Toronto After Dark – Day 7

Just four more features to go before the curtain falls on TAD 2011. It suits me well that today’s line-up seems more like a subdued offering. Calm before the storm.

ANIMAL CONTROL

A rather sweet 17-minute short about a lonely taxidermist who befriends a dog he thought was dead. Animal lovers will no doubt squirm but ultimately be moved by the film’s message.

3/5 Skulls

THE CORRIDOR

A group of five friends take a trip to the cottage, attempting to mend their wounded relationship. What they encounter is a mysterious supernatural element that threatens to destroy them for good. The Corridor, a sci-fi/horror, is reminiscent to something you’d find in a Stephen King story. It’s driven by the characters’ rich dynamic. Each one is distinct and contains their specific internal demons. The damaged relationships between these men are the strongest aspect in this film. The ensemble delivers fine performances.

While the supernatural element is original, I found it got too increasingly bizarre that it only helped to withdraw me from the elements I liked the most. The visual effects more often than not, appeared a tad too phony for my taste. The lagging pace is also, a big determent. In the end, I just wasn’t invested enough in The Corridor.

2/5 Skulls HOW TO RID YOUR LOVER OF A NEGATIVE EMOTION CAUSED BY YOU

A 16-minute dark comedy about the negative feelings that come up in a couple’s relationship. This beautifully shot short has its share of squeamish moments.

3/5 Skulls

VS

There have been some strong subversive takes on the superhero genre with titles such Kick-Ass, Super and Special (containing a mind-blowing performance by Michael Rapaport). The latest entry, VS, manages to present some exciting new angles. Unfortunately, the final product has its share of problems. VS is about four superheroes, stripped of their powers, having to battle through a series of twisted psychological games devised by their bitter arch-nemesis (James Remar) in order to save a boatload of civilians and themselves.

The influence of Saw in its basic premise is clear as day but writer/director/star, Jason Trost wisely doesn’t go the obvious direction. He is far more interested in exploring the frailty of these heroes when they can’t rely on their powers to bail them out. They’re completely out of their element. It’s actually quite heartbreaking to watch the protagonists struggle to deal with basic human traits like pain and failure. Superheroes are usually on the winning side…definitely not here. They also, contain quite of bit of emotional baggage which makes the more relatable.

The most audacious thing Trost attempts is taking the material dead seriously. He’s aided by some effective performances including himself as the leader of the pack, Charge. Sophie Merkley as Shadow is the only underwhelming piece of this cast. Remar will most likely get the bulk of attention for his deliciously over-the-top turn as Rickshaw. He’s obviously having a blast with this material. His scenes offer levity to the film’s sombre tone. This brings me to the film’s downfall; it’s earnest to a fault. As a result, VS has its fair share of unintentional laughs, some of it coming from some very awkward dialogue. A lower budget has actually benefited the majority of films at this year’s Toronto After Dark. In VS, it’s a handicap. The film’s cheap-looking sets and superhero costumes are a distraction especially when camp is not on the menu. The action beats and traps are not only uninspired but fairly tensionless. VS has too many interesting things going for it to just simply dismiss it entirely. Fans of darker, grittier explorations of the superhero genre might find enough here to let its cons slide.

2.5/5 Skulls

Toronto After Dark – Day 8

All good things come to an end. Fortunately for us, Toronto After Dark 2011 has saved their most anticipated titles to close this year’s line-up with Lucky McGee’s The Woman and Ti West’s The Innkeepers.

LIPLOCK

In the middle of sex, a woman manages to find herself uncomfortably stuck with the guy she’s having an affair with. It somehow gets worse from there. This 18-minute short had me laughing and squirming in equal measure. The visual effects (also by writer/director, Chris Nash) are extremely impressive.

4/5 Skulls

THE WOMAN

To be honest, I’ve never read a book or seen a film with Jack Ketchum’s name attached to it. However, I do know a few people who absolutely loathe his work. My knowledge ends there. So with fresh eyes, I plunge into the amoral world of The Woman. Co-writer/director, Lucky McKee hasn’t quite lived up to the promise of his debut, May…that is until now. Actually, I would go as far as stating that The Woman takes him to the next level mainly because there is a million and one ways this material could have gone disastrously wrong…well at least, in my opinion. There will be plenty of folks out there that’ll surely protest its mere existence in the world.

After kidnapping and chaining up a feral woman in his garden basement, Chris Cleek, a country lawyer with the reluctant assistance of his family, attempt to “civilize” her. We soon discover Chris Cleek is a far more poisonous threat to society than this woman could ever imaginably be. There are many ways of making a film based on such an outrageous premise. Wisely, McKee sees The Woman for what it really is; an allegory, on one level; the balance of power that exists between the male and female. The tone is the key to its success. I can’t think of a picture which made me laugh-out-loud hysterically but at the same time, horrified by such amped-up grotesqueness. Actually, I can safely say this film goes into some uncharted territory.