Fantasia 2019: Lake Michigan Monster

Lake Michigan Monster, a small Wisconsin-made indie adventure comedy, is destined to be one of the weirdest films that anybody will see this year. Captain Seafield (Ryland Tews) is putting together a “team of the century.” Their mission is to find the Lake Michigan Monster.  Team members include Nedge Pepsi (Beulah Peters), Sean Shaughnessy (Erick West), and Dick Flynn (Daniel Long).  Along the way, Seafield comes up with various operation names including Annihilation, Nauty Lady,…

"Fantasia 2019: Lake Michigan Monster"

Fantasia 2018: Number 37 (Nommer 37)

The comparisons to Rear Window are there but writer-director Nosipho Dumisa makes Number 37 her own. Randal Hendricks (Irshaad Ally) just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.  He found himself in a wheelchair after a deal went terribly wrong.  While he’s stuck in his Cape Town apartment, this film is not the Alfred Hitchcock classic.  While it is an homage, the plot is tremendously different and you don’t have the legendary…

"Fantasia 2018: Number 37 (Nommer 37)"

Fantasia 2018: Bodied

Joseph Kahn’s Bodied, holding its Quebec premiere during Fantasia 2018, is a satire that takes us inside the underground culture of battle rap. Adam Merkin (Calum Worthy) finds himself deeply embedded into the world of battle rapping while researching for a thesis paper.  This only happens after a chance encounter with Behn Grymm (Jackie Long).  Unfortunately for him, this takes a toll on his own personal relationships. This includes his tenured father (Anthony Michael Hall)…

"Fantasia 2018: Bodied"

Fantasia 2018: The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot

The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot may sound like the craziest thing ever but this film is is more of a character study than anything else. Sam Elliott, who delivered an astonishing performance in The Hero last year, as a World War 2 veteran, Calvin Barr.  When we first meet him, he’s just sitting there at the bar.  There’s a sense of something troubling Calvin but we don’t see anything other than…

"Fantasia 2018: The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot"

Fantasia 2018: Four Films I Want To See

The 2018 installment of the Fantasia International Film Festival is just around the corner.  Here are some of the picks that Solzy at the Movies anticipates. One of the films I’m most looking forward to is The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot.  The film stars Sam Elliott, who delivered an astonishing performance in The Hero last year, as a World War 2 veteran.  Not just any old veteran but the one who…

"Fantasia 2018: Four Films I Want To See"

Fantasia: Tragedy Girls brings comedy to the slasher genre

Tragedy Girls is a horror comedy that offers us a fresh comedic take to the slasher genre. Directed by Tyler MacIntyre, who co-wrote the film with Chris Lee Hill based on an original screenplay by Justin Olson, the film stars Alexandra Shipp, Brianna Hildebrand, Jack Quaid, Josh Hutcherson, Timothy V. Murphy, Nicky Whelan, Austin Abrams, Kerry Rhodes, with Kevin Durand, and Craig Robinson. Sadie Cunningham (Shipp) and McKayla Hooper  (Hildebrand) are best friends living in…

"Fantasia: Tragedy Girls brings comedy to the slasher genre"

Fantasia: Let There Be Light looks to create fusion

Let There Be Light is a documentary following a group of scientists building an artificial star. Written and directed by Mila Aung-Thwin, the film was co-directed by Van Royko. In France, scientists from 37 countries have teamed up to build an artificial star here on Earth.  Crazy, right?  If their project works, mankind will be better off with cheap and clean energy.  If It fails, they’ll be a laughing stock in the world of fusion…

"Fantasia: Let There Be Light looks to create fusion"

Fantasia Film Festival: Most Beautiful Island

Most Beautiful Island is a psychological thriller exploring what happens when undocumented immigrants wanting a better life. Written and directed by Ana Asensio, the psychological thriller stars Asensio, Natasha Romanova, David Little, Nicholas Tucci, Larry Fessenden, and Caprice Benedetti. What does a struggling immigrant do when they are also undocumented?  This is what writer/director/actress Asensio explores and announces to the world that she’s a triple-threat in front of and behind the camera.  The film is…

"Fantasia Film Festival: Most Beautiful Island"

Fantasia: 78/52 profiles Pyscho’s Shower Scene

A selection for the 2017 Fantasia International Film Festival, 78/52 profiles the iconic shower scene shown in Alfred Hitchock’s Pyscho. Written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe, the documentary features a wide array of interviews mixed in with archival footage.  A number of interview subjects were included including family members of Hitchcock, Janet Leigh, and Anthony Perkins. Oscar winning editors such as Walter Murch, Chris Ennis, and Bob Murawski were also among those interviewed. The…

"Fantasia: 78/52 profiles Pyscho’s Shower Scene"