well-timed reveal. It’s a wordy spiel of exposition delivered by the dependable and always admirable character actor Austin Pendleton, but it’s a scene that justifies the film’s frenetic style and narrative; turning incomprehensible details into awesome creativity.
Cartel 2045
By: Nick van Dinther Cartel 2045 was originally scheduled to be released three years ago. After years of tweaking and editing, it’s now available on VOD and Digital HD, but it still seems unfinished.
Brave New Jersey
Orson Welles’ 1938 radio broadcast War of the Worlds was so convincing, some listeners were persuaded into thinking a martian invasion really was at large. Brave New Jersey, a quirky small-scale comedy from budding director Jody Lambert, sets a funny fictitious story in this historical footnote, resulting in a sweet and refreshing flick that stays faithful to its period.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is an astonishing film. Visually, it could even be described as a masterpiece. Unfortunately, a formulaic third act and a lack of chemistry between the two leads sink one of the most promising films of the year.
The Recall
By: Nick Ferwerda Even with an open mind and fair expectations, the latest sci-fi/thriller The Recall will leave you feeling disappointed.
The Devout
The Devout is a new addition to the faith-based genre, and it’s actually a pretty cool flick. You don’t often hear “cool” in the same discussion as recent faith-based cinema, so I assume I already have your attention.
Galaxy of Horrors
The team behind last year’s efficient horror anthology Minutes Past Midnight return to bring similar chills and thrills with Galaxy of Horrors, another feature-length anthology hand-picked by Torontonian film programmer Justin McConnell. This time, he’s showcasing horror shorts with a sci-fi twist.