GOODNIGHT MOMMY: Even More Movies with Creepy Kids

"We're not creepy. We're adorable!" 

While Goodnight Mommy makes both the mum and children look absolutely terrifying, we have to admit that the kids give us the heebie-jeebies a little more. Maybe it's the twin thing, or the masks. *shudder* You may be thinking to yourself that you've seen a blog like this before and you would be correct. We covered creepy kids a couples years ago for Here Comes the Devil and over on the Midnight Madness blog, Leslie has put together her own list to go along with Cub. Lucky for us, there are no shortage of creepy kids movies and as long as it continues to be a topic of interest, we'll be blogging about it. You could think of it as a friendly reminder to why maybe you shouldn't procreate.

Elijah's got the right idea. 

1. The Good Son stars Macaulay Culkin as the complete opposite of a good son. Mostly because he's a crazy psycopath. Just look at how wigged out little Elijah Wood looks in that still. Poor Elijah. He moved in with his extended family after a tragedy and just wants to heal except Macaulay isn't having any of that. Moral of this story: if your child can stare down a manic, barking dog, he might be evil.

"Are you my mommy?" 

2. It's Alive might technically be about a baby, but that baby is a monster that kills people and if that doesn't count as creepy, we don't know what does. Everything seems perfectly normal for Frank and Lenore. She's just about ready to have their second child and life couldn't be more normal. Then Lenore goes and gives birth to a mutated monster thing that kills everything in its path and that sort of messes up the entire family dynamic. Way to go, mutant baby. You don't really get a good look at mutant baby killing action in the trailer, but it does inform us that the baby is, in fact, alive.

It's a well known fact that most ghost kids just want to play ball. 

3. The Changeling also switches it up a bit because this isn't just any normal creepy kid but a ghost. And we don't really get to see it all that often in the movie. But that doesn't matter because that ghost is damn scary. Just ask the dude he's haunting, John. Creepy enough for you, John? This is a ghost with a mission, though, so we've got to cut him some slack. He's got his own death to avenge after all. But it doesn't change the fact that haunting a house is creepy as all get out. 

We feel the same way about creepy twins too, kid. 

4. The only thing worse than one creepy kid in a movie is two identical ones. Twins, right guys? *shudder* We're going to have to endure twice the creepy in Goodnight Mommy just like in The Other. This movie isn't just creepy twins, it's also got a little bit of psychic abilities because why not. AS IF IT WASN'T CREEPY ENOUGH. There's also a fun twist at the end that somehow makes it decidedly more creepy than twins with psychic abilities.

Get away from the evil, National Treasure Charles Grodin! 

5. Okay, okay, so Clifford technically isn't a horror movie but come on! Is there anything more terrifying than supposing to believe that Martin Short is ten-year-old child? We totally get that the premise is a flashback and old, wise Martin Short is telling a story to some ruffian, but why couldn't they cast a real child? WHY, MOVIE GODS, WHY?! Things burned into our memories forever: Martin Short wearing dinosaur pyjamas sharing a donut with his toy dinosaur Steffen. Somebody out there on the world wide web conveniently recut a Clifford trailer in the style of a horror film, which matches our feelings about it perfectly. Get outta there, Charles Grodin!

BONUS ROUND: It wouldn't be a list without some sort of runner-up so we present to you, this creepy vampire kid from Salem's Lot! He gets bonus points for style and generally making us want to cry forever. 

Goodnight Mommy is screening at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Vanguard Programme. Check out more Vanguard films on the official Festival website.

GOODNIGHT MOMMY screening times:
Monday, Sept 8th, 7:00 PM THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
Wednesday, Sept 10th, 9:30 PM SCOTIABANK 14
Friday, Sept 12th, 3:00 PM THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

HERE COMES THE DEVIL: Final Screening!

If you woke up this morning and thought to yourself, "Gee, I wish there was a scary, sexy, Mexican horror movie I could go see this afternoon," have we got the film for you.

