Game Theory Films
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
By: Jolie Featherstone Ariane Louis-Seize’s feature film directorial debut, Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person, is an intriguing horror-dramedy that has the makings of a cult classic. Think gothic Wes Anderson, or Richard Ayoade’s Submarine (2010) meets Tomas Alfredson’s Let The Right One In (2008).
Riceboy Sleeps
Drawing from some of his own experiences, in Riceboy Sleeps, writer/director Anthony Shim tells an immigrant’s tale of a Korean mother, So-Young (Choi Seung-yoon), and her son Dong-Hyun (a shared role by young Dohyun Noel Hwang and teen Ethan Hwang) attempting to build a new life in Canada after the loss of So-Young’s schizophrenic husband. While in Canada, they’re faced with discrimination towards their race and So-Young’s meekness – both of them dealing with variations of…
Becoming a Queen
Becoming a Queen is a very straightforward documentary that zeroes in on one person, their career, and their primary achievement. The film follows this standard structure well enough, issuing the occasional bit of history along the way, but I wish director Chris Strikes followed a less conventional format to this vibrant subject matter.
Drifting Snow
Written and directed by Ryan Noth (No Heart Feelings), Drifting Snow depicts a rural Ontario winter in all its frozen glory. But, tangled timelines and poor pacing hinder what could otherwise be a compelling drama.
Saint Frances
We’ve all seen a movie that pairs an uncomfortable adult with a precocious child, and usually the humour stems from their awkwardness that develops into an endearing dynamic as their chemistry develops. Saint Frances is no different, and about halfway through the movie I thought I had Alex Thompson’s film figured out. Little did I know that the film was quietly providing the groundwork for inspiring feministic themes that would elevate the material above its…
A Fire in the Cold Season
Strong performances and a moving score elevate A Fire in the Cold Season, a thriller that offers few genuine thrills.
A White, White Day
Fresh off the festival circuit, Hlynur Pálmason’s A White, White Day rapturously yet bleakly explores familiar themes of grief and loss. Pálmason’s second feature offers a clinical, appropriately distanced character study, while maintaining a coherent sense of the character’s interiority.