Downtown Toronto is preparing to be frightened this Halloween season, as the Toronto After Dark Film Festival is set to kick off its 17th annual edition. Beginning this Wednesday, October 18 and running until Sunday, October 22, critically acclaimed and anticipated new horror, sci-fi, action and cult movies from this year’s international film festival circuit will screen at the Scotiabank Theatre (259 Richmond Street West) in the Canadian city.
With the festival commencing next week, we’re offering an insight into some of the most anticipated movies that will be playing at Toronto After Dark.
Wednesday, October 18 – Opening Night
7:00 PM: ‘Late Night with the Devil’ (Australia) – Toronto Premiere – Opening Gala Film – Expected to Sell Out Soon
Directors: Cameron Cairnes and Colin Cairnes
Toronto After Dark 2023 opens with ‘Late Night with the Devil,’ the scary horror hit of this year’s SXSW and film fest circuit, that similar to the CONJURING series, spotlights 1970s America’s fascination with the occult! Facing cancellation, a late-night talk show host (‘The Suicide Squad’s David Dastmalchian) tries to spike his audience ratings by producing a Halloween TV special for the ages, featuring a live to air exorcism. As the night unfolds, the chilling event spirals out of control!
Screens with short film ‘Soul Proprietor’ by Scott Riopelle.
Buy tickets here.
Friday, October 20
7:00 PM: ‘Daniel’s Gotta Die’ (Canada) – Toronto Premiere – Selling Fast
Director: Jeremy LaLonde – LaLonde in Attendance for Post-Screening Q&A
Festival alum LaLonde (‘James Vs His Future Self’) returns with a crowd-pleasing, dark and twisted murder mystery comedy that blends ‘Knives Out’ with ‘Succession!’ A dying family patriarch decrees his inheritance will only pass onto his squabbling adult kids if they can survive a weekend at their vacation island home. Murderous hi-jinx ensue! A fantastic cast includes cult icon Iggy Pop and fan favorite Bob Saget in his final film role.
Screens with short film ‘666’ by Abby Elizabeth Falvo.
Buy tickets here.
Saturday, October 21
6:45 PM: ‘The Deep Dark’ (France; In French with English Subtitles) – Canadian Premiere
Director: Mathieu Turi
Having applied his trade as assistant director to genre icons Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, and Luc Besson, it’s no surprise that Turi delivers an entertaining thrill ride with his latest solo project, the intense, claustrophobic horror film, ‘The Deep Dark.’ In this fresh take on fan favorite ‘The Descent,’ a group of miners unwittingly awakens an ancient demonic creature buried in a hidden catacomb. They soon find themselves in a terrifying battle of survival, trapped 1,000 feet underground!
Screens with short film ‘Black Paris’ by Sid Santiago Zanforlin.
Buy tickets here.
Sunday, October 22 – Closing Night
9:15 PM: ‘It’s a Wonderful Knife’ (USA / Canada) Canadian Premiere – Closing Gala Film – Expected to Sell Out Soon
Director: Tyler MacIntyre – Director and Producer in Attendance for Post-Screening Q&A
Festival favorite MacIntyre (‘Tragedy Girls,’ ‘Patchwork’) makes a triumphant return to close Toronto After Dark 2023 with his latest crowdpleaser, a bloody festive blend of ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ and ‘Scream!’ In small town Angel Falls, a depressed high schooler (‘Yellowjacket’s Jane Widdop), whose only claim to fame was defeating a masked killer, imagines how her town might have been different if she’d never existed. Suddenly she finds herself in a parallel dystopian town with an even more vicious Snow Angel-masked murderer that has to be stopped if she is ever to return home! A fantastic supporting cast includes fan favorites Justin Long and Joel McHale.
Screens with short film ‘Gamesmanship’ by Doug Cook.
Buy tickets here.
For more information on Toronto After Dark, visit the festival’s official website, as well as its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
Film Factual 