Here Comes The Devil is a terrifying and entertaining account of what happens to a family after a son and daughter go missing for a night and then mysteriously reappear. Sure, you'd probably be over the moon if your missing children were found, but this family soon finds out that there is something not quite right with the returned kids. And by "not quite right" we mean "damn scary", of course.

HERE COMES THE DEVIL Sun., Sept. 16th, 3:30 PM SCOTIABANK 4

HERE COMES THE DEVIL: Review

If you're familiar with Mexican horror films and are expecting something Gothic, spooky, and languorous from Adrián García Bogliano, you're in for a surprise. His newest film, Here Comes The Devil, is going to scorch your eyeballs and bathe them in blood.

Sex, sex, and more sex. And blood. And sullen teenagers. These aren't your average sullen teenagers; they're creepy. Creepier than your average sullen teenagers, that is.

There's a lot going on in Here Comes The Devil and to attempt even a plot synopsis would ruin the thrills. You might already know that the film is about possession, possibly the Devil, and missing kids who return to their worried parents as mysteriously as they disappeared, but who don't seem quite the same after they come back.

The devil in question isn't the one you're expecting, and that is a big part of what makes Here Comes The Devil so complex and fascinating. Ironically, Bogliano's visual style—lots of zooms, close ups, and intense deep focus shots—is straightforward and almost humorous. In the Q&A after the film's premiere at the Festival, he professed his love for Nicolas Roeg's style of filmmaking (Roeg is thanked in the credits) and noted the audience laughter during all those crazy zooms, which, along with some unusual sound design and a particularly emotional score, have led a few critics to dismiss Bogliano as an amateur, but he's way smarter than they think.

What such over-the-top cinematic tropes do is provide a lighthearted counterpoint to a deeply unsettling film. Yes, the handful of graphically violent scenes are going to shock you, even if you think you're used to movies where blood spurts at you like a busted fire hydrant. The most potentially disturbing scene in the movie, however, is not even shown; what's more disturbing is that it's hinted at early on, leaving the audience to wonder if the Devil was just finishing up what nature already started.

As the troubled parents, Francisco Berreiro and Laura Caro are outstanding. It's even more impressive when you learn this is Caro's first film role (she's a trained singer and had previously only acted in a soap opera). Their performances add some grit to an also-excellent screenplay with a believable narrative arc and convincing dialogue.

References to other films—Picnic At Hanging Rock, The Entity—were obvious before Bogliano admitted they were an influence in that Q&A. I'll add two more: The Exorcist and (the original) Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but here they're both cleverly inverted.

You don't have to be a film buff appreciate Here Comes The Devil, but although it's (relatively) straightforward, don't expect to have all your questions answered at the end, either. This is one you're going to think about for a while after you leave the theater.

HERE COMES THE DEVIL Screening Times:
Wed., Sept. 13th, 7:00PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3
Sun., Sept. 16th, 3:30PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4

HERE COMES THE DEVIL: Twitter Round-Up

Here comes Here Comes The Devil, the new film from Argentinian director Adrián García Bogliano. This one is set in Tijuana, but it's not about a bunch of high school kids on Spring Break. Unless Spring Break includes murder, possessed children, and creepy peeping toms. (If it does, you should probably seek help.)

What sayeth Twitter? Here's a sampling?

TIFF 2012 Review: HERE COMES THE DEVIL, And He's Looking For Sex goo.gl/fb/V30so
— TWITCH (@TwitchFilm) September 11, 2012

@drewathitfix You should watch Here comes the devil instead, you will not regret it. Creepy and twisted.
— Julio C. Sánchez(@DocCastellari) September 12, 2012

HERE COMES THE DEVIL was better than I expected.Second death scene was fantastic.8/10 #TIFF12
— 12AM Movies (@12amMovies) September 12, 2012

Here Comes the Devil - total grindhouse horror. With machetes. Serious fun. #TIFF12
— Michelle Urquhart (@cagliari67) September 12, 2012

Thinking that Mexican horror films might be an interesting genre to learn more about. Gracias, HERE COMES THE DEVIL. @colingeddes
— Cyril Chen (陳秋福) (@kyrillus) September 12, 2012

Hurry hurry! Get tickets for the last two screenings! One of them is tonight! We will not be held responsible if Old Scratch takes his revenge on you for not seeing this movie!

HERE COMES THE DEVIL Screening Times:
Wed., Sept. 13th, 7:00PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3
Sun., Sept. 16th, 3:30PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4

HERE COMES THE DEVIL: Movie's Creepiest Kids

There's nothing more terrifying than a movie featuring creepy kids. We're not sure about you, but Camp Rock certainly gave us nightmares. And what about that giant mega-baby from Honey, I Blew Up the Kid? We're shuddering at the thought. (Or maybe that's more because of Rick Moranis…) Scary movies featuring creepy kids have been responsible for people reconsidering the desire to procreate for decades now. Do you really want a baby if there's a chance it could be possessed by a demon? Hm, maybe you really are just better off with a couple of cats--just in case.

To add to the list, Here Comes The Devil at this years Toronto International Film Festival is another tale of child terror. After their children disappear on vacation in Tijuana, they mysteriously reappear again. But something terrible has happened to them. (Excuse us while we go cower in the corner.) And just in case you haven't met your daily quota of creepiness yet, here's five more of movie's creepiest kids we could find (spoilers, probably): 

1. The brood from The Brood (1979)

Listen, anything called "the brood" is bound to be terrifying, but when you've got David Cronenberg behind it, it's probably a good time to go hide in the closet. The brood is not quite human, and not quite, uh, not-human, but it's 100% going to eff things up. And by that, we mean it's going to kill you. In matching jump suits.

Yes, this picture is from the remake. They are still scary, damned kids.

2. The children from Village of the Damned (1960)

The Village of the Damned starts off normal enough: the females in a tiny village all of the sudden find themselves pregnant after a strange unexplainable town-wide nap. What? Not this old plot line again, jeez. Once the babies are born, it's clear that something more than unprotected sex is afoot: they grow really fast, have identical white-blonde hair and penetrating eyes, all dress the same, seem to know what everyone is thinking, and move in a pack. Sort of like the Plastics from Mean Girls, except evil. Like, "we're going to kill you evil", not "high school evil".

3. Gage from Pet Sematary (1989)

Pet Sematary is a warning to people everywhere about the importance of spelling, even at a young age. Oh, and also that if you bury something on an Indian burial ground, it will come back super evil. Cats, small children, probably toasters too: all evil. The Creed family learns this the hard way when their little boy, Gage, is killed in a tragic kite accident (a giant truck might have also been involved). Let's just say that when he comes back from the dead, he's more interested in playing with scalpels than toy trucks. 

4. Samara from The Ring (2002)

The Ring made us never want to watch a video tape ever again, and that's not just because we hate having to rewind them at the end. No, it's because of the terrifying girl who crawls out of the TV and kills whoever watched the video tape. Maybe she'd look less creepy if she pulled her hair back with a cute headband, but it's doubtful.  

5. Isaac, Malachai and the children from Children of the Corn (1984)

When children are left to their own devices, chances are they'll band together, form a cult, and kill all of the adults in town. At least, at the instruction of super disturbing Isaac and his lackey Malachai. He'll claim they're doing the work of "He Who Walks Behind The Rows", but who can trust a kid who wears a hat like that? 

Honourable Mention: The baby in Rosemary's Baby

Because technically this would count on the list of "movie's creepiest unborn fetuses", but there's no denying that this unborn baby is pure evil. Poor Rosemary; she just wanted to enjoy her new haircut and her swanky new apartment. Note to self: if eccentric neighbour offers a gift of tannis root, run far, far away. 

For more child related terror, don't forget to add Here Comes The Devil to your film list this festival; screening times are below: 

HERE COMES THE DEVIL Screening Times:
Tue., Sept. 11th, 6:00 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
Wed., Sept. 12th, 7:00 PM SCOTIABANK 3
Sun., Sept. 16th, 3:30 PM SCOTIABANK 4

And catch  COME OUT AND PLAY, the remake of the classic scary children movie, Who Can Kill A Child at Midnight Madness!

COME OUT AND PLAY screening times:
Thurs., Sept. 13th, 11:59 PM, RYERSON
Fri., Sept. 14th, 3:15 PM, CINEPLEX YONGE & DUNDAS 10
Sat., Sept. 15th, 6:45 PM, SCOTIABANK 11


[Author's Note: If you're reading this and know me, you're probably wondering to yourself, "Siân, you can barely get through an episode of American Horror Story without crying--how have you watched all of these films?" So, I must thank my friend, director James Lafleur, for helping me out with this post. He knows all the things about all the movies and helped me pick out all of the ones with the creepiest kids. If you were curious, his master list (AKA "The List of Movies Siân Will Never, Ever, Watch") is: Children of the Corn (1984), Village of the Damned (1960), The Bad Seed (1956), The Orphanage (2007), The Innocents (1961), The Other (1972), The Brood (1979), The Ring (2002), Pet Sematary (1989), Alice, Sweet Alice (1976), The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976), Let the Right One In (2008)]

HERE COMES THE DEVIL Premieres Tonight!

Adrían García Bogliano's Here Comes the Devil premieres tonight at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema at 6:00 PM. Head over to our previous post to see the film's trailer and poster.

Tickets can be purchased:

• ONLINE: TIFF.net/thefestival
• BY PHONE: 416.599.TIFF or 1.888.599.8433 (Toll-free) 
• IN PERSON
• Festival Box Office; 225 King St. West
• Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Box Office; 506 Bloor Street West

Further information about Adrían García Bogliano's Here Comes the Devil can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Here Comes the Devil Website, Twitter account, and IMDB page.

HERE COMES THE DEVIL screening times:

• Tues., Sept. 11, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 6:00 PM
• Wednes., Sept. 12, Scotiabank 3 7:00 PM
• Sun., Sept. 16, Scotiabank 4 3:30 PM

HERE COMES THE DEVIL: 5 Movies With "The Devil"

Are you excited about Adrián García Bogliano's new movie, Here Comes The Devil? We are!

Bogliano's film is the latest chapter in a particularly malevolent history of movies with "The Devil." And I mean that literally. The words "The Devil" are in the titles of the movies themselves.

Here are five other movies with "The Devil" for you to ponder.

1. The Devil Rides Out, 1967
Christopher Lee and his moustache must save his friend from being inducted into an evil satanic cult involving a charismatic leader named Mocata, portrayed by Charles Gray a.k.a. Blofeld a.k.a. The Criminologist from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If that wasn't horrific enough, he must also contend with something known as the Goat of Mendes, which you must see to believe. Groovy Baphomet imagery and histrionics also included; this is a Hammer Production, after all.

2. Race with the Devil, 1975
Exploitation legend Jack Starrett directed this suspenseful tale of two couples who are vacationing in a giant R.V. when they "accidentally" witness what appears to be a satanic ritual. Scare quotes used, because come on: It was the '70s! They never saw The Devil Rides Out? Pffft. The aforementioned race ensues when all the Satanists get mad at the group for watching their little soiree and proceed to chase Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit, and Lara Parker for many miles. (It's actually a pretty great movie, but don't tell the Satanists.)

3. The House Of The Devil, 2009
Director Ti West (The Innkeepers, V/H/S) assembled an excellent cast in cult and horror legends Mary Woronov and Tom Noonan as well as amazing newcomer Jocelin Donahue for his tribute to previous Devil-themed fare. This note-perfect '80s-style horror flick is genuinely scary. You'll never forget the chilling line "Are you not the babysitter?" Trust me.

4. The Devils, 1971
Not just one Devil, but many. Ken Russell's legendary and controversial film has only recently been released on DVD in the UK (albeit absent its most infamous segment). It's as over-the-top as anything Russell ever created, featuring searing performances from Oliver Reed as a lusty, devout Catholic priest and Vanessa Redgrave as the world's nastiest nun. The Devils is forever relevant.

5. I Saw The Devil, 2010
This Korean film is not about satanic cults, but it is terrifying and violent. The way director Jee-woon Kim addresses murder, revenge, and morality elevates this unforgettable movie out of the oft-maligned "torture porn" genre and into something entirely different and far more profound. The Devil in question is perhaps the one inside of all of us.

We're not sure if any of these movies influenced Here Comes The Devil, but it's probably a good idea to see it anyway.

HERE COMES THE DEVIL screening times:
Tues., Sept. 11th, 6:00PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
Wed., Sept. 13th, 7:00PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3
Sun., Sept. 16th, 3:30PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4

5 Behind The Camera: Directors Of Photography

We'd like to focus on some of the talented people whose work you can enjoy in five of the films playing at the Toronto International Film Festival. Each is a Director of Photography, also known as a DP: Ernesto Herrera (Here Comes The Devil), Gary Shaw (iLL Manors), Linda Wassberg (Blondie), Laurie Rose (Sightseers), and Robin Thomson (Peaches Does Herself).

Ernesto Herrera, the DP for Here Comes The Devil, also worked with director Adrián García Bogliano on 2011's Penumbra. Variety made specific mention of his skills in their review, stating that he "intensifies audience unease in several scenes by portentously framing characters in mirrors, doorways and hallways, subtly suggesting that power is shifting and screws are tightening."

"What stood out most to me [in Penumbra] was the slick cinematography" which "added an almost surreal atmosphere to the film that was quite effective," said Cinema Head Cheese blog. We look forward to Herrera's work in Here Comes The Devil, which plays at the Festival.

 We have already seen DP Gary Shaw's excellent work in Duncan Jones's 2009 Moon.
"The lighting is subtle yet brilliant and the cinematography definitely succeeds in highlighting Sam's isolation," remarked Cinemaroll in their review, while Zarzax The Blog classified the cinematography as "amazing."

Shaw's work on iLL Manors, playing at the Festival, is also getting recognition. Eat Sleep Live Film proclaims, "The film's visual style belies its low-budget origins. Director of photography Gary Shaw (who also shot Duncan Jones film Moon) ensures it looks good, even when things get very bad."

Before Blondie, Linda Wassberg lensed She Monkeys in 2011. For that, she won the prize for Best Cinematography at the Transylvania International Film Festival in Romania. Sound on Sight praised Wassberg's work highly, saying, she "amps up the atmosphere: shadows, natural darkness, and narrow scope are used to emphasize the claustrophobia of the girl's lives."

Variety also took note of Wassberg's prowess in their review of She Monkeys: "The stellar tech package is led by Linda Wassberg's atmospheric, tightly focused widescreen lensing." Wassberg's work impressed Chorus and Echo, who said She Monkeys was, "beautifully shot and convincingly styled-one can only hope for more from cinematographer Linda Wassberg." We feel sure that  "more" will be more than obvious in Blondie, which will be playing at the Festival.

Ben Wheatley has previously collaborated with DP Laurie Rose on the films Kill List and Down Terrace. The two team up again on Sightseers, which is playing at the Festival. "From the very outset the cinematography is striking," notes Sound on Sight in their review of Sightseers, "direct credit to DP Laurie Rose whose use of darkness in particular is masterful."

Telegraph also had great things to say about Sightseers, remarking "Laurie Rose gives the Yorkshire and Cumbrian landscapes a dewily gorgeous sheen." The Hollywood Reporter admired how Rose's "widescreen digital cinematography presents the countryside in a sufficiently splendid and alluring manner to delight UK tourist authorities—even if Wheatley's vision of this 'green and pleasant land' tends to be strewn with messily-dispatched corpses.We don't doubt that such a contrast will be stunning in Sightseers.

Robin Thomson, who shot and edited Peaches Does Herself, graduated with a BA of Fine Arts from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee, Scotland in 2008. According to his website he is also working in Berlin as a video editor, artist, and musician, as well as managing Peaches' various online platforms, including her blog and social media.

Recently, Thomson compiled and edited a guerilla video that Peaches organized with her fans to support the Russian punk activist band Pussy Riot, who were charged and convicted of "hooliganism" (for real) for their song "Putin Lights Up The Fires." Watch the video here.

While you're waiting for a screening of Peaches Does Herself at the Festival,  you can also watch more of Thomson's work on his website.

HERE COMES THE DEVIL screening times:
Tues., Sept. 11th, 6:00PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
Wed., Sept. 13th, 7:00PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3
Sun., Sept. 16th, 3:30PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4

ILL MANORS Screening Times:
Sun., Sept. 9th, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA 9:00PM
Tues., Sept. 11th, SCOTIABANK 4  4:15 PM
Sat., Sept. 15th, SCOTIABANK 4  9:30 PM

BLONDIE Screening Times:
Mon., Sept. 10th, SCOTIABANK 2  9:45PM
Wed., Sept. 12th, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA 12:00PM
Fri., Sept. 14th, SCOTIABANK 3  6:15PM

SIGHTSEERS Screening Times:
Tues., Sept. 11th, RYERSON THEATRE 9:00PM
Thurs., Sept. 13th,  RYERSON THEATRE 12:00PM
Sun., Sept. 16th BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA 7:00PM

PEACHES DOES HERSELF Screening Times:
Thur., Sept. 13th, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA 9:00PM
Sat., Sept. 15th, TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX 4 3:15PM
Sun., Sept. 16th, JACKMAN HALL (AGO) 4:00PM

Food Trucks At The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

Imagine this: It's Wednesday September 12th. You have tickets to the 9:00PM screening of Soi Cheang's Motorway at The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, but you're starving. What are you possibly going to eat!? Luckily The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is located right in the middle of the Annex, so the food options are plentiful.

This year your options are even broader as the Toronto International Film Festival is teaming up with Toronto Food Trucks to bring the food to you. A rotating selection of food trucks will be located outside of The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema September 7th to 16th from 7PM to midnight.

http://torontofoodtrucks.ca/photos

Toronto food truck locations and schedule during the festival can be found on the Toronto Food Trucks website, Twitter and Facebook pages.

The following Vanguard films will be playing at The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema:

PUSHER
Fri., Sept. 7, 9:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

PAINLESS
Sat., Sept. 8, 6:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

ILL MANORS
Sun., Sept. 9, 9:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO
Mon., Sept. 10, 6:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

BEIJING FLICKERS
Mon., Sept. 10, 9:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

HERE COMES THE DEVIL
Tues., Sept. 11, 6: 00PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

BLONDIE
Wed., Sept. 12, 12:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

THALE
Wed., Sept. 12, 6:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

MOTORWAY
Wed., Sept. 12, 9:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

ROOM 237
Thurs., Sept. 13, 6:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

PEACHES DOES HERSELF
Thurs., Sept. 13, 9:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

SIGHTSEERS
Sun., Sept. 16, 7:00 PM, THE BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

HERE COMES THE DEVIL: Exclusive Interview with Director Adrián García Bogliano on Shock Till You Drop

Horror website Shock Till You Drop has just posted an exclusive interview with Here Comes The Devil director Adrián García Bogliano.

Bogliano talks about his experiences in genre filmmaking, explaining that he wants "a chance to make a living out of [it]," adding "it seemed impossible because there is no tradition of horror films in Argentina." He's also excited "because this is the first time I had an American company take a chance on me with a Latin American horror film in Spanish, that to me is amazing." In addition, Here Comes The Devil is something he's "excited about because it's the first time I move into the supernatural sub-genre."

Read the rest of the interview here, including more about Here Comes The Devil and Bogliano's love of David Mamet and '80s supernatural horror film The Entity.

JUST ADDED: Check out these three Behind The Scenes images from the set of Here Comes the Devil!

HERE COMES THE DEVIL screening times:
Tues., Sept. 11th, 6:00PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
Wed., Sept. 13th, 7:00PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3
Sun., Sept. 16th, 3:30PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4

HERE COMES THE DEVIL Poster

A couple is relieved when their children return after disappearing near some mysterious caves while on vacation in Tijuana — but it soon becomes clear that a terrible change has taken place within them.

Below is the poster for Here Comes the Devil, which plays the Toronto International Film Festival within the Vanguard programme.

Further information about Adrían García Bogliano's Here Comes the Devil can be found on the Festival website, as well as on the Here Comes the Devil Website, Twitter account, and IMDB page.

HERE COMES THE DEVIL screening times:

• Tues., Sept. 11, The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema 6:00 PM
• Wednes., Sept. 12, Scotiabank 3 7:00 PM
• Sun., Sept. 16, Scotiabank 4 3:30 PM

HERE COMES THE DEVIL: Director Profile: Adrián García Bogliano

Argentinian director Adrián García Bogliano embarked upon his career making short films his in the late '90s, but it was only a decade later that he jumped  into features with 2004's Riddlebox. Since then, he's been a busy man; just check out his IMDB profile. 

Bogliano's 2006 feature, 36 Steps (also known as Bloody Birthday), was low in budget but high in gore, offering a twist on the sexism inherent in many slasher films. The thrilling Cold Sweat was a hit at SXSW, presenting familiar genre elements through Bogilano's distinctive, groundbreaking style. The Polanski-influenced, slow burning Penumbra screened at Fantastic Fest in 2011. This film, which uses the intriguing setting of a solar eclipse, dares to make the central character as unlikable as possible.

Now that there's some well-deserved buzz around this talented new filmmaker, horror aficionados as well as fans are in luck: Synapse Films recently acquired the rights to three of his older films: Rooms For Tourists (2004), I'll Never Die Alone (2008), and Watch 'Em Die (2009).

Although Bogliano has stated he's dedicated to making horror films, he insists on pushing the boundaries of the genre. In a recent interview with Twitch, he discusses how horror is a good way to comment on political issues, especially for younger generations of the film audience. He describes Cold Sweat as "an exhausting thrill-ride" that still makes a "grand conversation" possible. He's quick to point out, however, that what's important for him is "telling good stories, making your audience glad they came to the theater or rented the movie, continuing to be able to work."

Here Comes The Devil, Bogliano's latest and highly-anticipated film, is also the first of his creations to appear in the Toronto International Film Festival. The plot seems simple enough, but with Bogliano at the helm you know there will be chilling surprises in store. While on a family trip, two young kids disappear briefly. Although their parents are overjoyed when they are reunited, their happiness turns to horror as it becomes quickly apparent that they're not quite the same and worse, that something sinister and supernatural is to blame.

Here Comes The Devil, explained Bogliano to Indiewire, was partly inspired by Nicholas Roeg's 1973 masterpiece Don't Look Now as well as the unique and perhaps unexpected location of Tijuana, a city with an interesting energy and history. Bogliano's fascination with Tijuana is partly due to his recent relocation to Mexico, where he's started a new production company, Salto de Fe Films.

Be sure to check out Here Comes The Devil, especially if you're planning on vacationing in Tijuana anytime in the near future.

HERE COMES THE DEVIL screening times:

Tues., Sept. 11^th, 6:00PM, BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA
Wed., Sept. 13^th, 7:00PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3

Sun., Sept. 16^th, 3:30PM, SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4